KTM Duke 200 to launch in early 2012

Here's what you can expect from the new KTM Duke 200 that will launch early next year

No need for guess work on when we can lay our hands on a KTM in India as it is now official that the first Bajaj-KTM bike hits showroom floors early next year.

The 200cc KTM Duke motorcycle will be an exhibit at next year's Delhi Auto Expo in January and will shortly thereafter go on sale. This news comes right after Bajaj planned to launch the next generation of Pulsar motorcycles in late 2011.

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Bajaj Auto holds a 39.3 per cent stake in the Austrian company KTM and both companies are working together for the betterment of each others' products.

KTM could supply its expertise in making premium products while Bajaj's learnings from operating a low-cost back-end is useful for KTM to cut manufacturing costs.

KTM has recently launched their Duke 125cc in the European market. The Duke 125cc is also a product jointly developed by Bajaj and KTM.

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KTM has already sold around 7,000 units of Duke 125cc and expects to hit the 10,000 mark by the year end.

If things go well, the Duke 125 will be the best selling 125cc bike in Europe in the coming months. The 200cc Duke we're expecting, looks wise and mechanically, will be based on the 125cc model.

The 200cc engine could be mounted on to a slightly modified chassis with changes to the plastic fitments and body work.

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Once production kicks off in India, Bajaj could import this higher displacement motorcycle to countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Brazil where demand for entry-level sports bikes is heavy.

The 200cc Duke will be produced from Bajaj's manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune.

Official information on the technical specifications have been reserved for the launch, but going by what the competition offers, we expect the 200cc Duke to produce around 22.5-25bhp.

The KTM bikes could be sold through Probiking outlets and later shift to a standalone brand store strategy.

Even though the KTM brand is conceived differently in India, customers might not pay more than 1.75 lakh rupees for this bike.

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Having looked at pictures of test mules doing rounds around Pune, the following is expected from the 200cc Duke.

• Naked Street Looks
• Mono Shock Absorber at rear and inverted forks up front.
• Vertically stacked headlamp
• Digital instrumentation
• 10-spoke alloy wheels
• Dual disc brakes
• Hidden exhaust can provide a neat look
• Unusual but catchy orange paint job

Once the 200cc settles into our market, Bajaj should be mulling over bringing bigger KTM bikes (like the 690 Duke) to serve customers looking for more style and performance.

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