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RC 160 vs R15: KTM's Duke-in-RC's-clothing takes on Yamaha's entry-level darling
Photo: Autocar India
by Autocar India staff photographer· via Autocar India · Jan 9, 2026

RC 160 vs R15: KTM's Duke-in-RC's-clothing takes on Yamaha's entry-level darling

"It's a parts-bin special dressed up as a new model, which is exactly what this segment needed—honest engineering without the marketing theater."

— Revvly Take

KTM's recycling its 160cc Duke engine into the RC 200's fairing—a smart move that undercuts the R15 on price while borrowing chassis DNA from its larger sibling. The rider triangle gets sharper, the bodywork gets sportier, and the entry fee to KTM's RC family drops accordingly. Indian market street bike buyers now have a legitimate alternative to Yamaha's long-standing playbook.

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Autocar India staff photographer

Autocar India · Jan 9

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