KTM Duke 200 or Yamaha YZF-R15 v2.0

[ScotlandJames]

Hi everyone, i am James from Scotland (as if my name didn't give that away already) and this is my first post, i am 25 and am now living and working here in beautiful Singapore, i have full car license and a bike license but due to not having held it for over a year (the bike license) i cannot convert it here so will have to start from scratch and get a 2b bike first, Anyway i have looked around and on youtube, other forums etc but i cant seem to find a comparison between the KTM Duke 200 and the new Yamaha R15 (150cc), probably because one is a naked bike and the other is a Sp bike

 

what i would like from u guys is any advice u can give on these bikes as i am planning to buy one new soon.

 

I need to use it for my work commute and also in my daily working day, i work and live east coast loyang/pasir ris but alot of my customers and employees are over on the west coast at tuas/jurong area.

 

so if u have opinions or experience with these 2 bikes please let me know what u think in terms of comfort, performance, upgrades u feel are needed or not needed. and just how they are to ride around in singapore, peak traffic and for fun at evenings and weekends. I am leaning towards the yamaha if i am honest but nothing is certain yet.

 

i should also mention i havent had a chance to see either first hand yet as i am having to work this weekend so obviously i will get a better idea of what feels good when i go in person but for now any advice u can give would be greatly appreciated.

 

also i am about 6 feet tall and i understand these bikes are not a bad size for low cc bikes anyone else as tall as me riding these?

 

Thanks in advance guys and sorry for any typing errors,

 

James

[Whathefish]

Hi james,

i m a duke 200 owner here. Never try R15 before so don't know anything about it.

the only advantage i can think of getting a yamaha over a ktm would be yamaha have a better resale value than a ktm.

For me the duke is quite comfortable however the same cannot be say about the pillion seat so if u riding solo most of the time i guess it don't matter.

performance wise 0-100km/h around 9 seconds, top speed i tried was 135km/h but still can be push further. fuel consumption is good, about 35km/L depending on the riding pattern.

Upgrade wise there is alot of KTM powerpart to play with. it's a quite a fun bike v light weight despite it's buff looks. and the fat rear tyres give u confident to lean into a corner however i would recommend changing the stock tyres as not v good in the wet. i my opinion it's great fun commuting bike.

I'm 1.84 meters don't how many feet is that to me the bike feel just nice.

if u are really interested u can view my bike before u decide on getting which one. lastly Ktm duke had great owners club u can join too.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SgDukers/

i hope this helps

[ScotlandJames]

Thanks for the reply, i started talking to some dealers and the 2 people i spoke to at AS Phoon totally ruined any chance of me buying that yamaha from them, they were rude, and werent even interested in giving me basic details over the phone and were trying to force me to come in to see them in person even though the bike in question isnt available to view in their showroom only in warehouse stock.

 

anyway my 2 choices now are still the duke 200 and the aprilia rs4 125 going to take a closer look at both this week, yamaha seems to be a nice bike but refusing to give AS Phoon any of my money after thier attitude

 

on the other hand as has been mentioned alot between the different sections Lino from Mah Pte talked to me in great detail and then sent me an email to summarize what we has spoken about, great guy and very good customer service from him, definately brought the Aprilia to the front of my choice list based on his service alone, AS Phoon could really learn a thing or 2 about customer service, never going to buy from them even if they had the best deals in Sg

[charlescharles]

Duke 125 owner here. Its been more than a year and still loving every moment with it!

 

Drop by at dirt wheel, they do test rides (at least a year ago they did). I have done 10k with my bike and can't complain about their service!

 

I believe a youtube video exists comparing the bikes in your 1st post, pitted threesome against the cbr.

 

Keep us updated whichever bike you get!

 

I wanted the aprilia rs4 back then as well but it wasnt available. Yamaha R125 on the other hand was insanely expensive!

 

In retrospect, over the two bikes i am glad i chose the duke!

 

Saving up for a triple or v4 next year but the thought of letting my duke go, i am already feeling sad

[ScotlandJames]

anyone can point me in the direction of any good dealers that sell the duke 200? i seem to be having a hard time finding it lol

[Whathefish]

Maybe u can give looi's motor a try they have the Yamaha R125 in their showroom which i think look so much better than R15 if u r still keen on getting a yamaha.

the sales person are v friendly too

[charlescharles]

anyone can point me in the direction of any good dealers that sell the duke 200? i seem to be having a hard time finding it lol

 

Ktm.com.sg

[frozenpenguins]

Duke.... the riding posture is much more comfortable than a R15's or any sportsbike for a big guy...

 

but of course $-wise, I think the duke is more expensive. I was quoted $14k OTR for a brand new duke 200...

[nongsao]

Consider the Pulsar 200 NS. Made by the same manufacturer that produce the Duke200 but at half the price. I think on the road about $7+K instead of the duke200 at $14K.

 

Nice looking bike also.

