Small-capacity motorcycles are gradually taking root in our country. Just recently, on my first trip, it was not cool to drive something with an engine of less than 500 cc. But modern motorcycle schools instill in students the understanding that driving skills are not acquired during the training period, and it is better to fall and crash into something at low speed. Part of the popularity of this technology was provoked by all sorts of Alphas and Saburs that poured straight from Chinese assembly shops. Although it is worth noting that there are worthy representatives among them. But today we will talk about the star of its class, the Duke of Austria or simply - Ktm 125 Duke.
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KTM 125 Duke: roadster, 2010, 124.7 cm³, 15 hp, 118 kg 3500 euros (in Europe).
KTM 125 Duke: roadster, 2010, 124.7 cm³, 15 hp, 118 kg 3500 euros (in Europe).
Yes, by origin the youngest of the “Dukes” (Duke (English) - Duke, editor's note) is not a purebred Austrian at all, but at least a third... Indian! Yes, yes, the Indian company Bajaj Auto currently owns 36 percent of KTM's assets, and this figure is growing every year. But something else is important - the Indian and Austrian owners of the concern embodied in the “little lord” their vision of a machine that would be accessible to beginners both in terms of money and the requirements for driving skill. But at the same time, the car, as it should be in Austrian aristocratic families and the highest Indian castes, carries every single family trait: from the name and appearance to excellent characteristics. It is embodied like this: the idea and development are Austrian, production is in India, but not without the key participation of K quality control. The result is a cool and inexpensive “street”. Yes, 3500 euros is significantly more than what they ask for the Honda CBF 125 (its price on the European market is about 2300 euros), but, excuse me, can Honda boast of an injection four-valve “water” engine? No! What about a monoshock and WP inverted fork, a birdcage frame and both disc brakes? No! But Duke can not only boast, but also demonstrate this entire arsenal in action. I won’t sing praises about the car’s appearance - look at the photos and you won’t notice how a slight smile will decorate your face. In general, the car is assembled according to the principle of “from the world” - in addition to the famous suspensions, there are Chinese Jingfi wheels, Michelin tires (which, however, will soon give way to the coolest Indian MRF), and the Italian Dell'Orto injection system (controlled by " brains" Bosch made in India), and a Polish openwork cast pendulum.
The engine is designed with an eye on the 250SX crossbike, and the layout is accordingly similar. The dimension 58x47.2 mm was chosen with the expectation of a future increase in cubic capacity: when installing a new piston and stroker kit, the dimension increases to 72x49 mm, the working volume - to two hundred cubic meters, and the power - from 15 to 24 forces. Now you understand why the engine needs a four-valve “head” (compare the cylinder diameter of 58 mm and the valve sizes: 22.5 mm inlet and 19 mm exhaust. Does it inspire?) Note, even on a 125 cc machine the power is limited to fit into that category of motorcycles ( up to 125 cc and up to 15 horsepower inclusive), which in most European countries can be driven with a car license. Although, perhaps, a serial “200” will soon appear, intended for the Asian and South American markets. The important thing is that to upgrade you do not have to redo the chassis or change the exhaust - everything was initially done with a specific reserve.
And the little Duke turned out to be quite a full-size car: the wheelbase is 1350 mm and the saddle height is 810 mm. And the “seventeenth” wheels add shine to the appearance. The seating position is straight and, importantly, comfortable even for tall people, and this applies to both the driver and the passenger, for whom the “tail” is equipped with a full-fledged saddle. Your knees rest in the niches of the 11-liter gas tank (with an average consumption of 3 liters per hundred, the range is about 400 km), and your hands seem to grab the black-and-red handles themselves.
The engine, an “octagonal” engine with a solid forged crankshaft and a forged piston, sets new standards in dynamics for 125 cc cars. Moreover, such a height that competitors will get tired of jumping. There are no vibrations, because the developers did not skimp on the balance shaft. One and a half dozen forces and a dozen Newton-meters can easily accelerate the “Lordik” to 120 km/h, although on cars for the European market this figure will be reduced to a hundred, and for burgher Germany even to 80. But something else is more important: for normal driving it is not required constantly open the handle completely, unscrewing the motor to the cutoff. Thanks to the low degree of boost, the Duke does not suffer from a lack of traction at mid-range speeds - even for such a small unit the term “elasticity” is applicable. Both power and torque are fully realized by the perfectly working six-speed gearbox and perfectly controlled clutch. Having accelerated to the maximum 130 km/h, I was not worried about anything for a second - the car was stable, like a big motorcycle, and did not suffer from a lack of directional stability or lubricated handling. Even a hint of wind protection in the form of a semi-fairing repels the oncoming flow upward, which gives relief to the neck muscles. Although it’s not the right speed for your neck to get very tired. But this is for us, the experienced ones, and the necks of beginners will highly appreciate the “visor” behind the tidy. The latter, by the way, is perfectly readable and does not suffer from the paucity of indicators. Even with my weight of 83 kilograms, I have never experienced a lack of traction - I repeat, for an “octagon” the engine performance is simply excellent!
