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KTM Duke 200 Review: xBhp's detailed ride report

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    I've been frequenting the Bangalore KTM Showroom quite often. I finally shot the Duke today. Here are the photos.
    sigpic
    asheshambasta.com
    Possessed:
    • Kawasaki Caliber Croma
    • Kawasaki Ninja 250R

    Both black. Both loved. Both Kawasaki.
    I make music, take photos & I blog.

    Comment


    • test rode KTM 200 at noida probiking

      I own a FX16, test rode the KTM 200 yesterday. The pickup is superb , the siting posture is bit different than FZ16. I best thing was it was issueless at 15 km/hr in 3rd gear with 2 people on it , it did not lack pickup. Only problem is the gear and brake leaver nobs are very small and I missed pressing the brake few times , its even smaller than ninja and pulsar 220. I am sure many will find this an issue. And whats that strange sound, may be due to small silencer. With led blinker, projector headlamp would have been a superb addition. I hope KTM add it in next upgradation.
      Last edited by premsaharan; 02-12-2012, 04:44 PM.

      Comment


      • Nice first ride report

        Great job on the first ride report by xbhp. Awesome pics.
        Hadn't seen this thread earlier, went through all 83 pages in 1 afternoon...

        Guess there is no need to state the obvious....and the wait for delivery continues.

        Comment


        • Test Drive.

          Had a test drive of the Duke last Thursday at KTM racing at Chennai.It was a short drive but it was amazing.A perfect bike for riding in city conditions.I thought i would save my CBR for commuting on Highway and immediately booked it.The pros are the awesome torque at all gears due to short gear ratios,Seat and handle positions,suspension.The cons are uncomfortable pillion seat,Low FE (I would'nt mind).
          Currently Owned
          KAWASAKI NINJA 250R
          KTM DUKE 200
          HONDA CBR 250 R-SOLD
          YAMAHA RX-135

          YAMAHA RX-100

          Comment


          • KTM Mileage (BS Motoring)

            This is old news but just sharing it for new readers:


            Which translates to 30.303 kmpl for duke 200

            Full article here:
            World Exclusive! KTM Duke 200 review!
            30+ YEARS OF RIDING
            1987-93 1990-96 1996-98 2003-05 2003-12 2012-15 2014-19 2015-XX 2020-XX
            Kawasaki Bajaj
            KB-100
            Yamaha
            RX 100
            Yamaha
            RXG
            Scooty
            PEP
            Honda
            Activa
            KTM
            Duke 200
            Activa-i Activa 125 Yamaha R3

            Comment


            • Test rides - Bangalore - NOW OPEN!

              The KTM Bangalore showroom began test rides today! I just got back from the showroom. Didn't ride the bike as yet, because I didn't want to leave my Ninja parked outside, but will, soon.
              sigpic
              asheshambasta.com
              Possessed:
              • Kawasaki Caliber Croma
              • Kawasaki Ninja 250R

              Both black. Both loved. Both Kawasaki.
              I make music, take photos & I blog.

              Comment


              • Originally posted by asheshambasta View Post
                The KTM Bangalore showroom began test rides today! I just got back from the showroom. Didn't ride the bike as yet, because I didn't want to leave my Ninja parked outside, but will, soon.
                Great News Ashesh... Will take the TD this weekend
                Ravikiran

                Comment


                • Originally posted by raven20 View Post
                  Great News Ashesh... Will take the TD this weekend
                  We might as well meet there then. I'm going to be there on Sat.
                  sigpic
                  asheshambasta.com
                  Possessed:
                  • Kawasaki Caliber Croma
                  • Kawasaki Ninja 250R

                  Both black. Both loved. Both Kawasaki.
                  I make music, take photos & I blog.

                  Comment


                  • Did a TD of the bike yesterday from PBK Indiranagar, Bengaluru.
                    I did a TD for both Ninja and Duke.
                    I'm ~ 5 9 or 5 10, 91 Kg, So Im not exactly ..err.. compact. I was a bit worried if I would end up looking ODD on the bike.

                    To my surprise the bike fits like a glove. I wear woodlands, and even with chunky footwear, I was able to sit comfortably on the bike, with legs falling into the recess.
                    As for the actual testdrive. Clutch setting was a bit off. I guess its the way these showroom guys have set it. Basically there is no play in the clutch while releasing it. Normally, you feel the clutch engage point somewhere in the 75% of the release area. This starts at 0.
                    Apart from that Bike has a tall first gear, but 3 gears I did try were very closely packed ratios. I did redline the bike in second gear, there was a lot of grunt in third too. However, I had to brake hard for the approaching speed breaker. Brake bite is very positive, and very controlled (unlike the Avenger that normally ride these days). And I could feel the strong transfer of weight to the front which is good, because it allows for good modulation of brakes.
                    Thing is very light weight, nimble, and feels good when you are on the streets. I'm not sure if that will be good thing on Highways. All in all its a fantastic bike.
                    One small niggle was that during U-turn, the Bike stalled. It was not due to my clutch control ( I learned to ride on a Classic Pulsar 180, first batch bike, when it was launched, and those who are old enough knows that, if you ride that bike, you can manage any damn clutch, or gearbox for that matter ). We could eventually get it to start, but the bike sputtered again. Finally, after cranking, turning off and turning on, cranking again, the bike came back to life, and fun all over again I Suspect that it was due to low fuel in that thing (or bad quality fuel perhaps). I did read somewhere that one of the reviewers faced the same issue.
                    CBR250R Black 'n' Silver

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by asheshambasta View Post
                      We might as well meet there then. I'm going to be there on Sat.
                      Ashesh,

                      Great. I have PM's you my contact details. Give me a buzz while going. I will join you.
                      Ravikiran

                      Comment


                      • Congrats to all of us, we have successfully & painfully completed 1/6 th of the waiting period!

