Re: KTM 200 Duke

I was in a similar dilemma in March. I decided to go with 200ns as my partner was not comfortable with D200 pillion seat. I regret my decision from a thrill perspective as 200ns doesn't give the same adrenaline rush as D200. But pocket friendly compared to D200.

Before you finalize CBR 250R, please confirm if they are still manufacturing it. I have heard unconfirmed reports that Honda has stopped its CBR250 production and is making changes to their assembly line. Not sure if that's for CBR300 or another upgraded CBR250. Buying a discontinued model will be a bad idea.

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Re: KTM 200 Duke

Can any one help me ? I bought my duke 10 days ago , It has 500kms on the ODO and I was thinking of taking it to Mumbai from Pune. Is it safe during the break in period? What all precautions do i take?

Re: KTM 200 Duke

Hi there,
I currently own two dukes, first one bought jn Feb 2012.
As per ur query? Technically speaking, it is perfectly safe... There are two reasons though you must take care of (over and above the regular break in period precautions of speed limit and rpm limit etc)
1:- the engine, being new, generally heats up more during the break in, so you would have to make sure you keep checking that...
2:- it's a new engine, so ensuring it doesn't get stressed is very very imp. It is crucial you take a break every 30-45min of riding for atleast 15-20min where you turn the bike off. It can greatly affect engine life

If you can take care properly of these two things, it should be no problem... If ur not sure you can, better wait for the first service...

Best of luck!
Ride safe


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Re: KTM 200 Duke

Guys a small question here. Is the pwoer delivery of Duke behaves crazy? I mean below 3K RPM, it is lethargic and post that it behaves like it just got shot in the balls with Morphine and Glucose combo. I am not syaing that's a bad thing but a little smoother power delivery will be so much appreciated.
I am a sedate rider and this weird power delivery kinda spoils it for me. I got the accelerator cable tightened a bit for my liking of less throttle play which has actually helped a bit but it still is far from my liking of smoother throttle play and performance.

Also, another thing that bothers me is the way engine braking happens. It is way too sudden and unpredictable. Guess the short strokes behave like this but that is not something I am totally falling in love with.

Note to self : always get a vehicle with some brains involved and not necesarily all by heart.

Re: KTM 200 Duke

If you are in the right gear, you can still punter around sedately. But again, the duke is a pocket rocket.. that's what it was made for.
you need to practice throttle control and gear shifting to achieve that balance.
what made you go for the duke ? don't tell me looks !? -- for me it is the feeling of similarity of riding a decently ported rx135 with an expansion chamber.. whoo that rush!!

Re: KTM 200 Duke

Well the duke is a pocket rocket. Very light, very good power to weight ratio, so yea it's not got an Enfield like power delivery... The power band kicks in after 4500rpm which is why you feel the kick in power... If you still wanna ride "sedately" I suggest you shift to a higher gear. It can easily do 40kmph in 6th gear which is pretty sedate... Just be wary of not stalling when ur toooo slow...

As for he engine braking, that's due to the fact it's a single cylinder bike. Single cylinders are a lot more aggressive in engine braking, you'll have to compensate it with very precise rev matching... Multiple cylinders engine brake less aggressivly...

Hope that answers ur query


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Re: KTM 200 Duke

Praise the Lord you did not get the 390

Or on second thought, Akash, Now that you do have the 200, do spend a few days with the 390, take it to the highways and a few city rides, play with the throttle and then get back to the 200. You will feel like you found the perfect balance of power and some peace of mind.
Why so ? because after months and months of cbr and 390, my flatmate has the 200 which i am riding a lot these days, personal experience would be the reason.

Cheers
Ride Safe
Krishna

Re: KTM 200 Duke

I clearly don't understand why in the world did you go for D200 then...??? 😐
This maniac acceleration is one of the biggest USP's of Duke...

anyways you can overgear the bike to make the power delivery saner...which will also solve your second problem.. ie engine braking...

Re: KTM 200 Duke

I wanted an upgrade and P200NS is way too smooth and soft to be called a Pulsar
Kinda yes, I like the looks of Duke and it may create a bomb here but I like the exhaust scream too. Its funny when you blip the throttle a bit and people notice there is some mad thing around and give way.

Totally agree on this. Being a short stroke engine, compounds its character of immediate engine braking. If I take it above 5K before shifitng to a higher gear resolves all the problems actually. I guess I need to spend more time on saddle to understand how exactly the throttle works.