The pendants are a complete delight! Although, what else can you expect from a space frame, a 43-mm WP shifter and a monoshock that works, although without progression, but with a cast aluminum swingarm, one glance at which is enough to make sure of its rigidity?
As for the brakes, here too the highest score: two discs on cast wheels with a diameter of 280 and 230 mm work in tandem with Bybre calipers (the Indian division of the famous Italian Brembo) - four-piston (with radial mounting!) at the front and single-piston at the rear. Low center of gravity, diamond rigidity of the chassis, suspension performance that meets the best expectations... sometimes you just begin to doubt: is this really a 125? After all, in the camp of “octagons” we have long been accustomed to seeing a kind of “under-cycles”, suitable only for moving from point A to point B, but here we have a full-fledged, self-sufficient driving machine!
So who is the new Duke created for? Yes for everyone! This motorcycle will bring pleasure to both beginner and experienced riders alike. The main thing is that it contains an excellent combination of modern and high-tech solutions, but unlike large and powerful cars, the “little lord” is not arrogant, without exaggeration, its enormous potential is available to everyone, and you don’t have to be of blue blood to feel it.
Driving experience
We've looked at the technical specifications of the Ktm Duke 125, let's move on to more pressing issues - how the bike feels on the road. It only took a couple of hours to understand all the nuances and features of the ride. On the second day, the motorcycle becomes familiar and completely understandable.
Ergonomics – the driver’s seating position is a kind of compromise towards the shrimp-like state. However, it is still quite comfortable, especially since the rider is not threatened by long-distance maneuvers, and in the city you simply won’t have time to get tired in such a position. The response of the knobs and switches is excellent. Everything turns on, survives and reacts quite predictably. Even when unscrewing the throttle, out of habit, you expect at least some kind of reaction in the form of acceleration, but here it comes almost instantly. The mirrors are small, but you can see exactly as much as you need.
The dashboard is a tiny display, despite its size, it contains a huge pile of important information, of which you can only view the current speed while driving. This is a classic flaw in the line, which does not interfere with driving at all, since the car is indestructible, unpretentious, and there is no need to especially look after it. Nevertheless, there are located on it:
- transmission indicator;
- fuel level;
- motor temperature;
- daily mileage;
- watch;
- average and current fuel consumption;
- duration of the trip;
- mileage before maintenance;
- a number of indicators (overheating, low voltage, excessive oil pressure, etc.).
You can control all this using keys, there are only two of them. Fortunately, you can choose your own set from the variety presented. There is also a blinker that you can customize as you wish.
Exhaust – at low speeds the exhaust sound is low, even a little bassy. To those who don’t know, it may seem like they are facing a serious, high-speed moocher. But as soon as you spin up, an obsessive buzz appears, which you can only get rid of by switching to a higher gear, fortunately there are 6 of them.
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The Duke 125 prototype has been noticed more than once at international motorcycle exhibitions, but only now the model has gone into production.
But not only the appearance of the “little lord” carries all the family traits inherent in the older “dukes”: the character of the car fully reflects all the aristocratic manners. The Duke 125 prototype has been noticed more than once at international motorcycle exhibitions, but only now the model has gone into production. But not only the appearance of the “little lord” carries all the family traits inherent in the older “dukes”: the character of the car fully reflects all the aristocratic manners.
What is a motorcycle?
The first and most correct question is – what is it?
We answer - the KTM 125 is a naked class motorcycle, designed for beginner motorcyclists, motorcycle schools and just for fun. There will be a lot of fun here, since, despite all its modesty, the engine produces 15 horsepower, spins up to an incredible 9500 rpm, and all this is flawlessly controlled thanks to a unique, expensive suspension. In Ktm Duke 125, the specifications are really outstanding like the top speed is 130 and the city consumption can be as low as 2 liters. The icing on the cake is the appearance of the bike - it almost completely copies its older brothers. Distinguishing the 2017 Ktm Duke 125 from the nearest Duke 390 is not so easy in person, and even more difficult in motion. The result is a bike that doesn't look compromised or stripped down, but instead shines for every dollar spent.
