KTM 125 Duke BS6 vs Yamaha MT 15 BS6: Competition Check

The KTM 125 Duke and Yamaha MT 15 are arch rivals in terms of pricing and body style. Both motorcycles are targeted at the young audience who desire an aggressive-looking and decently powerful street naked. Now that these contenders are BS6-compliant, we check out which one outdoes the other on the specification and feature front. 

Design and Features

The 125 Duke and MT 15 both sport a combative, street fighter-like stance with sharp lines and contours across the body work. However, the MT looks more novel with a radical front end. The predator eyes-like LED DRLs along with a beefy fuel tank and extensions make it slightly more appealing. Whereas, the 125 Duke borrows its styling from the previous-generation 200 Duke which has remained the same since 2012. 

The competition is neck- to-neck when it comes to features. While the MT 15 is equipped with LED projector headlamp and LED DRL, the Duke gets halogen bulb with AHO (automatic headlamp On). However, the latter comes equipped with LED turn indicators which the former misses out on. Both bikes get an LED tail lamp. The MT 15 gets a fancier-looking negative LCD display, however, the Duke’s conventional LCD shows more information. 

Engine

This is where the MT 15 leads the battle by a considerable margin. It is powered by a larger 155cc, liquid-cooled motor which produces 17.9bhp and 13.9Nm of torque. The highlight of this motor is the VVA (variable valve actuation) technology which allows the motor to rev higher and more freely. On the other hand, the Duke is propelled by a smaller 124.7cc, liquid-cooled engine which makes 14.3bhp and 12Nm. Both bikes get a six-speed gearbox but the MT 15 is benefited by an assist and slipper clutch which aids in safer aggressive downshifts.

Cycle Parts

It’s a completely different story in the hardware department where the 125 Duke is premium by several notches. Riding on 17-inch wheels, the Duke is underpinned by a steel trellis frame while it is suspended by WP-sourced upside down forks and a monoshock. It also gets a better braking setup with larger discs, measuring 300mm up front and a 230mm at the rear. 

The MT 15 is based on a Deltabox frame which is suspended by telescopic forks and a monoshock. A 282mm disc up front and a 220mm disc at the rear handle the braking duties. Furthermore, the Duke incorporates an aluminum swingarm as opposed to the box-type unit on the MT 15. The former also rides on wider 110mm and 150mm tyres while the latter sports 100mm and 140mm rubbers at the front and back, respectively.

Pricing

The 125 Duke is ideal for someone who wants to own a premium brand like KTM with top-notch hardware, impressive features and unintimidating performance. The Austrian bike maker retails the baby Duke at Rs 1,32,500 in India. Meanwhile, the Yamaha MT 15 is a futuristic-looking street bike with best-in-class performance, thanks to the VVA-equipped powerplant. However, it is also quite expensive with a price tag of Rs 1,38,900 for the standard colours and Rs 1,39,400 for the new white paint scheme. 

(All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi)