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KTM 160 Duke Review: The New Boss Of The 160cc Class
Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM recently launched the all-new 160 Duke in India with a starting price of ₹1.85 lakh (ex-showroom). This new 160 Duke replaces the discontinued 125 Duke as themost affordable bike in KTM's India lineup.
With the introduction of the 160 Duke, KTM is targetting the likes of the Yamaha MT-15 and TVS Apache RTR 160 4V. We recently got our hands on a KTM 160 Duke in Bangalore and here are our thoughts about it after a few hours in the saddle.
KTM 160 Duke Review – Design & Features
The KTM 160 Duke follows the sharp, muscular design language seen across the Duke family. The bike features a sculpted fuel tank, split LED headlamp, and aggressive lines that give it a streetfighter look. The exposed trellis frame adds to its sporty appeal and enhances stability.
At the rear, the 160 Duke sports a compact tail section with an LED tail-lamp and split grab rails. The step-up seat is designed for comfort and support, while the overall stance is upright and ready for city riding or weekend outings.
The 160 Duke comes with a LCD instrument cluster that pairs up with the KTM Connect App through Bluetooth and allows for turn-by-turn navigation, and call/music control.The new KTM 160 Duke gets LED lighting all around and is offered in three colour options - Electronic Orange, Atlantic Blue, and Silver Metallic Matte.
KTM 160 Duke Review – The Mechanical Bits
The KTM 160 Duke uses a new 164.2cc, liquid-cooled motor makes 18.74bhp at 9,500rpm and a peak torque of 15.5Nm at 7,500rpm. The new engine, essentially a bored down version of the one on the 200 Duke, is paired with a 6-speed gearbox aided by a slipper and assist clutch. KTM claims the 160 Duke can accelerate from 0 to 60 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
The 160 Duke features a lightweight split trellis frame which is suspended off 43mm WP upside-down forks at the front and a preload-adjustable WP monoshock at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a 320 mm front disc brake and a 230 mm rear disc brake that are aided by single-channel ABS. The KTM 160 Duke rides on 17-inch alloy wheels shod in 110/70-17 (front) and 140/60-17 (rear) tyres.
KTM 160 Duke Review – Riding Impressions
On the move, the KTM 160 Duke feels instantly feels every bit as sharp, aggressive, and performance-focused like its larger Duke siblings. The 160 Duke offers quick acceleration off the line and the engine offers up 80% of its peak torque under 4,000rpm, which makes it quite usefuel in the city. However, the top end of the bike, post 6,000rpm, just doesn't feel that strong.
The suspension setup can feel a bit stiff at slower speeds and you can feel the bumps and ruts on the road. However, at higher speeds the bike does manage to smoothen things out a lot better. The brakes, on the other hand, feel quite nice offering more than adequte bite.
KTM 160 Duke Review - Final Thoughts & Verdict
The all-new KTM 160 Duke comes in as a replacement for the discontinued 125 Duke and it feels like a big upgrade in every sense of the way. The new 160 Duke is aggressive when you need it to be and can also be a somewhat decent everyday motorcycle. With a starting price tag of ₹1.85 lakh, the new KTM 160 Duke is a bike tou should definitely shortlist if you're looking for a sporty bike for your everyday commute.
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