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**Aneesh@4GHz** · 12-08-2011, 11:34 AM

Nice review.

and Awesome pics too.

No info on FE?

**h_bharti** · 12-08-2011, 11:38 AM

Maaammmmaaamiiiiiaaaaaaaa
Sunny and MG you guys rocks.

Amazing, amazing review and superb pics of my heartthrob...
looking for a launch date of the bike and its tentative pricing...

Hey have you got any info on DUKE 350, would love to own one...

Will be closely looking this bike from last one year, all the leaked images, test mule stories, price and specs speculations.

If KTM and Bajaj will launch it at reasonable price we'll see a long waiting list in their probiking showrooms...

Again a very fine job by you MG and Sunny....

**rmchhetri** · 12-08-2011, 11:40 AM

Ummmmmm....

Originally posted by princesirohi View Post

Nice review, great effort ...

BUT

it looked more like an advertisement or online launch of KTM200 rather than a review with all praise and everything.

Plus points of review-

nice photos, in fact photo so good, that one can use them as wallpapers
got to know a little bit of KTM history.
comparison is done in the form of graphs

Negative points of review-

there was no need to include R15 in the comparison, which was there just to prove that you guys are not directly comparing it with CBR250.
you could have done much better without CBR bashing.
the comparison would have looked more authentic, if you guys had taken the CBR250 performance figures from some other reliable source.
almost all the performance parameters are compared except top speed. why? because KTM200 looses out on that.

anyway, i am neither fighting for Honda nor against KTM. i just feel that reviews should always be done fairly and should not be biased. although KTM and CBR are just 50 CC apart and only 20-40,000 Rupees apart, they differ greatly in respect of the "purpose". every good bike launch brings in something new to indian market and should be welcomed for it. just as we love BAL and pulsars for bringing in indian market what we all know similarly CBR and honda should also be respected for bringing in india, the first affordable 250CC from an international brand.

anyway, lets not get into all this, i want to know how KTM200 compares with other bikes in terms of handling, braking and cornering, since you have praised KTM in these departments, but really not given a comparison.

also, if you can post a few pics of the bike with two people sitting on it, i mean rider and pillion. i want to see how it looks when there is a pillion along with the rider.

hey, which bike model was used for knee knockdown.

++1.
Its great to see Bajaj launching such a wonderful machine with capability of performance nothing short of magnificent, but figures put up for the CBR250R and the R15 does not seem right. I know its been clarified earlier, still want to mention it. Figures of honda and yamaha bike performance from Bajaj?

Not very reliable!!

Anyways I love the look of the bike, the color, the features and the console. Am sure the price wont disappoint either.
And like always I love the pics!!!

**dual disc 200** · 12-08-2011, 11:42 AM

Brilliant review there Sunny & MG..! Loved every part of it!

**Sunny** · 12-08-2011, 11:54 AM

Top End Info Added

Here are all the top speed figures by different publications take your pick.
We tested the KTM 200 top end at 138 Kmph speedo indicated.

R15 V1

ACIZigwheelsBIODZMR

BIODACIP220 DTSi

BIODACI

**vrugonnab** · 12-08-2011, 11:55 AM

Was glancing through the photos again.. bike looks/feels like it's put together with very high quality parts. This wasn't the case when CBR250's pics came in (not to offend CBR250 owners) just my opinion looking at the pics.

Top speed less than P220 may not be an issue for those buying this as a second bike, but if anyone is looking to buy this one as the only bike, then there is reason for disappointment. Not withstanding the fact that, rarely you do speeds in excess of 120kmph on our roads.

**FTLutkarsh** · 12-08-2011, 11:58 AM

@all
Look the tacho tops out at 13k, the power curve doesn't dip in the end, peak power and rev-limiter both at 10k. I don't think the engine internals are not capable of revving beyond 10k(P220 dtsi does more than that and I have a strong feeling that ktm engine is better in every way), I guess Bajaj-KTM restricted the bike when it comes to the top end because it would have been dangerous for the rider(?), light weight+naked=stability problems at high speeds.
Probably some ECU tuning or some trickery with the tech and the rev-limiter can be pushed further to around 11.5k would be enough to yield a top end in the territory of the CBR250R.
btw, bajaj is so vulnerable to cannibalism with this because the next gen pulsar would/should be similar and priced less.
"MY opinions"

**payeng** · 12-08-2011, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by vrugonnab View Post

Was glancing through the photos again.. bike looks/feels like it's put together with very high quality parts. This wasn't the case when CBR250's pics came in (not to offend CBR250 owners) just my opinion looking at the pics.

Top speed less than P220 may not be an issue for those buying this as a second bike, but if anyone is looking to buy this one as the only bike, then there is reason for disappointment.

I don't have a bike right now.. and I don't see the season why the 200 Duke can't be my only bike.

Originally posted by vrugonnab View Post

Not withstanding the fact that, rarely you do speeds in excess of 120kmph on our roads.

Exactly.

Moreover my touring speeds hover around 80-90 kmph.

**Janesh.J** · 12-08-2011, 12:09 PM

KTM 200 Review

Firstly, congrats for the great review to the Xbhp team.

