KTM Duke 200

Despite the fact that the KTM Duke 200 available in Malaysia is still the first-ever model which hasn’t undergone any major design change all these years, the motorcycle still manages to look aggressive and unique in its segment. However, save for the new decals, the absolutely no changes brought to this model makes it look a bit dated, especially after the fact that the all-new second-generation model is already on sale in some other countries.

Nevertheless, the KTM Duke 200 still manages to make a strong case for itself, with its lean and aggressive stance. The motorcycle looks quite tall from the front when compared to other sub-200cc motorcycles, with a vertically aligned Y-shaped headlamp, which is a halogen unit and gets a small rectangular pilot lamp below it. There are slim panels beside either edges of the headlamp, which complete the front fascia of the motorcycle.

The KTM Duke 200 looks very sharp when viewed from the side, with the razor-sharp extensions for the otherwise slim fuel tank catching the majority of your attention here. These tank extensions make for really usable knee recesses even for taller riders, which is a good thing. With very slim side body panels on the sides below the seat, the charcoal-grey themed engine and partially exposed trellis frame look at their best here.

While moving towards the rear, the KTM Duke 200 impresses with its unique looking aluminium swing-arm and underbelly exhaust. The rear tailpiece of the motorcycle looks slim as well, and ends up with a very small LED tail lamp, with clip-on pillion grab rails flanking the pillion seat. There is a long fender attached to the tailpiece at the rear, which houses the number plate holder with LED illumination as well as mounts for LED turn indicators.

The KTM Duke 200 further impresses with the level of equipment it has for the rider’s cockpit. On offer is a small orange-backlit LCD instrument console, which offers fully digital readouts for speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, clock, gear indicator and super informative MID. While this little unit is super informative, the small fonts for the information on display are not so easy to read while on the go. The backlit switchgear is another nice addition to the list of standard kit on the KTM Duke 200.

KTM has made no compromises on this front, for the Duke 200 is packed with top quality chassis components. Designed around a trellis frame, the KTM Duke 200 has got 43mm upside-down hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and monoshock with aluminium swingarm at the rear. A 300mm disc at the front and a 230mm disc at the rear are there for bringing this little pocket rocket to a halt.

The KTM Duke 200 has been fitted with the smallest engine in the KTM Malaysia’s family – a four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 199.5cc engine, which is paired to a 6-speed gearbox. The engine, with the short gearing for the transmission, pumps out 26.2 PS of maximum power and 19 Nm of torque.

Given its entry-level positioning in the KTM lineup, the KTM Duke 200 misses out on many prominent safety features which can be found in more premium siblings of it. The presence of engine kill switch is usable on stop-go traffic situations, while the backlit switchgear comes handy while riding in low light conditions.

Despite no major changes in its design ever since its inception, the KTM Duke 200 still manages to be one of the sharpest and most feature-rich motorcycles in the sub-200cc category. The free-revving engine, as well as top-class machinery which the motorcycle is equipped with, makes the deal even more relevant.