the season begins... Which means: sun, barbecues, aperitifs, but of course... Motorcycles, dry roads, crazy angles, and miles to go!
a LITTLE ONE IN A BIG WORLD
for the start of this year, we're pulling out all the stops! A few phone calls and e-mails and I'm at the KTM importer's (a first for the son of the famous "Belgian Oli"). I'm greeted directly by a lady, and after one or two signatures, I'm finally on the 125cc super star of the moment, the KTM DUKE 125!
At first glance, you notice the sleek, sober lines. But also aggressive... The muffler is positioned under the engine, giving you a great view of the bike from every angle, so you can admire the legendary KTM chassis. A simple but effective speedometer, because it's so wide. A natural position (even for a 1'96" tall man), and the large handlebars make for an excellent grip.
aLL SOFT
anyway ... I turned the key and hit the gas. I immediately noticed that the noise was more flattering than some 125s. The torque is fairly soft, but beware, the beast proves ferocious once you get it up to speed! of course, the top speed remains worthy of a 125 ( +- 120 km/h ), but the fishing really surprised me.
oN THE ROAD AGAIN!
here we are, off for a ride on a beautiful Sunday, with our Gopro's fully loaded, our best combis out and a full tank of petrol (note the excellent autonomy of the 11-litre tank and low fuel consumption)... What else?
I start slowly, as this is the second time I've had a bike on test, so I prefer to get a good feel for it first. About ten kilometers were enough... Now it's time to attack!
The wide rear tire for a 125 gives me confidence, so I put my elbows out and start to feel like Shakira with my body swaying in every bend! Incredibly, the Duke and I are one and the same! This bike has that little something extra that allows even beginners to quickly feel at ease on it.
Well, it's got to have its faults! I'm going to test the emergency braking... Well, once again, I was very surprised, as the brakes respond very quickly and with great force, and the ABS is a real plus and shows itself to be very present.
Unfortunately, after a good hundred kilometers, I'm starting to feel that my legs are a little too big, and so I can't put them in the place they should be...
Personally, I think this last point is really a matter of taste. It didn't bother me that much, but opinions differ from one person to another. And there's only one negative point (apart from the price of 4.210 euros...) for so many positive points, I think it's all right, it doesn't do too badly.
to conclude, I'd say that the KTM DUKE 125 is really a bike for everyone, whether you're a beginner or a thrill-seeker who likes to ride small bikes. Its charm will slip in everywhere, and its peachiness will let you taste the pleasures of the road. The brakes and riding position will make you feel right at home on the bike.
What more can I say? See you for more tests!
Nico the Belgian - Manufacturer's photo
helmet
Gloves
jacket
braking
Chain kit
Oils
Find an intercom
Parts
Luggage
Tires
France
Bikers' reviews Leave a review - 37 reviews
Up to 3.5 / 4 on freeway.
Because yes, mademoiselle goes on the freeway. Average speed: 110. Very maneuverable, very light. Rises effortlessly after a fall, perfect for the Paris ring road, the A86.
Accelerates sufficiently to escape in urban situations.
aBS connector problems, SPI seal leaks out of box (€50 incl. labor).
little equipment available. SW Motech makes very good crashbars on this model. A 30-liter Motech bag fits on the passenger seat.
hard saddle, unpleasant after an hour. Its shape tends to project forward, with optional kiwi crusher. Efficient position: Street Race (frog + cross start + counter-steering) ° Often stalls in slow gear. Because of 15 hp Mono or wrong setting?
spare parts are moderately expensive (€50 for a clutch lever) and readily available from Esprit KTM, but there are few official physical dealers in France.
consumes a lot of oil -> top up every month if used regularly.
huge goodwill.
° More medium-displacement than moped.
impractical parameter buttons.
aBS can be deactivated.
older brand motorcycles available with ABS -> Reduced insurance costs.
° Encourages stupidity :3 Last trip: Paris -> Toulouse with Autoroute, Nationale, départementale and country roads. Allows a lot on medium roads (winding at 80), and forgives mistakes on country roads (10% hairpins with moss/gravel).
CONCLUSION: If you want to have fun at a reasonable price, it's perfect. You'll need to pay more attention to maintenance than a Japanese motorcycle. Rating : 5/5 Respond to Gallak
For those of you who are experts on this model
I bought one to start riding a motorcycle
But I would like to change the pot
What do you recommend?
Thank you for your answers Rating : 5/5 Respond to Petale972
Lousy reliability; the mill has 6000 km and consumes 1.5l of oil for 2000 km! Unheard of for KTM's charlots, that's normal!
