Thumb the starter on the KTM Duke 160 and the first impression is of familiarity – those tense lines, sculpted tank and sit-in stance that signal ‘Duke’ before the wheels even turn – yet there’s also a welcome lightness to how it picks up and changes direction at parking speeds and in the first hundred metres. That easy agility is backed by a chassis brief that reads serious on paper – trellis frame with bolt-on subframe, lighter five-spoke wheels, hollow axles and geometry that’s a shade sharper than the bigger siblings – so the bike feels eager without getting nervous when the pace rises.

Within a few blocks, two things set the tone for daily life: a clutch that’s genuinely light and progressive and a gearbox that slips through ratios cleanly, letting short, tidy shifts replace the usual 160cc thrash – helped by a slipper clutch that takes the drama out of hurried downshifts when traffic opens and closes without warning.

What stands out

The Duke 160 looks and feels like a proper Duke – tense lines, sculpted tank, sit-in stance – and backs it up with a genuinely light and eager front end thanks to the trellis frame, lighter five-spoke wheels and sharper geometry. The motor’s real-world strength is tractability and in-gear urge rather than fireworks off the line; timed roll-ons of 30–70 kmph in 6.8s (4th) and 9.1s (5th) make short overtakes easy without constant downshifts, echoing the sentiment that it feels brisk between gaps more than it feels explosive from a standstill.

Braking hardware is a headline win: a 320mm front disc with braided lines and dual-channel ABS (rear channel switchable) gives bite and progression few 160s can match and it shows when hustling or panic-stopping in town.

The everyday reality

At 815mm, the seat is on the taller side for an average-height rider; those around 5ft 8in may tip-toe at awkward cambers, though the wide bar and neutral pegs help low-speed balance and leverage in traffic. The clutch and gearbox pairing is excellent – light, smooth and confidence-inspiring – so creeping traffic and quick, clean shifts become second nature within minutes of riding. Lever placement is not perfect from the crate; both the gear and brake pedals could use a quick adjustment during PDI to better match different boot sizes and ankle angles, which takes the edge off initial niggles.

Ride and features

Suspension tuning leans towards control with acceptable compliance: the Duke stays planted and keen to turn, yet retains enough travel to keep sharp edges from jarring too much in the city, though rougher patches still remind that it’s set up to feel taut rather than plush. Thermal management is a positive: a larger radiator surface area helps in slow-moving traffic and while the fan cycles in dense conditions, heat never tips into discomfort during typical urban use in this test window. The monochrome LCD with a dot-matrix pane is clear in bright light, offers all the basics at a glance and the microswitch cubes feel a cut above the class; Bluetooth navigation remains an accessory, which keeps base weight and price in check.

Verdict

Against the Yamaha MT-15 V2, the Duke 160 trades efficiency for feel: the Yamaha is lighter and significantly more frugal (users often report 50+ km/l), while the KTM bites harder on the brakes, feels more planted at the front and pulls stronger in mid-gear bursts on paper and in practice. The KTM’s 19PS and 15.5Nm edge the Yamaha’s 18.4PS and 14.1Nm and its 320mm rotor dwarfs the MT’s 282mm, but the MT-15 counters with lower kerb weight and everyday economy advantages that matter to commuters. If weekly highway runs and traffic sprints define the brief, the Duke’s chassis feedback, brake feel and roll-on pace make a compelling case; if fuel economy and a lower seat are top priorities, the MT-15 remains the pragmatic pick and price positioning in on-road terms still favours the Yamaha in many cities.

In short, the Duke 160 is not the outright quickest feeling 160 off the mark, nor the most frugal, but it is the most ‘KTM’ in the way that matters: front-end feel, braking confidence and mid-gear urge that make real-world riding more engaging and assured than the spec sheet alone suggests. It could do with lower seat options from the factory and cleaner lever ergonomics out of the box; sort those and it becomes an easy recommendation for riders who value control and character over kilometre-per-litre bragging rights.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has recorded its highest-ever monthly sales volume, delivering 132,244 units in May 2026, up 3 percent YoY, as compared 128,897 units sold last year.

The milestone performance was driven by an all-time high in domestic dispatches alongside steady growth in international export markets.

