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    2021 KTM RC 200 Enters Production – Spied Undisguised For First Time

    2021 KTM RC 200
    Ahead of its expected launch in Jan 2021, the all new KTM RC 200 has now entered production at the company plant in Chakan near Pune

    KTM has had a busy 2020, especially in India, where the brand launched Adventure 250 and 390 this year. Gave a minor facelift to Duke 250 and Duke 125. In comparison, the RC series did not get much updates. Except for a colour update a few weeks ago – they were more or less left untouched.
    But we knew, that something was brewing with the KTM RC range. There was a regular flow of spy shots – first from Europe, and then from South East Asia. Reportedly, KTM has been working on giving the RC 125, 200, 250 and 390 – a thorough update. From updates to the engine, to the design, as well as chassis – the 2021 model year KTM RCs will be a completely new machine.
    If it was not for the Covid19 pandemic, it is likely the new RC range would have already made their global debut – at the now cancelled 2020 EICMA. Just like how the 390 ADV made its global debut at the 2019 EICMA.
    2021 KTM RC 200
    First undisguised photo of the all new KTM RC 200 has now been leaked, thanks to Tushar – who has shared the photo on Rushlane Spylane Facebook group. The leaked spy photo of the 2021 KTM RC200 has been clicked on what looks like the production line. Considering that KTM RC, Duke, ADV motorcycles under 400cc are exclusively produced at the Bajaj plant in Pune – it is more or less certain that the photo is from the same plant in India. You can even notice Husqvarna motorcycles in the background.
    2021 KTM RC 200
    The lone spy shot gives a clear look at the front design. As noted in the spy shot, it gets a halogen unit – similar in design that is on offer with the Duke 200. The halogen unit is surrounded by LED DRL. There also seems to be a larger visor. Graphics are new, while the Black and Orange colour scheme is carried forward. Expect more colour options on offer as well.
    Design Updates
    If you notice closely, the disc brake setup in the front is different to the existing model. Instead of being attached to the wheel hub, the front disc is attached to the alloy-spokes. This is clearly noticeable in an early spy shot of new RC 200, seen below. In addition, there also seems to be a new rear subframe, side-mounted exhaust has been replaced by under-belly unit.
    2021 KTM RC 200
    In comparison to the current model, the changes mainly come in the form of a redesigned fairing, new set of wheels and larger windscreen. The fuel tank is noticeably bigger while the tail section is more ‘pointy’ than before. Of course, the TFT instrument console (probably with more functions) will be added as well.
    Engine
    Current KTM RC 200 engine in its BS6 form; is powered by a 199.5 cc single cylinder engine, rated to deliver 25 hp @ 10k rpm and 19.2 Nm @ 8k rpm. It is likely that the new RC 200 gets this same engine, as Bajaj – KTM has invested good enough in upgrading this engine to meet BS6 / Euro5 emission norms. This engine is mated to a 6 speed gearbox.
    We expect KTM to officially take the covers off the next-generation RC 200 in the coming weeks – most likely in Jan 2021. As has been the case most of the time, expect the bike to be launched first in India, followed by launch in other countries around the world. Prices are expected to start in the range of Rs 2.1 lakh, about Rs 10k more than the current RC 200. Later in the year 2021, expect the launch of updated RC 125, RC 250 and long-awaited RC 390 as well. More

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    KTM 490 Duke, Adventure Confirmed By CEO – To Be Made in India By Bajaj

    Image for reference
    This will be the first time that Bajaj Auto will be developing a twin-cylinder engine in India

    Ever since Austrian bikemaker KTM joined its hands with Indian two-wheeler giant Bajaj Auto, Indian biking community has been treated to a plethora of new products for over a decade now. In Bajaj, KTM has found a reliable partner that manufactures and assembles the former’s bikes in India.
    The company’s majority stakes are held by PMAG. Recently, in an interaction with an automotive website, PMAG majority owner and KTM CEO Stephan Pierer confirmed that it is developing a new 490cc platform in association with Bajaj in India.
    Bajaj-KTM Partnership
    Currently Bajaj Auto develops and manufactures 125cc, 200cc, 250cc and 390cc single-cylinder units for KTM motorcycles. The last three units are also used Husqvarna twins- Svartpilen and Vitpilen. All of these motorcycles are manufactured by Bajaj at its facility in Chakan near Pune in Maharashtra. For reference, Swedish bikemaker Husqvarna is a subsidiary of KTM Industries.
    Earlier this year, we had reported that KTM was in discussions with Bajaj to develop a new 490cc parallel-twin engine that could be used for Duke and Adventure range of motorcycles. This powertrain could also power future Husqvarna models as well.
    KTM 790 ADV India launch next year
    Currently, the high displacement twin-cylinder models using 790cc and 890cc units are imported from overseas. In fact, this new engine is set to be a lot more refined and powerful than the current 390cc unit. It is likely to have a similar format and architecture as 790cc and 890cc units.
    Prospects of the new 490cc powertrain
    Pierer revealed that the company will target its consumer base who want to upgrade from its 390cc bikes such as RC390, Duke 390 and Adventure 390. He further revealed that this new platform is still under development and the first motorcycle to be based on this platform is likely to be launched in 2022. As mentioned before, this new platform will be developed and used for a streetfighter, an adventure motorcycle and a fully-faired bike.
    The report further goes on to mention that these bikes will be fully developed at Bajaj’s R&D centre in Pune and supported by KTM’s R&D. Pierer further adds that these motorcycles could also be developed in China by their partners CFMoto. The bikemaker started building its new manufacturing facility 18 months ago and is completely ready now with production to commence from 2021.
    The 490cc bikes will bridge the long gap between the 390cc and 790cc products in terms of specs, power as well as price. The performance gap between the current 390 and 790 stand at 43 bhp and 105 bhp. Going by the KTM’s thirst for manufacturing performance-oriented bikes, we can expect these new 490cc motorcycles to be class-leading in their segments.
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    KTM Sales, Exports Nov 2020 – Duke, RC 125, 200, 250, 390 ADV

    New KTM Duke 125
    KTM domestic sales and exports increased 22.21 percent and 43.90 percent respectively in November 2020

    KTM India noted positive sales both in domestic market as well as exports. YoY sales increased by 22.21 percent but MoM sales dipped 16.86 percent indicating that the euphoria seen over the festive season is diminishing. Total sales in Nov 20 stood at 5,618 units, up 22.21 percent over 4,597 units sold in Nov 19. MoM sales fell 16.86 percent in Nov 20 stood at 5,618 units, down from 6,757 units sold in Oct 20.
    KTM YoY Domestic Sales Growth
    In the past month, sales of the KTM 200, 250 and 390 range noted substantial growth, even as sales of the 125cc dipped by 38.36 percent. The KTM Duke and RC 200 were at the top of sales charts with 2,115 units sold, 20.51 percent higher as compared to 1,755 units sold in Nov 19.
    Currently commanding a market share of 37.65 percent the KTM 200, like all the other bikes in the company lineup has undergone a price hike. MoM sales of this model dipped 21.52 percent as against 2,695 units sold in Oct 20.
    KTM 250 noted a 248.68 percent growth YoY – all thanks to the launch of new ADV motorcycle in the range. As compared to just 456 units sold in Nov 19, the sales figure increased to 1,590 units in Nov 20. MoM growth however, was also as exciting as there was a growth of 123.31 percent as 712 units had been sold in Oct 20. This was the only model in the company lineup to note positive MoM growth.
    KTM Domestic Sales – Nov 2020
    Sales of the KTM 125 fell 38.36 percent YoY. 2,135 units had been sold in Nov 19 which dipped to 1,316 units in the past month. MoM sales growth was also in the negative by 43.08 percent as 2,312 units were sold in Oct 20.
    KTM YoY and MoM Exports
    Where KTM India exports are concerned, KTM has posted positive growth both in terms of YoY and MoM exports by 43.90 percent and 17.68 percent respectively. The KTM 390 was a favoured model in global markets with a 41.82 percent market share in Nov 20 and 1,756 units exported during the month, up 79.73 percent as compared to 977 units exported in the same month of the previous year.
    KTM Exports Nov 2020
    Exports of the KTM 250 surged 308.36 percent to 1,123 units in Nov 20 up from 275 units exported in Nov 19. MoM sales increased 125.05 percent as only 499 units had been exported in Oct 20. This again, was due to the launch of 250 Adv, in the export markets.
    With a market share of 22.43 percent, KTM 200 YoY growth increased 18.94 percent to 942 units in Nov 20 while MoM exports dipped 35.61 percent as 1,463 units had been exported in Oct 20. The KTM 125 saw a de-growth in terms of YoY exports by 56.75 percent to 378 units in the past month as against 874 units exported in Nov 19. MoM exports however increased substantially by 410.81 percent, as only 74 units had been exported in Oct 20. More

