Skip advert
Advertisement

KTM Duke 125 review

KTM’s baby Duke offers more fun than the average 125; it looks great, goes well and wears all the right brand names

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

Pros
  • Looks
  • Price
  • Performance
Cons
  • Tall sixth gear

The 125 market started to get very stale after two-strokes became almost extinct. It needed something like the Duke 125 to get youngsters excited again. As such it makes a great learner-legal bike for a 17-year-old (or older) novice. It comes with all the latest technology, LED lights, ABS, TFT dashboard with built-in connectivity for a Smartphone and the kind of style reserved for the likes of KTM. As a user-friendly machine with enough street cred for the average teenager, you’ll find it hard to beat.

Advertisement - Article continues below

When it was launched in 2011 the Duke 125 was a turning point for KTM. For the Austrian off-road specialists it was their first on-road 125 and would quickly spawn both the 200 and 390 Dukes to bridge the gap between the larger capacity Duke models.

Built for KTM by the renowned Bajaj factory in India the price could be kept to affordable levels, whilst quality wouldn’t be compromised. The 2017 model has been brought bang up to date with a revised chassis and engine, enhanced quality and a fancy new TFT dashboard.

Engine, transmission and brakes 4.7/5

Making the permitted 15bhp, the Duke 125 is entertaining enough. The fuel-injected engine is lively, pulls very well and sounds great, even with the standard silencer (incidentally it’s side mounted now, rather than the under slung original). The KTM has a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox but most of the time the first five gears are enough, sixth is more like an overdrive for motorway or faster road use.

Brakes are powerful enough, they’re made by Bybre, a subsidiary of Brembo and have a quality feel along with the stopping power you’d expect. KTM were way ahead of the crowd (and Euro 4 regulations) with the Duke, it was the first 125cc bike to come equipped with ABS way back in 2013. It runs a two-channel Bosch system and as you’d expect, it works very well.

Performance, ride and handling 4.8/5

Ergonomically the Duke is built to fit, its seat height is fairly high at 830mm but the seat itself is narrow enough to make it accessible for shorter riders. The bike has a fairly comfortable riding position. The latest model places a bit more weight over the front end than the original model but the wide bars stop it from feeling cramped.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

52,849 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,900
View Qashqai
5008

2022 Peugeot

5008

46,225 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £18,506
View 5008
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

67,042 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,506
View Puma
EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC

Performance-wise the bike goes well, it accelerates quickly and although it’s not too loud, the exhaust note gives it a feeling of a larger capacity machine. You’ll see 70mph on the multi-colour TFT dashboard, a feature addedfor the 2017 model year.

The bike isn’t overheavy at 137kg’s but its weight is carried low down in the steel trellis frame, making it very easy to handle, it gets around corners well too. That’s thanks to great geometry, a stiff frame, WP suspension and upside down forks.

MPG, running costs and reliability 4.3/5

A few initial problems with the Duke have been overcome and the latest model has a quality feel about it. It comes with a two-year warranty for added peace of mind and is backed up by a nationwide dealer network. Carole Nash lists the Duke as a group 7 of 17 for insurance purposes, so it won’t be overly expensive to insure or run. The fuel-injected engine has been refined for 2017 so expect close to 100mpg if you’re taking it steady, not that many 17 year-olds will be of course.

Design, practicality and build quality 4.8/5

The Duke 125 costs just over £4,000, more expensive than many 125s but cheaper than some and you are getting a good-looking, useful and practical bike. Designed by the world-renowned KISKA Design Agency it was always going to look the part.

Aside from looking good (important to most riders), it’s also perfect for the daily commute, can be used in all weathers and doesn’t take much looking after. Build quality is very good (improved for 2017) and the list of accessories means you can personalise it to your hearts content.

Key specs and dimensions 

 

Model

KTM Duke 125
Price£4099
Engine124.7cc, fuel-injected, four-valve, OHC with balancer shaft
BHP15bhp
Torque9ft-lb @ 7,000rpm
Top speed70mph
Weight137kg
Seat height830mm
Suspension43mm USD WP front forks, WP monoshock
BrakesFront four-piston radial caliper, rear single floating caliper, two channel Bosch ABS
Fuel capacity13.4 litres
Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,075 off RRP*Used from £14,448
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,116 off RRP*Used from £18,900
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025