The deed has finally been done, Bajaj has pulled the covers off the Duke 200 at last and let us have a go at it. For a motorcycle which was developed and built at Chakan, near Pune, it’s almost ironical that we get to see the Duke 200 last. And now that I’m done complaining about that, let’s move on to the bike itself. I can’t say I was pleasantly surprised to see how KTM the Duke looks in the flesh, I’m not just talking about the orange paint job, because like everyone else I’ve followed pictures on the web and even got to see one at the recent Tokyo Motor Show. The smashed in headlamp, the short seat, the high rear fender sitting on top of a monoshock, the upside down front forks and the tank decals – they all look fantastically aggressive.
But it’s the go that had been the talking point in office ever since the specs were announced. A 200cc, liquid-cooled engine, making 25bhp and pushing around a bike weighing all of 136kg it truly staggering. The central digital console displaying all relevant information with a host of warning lamps peppered around it reads out an ominous ‘Ready to Race’ as you turn the ignition on. Unlike most bikes which have been neutered by emission norms, the Duke manages to pull of a crisp exhaust note out of the short exhaust.