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    KTM 790 Adventure India Launch Likely By March 2021

    KTM 790 Adventure at India Bike Week
    Design-wise, KTM 790 Adventure will be similar to its smaller sibling 390 Adventure

    KTM has shown the Indian biking community what a proper adventure tourer actually is when they launched 390 Adventure around this time last year at the India Bike Week in Goa. At the same event, KTM had also showcased the KTM 790 Adventure.
    Though, they had not launched the bigger 790 ADV at the event, it was later revealed that the company had plans to launch 790 Adventure in India for the last quarter of FY 2020. With that period almost around, Fast Bikes now reports that KTM has started testing the motorcycle around Pune.
    Like its other offerings, 790 Adventure is likely to share its mechanicals with its naked counterpart- 790 Duke. This means it will be powered by the same 799cc parallel-twin engine offered in the latter.
    Powertrain Details
    However, it will be offered in a different state of tune than the naked streetfighter in order to improve its low and mid-range ride. This unit in its Euro-5 compliance in the ADV puts out a healthy 94 bhp and 88 Nm of peak torque. This unit is mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch for smoother gear shifts. KTM claims a fuel efficiency of 22.5 kmpl on this motor.
    KTM 790 Adventure in India
    Hardware Used
    In terms of dynamics, 790 Adventure is built on a tubular chromium-molybdenum-steel frame that utilises its engine as a stress member. Suspension duties on the bike are carried out by WP APEX 43 USDs at front which offers 200mm of travel and a WP APEX mono-shock at rear which also offers travel of 200mm. It rolls on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wire-spoked wheels wrapped around by dual-purpose tyres.
    Anchoring duties are taken care of by two radially-mounted J Juan calipers clamped on 320mm disc rotors and a single two-piston caliper mounted on a 260mm disc.790 Adventure tips the weighing scales at 189 kg making it one of the lightest in its segment. Saddle height is pegged at 850mm and the bike offers a very high ground clearance of 230mm which would be very useful while going undulated paths.
    Features on offer
    In terms of goodies, 790 Adventure likes its smaller sibling, is well loaded with electronic gizmos such as a Bosch 9.1 MP system which handles cornering ABS and off-road ABS. Other notable features include a full LED headlight with LED DRLs, coloured TFT display and KTM My Ride App connectivity tech which gives access to music, phone calls and navigation.
    It also receives three ride modes- Street, Rain, Off-road and an optional extra – Rally; with the convenience of ride-by-wire throttle and lean-sensitive traction control with off-road modes. Upon its launch, it will directly lock horns with the new Triumph Tiger 900 and is expected to be offered at an aggressive price tag, like the 790 Duke. More

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    KTM Duke 790 Gets Extended Warranty Of 2 Yrs / 30k Kms For Rs 4k

    Image – Vikram James
    The extended warranty package for the 790 Duke needs to be purchased within 730 days of purchasing the motorcycle

