The KTM Duke 200 2017 is an eye candy and is more fun to ride than to look at. The Duke is my first brand new geared motorcycle which I got a couple of months ago. Previously I have had a Honda Dio (2012 model) and a second hand Suzuki Fiero (2001 model) in my possession which were instrumental in my biking experiences.

You don't burn petrol, you just melt my heart.

This is my personal and a non technical review or more like a ownership experience so I will not be going into specifications of the bike as such. This is one of the latest in the 2017 lineup that KTM has to offer in India so far, and I have to say it's exhilarating.

Orange is the new black.

A main distinction between this model against the old ones are specifically the BSIV compliant engine and an add on of AHO (Automatic Headlight On) technology, rest are aesthetic changes like different designs for the stickers and some colour changes.

Cuts over curves.

I am a 5.5 in terms of height and this was a main concern for me as the bike is fairly tall with the seating position. I can comfortably balance the bike with both legs, but it gets tricky when it comes to taking the bike out of parking, especially if the front is sloping downwards as the height and weight of bike demands of bit of effort. I feel the seats are slightly better as they are softer than the previous models.

Conventional. Not.

Every part fits beautifully.

The riding position is fairly comfortable with handlebars working easily with the length of the fuel tank, although I would recommend riding gear for longer rides exceeding 100 kms. In my opinion every part of the bike is of premium quality compared to any other Indian bike in the same range.

Quality speaks for itself.

Attention to details.

The digital dashboard is a complete informative window into the bike with all the needed info like RPM, temperature, speed, fuel level, next service, average riding time, average mileage in real time, average kms that can be covered with the fuel left, litres per 100 kms used in real time, and much more.

A compelling character.

The brakes are really powerful on both the wheels, except for when you wash the bike as the discs tend to slip for a while after the wash. Talking particularly about the front brake, it is very sharp and sensitive and I would recommend some time to get used to it before pushing the bike to its limits.

All that torque against the disc.

So that's my take on the new Duke 200 2017. Let me know what you think. Any suggestion, comment or discussion are welcome. Thank you for your time.

P.S. Equipment used is a Sony alpha a6000 with a 35mm prime lens.