Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

From what I have read, every vehicle which is rolling out of factory from January 01, 2015 comes under new excise duty. So probably the vehicles which are in the stockyard of dealers might be sold under old pricing. What say, correct me if I'm wrong.

On the move from my XSP

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

Hi!
I was given the same information from ktm guys at pune. They were actually trying to force me into booking before Jan 1st... but I can't be sure about how much the new hike will cost you...
I guess you can ask them after a week. And Congrats for bike... hope u get it soon...

Sent from my XOLO X910 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

They said the hike may be around 4-5k. Thank you for your wishes, my bike is getting delivered on Jan 10th or before

On the move from my XSP

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

Thats great... And if you don't mind can you share the final on-road price of your machine?

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

The final on-road price is 1,90,000/-, Bangalore


On the move from my XSP

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

Hi all, After taking intense test rides, doing a fair bit of research I am going on to choose Duke 200 for the following reasons, 1.Living in India and personally not being a huge fan of cruising at top speeds, Duke 390/RC 390 seems to be an over kill for both me and my budget. So 390cc taken off my list. But technically speaking, its the most powerful bike in India available now in this category. 2.RC was little too crouchy. Even though I am on little taller physique, for daily commuting in traffic, I felt RC wouldn\'t be feasible. Stopping at every signals, getting back again to the agressive posture - I wasn\'t too comfortable. And as it goes for pillion, I am sure I can get a lot of admirers but lesser pillion riders who would love to sit beside me. This bike is for lone wolf\'s, and now a days I dont wish to be the lone rider anymore. No offence guys, I can assure everyone that this is a masterpiece crafted with utmost care by KTM to give us a perfect track machine, but I am not looking forward to be a tracker not even for a hobby. So RC, sorry babe, you ain\'t my type. 3. Duke 200, awesome with all terms which I expect from a bike. So fixed on to be duker. But can someone share some disadvantages in taking Duke 200, for a long ride. (say 500 Kms a day). I just want only the disadvantages. Thanks all in advance a ton.

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

I love everything about the RC except those hideous headlights. Only reason i\'m planning on picking up the duke instead of the RC 200.

The main gripe with long drives on the duke/RC seems to be the need to refuel more often thanks to the small tank. You need to carefully plan the routes lest you end up stuck in the middle of nowhere with no petrol bunks in sight, or take to carrying extra/emergency fuel in bottles. the second issue seems to be wind blast. since we don\'t have a windshield, we\'re more prone to fatigue from the wind. I\'ve heard that the windshield offered by KTM in the powerparts store is sufficient but since i haven\'t tested it myself i can\'t say for sure.

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

Hi Everybody,
After all ideas put to gether, I choosed Duke 200. Got it delivered.
Awesome bike and thanks for all valuable opinions. I valued each and every one of your inputs and it was all having a huge impact on my decision.

And thanks admin for approving the thread.

@Admin : I can now get more information from other threads and discussions. I believe that the purpose of this thread is completed. Until or unless anyone has any objections, Admin kindly close the thread.

Thank you All.

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

I am in a similar confusion, the difference being 190 cc.
Yes I have decided to pick up a KTM 390 and confused between a Duke and a RC. I could not find any thread for the same and this was the closest thread to my requirement. Well I have read all the comments here but still looking for your opinion. Mods kindly shift this to the appropriate thread if I have posted in the wrong place.
A few points about myself and my requirements:
1. I'm 168 cm in height and 88 kg in weight.
2. I spend only half the year in India (4 months at a time) and for the 4 months I'm away there's no one to use the bike.
3. All 4 KTM's are within my budget (including the fuel costs).
4. Though my choice is between the 390's, I know there are some people who will insist on getting one of the 200's. Your opinions are welcome too.
5. My primary use will be leisure riding. Most of the time evening rides from Margao to Colva or Benaulim (for those who are familiar with Goa) and maybe the occasional 100 km ride.
6. I do not intend riding to Ladakh or Kanyakumari nor do I intend carrying my entire wardrobe, fridge, TV and microwave on the bike.
7. I do not intend doing any sort of stunts or racing on the bike (In any case Goa does not have racetracks).
8. I will be having a pillion rider most of the time.
9. I do not have a problem with a crouched position, hard seats or stiff suspension (I'm a cyclist and ride a road bike).
10. I would like to use the bike within the city sometimes.
11. I currently ride an Enfield 350 standard and an Activa.
12. Previously I have owned and extensively ridden a Yamaha RD 350, Yamaha RX 100 & a Hero Honda CBZ (1st Gen).
13. I enjoyed the Yamaha's more than the other bikes. I like to rev the bike a bit.
14. I have ridden the Duke 200 when it was launched and a friends re-mapped Duke 390 recently. Still waiting for the dealer to give me a Test Ride on all 4 stock bikes back to back. They have promised me a Test Ride on the RC 390 tomorrow.