    KTM Duke 790 middleweight naked sportsbike has been in India for quite sometime. It serves as a natural upgrade option for existing 390 Duke customers, and has been doing reasonably well in the country’s premium bike segment. In a bid to further enhance its appeal and ownership experience, KTM India has introduced an optional extended warranty package at a nominal price.
    KTM 790 Duke extended warranty
    We thank Vikram James, owner of a 790 Duke, who shared this update with us. He reports that KTM India acted upon the feedback of existing KTM Duke 790 customers and came up with the extended warranty package which offers an additional 2 years or 30k km over the existing standard 2 year or 30k km protection.
    The extended warranty package of the KTM 790 Duke is priced at around INR 4,000. The customers should opt for the package within 730 days of purchasing the motorcycle. They are eligible for a discount on the extended warranty if they opt for it within 180 days of purchasing the vehicle.
    Of course standard warranty rules apply as to what is covered and what is not. The total warranty on offer for KTM Duke 790 customers has now been increased to 4 yrs / 60k kms – thanks to the addition of this new extended warranty package.
    KTM Duke 790 Extended Warranty – Brochure Part 1
    KTM 790 Duke at a glance
    After years of anticipation, KTM finally decided to treat its Indian loyalists with its middleweight sportsbike late last year. Nicknamed ‘the scalpel‘, the KTM 790 Duke incorporates the aggressive character that the brand’s street fighters are known for, but in combination with precise handling. Net result is a motorcycle which, in right hands, is capable of some very impressive stuff.
    At the time of its launch in 2019, the 790 Duke was available in BS4 avatar. After depleting the last few units of the inventory at a hefty discount of around INR 1 lakh (the ex-showroom price was INR 8.64 lakh), it was expected that the Austrian brand will eventually introduce a BS6 version. However, there is no official news about the 790 Duke being back on sale in India as of now.
    KTM Duke 790 Extended Warranty – Brochure Part 2
    The BS4-compliant 799 cc in-line twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine dishes out 105 hp and 87 Nm of torque. A 6-speed transmission is mated to the motor by means of a slipper clutch. The motorcycle offers four riding modes and switchable cornering ABS and traction control.
    KTM 890 Duke R
    Meanwhile, KTM has introduced an even sportier variant of ‘the scalpel’ called the 890 Duke R or ‘the super scalpel’. The motorcycle gets a 890 cc engine which is good for 121 hp and 99 Nm of torque. In addition to extra power, the 890 Duke R also offers extra features such as adjustable WP Apex front suspension, Brembo Stylema brake system, Michelin Powercup II hypersport tyres and so on. Hopefully, KTM India will soon launch the 890 Duke R in India in place of the over due 790 Duke BS6. More

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    KTM 250, 390 ADV Get Spoke Wheels As Accessory – Launch Soon

    KTM 390 Adventure Spoked Wheels
    KTM 390 Adventure shares its mechanicals with 390 Duke while 250 ADV shares with Duke 250

    KTM 390 Adventure is one of the best selling adventure motorcycle in India. Not only does it offer an implanted ride both on and off-road, but it also provides loads of gizmos making it a technologically enhanced bike. However, it is also one it priciest in its segment and bad news is that it just got a tad more expensive.
    Price Hike
    The Austrian bikemaker has hiked the prices of its ADV by Rs 1,878. Following the latest price hike, 390 Adventure now costs Rs 3,05,878 as opposed to previously priced Rs 3,04,000 (both prices are ex-showroom). The marginal price hike does not bring any significant change to the bike.
    What is good news is that, there is a more affordable adventure motorcycle from KTM in town. New KTM 250 Adv has just been launched in India, at a starting price of Rs 2.48 lakh – making it Rs 60k cheaper than the 390 ADV. In addition, there is now a new package on offer with the KTM ADVs.
    New package on offer
    While the KTM Advs are decently capable to take on the undulated paths, it surely isn’t meant for hardcore trail-bashing and a major reason for this are its alloy wheels. But for all those adventure seeking enthusiasts, the company is now offering a special package which includes a pair of spoked wheels. Available under KTM’s Powerparts catalogue, price of this package hasn’t been announced yet.
    Spoked Wheels for KTM 390 Adventure and 250 Adventure
    This spoke wheels kit offers all additional components required to convert stock alloy wheels into spoke wheels. Inclusion of spoked rims accentuates the 250 and 390 Adventure’s off-roading prowess by offering better balance and stiffness thus instilling more confidence riding off-tarmac.
    Along with spoked rims, it includes both front and rear discs and a sprocket in order to increase the bike’s bottom-end performance. Size of the sprocket hasn’t yet been specified though.
    Features & Specifications
    390 Adventure is built on a lightweight steel Trellis frame which is assisted by 43mm inverted telescopic forks at front with a travel of 170mm and a mono-shock unit at rear end with a travel of 177mm. It offers disc brakes on both ends assisted by a dual-channel ABS. It offers knobby tyres and a high ground clearance of 200mm both of which are critical for off-roading.
    The bike is packed with first in class electronic aids such as off-road ABS for better steering control, cornering ABS, multiple ride modes, ride-by-wire and an ECU that offers functionalities such as lean-angle sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC). It also gets a quick shifter for smoother gear shifts. Apart from these, it offers a Bluetooth-enabled TFT colour display that is compatible with KTM My Ride smartphone connectivity which allows one to manage his/her calls, music and also turn-by-turn navigation.
    It is powered by a BS6 compliant 373.2cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine which generates 42.3hp and 37Nm of peak torque and is paired to a six-speed gearbox. More

