Shocker: KTM To Make Retro Bikes?

If there’s one brand that hasn’t yet resourced its complete heritage is KTM. Almost all the bikes from the Austrian brand have no connection to its bikes from its days of origin. As per our sources, the Austrians have opened the history books to revive their legacy and heritage - and the answer is the KTM Comet. 

Before we go ahead, we must understand why the brand needs to do this. If you have been out of the loop, KTM had almost come to a point of bankruptcy. The entire automotive industry watched with bated breath on what would happen to the biggest orange - Austrian, not the American. An unsold inventory worth a couple years, a mountain of debts, and lay-offs galore – all hinting at the inevitable. But a restructuring plan was set in place a month ago, and the brand has some time to get back on its feet.

One strategy is to go the retro way. According to one of the sources who are in the know, KTM has a strategy to resurrect the brand image to its full glory. As per their research, the brand is targeting India to generate a major chunk of its lost revenue – which should also help it pay off a good chunk of its debts. One of the biggest players in the country is Royal Enfield with its retro-styled bikes. The domestic brand’s strategy has worked for them over the years. Also, a parallel to draw here is that Royal Enfield too was on the verge of extinction not too long ago. That is until they called on their legacy and heritage. And the announcement could happen this month, in April. Fools go where angels fear to tread - some critics think, considering Royal Enfield is such a behemoth in the segment.

The orange brand not only wants to follow the same strategy, but also take on Royal Enfield. The KTM Comet is their weapon of choice for this. The Comet was once a 125cc two-stroke bike that had a claimed top speed of 120kmph! The badge could now adorn a 399cc retro-styled bike - a KTM Comet 390? We think the 399cc engine will be re-engineered to have a longer stroke, to match the retro personality. This should also bump up the 37Nm that it makes on the Duke 390 and the RC. It will help the brand take on the likes of the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650. Now you may wonder how a 399cc single can beat a 650 twin, but remember, the KTMs already have a weight advantage in their current guise. A retro bike could be even lighter with a simpler swingarm, (maybe) light-weight spoked wheels, and other weight-reduction techniques. 

However, it seems that Royal Enfield is not the one to rest on its laurels. According to earlier reports, behind the glass doors in Chennai is a plan to resurrect the Constellation. If that’s so, we are in for a proper intergalactic battle. Only time shall tell if the hurtling comet will leave the star in its dust, or if the constellation will outshine.

Disclaimer: This is a purely satirical story for April Fools’ Day. All the quotes and people mentioned here are completely fictional and have no connection to real people. None of the statements herein are given by real individuals. Neither Zigwheels, nor its parent company, nor its subsidiaries, shall be responsible for any misinterpretations or actions taken on the basis of this story.