[ScotlandJames]

to tell the truth, money isnt really an issue, as i will be using this for work my boss has agreed to pay the 30% downpayment (i am an expat so i dont get the 10%) and i can manage up to $500 per month for payments,

 

i actually looked at the aprilia rs4 125 today and the duke 200 in person and the deals i have been offered are as follows:

 

Aprilia rs4 125

 

OTR $13,300

free arrow exhaust

free full face helmet

2 year warranty

free remap

big bore kit available but would void warranty

 

down payment $4000, pay over 2 years $419 p.m

 

 

Duke 200

 

OTR $13000 +/-

Choice of either grip protectors/slider set/ full body sticker set (get away from orange and black paint job)

nothing else included

 

down payment with singapore guarenteur $4000, without $6500, payments for 2 years the same if $4000 deposit

 

 

Pros and cons:

 

Aprilia-

 

pros:

 

IMHO best looking bike in class 2b

replica model has alot of nice upgrades as standard: upgraded disks, better and fatter tires, quickshifter, single seat cover included

good weight

good rising position for a sports bike

superb km/l

 

Cons:

terrible top speed and acceleration even with mods

being a sports bike the distance u can move the wheel fro full lock left to right is poor so trying to move around traffic at slow speeds isnt that easy.

no fuel gauge

possibly not the easiest first bike to drive

 

DUKE 200:

 

Pros:

high cc for class of bike

very good torque and bhp

good acceleration

excellent seating position

very informative display

due to weight and seating position probably very easy first bike to ride

 

 

Cons:

 

1 color only

doesnt look as good as the aprilia imho

restricted to 135 kmh and derestricting voids warranty

certain parts dont look as well built or as affluent as the aprilia (grips look bad, black plastic everywhere on body, very visable welds on frame)

no legal exhaust and most of the available mods/accessories are cosmetic only

 

these are my feelings as of now (unfortunately having no license yet and the fact most of these bikes are for show and not to be ridden) i cant say which is better to be on, but as for the pros and cons, to tell the truth if the aprilia had more power and therefor top end speed ot better acceleration i would go for it hands down, however as it doesnt it brings this race alot closer and i simply have no idea what to pick.

[Whathefish]

if u r looking for power why not consider Rs 125 instead of rs4 125

[ScotlandJames]

i did, however as this is the last year they are making it, it means parts will be harder and harder to come by, and that will really affect resale value, the riding position is much more forward and track oriented making commuting a *****, and on a personal level i like the low pitch exhaust not of 4 stroke as opposed the the super high pitch of a 2 stroke

[haoKR]

I think by the time u get ur lic,there will b more beta 2b bike out there for u to choose

Currently out there,the nice 2b sp are rs125,rs4 125,r125,derbi 125.IMO

Any consideration on a mito 125?

[yavimaya]

[frozenpenguins]

James... your boss is paying for the DP... no more questions... get the Duke and derestrict it...

[ScotlandJames]

haha ye i think i decided on the Duke but the problem is if i derestrict then it voids my warranty and then if any problems i have to pay myself which i dont want to do hehe.

 

i went to DW but they only have one sticker kit (decal kit) and it looked black and red and to be honest i dont really like black and red/orange,

 

i was going to remove the stickers and get the frame and current orange parts painted white, do u think this would really hurt the resale value?

 

also i know this is a torquey bike but is the acceleration good? i mean would u say this is the fastest accelerating 4t class 2b bike?

[frozenpenguins]

haha ye i think i decided on the Duke but the problem is if i derestrict then it voids my warranty and then if any problems i have to pay myself which i dont want to do hehe.

 

i went to DW but they only have one sticker kit (decal kit) and it looked black and red and to be honest i dont really like black and red/orange,

 

i was going to remove the stickers and get the frame and current orange parts painted white, do u think this would really hurt the resale value?

 

also i know this is a torquey bike but is the acceleration good? i mean would u say this is the fastest accelerating 4t class 2b bike?

 

well... wait till the warranty is over then derestrict it then...

 

ask DW how much more for them to respray for u...

[PhAnToM76]

only problem I have with the Duke200 is that it rides too hot... feels like my knees are on fire.

[stfu]

Get the duke. Makes commuting more fun and looks hooligan!

[Jehuty]

only problem I have with the Duke200 is that it rides too hot... feels like my knees are on fire.

 

Wait....a single cylinder too hot???

[stsoh]

only problem I have with the Duke200 is that it rides too hot... feels like my knees are on fire.

 

tats becoz stock setup is running lean.

lean fc, engine run hot, too lean will be very very hot (maybe this is your case).

check ur spark plug electrode tip, tip will be white (indication of lean fc).

only solution is to remap fuel setting richer, if u can find one electronic device to adapt.

set it so tat spark plug electrode tip is brown or tan.

black tip is rich, sooty is too rich.

[HeavySpirit]

2B Phantom FTW! Haha.. If you have the Moolahs, then go for something you really like.. Both bikes are stylish and cool.. But I'd take the Duke over the Rs4 125 anytime.. 2 Cents worth..

[danielb]

only problem I have with the Duke200 is that it rides too hot... feels like my knees are on fire.

u need to ride faster. get more air cooling. or change the coolant to water wetter

[zuhair]

this is better. http://www.singaporebikes.com/used_bikes/9135/rieju_rs3_125/

[khairul06]

CBR 150r 2011 is a nice bike too for 2B. =)