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    New KTM Duke 125 Launch Price Rs 1.5 Lakh – First Look Walkaround

    Image – Nitish Neo
    Updated styling are seen on the new KTM Duke 125 – Officially launched today

    The 2021 KTM 125 Duke, the smallest sibling of the Duke family gets updated. This smallest commuter bike, which was initially launched in 2018 and went on to be one of the best sellers in the company lineup. Price is introductory – Rs 1.5 lakh, ex-sh, Delhi. This makes it about Rs 8k more expensive than older Duke 125.
    Seeing the good sale response, KTM India has now decided to update the Duke 125 design, and make it look more like other Duke’s in the family. 2021 Duke 125 is updated in terms of design and features. Initial examples have started moving into company showrooms and bookings have also opened. Deliveries start in coming days.
    New vs Old KTM Duke 125
    Design and Features
    The KTM 125 Duke borrows heavily from its larger 200 Duke. It is based on the company’s new design language also seen on the KTM 200 Duke. It is positioned on the same steel trellis framework integrated with bolt on sub-frame and borrows parts such as the headlamp, body panels, fuel tank and LCD screen making the 125 Duke almost identical to the larger 200 Duke.
    The 2021 KTM 125 Duke also get updates in tank extensions and at the rear end while new colour options are also a part of the update. As seen on the 200 Duke and 250 Duke, the new 125 Duke also receives an LCD instrument cluster but misses out on Bluetooth connectivity as is seen on the 390 Duke. Take a look at the detailed walkaround as well as first ride impression video by Youtub channel Nitish Neo below.
    [embedded content]
    Targeting a younger and more adventurous set of buyers in the country, the 125 Duke will get a larger fuel tank of 13.5 liter capacity as against the 11 liter tank seen on its current counterpart. Overall weight has been increased by 7 kgs and seat height goes up from a current 818 mm to 822 mm. The updated KTM 125 Duke is also likely to get two colour options of orange with white and white with black.
    Engine & Gearbox
    The updated KTM 125 Duke gets its power via a BS6 124cc, liquid cooled, single cylinder engine offering 14.5 hp power at 9,250 rpm and 12 Nm torque at 8,000 rpm mated to a 6 speed transmission. These are the same figures as seen on its BS4 engine. Braking and suspension are the same via 300mm front disc brakes and 230mm disc at the rear and 43mm WP upside down fork in the front and WP monoshock at the rear.

    Sumeet Narang, President (Probiking) at Bajaj Auto Ltd. said “Spawned from the 1290 beast itself and packed full of Duke attitude, the KTM 125 DUKE exudes qualities never seen in this category before. The ultra-lightweight trellis frame and subframe provide razor-sharp control, and the new styling is an absolute head turner.
    The launch of KTM 125 DUKE in late 2018 had been a point of inflection for KTM’s stronghold amongst the young biking enthusiasts in India. Upgrading that model with this new all capable entry level KTM is another testimony of the brand’s commitment to bringing pure performance to its valued customers.” More