Suzuki Motorcycle India saw positive momentum in both the domestic market and exports. The company sold 110,028 units in the domestic market, up 2 percent YoY, while exports came at 22,216 units, up 5 percent YoY.

In addition to whole vehicle distributions, the manufacturer's spare parts division recorded financial gains. Spare parts sales generated revenue of INR 953.60 million in April 2026, marking a 14 percent growth rate over the prior year's corresponding month.

The volume growth highlights the impact of rising customer demand and SMIPL's expanded market outreach. Moving into the next phase of the fiscal year, the company plans to focus on brand activations and targeted engagement initiatives to maintain momentum.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “SMIPL’s strong performance in May 2026, marked by the highest-ever monthly sales, reflects the positive response to our products and services in the market. The domestic growth highlights the impact of a customer-centric approach and sustained engagement efforts in building deeper connections. Going forward, the focus remains on further enriching customer experiences through impactful engagement initiatives and brand activations.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has reported total sales of 518,777 units for May 2026, marking a 12 percent YoY growth compared to the 465,109 units sold for the same month last year.

The sales include 459,611 units in the domestic market, up 10 percent YoY, while exports came at 59,166 units, up 24 percent YoY.

The company's performance indicates steady demand across the automotive two-wheeler market, supported by a product portfolio and a retail network of over 7,000 corporate touchpoints nationwide.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chennai-based mid-sized motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield has its wholesales 103,231 motorcycles for May 2026, which marks a 15 percent YoY growth compared to the 89,428 motorcycles sold last year.

Interestingly, while domestic sales experienced a strong double-digit growth, international export volumes faced a downward correction during the month.

The company sold 94,115 motorcycles in the domestic market, up 24 percent YoY, while exports declined by 33 percent to 9,116 units.

Royal Enfield is also gearing up to further scale up its production with plans to acquire a land parcel in Tada, Andhra Pradesh, for a new greenfield manufacturing facility. The planned investment of approximately INR 25 billion is to be deployed in a phased manner to augment long-term production capacity.

The OEM also officially expanded its 650cc mid-size motorcycle portfolio by launching the Bullet 650 across India, Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and the Australia-New Zealand (ANZ) regions.

B Govindarajan, Managing Director, Eicher Motors and CEO, Royal Enfield, said, “We are carrying our momentum in FY27 with continued growth in Q1, despite the prevailing macro-headwinds. This month was exciting for us, as we strengthened our product portfolio with the Bullet 650. The Bullet is the world’s longest-running motorcycle in continuous production and has garnered the love of riders across generations. The all-new Bullet 650 carries that legacy forward authentically, retaining the soul and unmistakable design philosophy of the Bullet. Another significant business milestone in May was the announcement of our plans for a new manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh to support our long-term projected growth. We also continued to deepen our presence in international markets and engage our riding communities through initiatives like the biggest-ever Himalayan Odyssey and the sixth edition of the Continental GT Cup.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company (TVSM) has reported its highest-ever monthly sales milestone, delivering 566,585 units in May 2026. This marks a 31 percent YoY growth compared to the 431,275 units sold last year.

The performance saw historic highs in both international business exports and electric vehicle (EV) distributions.

Last month, the company’s two-wheeler wholesales grew by 31 percent, rising from 416,166 units in May 2025 to 543,111 units in May 2026. This includes 384,565 units in the domestic market, up 24 percent YoY, from 309,287 units in the corresponding month last year.

Interestingly, both the motorcycle and scooter segments registered a robust 30 percent YoY and 32 percent YoY growth, respectively.

In the three-wheeler category, TVS Motor Company recorded a 55 percent growth, with sales increasing to 23,474 units in May 2026 from 15,109 units in May 2025.

TVS Motor Company saw its highest-ever monthly EV sales volume, recording 43,632 units in May 2026. This marks a 56 percent growth trajectory over the 27,976 electric units sold in May 2025.

Concurrently, the company’s total International Business sales hit a new peak, expanding 49 percent to 175,991 units against 118,437 units in the prior year's period. Out of the total export volume, international two-wheeler sales accounted for 158,546 units, representing a 48 percent increase YoY.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!