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During the production of the Duke 125, no less attention was paid to the details than to the main components and assemblies.
But it’s the little things like a beautiful tank neck, a newfangled exhaust under the engine and elaborate forms of the tidy that increase the brightness of the colors of the main emotions from communicating with the car. And what is that strange black “bubble” near the monoshock absorber? This is a tribute to Euro 5 - a catalytic converter. During the production of the Duke 125, no less attention was paid to the details than to the main components and assemblies. But it’s the little things like a beautiful tank neck, a newfangled exhaust under the engine and elaborate forms of the tidy that increase the brightness of the colors of the main emotions from communicating with the car. And what is that strange black “bubble” near the monoshock absorber? This is a tribute to Euro 5 - a catalytic converter.
What is the bike not suitable for?
Despite all the delights of the KTM 125, there are a number of cases where it will be inappropriate:
Off-road – some people think that the Duke can perform well on dirt roads or in the field, but this is not the case. Such outings end not just in falls, but in serious damage and repair costs. For off-road you need endurics or pit bikes, such as Kayo 125; naked bikes are better left on the track.
In the ring there is a conditional restriction, since all that can stop you before visiting a sports track is your original tires. It is wide enough for its class, but its quality is not very good. Invest in a good set of tires and you can safely master cornering your motorcycle.
In the outback, one of the important points in the reliability of an Austrian is official service. This is a guarantee of its performance and the ability to repair any breakdown. When driving too far from the dealer, you can hear how days of downtime pass after some parts of the motorcycle break down.
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The engine is based on solutions for the 250SX.
The changes are aimed not only at reducing volume, but also at reducing loads on parts to increase service life. To install a tuning kit that raises the displacement to two hundred cubic meters, you don’t have to shake up the intake or change the exhaust tract. However, it will probably hit the market soon. The engine is based on solutions for the 250SX. The changes are aimed not only at reducing volume, but also at reducing loads on parts to increase service life. To install a tuning kit that raises the displacement to two hundred cubic meters, you don’t have to shake up the intake or change the exhaust tract. However, it will probably hit the market soon.
Advantages of the model
- The ultra-light rear suspension swingarm is made from cast aluminum.
- Durable and lightweight steel frame.
- The powerful single-cylinder engine is equipped with an electronic fuel injection system.
- No vibration at any speed.
- Reliable and powerful braking system.
- Powerful, reliable suspension.
- Resistant to side winds.
- Excellent maneuverability and controllability.
- Good acceleration dynamics.
- Economical fuel consumption.
- There are many accessories and additional parts that make tuning the device possible.
- Ultra-modern design.
- The quality of parts and assembly is beyond doubt.
- Excellent light optics.
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Perhaps the most significant contribution to handling is made by the pendulum - its rigidity is impeccable, and its length is almost half the base of the motorcycle.
The inside-out pendulum is not shy about flaunting its stiffening ribs. Although it is connected to a monoshock absorber without a lever “progression”, it does the job perfectly. Perhaps the most significant contribution to handling is made by the pendulum - its rigidity is impeccable, and its length is almost half the base of the motorcycle. The inside-out pendulum is not shy about flaunting its stiffening ribs. Although it is connected to a monoshock absorber without a lever “progression”, it does the job perfectly.
Flaws
- Not suitable for fans of high speeds (acceleration to 100-110 km/h is possible).
- There are a lot of plastic parts that are difficult to restore after falls and collisions.
- Not suitable for off-road use.
- There are official dealers only in large cities.
- The small size of the LCD display means that while driving you can only see the speed.
- Compared to sports motorcycles, it is inexpensive, but among naked bikes it is one of the most expensive.
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Thanks to its low weight and chassis designed for much more power, the Duke steers easily.
But with the “bicycle” lightness there is no lack of stability. Thanks to its low weight and chassis designed for much more power, the Duke steers easily. But with the “bicycle” lightness there is no lack of stability.
Technical specifications KTM 125 Duke (manufacturer data)
| COMMON DATA | |
| Model year | 2010 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 1350 |
| Dry weight, kg | 118 |
| Seat height, mm | 810 |
| Steering column tilt angle, degrees. | 25 |
| Gas tank volume, l | 11 |
| ENGINE | |
| Type | 1-cyl., 4T |
| timing belt | DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Working volume, cm³ | 124,7 |
| Dimension, mm | 58×42,7 |
| Compression ratio | 12,6:1 |
| Supply system | Dell'Orto fuel injection with flap Ø 33mm |
| Cooling system | liquid |
| Starting system | electric starter |
| Max. power, hp at rpm | 15/10250 |
| Max. torque, Nm at rpm | 12/8000 |
| TRANSMISSION | |
| Clutch | multi-disc, oil bath |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| main gear | chain |
| CHASSIS | |
| Frame | spatial steel pipe |
| Front suspension | inverted telescopic fork |
| Pipe diameter, mm | 43 |
| Stroke, mm | 160 |
| Rear suspension | pendulum with monoshock absorber |
| Stroke, mm | 160 |
| Brake system | separate, hydraulic |
| Front brake | disc Ø 260mm, 4-piston Bybre caliper |
| Rear brake | disc Ø 230 mm, 1-piston Bybre caliper |
| Wheels | aluminum cast |
| Front tire | 110/70ZR17 |
| Rear tire | 150/60ZR17 |
Half-Blood Prince: KTM 125 Duke
Who is it suitable for?
The KTM 125 Duke motorcycle is one of the best options for a novice motorcyclist. If you are faced with the question of buying your first bike and are not strapped for money, this is your option. Unlike the completely Chinese Yamaha YBR125, the Austrian stands better on the road, is noticeably faster and more versatile, as it allows you to feel in the middle category between classics and sports. Another popular competitor, the Honda CBR125R, also loses, since its seating position is far from the KTM 125 in terms of comfort. Also in this class, you can consider the budget Yamaha YBR 125, which began its history in 2004 and is produced to this day. You can list for a long time the disadvantages of competitors or the advantages of Duke, but the result is always one in its class and has no equal.
This is partly why experienced motorcyclists also buy it simply to frolic in the city, to calmly open the throttle at any time, hone their skills and not be afraid of the consequences. The final criticism of motorcycles is their condition, even on the secondary market. Owners of such bikes closely monitor their equipment, which means it will be difficult to find junk on the market.
Price and where to buy
- The cost of the new KTM Duke 125 2022 from official dealers is RUB 369,900.
- Judging by the advertisements on Avto.ru, Avito, Drom, used models in Moscow cost from 130 to 250 thousand rubles.
Dealer locations:
| Enduro Park | Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Shkolny lane 95a | 8-962-416-27-37 |
| Orange Store | Vladivostok, Tukhachevsky street, 64 | +7(4232)580759, +79084480759 |
| Nautilus | Irkutsk, Baikalskaya st. 241/1 | +7 (3952) 488 323, +7 (3952) 436 138, +7 (3952) 611 037 (service center) |
| Bike Land (Mozhaika) | Moscow Region, Odintsovo district, Novoivanovskoe district, st. Western page 6 | +7(495) 926-52-01 |
| Bike Land (Volokolamskoye Highway) | Moscow, Volokolamskoye sh., 79, building 1 | +7(495) 926-52-01 |
| Bike Land (Shchelkovskoye Highway) | Moscow, Shchelkovskoe highway, 5, building 1 | +7(495) 926-52-01 |
| Bike Land (MKAD 27th km) | Moscow region, Leninsky district, village of Blizhnye Prudishchi, possession 1, building 1 | +7(495) 926-52-01 |
| Bike Land (St. Petersburg) | St. Petersburg, Kushelevskaya road, 12 | +7 |
| Bike Land (Krasnodar) | Krasnodar, st. Dzerzhinsky, 199 | +7 |
| AOYAMA MOTORS | Volgogradsky Prospekt, 18, building 1 | +7 |
| Bike Land (Yaroslavskoye Highway) | Moscow, Yaroslavskoe highway, 27 | +7 ext. 1140 |
| Bike Land (Ekaterinburg) | Ekaterinburg, st. Moskovsky tract 8 km., building 3 | +7(343)3022787 |
| AOYAMA MOTORS (service) | Domostroitelnaya st., 4, building 1 | +7 |
| Bike Land Rostov-on-Don | Rostov-on-Don, blvd. Komarova, 28D | +7(863)3034143 |
| KTM 24 | Krasnoyarsk, st. Moskovskaya 32 | +76 |
| Major Auto | Moscow, Novorizhskoe highway, 8 km. from MKAD | +7 |
