My previous and a first blog on Duke 200 was dedicated to my general but basic experience with the Duke. blog-link https://jfactors.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/ktm-duke-200-1st-800-kms-experience/
This one forms a first edit to it discussing about my experience with Duke in Mumbai traffic. For who is not aware, Mumbai is one of the important cities, and a Financial capital of India. It is located on the west cost of Maharashtra state, inhabiting about 12,500,000 people and 674 vehicles on road for every kilometre.
It has been about 18 days of ownership and got it first serviced yesterday @1200 km. Apart from short city rides with stuck-up and stopovers, thrice I was able to introduce Duke to a heavy Mumbai traffic.
Like any Metro, traffic condition at peak hours of Mumbai is crippled, and patience-less. But what distinguishes Mumbai among other Metros’ is inappropriate and poor infrastructure to manage it. Adding to this is a lack of driving responsibilities.
Anyway, point here is taking Duke under such condition is a severe punishment! I’ve pointed out in my last blog that engine runs hot promptly in heavy traffic or idling position. But again with any performance bike it is expected, and hence a need for a detachable fairing on Duke or a thick denim for a ride is more than ever.
Leaving the heating aspect aside the light weight makes Duke swift, manoeuvrable and easily controllable. Power band, gear ratio of the first four gears, underbelly exhaust and narrow design makes it shoot through available space, which is a bliss for a bike rider in Mumbai.
Features like broad zappers [tyres], light weight, riding position, long handle bar and disc breaks adds to quick getaway, breaking stability and cornering.
I’m still to gain some confidence on high speed breaking with Front and Rear discs. But once through that phase Duke is unstoppable!.. not for the sake of race but as a sheer riding pleasure and knock’in of machine at any rev adds up to your adrenaline.
After an hour n’ half riding through an evening peak-hour traffic experienced less fatigue and patience-drain [!!] than Pulsar 180 [2001 production model] that I own. But it does involve a consistent foot work on gears and break, it won’t be a ride easy as on CBR250, R15 or any other street bike but weight of Duke surpasses it’s stiffness.
A comfortable inner wear, full length trouser, good sitting posture and finally ample of riding experience is advised. Killing the engine on signals and congestion will help ease away high engine temperatures.
I wouldn’t suggest commuting with a pillion rider unless the passenger is she and that too your lean girl, or if you are prepared to ride at low revs.
KTM is marketing Duke 200 as only a ‘Street Bike’ and I’ve argued on this with a sales team on this. But now agree on this but to make it a perfect street bike they need to cover the engine, either with detachable bearing or with a thin ventilated fibre sheet that slips hot air to the ground instead of on the rider’s legs. Plus employing a short but sturdy clutch lever will be the appreciated alteration.
-J’Factor
J'Space 