The KTM125 Duke launches

KTM has finally released details of its 125cc bike.  After teaser videos and concept art for the last few months official pictures and specs are now out.

While some of the concept art’s better details, such as the cool half and half coloured wheels are gone (shame),the bike still has plenty of style. It should make a decent mark on the entry level bike market and hopefully inspire kids to make the jump to two wheels.

Available to buy in Spring 2011, specs for the bike are below;

ENGINE
Engine type	1-cylinder, 4-stroke
Displacement	124.7 cc
Bore x stroke	58/47.2
Performance (homologated )	11.3kW @10,500 rpm
Max. torque	12 Nm @ 8,000 rpm
Compression ratio	DOHC
Starter /Battery	Electric starter
Transmission	6 gears
Fuel Mixture Generation	Electronic fuel injection
Control	4 V / DOHC
Lubrication	Preassure lubrication
Final drive	14:45
Cooling	Liquid cooled
Clutch	Multi-disc wet clutch, hydraulically operated
Engine Management	Bosch
CHASSIS
Frame	Chromium-Molybdenum trellis frame
Subframe	Steel
Handlebar	Steel tapered DM 26/22 mm
Front suspension	WP USD Ø 43 mm
Rear suspension	WP monoshock
Suspension travel front/rear	160/160 mm
Front brake	Disc brake Ø 280 mm
Rear brake	Disc brake Ø 230 mmr
Rims front/rear	3,00 / 17″ x 4,00 / 17″
Tyres front/rear	110/70 x 17“ x 150/60 x 17“
Silencer	Steel (KAT)
Stering head angle	65°
Trail	100 mm
Wheel base	1,350 +/-15 mm
Ground clearance	185 mm
Seat height	810 mm
Tank capacity	ca. 11 l (ROZ 91)
Weight (ready to race)	ca. 128 kg

A New Video of the KTM 125 Duke

Obviously trying, a bit desperately, to appeal to the ‘yoof” generation KTM has a new video up of its soon to be released 125cc bike, The KTM 125 Duke.

Despite the video’s apparent target market this looks to be an efficient sporty looking machine, and hopefully will encourage more young people to take up riding in the face of drastically falling numbers of new bikers.

Teaser Video for the new KTM 125cc ‘Streetfighter’

KTM have released a new teaser video showing its upcoming 125, currently called the ‘Streetfighter’ under testing and construction.  It looks like a great bike and could do big things for the company globally depending on its price when it comes to market.

The market for 125cc bikes is huge but can go unnoticed in Europe and the USA amongst the sportsbikes and big cruisers.  A great looking bike with decent performance could be also be a useful incentive for more young people to take up biking, espically with the numbers walking away from it in the UK at shockingly high numbers.

Follow news on the new bike on its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ktm125

New Ride The Wild Wind Information Page – The UK Bike Test

On the navigation tabs above you’ll find a new page featuring information about The UK Bike Test.  Yes the dreaded UK Bike Test, the one that breaks arms, almost causes fatalities, etc etc.  While the test may change at some point and a recent government committee reported huge flaws in its implementation and execution (RTWW reported on that here) for now we’re stuck with it and it’s not an insurmountable task.

With good training and a cool head the test is passable and hopefully the collection of DSA videos we’re featuring on the UK Bike Test page will help.  RTWW is in no way justifying the new test or the scandalous way it was introduced leading to jobs losses at training companies, but the future of UK biking will be badly affected by the loss of tens of thousands of new bikers that have turned away from taking the test in the last several months.

Motorcycling is under attack from so many different angles at the minute from Brussels Buffoons and some of our own Government expenses rich rip-off  merchants, that RTWW wouldn’t want the next excuse to curtail motorcycling to be that the lack of people becoming bikers shows it to be a ‘niche hobby’ and therefore ends up being restricted to a track.  I know that sounds a bit heavy but we have to defend and nurture our lifestyle, because if we don’t I don’t have faith that the organisations that are supposed to are up to the job.

So check out the new test, sign up, pass it and get out there on your first big bike.  Ride Safe and have a great weekend!