KTM upgrading the 125 Duke for 2023

[advrider]

According to German outlet Motorrad, KTM is revamping its smallest street machine for the European market—a machine that’s been basically unchanged since its intro in 2007. If they are correct, the KTM 125 Duke will see big changes for 2023, a revolutionary update to the motorcycle versus evolutionary modifications.

125 Duke gets big changes

A new single-cylinder engine of unknown displacement takes its place in the bike’s frame. Spy photos show a powerplant having a completely different look mated to a new exhaust with an under-mount catalyzer and a stub tailpipe exiting in front of the rear wheel. The setup looks similar to KTM’s 200 Duke for the US market.

The bike’s frame looks to be a total redesign. According to Motorrad, the previous version’s lattice tube configuration will be replaced by a “screwed-on diecast aluminum element. In the same vein, the subframe also changes from tubes to cast aluminum.

There’s also a new banana style, diecast aluminum swingarm, and adjustable WP fork legs. The bike also gets KTM’s insect head and eye headlight setup. In addition, there are new cast wheels with a five-spoke design. Interestingly, the bike’s radially mounted front brake disk moves from the left side of the bike to the right. It also seems that the little Duke has graduated to a full TFT display. Finally, you’ll also find that the bike’s bodywork has been revised, although what’s in the spy shots might only be there temporarily.

It should be noted that Motorrad’s photos are merely spy shots, so how they know the bike is destined for a 2023 unveiling is not clear. However, some of the new Duke 125 elements seem to appear on the 2021 KTM Duke 200 (which is available in North America). That could mean that KTM has already done some of its Duke 125’s production homework when it released the Duke 200.

 

 

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