The bright orange flanks scream out ‘DUKE’ at the top of their voices - the bike’s name is never going to be a mystery. The solid-looking forks and the substantial rubber play a big part in imparting a beefy air to the bike, while the traditional KTM face at the front establishes a clear link to the bigger hooligans from Austria. 

On niggles front, my personal favourite (and only) grouse are the clutch and front brake levers that look straight off a Pulsar - not happening. Brushed aluminium levers are a must, preferably in bright orange! There is also the saree guard/rear hugger unit. Deep inside Indian motorcycle companies’ headquarters, there exist top-secret Saree Guard Departments where entire platoons of designers and engineers scratch their heads in unison wondering how to put ugly metal grilles on good looking bikes. Credit to Bajaj, then, that I didn’t feel an urgent need to go looking for a spanner, though owners must remove it for purity’s sake. And in any case, the chances of a saree-clad person... er, lady finding her way onto that tiny pillion seat are slim.

And for those who’s like to stand out even further, Bajaj will offer a range of KTM Powerparts for the Duke 200 which consist of a bunch of cosmetic and performance upgrades. All with a healthy dose of orange, of course.

SINGLE AND LOVING IT! 

The engine, that is. It’s a 199.50cc lump of metal that was born for one purpose - to send waves of sheer joy to the rider each time the throttle is twisted. Featuring a double overhead camshaft layout that actuates four valves, liquid cooling and fuel injection, the Duke 200’s engine pushes out 25.48 bhp@10,000 rpm and 1.99 kgm@8000 rpm. This short stroke powerplant displays a rampant addiction to revs and loves to run headlong into the 10,000 rpm rev-limiter. 

MORE ON PAGE 3>>