The KTM 125 Duke, 125cc Bike News from Austria
Currently one of the biggest rumors in the Asian motorcycle community is the possible KTM 125 Duke, the KTM 125 Duke was first shown to the public during the EICMA 2009 motorshow in Milan. KTM is best known for it motocross and off-road style motorcycles, over the years KTM has introduced more road going motorcycles and the KTM 125 Duke, which seems to be sharing a lot of style features of the 2011 KTM 690 Duke.KTM's business continues to go from strength to strength, with some brilliant new motorcycle models. Despite the global financial crisis holding the motorcycle industry in a tight death grip, KTM has reported healthy financial figures for the third quarter operating results 2009/10. This is a remarkable turnaround for a company who had its worst ever operating year 2008-2009, resulting in production line closure, staff lay-offs and Bajaj Auto Ltd of India, one of the world’s biggest motorcycle producers, becoming a KTM shareholder.
The orange Austrians are no strangers to 125c road machines. On the first of May, 1955, just two years after the founding of KTM, two 125cc KTM's roared their way to victory and second place in the international Rupert Hollaus Memorial Race on the Salzburg Autobahn. So even before KTM's off-road successes, the road motorcycles from upper Austria were already out there and winning. Nearly Fifty-five year later, the decision was finally made in Mattighofen to design and built two new 125cc road going motorcycles.
The KTM 125cc Duke is powered by a liquid-cooled, DOHC 4-valve, four-stroke, single-cylinder 124,9cc engine. For performance KTM only said that the performance is in-line with people should expect from a sport motorcycle from KTM. The Austrians also informed us that 2011 will bring a whole batch of other new motorcycles from KTM, including complete new for 2011 road going motorcycles with engines sizes of 250cc and 350cc.
Click here for the promotional video for the KTM 125 Duke
Richard