First Look: 2024 KTM 125 and 250 Duke

Big overhaul for the smallest KTM Dukes

KTM’s Duke range has been a winner for the firm for most of the last three decades. A non-nonsense package of a high performance single or twin-cylinder motor in a lively lightweight chassis is always a winner, and bikes like the 990 Duke and 1200 Super Duke charted a course for the modern supernaked class.

2024 KTM 125 Duke

The firm’s experience in the dirtbike world was a massive help: the light, powerful engines, skinny chassis and premium suspension design used on KTM MX and Enduro bikes made a great foundation for hilarious road bikes, once you fitted tyres, wheels and brakes to suit the asphalt.

And in recent years, the firm has brought the Duke name to a smaller range of bikes, including the cheeky 390 Duke (see the 2024 update HERE), and a 125cc learner legal bike. Now, those entry-level machines have all been totally revised for 2024.

2024 KTM 125 Duke

Both the KTM 125 and 250 Duke share common chassis elements, which is fairly unusual – but makes sense. It means the 125 gets that ‘big bike’ feel, while the more powerful 250 benefits from a smaller, lighter chassis. KTM UK says it’s not bringing the 250 Duke into Britain officially – but there’s the chance of unofficial grey imports from the rest of Europe.

2023 KTM 125 Duke

Kicking off with the 125 Duke then, it gets a complete redesign, with new engine, styling and chassis. The single-cylinder engine range is now dubbed the LC4c – c for compact – and KTM says it has used experience gained in the previous generation to make them stronger than ever.

There’s an optimised cylinder head design, new transmission, and smaller dimensions, plus full compliance with the latest Euro 5.2 standards. Bore is the same 58mm as now, but the KTM spec sheet claims a tiny extra 0.1mm on the stroke, up from 47.2mm to 47.3mm, and a 124.99cc capacity instead of 124.7cc. We’re sure we’ll feel the difference on the road…

2023 KTM 125 Duke

The chassis is all new too, with a different frame design that has a steel tube section with a cast aluminium subframe, together with an offset side-mounted direct-action monoshock, rather than the central linkage of before.

That means a new cast aluminium swingarm of course, with a curved gull-arm layout. KTM says the side-mount shock is there to allow a bigger airbox and lowered seat height – just 800mm on the 125 and 250, which shows how integrated chassis and engine design has become.

2023 KTM 250 Duke

There’s a new triple clamp design, and uprated forks: the 125 has 43mm WP APEX USD non-adjustable open cartridge parts, while the 250 has Big Piston design forks. Both bikes have WP rear shocks with preload-adjustment only, and the radial-mount four-piston front brake caliper is by Brembo’s Indian sub-brand ByBre.

Cast aluminum 17” wheels carry a 110/70 front and 150/60 rear tyre, and the launch bikes have premium Michelin Road 5 2CT rubber fitted – nice.

2023 KTM 125 Duke

Electronics are as big a part of the story as ever, and the new mini-Dukettes are packed with the good stuff. That includes basics like LED lights all round and automatic resetting indicators, as well as a 5” TFT colour LCD dashboard with a TRACK display mode, ride-by-wire throttle and cornering ABS with Supermoto function.