I think KTM Duke 200 has more 'universal appeal' than the CBR250R. For one, I expect this to be a darling of the college going kids who were content with FZs for a few years now.. I mean it really looks kick-@$$ !! Both CBR and Ninja look much more sober (and dare I say.. uncleji types ) in comparison.

Second of all, I and Payeng are a part of this universe. This bike appeals to us more than the CBR, R15 or the Ninja ever did .

This is a good bike for the Ninja/Hyosung 650/liter class bike owner to use in the city.(Better fuel efficiency, cheaper than Ninja / CBR(speculated) and still fun to ride.)
This is a good bike for people who own only this bike for the city (again). Since it will be a very fun commuter.
If this is as thoughtfully made as the Ninja is, it will be a good bike for tours with everything apart from the windblast and short tank range being the demerits. Looking at the KTM website, they realise the oppurtunity and have already announced a compatiable 22l (the Cramster Turtle is 17l) tank-bag

I am just waiting now for the Duke 350. Maybe finally there will be a bike made in India which will beat the legendary RD350 HT in a quarter mile drag. And that, my friends, would be a PROPER upgrade

Fuel quality only, standard here is 88 ron or so, the ktm specifies 95 ron, sauce BP 'Poor for sure"
, restriction oe detuning if any is down to fuel quality

KTM duke 200 is made to run on RON95 petrol and it's sparse to find. Normally we get RON87. The max we can get is RON92, I think.

Basically this engine generates comparatively more power than most of the engines of same cubic capacity(cc). It does it through higher compression rate(like diesel engines) and to keep everything to work fine higher octane / RON fuel is necessary.

So lower octane rating fuel will cause higher compression engines to backfire (and many other things). It will harm the engine in longer run. That's why de-tuning (read: reducing compression) is necessary.

Weren't speed93, speed97 high octane fuels? they were introduced by BP (or is it IOC?). May be they are sparse to find, but if you know where to buy toluene (a chemical), then you can easily make fuel with 120 octane rating!! it's just a mix petrol with toluene & match octane rating job.. as simple as that I do agree that doing this mix & match every time gets better off the biker in us!! But hoping that whatever fuel grade that works for Ninja 250 should work for Duke 200 too (just by looking at compression ratios)

Anyone know when this machine launching? As per vashi pbk mumbai, bike will be launching in dec2011.

Oh,so its the petrol! damn it! thanks for the replies guys.

Really interested in seeing how BAJAJ would price this..ideally it should be placed between the upcoming PULSAR and the NINJA!

Amen to that! and I only hope they dont just take bookings and take months to deliver the machine!

I also think that it won't be a 2nd bike but a Good 1st bike..

Bikes like Hero Impulse come in a 2nd bike category.

This Duke 200 is a complete bike and looks masculine .., and would be loved by most of the bike lovers or specially by those who like naked kinda bikes.
The New Lord of Streets... Duke 200 !!

This is kinda discriminating and discouraging the folks who are potential owners of the upcoming Duke and are almost uncleji's (like me)

Thats certainly not what I meant. What I meant was this IS the bike to have for the youngsters(and the young at heart ) rather than CBR and Ninja which would make you look like an uncleji in comparison (People please dont kill me for this one )

As for everyone worried about the fuels we get:
BS3 and BS4 regular petrol is 91RON. Premium is 95RON for both BS3 & BS4.

Thats the reason BPCL stopped selling Speed 95/97 in Pune. Because all BPCL Speed is now 95RON and Speed 97 was just 2RON higher so actually not much required.

All of India switched to BS3 and BS4 back in September 2010 so there goes all reasons for any more Detuning by any new launch from any manufacturer. These specifications are the same as Euro 3 and Euro 4. And even with Euro 5 specification, there is not further increase in RON.

So that takes care of the fuel query and also ensures that there will be no Detuning.

Source(s): India switches over to cleaner petrol, diesel
Indian Gasoline Specification by Auto Industry in India.

I totally get your point sir. Was just trying to infuse some wry humor. I may just have stepped into 40's but I sure have a heart and physique of 20's Am slim built, 5'10" tall (hope the Duke doesn't throw me off it saying - You are a misfit!)

Good to know there would be no detuning. Hope Bajaj does not Indianize the Duke too much. As far as fuel is concerned, as you rightly pointed out regular petrol is around 91RON and we have premium fuels too. Hopefully it should take care of the "Right" fuel issue. Adding Toulene etc may not be everybody's cup of tea, not mine for sure. (Carrying a bottle of toulene around? lol)

That should rest all the detuner's doubts

are we ready for 26hp/20NM/125kg Duke 200 then?? hang on guys, i'm sure it's gonna be fun!

all the tech specs are great, but the thing pricing if the pricing doesn't comes under 1.5 it won't be fair choice

no man its available in Big cities

IMO the lower FE, lower tank capacity and sparse distribution of RON95 petrol bunks on our Highways may affect its touring capability somewhat(correct me if wrong).

very true and with adulteration, Indian fuel quality is not the same as what you get outside.

yes man, we can only Hope

don't know if adding toluene improves octane rating and its effects on the Engine but its not readily available for sure as its a major contributor of so many innocent deaths around the world


just my opinion



RIDE SAFE

Frankly i think 1.6-1.7L OTR is a pretty decent price for those specs!