+1. My thoughts exactly. ABS is good but cannot be a substitute for riding skill.
I dont have an ABS in my CBR and so I intend to be careful forever while riding (Touchwood)

Its not necessary that ABS increases breaking distance. Look for the video on youtube where the cbr1000 with and without ABS is compared. With 3 riders of varied riding skill the ABS has the shorter breaking distance.

But this is way too old for today's bikes. What we need is a comparison of the ABS and non ABS CBR to know the actual real world advantage.

But I think this is a discussion for another thread?

videos of cbr 250r with/without abs is also available in youtube. as they say abs can make a novice look like a pro and wheel locking actually increase the braking distance and abs get activated only after say 20 odd km/hr or so. offcourse it helps but good to learn braking with out abs equipped and also a option to switch off it would be cool

Check this out guys

KTM Duke 200 set to rock India - Overdrive

7) Versus the R15?
The R15 is dead in the water when it comes to the KTM in straight line performance. That much is obvious from the claimed performance numbers as well as the seat of the pants. However, at the race track, the KTM will probably feel a lot more urgent and will probably work better in more experienced hands, while the R15 is more friendly to new riders as well as supporting of much harder riding. On the street, the KTM will probably be the more comfortable motorcycle to ride in traffic by some distance, especially since the new R15 cants its seat further forward and adopts a more racetrack friendly ergonomics package. As usual, we're straining at the leash to get both of these to a racetrack and have a no-holds barred showdown.
8) Versus the CBR?
The KTM makes the CBR feel heavy, slow to turn though in engine performance the KTM feels likes it accelerating slower than the CBR. But its an illusion, there's little chance of the CBR catching the KTM in a straight line, or around the bends - at the very least, the KTM is roughly 20kg lighter than the CBR. The KTM also has the CBR on the brakes in power and feel, will turn in quicker and more accurately especially at high speeds, hold a tighter line and exit more rapidly. The CBR will probably ride better in the street than the highly strung KTM - though I wouldn't be surprised if the Duke proves to have a firm but supple ride (Bajaj are past masters of this kind of suspension tuning) and will probably feel more at home than the KTM out on the highway, where its calmer nature, bigger stature and softer suspension will mean less effort for the rider (and possibly pillion) at higher speeds over longer distances. Of course, we will verify these impressions at the first possible opportunity to pit the KTM against the Honda.

I can imagine riding ktm in my mind..and it feels awesome ..but is the 350cc version coming anytime soon because that would be just perfect and would satisfy me for longer time

Accolades pouring in from every review and from everyone..!!

Well the R15 is a track day buddy, so no point comparing it with it. It's a completely different ball game all together. Yeah, the comparo with the CBR 250R does make sense as the D200 proves the point that I believe in quite firmly - "It's not the Numbers, but it's always how the Numbers are put to use"

I've read people saying that the reviews of the D200 are so great that it seems that it's a paid PR, but come to think of it, if the bike is even 70% as good as it's being said, then we already have a ground breaker at our disposal, and if I trust my knowledge about motorcycles and above all about KTM and Bajaj, then trust me, the bike is waaaaaaay more than 70% close to the reviews.

Yes, there would be some bits, which would keep us wanting for more, or even distaste us, but still, as a complete package, I would say, more than 95% of the bike would awe us, specially it's usability in our day to day life.

My P200 taught me what motorcycling is all about and I'm really looking forward to the D200 to take that love affair to the next level.

I am not comparing..

ooops my bad !! I was pointing to OD's comparison to R15.... rest I know you are in love with the D200 (orange is your color these days )

hi sunny,
what a wonderful review,iam completely soldoff to ktm and planning to replace it with my CL350,i have one question did company said any thing about warranty because when i went to see kawasaki ninja 250 i was surprised to hear that it did not have any warranty as such and mantainance was also pretty high so whats the scene with ktm here?
your inputs will really help me to decide further.

Wouldnt such a high compression ratio of 11.5 have a dent in performance when ordinary fuel of 87 RON is used?

Eariler we had many a discussions on those type of setups(including modded ones) but I wonder how people have skimped on this aspect,here!!

Its actually 11.3:1

The Ninja 250R has survived Indian fuel with its 11.6:1 compression ratio.. the 200 Duke should do ok.

After all the 200 Duke has been developed in India, Indian fuels must have been a regular diet in its testing regimen.

91 RON is standard norm in the country unless they're adulterated

Someone has given you wrong information Pratik. Obviously its not the company staff.

The Ninja 250 comes with a two year / 30,000 kms warranty whichever is earlier. Maintenance is not all that expensive, its as much as maintaining a small car.

Its only expensive if you drop the bike and something needs to be fixed. Same will be the case with KTM but since it has no plastics (fairings etc.) it won't be that much of a hassle too. Accessories are more expensive for the KTM compared to the ninja though.

Not actually. Try and fill a minimum of 91 octane (all shell fuels are 91 octane) as much as possible. If you are touring, 87 octane will do just fine. The bike has an ECU (FI spec) and will adjust the AFR and timing automatically if the fuel quality is bad/lower than required.

+1.

Its standard only in the metro's. Smaller cities and towns still stock and retail 87 octane. When i inquired about the octane rating for regular fuel at an IOC bunk here in Blore i was told it is 87 octane.