The bike really look good - all credits to the professional quality shots.

Really like the LED indicators - first bike to have it in india. The console is a mini computer and looks really amazing.

Glad that they have a large capacity battery (8ah) which may allow you to install HIDs.

**h_bharti** · 12-08-2011, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by vrugonnab View Post

Was glancing through the photos again.. bike looks/feels like it's put together with very high quality parts. This wasn't the case when CBR250's pics came in (not to offend CBR250 owners) just my opinion looking at the pics.

Top speed less than P220 may not be an issue for those buying this as a second bike, but if anyone is looking to buy this one as the only bike, then there is reason for disappointment. Not withstanding the fact that, rarely you do speeds in excess of 120kmph on our roads.

Rightly said vrugonnab

I have done a lot of interstate travelling on car and bike both, as a driver and as well as a passenger, but a big question for all the people who are arguing on TOP SPEED of the KTM 200
1.) Are our State and National Highways are capable enough to take cae of men and machines, leave aside the speed over 100km/hr
2.) Suppose we have a machine which can do 130-150 all day long and roads on which we can sustain that speed all over day but do we and others have that traffic sense to keep traffic moving at that speed?

I know top speed is one of the very important aspect for any bike but look at this at 138 km/hr is fasrer than R15, ZMR, P220, RE 500, so why are we cribbing and importantly this bike is any day much faster than any of the bike in reaching 135 km/hr....

So guys cheer up and start saving your money for this lovely machine.... Named KTM DUKE 200....

**s_hari** · 12-08-2011, 12:15 PM

MG /Sunny /Whoever was part of the review :

The outcome of the wating, was it 36 hours?, was really worth every second. Every line has some information on the capability of Duke. Also i thank you for providing the power/troque graphs i have asked for.

Thanks a ton.

Now i am looking forward for following information if your team can share the information and not bound by any non disclosure terms made to Bajaj/KTM team.

1) After this project what can we expect from pulsar series. Models, capabilities, performance and so on. People who cannot afford Duke will rely on this model
2) What was the contribution or learings of Bajaj R&D from this project. This will help us to understand which area will the next gen Pulsar/Discover/.... excell in. On the face i defenitely see better fit/finish of the vehicle, improved quality of the mechanical components.
3) When and what is the next iteration of Duke series. 250cc/350cc/....

**Sunny** · 12-08-2011, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by h_bharti View Post

Rightly said vrugonnab

I have done a lot of interstate travelling on car and bike both, as a driver and as well as a passenger, but a big question for all the people who are arguing on TOP SPEED of the KTM 200
1.) Are our State and National Highways are capable enough to take cae of men and machines, leave aside the speed over 100km/hr
2.) Suppose we have a machine which can do 130-150 all day long and roads on which we can sustain that speed all over day but do we and others have that traffic sense to keep traffic moving at that speed?

I know top speed is one of the very important aspect for any bike but look at this at 138 km/hr is fasrer than R15, ZMR, P220, RE 500, so why are we cribbing and importantly this bike is any day much faster than any of the bike in reaching 135 km/hr....

So guys cheer up and start saving your money for this lovely machine.... Named KTM DUKE 200....

Here is a small dialogue shared by some on Facebook:

Comment:

I don't think it'll be a capable tourer at all. Mainly because of its meagre 10.5L tank. And secondly a "capable" tourer should be able to "cruise" at 120 all day. Lets not get over-excited about the capabilities of the bike

My Answer:

We have mentioned the 10.5L shortcoming (which is still not that much since people tour on superbikes which give 250km per tank as well). However its ability to cruise at 120 all day - I am not sure how many places in India you can do that and if its required in North India at all. Last I checked even the Karizma, which is a very capable tourer maxes out before the KTM does.

**rockyb** · 12-08-2011, 12:23 PM

Ergonomics

Good review. 300 km range sounds reasonable. Range is very important for touring. On / Off road (intermediate) tyres will enhance its capabilities in pan Indian terrain. This looks like the best option till a real dual sports is launched (no am not counting Impulse as one)

Only one doubt. How is the bike for tall riders? Say 6 feet plus? I don't even fit in a R15 (dunno bout V2.0) I also felt CBR is too small / cramped. In fact ZMA/ZMR feels much more roomier.

**Praful** · 12-08-2011, 12:24 PM

I think the people cribbing about bike's touring capabilities are talking about "touring" (if it can be called that

) on open 4/6 Lane median separated highways where you can open throttle WOT and ride till such time a villager or a cow/dog does not jump in front of you.

Yes the limited range will be a minor hindrance, but then again I don't think the bike is for "touring" on the boring arrow straight roads! Its more for riding on roads, where you doubt if it can be called a road in the first place!

Oh! I'd so love to replace my 220 with uber hot 200!

**vineshp** · 12-08-2011, 12:24 PM

to xBhp's MG and Sunny:
Everybody has praised this great review. What differentiates between ANY xBhp review and other Magazine review is -"Passion and Love you guys have for bikes". This reflects in whatever you do, for when you love what you do, the result is always exceptional!

Keep it up, xBhp!

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