The electronic gadget that serves as a dashboard is out of order
In short, this bike is just a big ruin! Never again KTM! Rating : 1/5 Respond to moimême
Après les perfs c sûr c pas un foudre de guerre entre 110 120
Big max without headwind and on the flat otherwise you stay at 100 kmh!!😨ms ke voulez vs ..125cc..
Faut faire le gros cube...
Otherwise it won't go any faster.... Rating : 4/5 Respond to Nono
i have the same problem as you; the bike often stalls even when hot when i arrive in second gear, the ktm mechanics haven't found anything wrong.
mine is from march 2017
Rating : 3/5 Participate in the conversation
I've decided to buy this beautiful duke 125 and I really recommend it, the engine doesn't weaken and revs up quickly. Rating : 5/5 Respond to Brunosolo
Rating : 4/5 Respond to cesar75
i'm really disappointed with this KTM product, which is supposed to be a reliable brand.
first of all, you absolutely have to replace the original tires; as modjo said, these tires become real soapsuds in the rain.
the bike's center of gravity is clearly too high (it's even worse with a passenger) and the rear of the bike is really too light, which makes it dangerous with very little angle...
and finally, the materials are of inferior quality, bordering on the "made in china", which means you have to buy a whole series of parts for a bike with just under 10,000 km on the clock, and which has been sleeping in a box since its very first kilometers!
In conclusion, I'd like to say that this is a very good bike for Sunday riding without attack, when the weather's fine and above all... when it works, because yes, electronics often get involved (it's getting to be a lot for little pleasure)
personally, I no longer trust KTM Rating : 1/5 Respond to jenacheteraiplu
Rating : 5/5 Respond to Neshy
For those who dream of debriding or putting a 13 sprocket, nothing will change because it's not a 2-stroke and the gears are calibrated by electronic breaker. As for those like fred who says he's done 16,000km with no prob = he must be paid or working at ktm =KakaTadeM... lol Rating : 1/5 Respond to modjo
As for the guy who says that the tires are like soap, well, how can I put it, maybe the original ones, but personally, when I got it back, I put better quality Michelin tires than the basic ones, and they grip very well
Mine's got 25,000 km on it and I can tell you it's still purring along just fine
From the echoes I've had, it's better to buy from 2014 because the parts are of better quality, as is the general assembly. They won't have the recurring problems of the <= 2013 models
Rating : 5/5 Participate in the conversation
- Hs spinnaker seals (1500km)
- Cracked coolant reservoir cap!
- Valve spindle leaking (even this...!!)
- Hs battery
- Soapy tires (dangerous on wet roads)
- Shifted electronic gear calibration
- Unmanageable gear shifter
- Engine does not exceed 105 km/h
- No mapping available for debriding or upgrading
- etc etc, non-exhaustive list....lol Rating : 1/5 Respond to modjo
I turned it back on the next day, and it worked like a charm.
Has anyone ever had this problem? Thanks in advance. Rating : 1/5 Respond to Elbenilo
I also have a lot of problems with my Duke (bought new
). The original alternator was faulty, so after 300 km the bike stopped, I had to call the dealer to have him come and help me, then it's impossible to put the bike in neutral and the dashboard screen goes off by itself (only solution: stop, switch the ignition off and on again and hope that the screen doesn't go off 200 m further on). I'm very disappointed with the quality and finish, especially considering the price this 125 costs.... Rating : 1/5 Participate in the conversation
in 2 years, I've easily spent 1,000 euros on maintenance (spinnaker kit, clutch, chain kit, tires, 3x overhaul), and now I'm bored with the electronics, so for me, good engine, but unreliable and lots of little defects, too bad it makes me no longer want to buy a ktm (at least the ones made in india) Rating : 2/5 Respond to Lolorider
Rating : 5/5 Respond to charlie
A chassis in the same vein and mounted on the same engine as the YZF R125, but in a carbureted version!
And given that it's currently on clearance and can be found for half the price of the Duke... :D Rating : 4/5 Respond to Digitalhiro
Rating : 3/5 Respond to jeff25
-reliability is far from top-notch, coolant leaks, fuel pump (for 2011 models) no longer indicates tank content.
-maximum speed is very optimistic, given that the fastest models hardly reach 125km/h, due to a very sluggish sixth gear.
-Badly cut deco kit for the tank!
To conclude; very good bike BUT without all these annoying problems... ( maybe the new versions are more reliable ?? ) Rating : 3/5 Respond to kloffel
I've never come across one on the road, and sometimes it intrigues me. I know that a lot of people are looking for one, and I understand that, having tried all the 125s on the market...
A little slow to warm up. The choke is essential for starting, whatever the season. It's a shame? but perhaps the machine needs a good tune-up. That's on the agenda
Hi Rating : 5/5 Respond to PLR
Thanks Rating : 5/5 Participate in the conversation