What was sounding more like a rumour a couple of hours ago might be a reality in the months to come, as KTM has decided to launch the 125cc variant of the Duke 390 in the Indian market very soon, according to a report from auto publication Zigwheels.
The report mentions that dealers have confirmed that the 125cc powered, entry-level Duke two-wheeler is India-bound and will be hitting our shores by early 2019.
There have been no revelations in terms of price and design but in all probability the upcoming Duke will sport a similar design to the existing Duke 390. The report also says that the new Duke will come with LED headlamps and a full-colour TFT instrument cluster.
The expected price of the bike is pegged to be around Rs 1.25 to 1.50 lakh and will most probably be manufactured at Bajaj’s plant in Chakan, Pune.
The first Duke 125 was launched back in 2011 and is already being manufactured in India, except most of that is exported to the European market. But, considering it shares most of the components with its elder brother, most people expect the pricing of the upcoming 125cc Duke to be on the higher side.
In terms of specifications, the 125cc Duke in Europe comes with a 125cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine capable of churning out 15PS of power and 12Nm of torque. At the helm of it all is a 6-speed gearbox.
Pricing will be key for KTM, especially when you’re offering a 125cc engine, which is mostly recognised with brands like Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj and TVS in the country. And most of those eyeing this bike are likely to go for its performance-centric nature that the KTMs are revered for.
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