KTM 390 Duke to be launched today

It’s the KTM 390 Duke launch day folks – the moment all you performance motorcycling enthusiasts and Orange loyalists had been waiting for since October last year when ZigWheels first broke news about the Austrian bike maker’s plans of bringing the bike to our shores. (Update: KTM 390 Duke launched at Rs 1.80 lakh!)

The 390 Duke, as you already probably know, is powered by a newly developed 375cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled mill capable of pumping close to 45PS of power and 35Nm of torque. The engine is mated to an all-new six-speed gearbox with well-spaced gear ratios offering a wide powerband that will appeal to speed freaks and relaxed riders alike. During our initial riding experience in Austria, the Duke 390 achieved a top speed upwards of 170km/h while managing an estimated 0-100km/h time in the region of five seconds.

Other standout features of the bike are Metzeler tyres that claim to offer better grip in both dry and wet conditions. ABS is offered as standard, and can be turned on and off using a switch depending on the riding conditions.

The 390 Duke is the second bike from the KTM-Bajaj combine in India and will be built at the latter’s plant in Chakan, Maharashtra. With several parts being locally sourced, pricing is expected to be low. Exactly how low, we’ll find out at the launch today at 1pm in Pune but our expectations are hovering around the Rs 2 lakh mark!  

If KTM does manage to price the Duke 390 around this range, they have a winner in their hands since its core rival, the Honda CBR 250 ABS, is significantly under powered besides carrying a Rs 1.76 lakh price tag. The 390’s other closest competitor in terms of performance is the Kawasaki Ninja 300 but it sports a steep price tag of Rs 3.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Related KTM 390 Duke Stories:

KTM 390 Duke First Ride

KTM 390 Duke Special Coverage

KTM 390 Duke vs KTM 200 Duke: What's Different?

KTM 390 Duke Price