Bajaj, which bought a 14.5% stake in Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM last year, is now said to be finalizing plans to bring a select few KTM motorcycles to India. KTM manufactures high-performance dual-purpose, street-oriented and supermoto-style bikes, which are powered by KTM’s own single-cylinder and v-twin engines.
Speaking to some journalists from automobile magazines, who were recently taken to Austria to test-ride KTM motorcycles, it seems the first KTM bike to be launched in India would be the 690 Duke. Powered by KTM's 65bhp, 654cc single-cylinder 'LC4' engine, the 690 Duke is likely to be appreciated by sportsbike enthusiasts in the country.
Bajaj is expected to import CKD kits for the KTM 690 Duke, which will then be assembled in India. Prices, of course, have not been announced yet, but the 690 Duke retails for the equivalent of about Rs four lakh in Europe, so it should cost around Rs 5-6 lakh in India, taking import duties into account. Expect to see the bike in Bajaj Probiking showrooms by Diwali this year.
Apart from the 690 Duke, Bajaj may also sell other KTM motorcycles in India, which, to begin with, may be imported as CBUs from Austria. Bikes like the RC8 – KTM’s top-of-the-range superbike – could come to India by mid-2009, and is likely to cost more than Rs 12 lakh on-road.
Bajaj KTM Bikes Photos:
KTM EXC-F 250 Bike
KTM 990 Superduke
KTM 990 Adventure Bike
KTM 690 Supermoto Bike
KTM 690 Duke Bike
Speaking to some journalists from automobile magazines, who were recently taken to Austria to test-ride KTM motorcycles, it seems the first KTM bike to be launched in India would be the 690 Duke. Powered by KTM's 65bhp, 654cc single-cylinder 'LC4' engine, the 690 Duke is likely to be appreciated by sportsbike enthusiasts in the country.
Bajaj is expected to import CKD kits for the KTM 690 Duke, which will then be assembled in India. Prices, of course, have not been announced yet, but the 690 Duke retails for the equivalent of about Rs four lakh in Europe, so it should cost around Rs 5-6 lakh in India, taking import duties into account. Expect to see the bike in Bajaj Probiking showrooms by Diwali this year.
Apart from the 690 Duke, Bajaj may also sell other KTM motorcycles in India, which, to begin with, may be imported as CBUs from Austria. Bikes like the RC8 – KTM’s top-of-the-range superbike – could come to India by mid-2009, and is likely to cost more than Rs 12 lakh on-road.
Bajaj KTM Bikes Photos:
KTM EXC-F 250 Bike
KTM 990 Superduke
KTM 990 Adventure Bike
KTM 690 Supermoto Bike
KTM 690 Duke Bike
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