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?


Buy the duke 390 it suits your requirements the best. I do have a few questions though,

1) I have heard the roads leading into and out of Goa are pretty bad, is this true? coz if so and if you intend to ride on those roads I should tell you that the dukes or RC's are not built to handle such roads.
2)You are aware that the pillion seats are the KTM bike's biggest letdown right? If not I thought I should tell you.

And lastly
3)Have you considered the ninja 300? if not its worth a shot.

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

Mind says so but heart says RC390.



Not been out of Goa recently so don't know. However in the last 3 years absolutely no maintenance has been done on Goa roads, so all roads in Goa are pathetic.

I am aware of it but just trying to select the better option of the 2. If it wasn't for the pillion, I would have gone for the RC390 eyes closed.

No. I had actually considered a Ninja 650. It was a second hand one done 14000 km and tyres replaced a short while ago for 3.75 L.

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

man you are getting a 650 for 3.75, I say go for it eyes closed (but mind open and senses sharp). Check the bike and make sure its in good condition and check for rust (take a look at anew 650 if you can for comparison).

If not then I'll tell you right now the RC390/200 will give you butthurt and will give your pillion aching wrists and discomfort on any ride longer than 50kms (assuming he/she has good stamina for long rides). Get the duke they are quite improved and niggles free now post their third year in the market with nice upgrades that solve the tandoori leg problem plus you can always get a gel cushion for the pillion seat. It'll be peace of mind.

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

My humble two cents from personal experience. (Own: Duke 390. Ridden: Duke 200, RC390)

City: all are similar. The 390 engine is much more relaxed and torquey, so you can accelerate even at lower rpms. Handling: D ~ RC. Depends on taste.
But in terms of comfort in stop start traffic: D > RC.
Highway: D390 > D200 ~ RC390 > RC200. The taller gearing massively improves cruising comfort. You're at a relaxed 5000rpm@6th at 100. But see the next point.
Windblast protection (@highway): Didn't find it obtrusive in the Duke. I generally stay below 130kmph, and almost always below 150. The RC would be better. Get a visor if it discomforts you. RC390~RC200>>D390~D200
Looks: subjective, but unanimously, RC200 > RC390 >> D390 >D200
Fuel economy: Obviously200>390, except for the highway, where the difference may be non-existent/reversed (depending on your speed and driving style). I personally achieved an average of 45kmpl over a ~40km stretch on my D390 on the highway, although that was because I was cruising at a mere 80km/h@6th for most of the time.

//edit: current best: 52kmpl over a ~10km stretch on the Bangalore Hosur road while riding at ~60-70kmph@6th.

__________________________________________________ ______________
EDITED:
1. As u/Faizan.ali points out, some people might like the black wheels of the 200 more than the orange of the 390. So maybe RC200>RC390>>D390~D200 would be more unanimous.
2. This is what I'd rated the highway earlier: Highway: RC390 > D390 > RC200 > D200. As u/Balgi pointed out, the RC's crouched seating position wouldn't be conducive to musculo-skeletal comfort on long highway drives, so despite its better aerodynamics it'd be a pain for longer journeys. I agree with him and have changed my opinion. (I personally hadn't ridden the RC on the highway for too long, so didn't get the chance to feel the wrist-back-neck pain)

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

Nailed it.

Although dont know why I always felt that D200 looks better when compared to D390. May be because my attraction towards black and the alloys in 200 being black.

Re: KTM Duke 200 vs RC 200?

while I find your opinion matches mine in all other aspects I have a problem with the above statement. The RC (200/390) are not comfortable on the highway at all thanks to its racing inspired seating. Especially when compared to the duke. If you have a range of 200 odd Kms on the Duke in terms of comfortable riding distance then on the RC that range effectively drops to 100 odd kms. More frequent pit stops and wrist and back pain from the seating position, cramped knees will be your biggest problems with RC bikes while on the duke thanks to its more upright riding posture you'll find that the above mentioned problems are felt less or not at all depending on your individual stamina as a rider.

So putting the RC in front of the duke in terms of comfort is unjustified plus the dukes generally return a higher FE than the RC bikes (by about 2-5kmpl) so overall the duke wins and the engine heat is only an issue below 50kmph so really no downside to the duke on the highway.