                        Why is it the Probiking in Pune is giving TDs only on Saturday? Is it the mad rush or what?
                        Hero Honda Karizma
                        Royal Enfield Bullet
                        KTM Duke

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by allajunaki View Post
                          Did a TD of the bike yesterday from PBK Indiranagar, Bengaluru.
                          I did a TD for both Ninja and Duke.
                          I'm ~ 5 9 or 5 10, 91 Kg, So Im not exactly ..err.. compact. I was a bit worried if I would end up looking ODD on the bike.

                          To my surprise the bike fits like a glove. I wear woodlands, and even with chunky footwear, I was able to sit comfortably on the bike, with legs falling into the recess.
                          As for the actual testdrive. Clutch setting was a bit off. I guess its the way these showroom guys have set it. Basically there is no play in the clutch while releasing it. Normally, you feel the clutch engage point somewhere in the 75% of the release area. This starts at 0.
                          Apart from that Bike has a tall first gear, but 3 gears I did try were very closely packed ratios. I did redline the bike in second gear, there was a lot of grunt in third too. However, I had to brake hard for the approaching speed breaker. Brake bite is very positive, and very controlled (unlike the Avenger that normally ride these days). And I could feel the strong transfer of weight to the front which is good, because it allows for good modulation of brakes.
                          Thing is very light weight, nimble, and feels good when you are on the streets. I'm not sure if that will be good thing on Highways. All in all its a fantastic bike.
                          One small niggle was that during U-turn, the Bike stalled. It was not due to my clutch control ( I learned to ride on a Classic Pulsar 180, first batch bike, when it was launched, and those who are old enough knows that, if you ride that bike, you can manage any damn clutch, or gearbox for that matter ). We could eventually get it to start, but the bike sputtered again. Finally, after cranking, turning off and turning on, cranking again, the bike came back to life, and fun all over again I Suspect that it was due to low fuel in that thing (or bad quality fuel perhaps). I did read somewhere that one of the reviewers faced the same issue.
                          I also experienced stalling of bike when I first took the test ride. Bike stalled 2 times 1st the moment I engaged the first gear and 2nd time when I went over the speed breaker in 3rd gear I think. It may be because I did'nt expected clutch to come into play so early. I took the test ride again 2 days later and thankfully did'nt stalled it but banged rev limiter in couple of gears and was able to see 125kmph in no time and eventually end up booking it.

                          Comment


                          • Clutch Clutch

                            Originally posted by allajunaki View Post
                            One small niggle was that during U-turn, the Bike stalled. It was not due to my clutch control ( I learned to ride on a Classic Pulsar 180, first batch bike, when it was launched, and those who are old enough knows that, if you ride that bike, you can manage any damn clutch, or gearbox for that matter ).
                            Actually i started my Biking Career with the Yezdi Classic 250, the RE Bullet machismo 350 then the 1st UG1 pulsar 150..... so basically that was the best Clutch handling teachers of all times and yup the back-kick too.
                            PLAYTIMES' OVER KID

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by alderine rush View Post
                              I also experienced stalling of bike when I first took the test ride. Bike stalled 2 times 1st the moment I engaged the first gear and 2nd time when I went over the speed breaker in 3rd gear I think. It may be because I did'nt expected clutch to come into play so early. I took the test ride again 2 days later and thankfully did'nt stalled it but banged rev limiter in couple of gears and was able to see 125kmph in no time and eventually end up booking it.
                              That has more to do with Clutch play. Im pretty sure my stalling was not related to clutch play. It just sputtered and died. Repeated thumbing of the starter did not help. We had to turn off and turn on the vehicle to start it up. But it died instantly. So I repeated the exercise to finally get it running again... It may be due to the fact that bike had ~ 4 drops of petrol :P and under hard braking the fuel would have moved forward, essentially starving the bike. Just a theory of a runaway mind

                              Originally posted by chris_terror View Post
                              Actually i started my Biking Career with the Yezdi Classic 250, the RE Bullet machismo 350 then the 1st UG1 pulsar 150..... so basically that was the best Clutch handling teachers of all times and yup the back-kick too.
                              Respect Bro! But honestly, when Bajaj designed the clutch for 1st Gen Pulsar, "Progressive" was not a word they knew. Or perhaps they were very fascinated by way computers work. So they designed their clutch as binary, its either ON or OFF.
                              CBR250R Black 'n' Silver

                              Comment


                              • Anyone from Kolkata booked this KTM ?
                                http://www.throughmysenses.com/

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