I found 390 to be more mature and accommodating than D200. The throttle response is better and smoother in 390. That's what I felt actually.
Smooth is may be but that's one crazy bike in India right now. The ease with which it picks up speed is just mind boggling - Love that. If only I had a bigger pocket to feed it.

I went for D200 because there was absolutely nothing that I could upgrade to. My problem is that it shows negligible enthusiasm at lower revs, i.e. <5000 RPM.
I had a P150 and although I let him go, I love that bike more than anything I have possesed till date. P200NS was considered but that is just too smooth and gentleman to be called a Pulsar
There was P220 though which I still feel was as good a choice as the D200 except the insane acceleration and weight. I weigh a tiny 60 kilos and I am 5'6" so D200 made more sense to me.

Thanks Guys, really appreciate your views. I guess more saddle time should help me get idea about the throttle/gear relationship.

Re: KTM 200 Duke

I find this observation really strange, moreover living with a 390 for a few days is completely different than a single test ride.
But more mature ? its like hot headed teenager the 390, it just wants to hit the limiter every time, while the 200 doesn't beg to be revved up to the limiter every time, it is ok with riding in a particular rpm and responds well when you whack it open when you need it.

Cheers
Ride Safe
Krishna

Re: KTM 200 Duke

I think he felt like that because the 390 doesn't have much power below 6k rpm...
and also maybe due to the taller gearing...
It really hates going in low rpms...

Re: KTM 200 Duke

I agree with you on this.. the 390 picks up speed effortlessly and should i say 'cares a damn about the rpm'. If the 200 is knife thru butter, the 390 is a hot knife thru the same butter!
And i concur on your pocket aspect too

Strange ? IMO the 200 is the hot headed teenager, it keeps hitting higher revs to do its work and begs to be revved.
The 390 i would say is a ninja , you whack the throttle open in almost any gear and it just flies like nobody's business and it doesn't need to hit the higher revs compared to the d200 to do this. Attribute it to the gearing/power and the whole 390 package! Its a more relaxed ride with less shifting to do on the 390.
Am surprised that you prefer the 200 to the 390 going by your earlier post, its the other way around for us though! pockets are not permitting though!

Re: KTM 200 Duke

Akash you always leave me with a good chuckle equally leave snippets to ponder with. Personally I feel the Duke 200 is on the tamed side, though it shares the sub and <4000 RPM characteristics as the 390, but I think it's a good start. Now, if you keep looking at "newsh" you see all sort of upcoming motorcycles, all paving the way right. So who knows in the next six to seven years you might be riding an inline 4 and be thinking of the good old Duke, with a chuckle underneath your helmet, (well probably -- just probably reminding yourself of this post, meself included ) well, heck, it was all worth the kick in the balls, don't you think.

Ride safe

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM 200 Duke

Lol. I have no idea how they think the 390 can be a relaxed machine. This is really a funny case now. Been using it for over 10k now and when i want relaxed i go for the 200 or the cbr. That is all i can say about it.

lol, exactly. I wonder why Akash feels otherwise.. :-D

Cheers
Ride Safe
Krishna

Re: KTM 200 Duke

yep, the duke is on the 'tamer' side compared to the 390.. but if you pit it against the p150's, 180's fz's etc its a rocket. Its just 'relativity'.
And of course, as one upgrades he is sure going have a chuckle.

the gearing on d200 necessitates more gear shifting compared to the 390 , what i meant by relaxed (engine wise) was that you do not realize the speeds you are hitting since its quicker and does this at a gear or two lower (and at the same time the d200 gives the rider a feeling that the engine is 'strained' compared to the 390)
that's just how i felt, i've only ridden the 390 a few times and i felt it was easier to ride with lesser shifting to do.. the 200 i feel needs frequent shifts at 2-3-4 gears in the city traffic, while the 390 can do much more in just the 3rd.. be it doin 30kmph or just whacking the throttle open and hitting 75kmph with no effort.
Again, I picked up the 200 yesterday..but i wish i could have got the 390, plus the 390's seat feels more cushy lol.

btw, the new duke (from september onwards) come with the following updates:
1. plastic flap bolted to the underbody hanging over the monoshock
2. a hard plastic cover over the monoshock itself
3. radiator fan now has a new design and it blows the hot air downwards. (not sure if its been so for a while now ?)