Bajaj seems to have a thing for flying colours. Fast colours in motorcycle-dom, that is. First it was Kawasaki green and, more recently, the brightest shade of orange in motorcycling in the form of KTM. With the imminent launch of the KTM Duke 200, Bajaj invited us for a special preview of the Indian-made Austrian motorcycle at the Chakan track, and boy oh boy, did we have fun! While you will have to wait till January for the official launch to get your own gloves on the little Duke, here’s a little something so you can go about your daily business for the next few weeks, dreaming of an orange world. Let’s get down to it, shall we?
IF LOOKS COULD KILL...
...the Duke 200 would be a blade-wielding assassin. No guns and curves for this Austrian, only slashes and edges that make your eyelids peel themselves back in an effort to get a better look at the bike. Never has a more dramatic-looking mini-motard seen light of day anywhere, let alone in India. With an exposed trellis frame, upside-down forks, underslung exhaust, fat tyres and KTM streetfighter bodywork, the Duke 200 is a born showstopper that also has a hint of supermoto in its silhouette.
And thanks to the superb cast aluminium alloy swingarm, the white monoshock peeking out from under the seat, the thin-spoke wheels or the neat little tail lamp, you will find many delightful little details that will keep you engrossed for hours between rides. The forged foot levers are brilliant and the bright orange ‘Racing KTM’ on either side of the engine is simply sigh-worthy.
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