Motorcycle specifications KTM125 DUKE 2018 Attack on the city

For its first evolution, the KTM 125 Duke didn't pull any punches. As if to prove that it's the most unbridled (so to speak) 1/8th-liter ever, the little Austrian has given itself a major facelift for 2017, with real Superduke 1290 bits thrown in. Enough to turn it into a real class moth.

you'll never look at this Duke the same way again. Its sharper profile, more assertive shapes and more nervous rear end make it a first-rate machine. The cladding is taut throughout, snapping and modelling its vehemence on that of the big 1290 roadster. It feels both bigger and more dynamic. The fork head threatens, the shoulders jostle, the contents emancipate. Like the rear loop of the frame, proudly displaying the company's emblematic orange, and now bolted to the main structure. Or the side-mounted exhaust. To comply with Euro4, it's not certain that there was enough room under the engine.
KTM took advantage of the changeover to modify the rider and passenger foot plates, enlarge the saddles, increase the fuel tank capacity by 2.4 liters (13.4 L), fitted an LED headlamp, simplified the sabot, retouched the front mudguard and improved certain components.

the same goes for the fork. Still supplied by WP, this 43 mm diameter inverted model promises to be lighter and easier to maintain, but still without adjustment. Shock absorber, swingarm and brakes remain unchanged. The little Duke is equipped with disconnectable ABS, a 300 mm front disc clamped by a 4-piston radial Bybre caliper, and a 220 mm rear disc.
Like all the others, the engine has had to comply with standards. A minor touch-up to the injection system and a new exhaust system enable Euro4 certification, without any loss of power. The enthusiastic Austrian single develops 15 hp at 10,000 rpm, 500 rpm lower than before.

In addition to its styling, the KTM 125 Duke makes a big impact with its new dashboard. Nothing less than a color TFT screen, worthy of much higher-end models (1290 Superduke R, SuperAdventure, Triumph 800 Street Triple R & RS, Yamaha R1, Honda CBR 1000, Ducati 1200 Monster, etc.). Note that the device can connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth thanks to the optional KTM MY RIDE, managing calls, the audio player, displaying notifications on the dashboard with handlebar control. A powerful argument for the young clientele for whom this Katoche is primarily intended.

this update also means a significant increase in weight, with 9 kilos added to the biasse. Almost a trifle compared to the obvious appeal of its new plastic. The KTM 125 Duke is both more comfortable and more geeky, reinforcing what it already has and making its lines more striking. There's no reason to turn your nose up at this machine, apart from a price tag that places it among the more 'cosseted' 125s.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos