-Big capacity Dukes expected
-Adventure range also likely to hit the market
-KTM used to sell the 790 Duke in India
KTM India is looking to launch some of its big-capacity motorcycles in 2025. The company is expected to launch these bikes in select cities only and isn’t looking to expand to Tier 2 and 3 cities for now. At present, the biggest motorcycle, in terms of displacement, that KTM sells in India is the new 390 Duke. It has a 399cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes over 40bhp and 39Nm. That is likely to change with the launch of the big-capacity bikes.
The probable launches that KTM could look at are the 890 Duke street naked, the 890 Adventure, or even the 990 Duke and the 1390 Super Duke. The 890 Duke is said to be a feature-packed, entertaining, and tech-loaded motorcycle. Its 100+bhp, parallel-twin engine is known for its performance, especially in the midrange. The KTM 890 Duke is based on the KTM 790 Duke that was on sale in India for a few months.
The 790 Duke was a proper thriller and deserved to sell in larger numbers. The issue was with the uncertainty around KTM’s first big bike in India, be it in terms of service or overall ownership experience. The bike also suffered a few electronic gremlins and heating issues, which KTM addressed. However, with the transition to BS6 norms, KTM didn’t bother updating the model considering the lukewarm response.
That said, with the big bike market showing steady growth and more people investing their money in fulfilling long-cherished dreams of owning a big machine, KTM India will be looking to capitalise on this.
The 890 Adventure will also play a big role in boosting the big bike business for KTM India. Adventure motorcycles, after all, have proven to be capable of handling whatever Indian roads and conditions throw at them. Big capacity ADVs feature among top sellers for this reason. The 890 Adventure, has been widely regarded as a good ADV for touring as well as riding off-road. If it is launched here, it will go up against bikes like the Triumph Tiger 900 and Suzuki V-Strom 800DE.
KTM India should also focus on training service personnel, revamping the showrooms, and working on parts availability to alleviate some of these concerns that big bike owners have in general.
Last but not least, KTM should look at launching the bikes at a competitive price, or better still, undercut the competition. Suzuki has already shown that this is possible by launching the V-Strom 800DE at Rs 10.30 lakh, ex-showroom.
