Popular Austrian brand KTM bikes unlike other bike-makers who focus on fuel efficiency in the mileage conscious country, has been known to deliver performance machine with race tracks numbers in the commercial market. KTM bikes have especially been a popular pick among the younger lot in the country. The international bike-maker has joined hands with popular Indian bike-maker brand Bajaj Auto to make its presence felt in the local market. Currently the brand is popular among the younger lot of bike commuters in the country with Duke series of 390 and 200 bikes in the country. Recently the Austrian bike-maker has been in the news for stating its plans to launch the RC 200 and RC 390 bike series on a global platform at a launch event in India that is due to be held sometime in the second half of 2014.
As per sources, RC 390 is expected to be launched sometime soon in Indian market. More technical specifications about the bike has not been revealed for now and may be spoken in detail post the official launch. Spy images of the bike suggest that the bike shall feature strong and bold aerodynamic fairing at the front. Whereas, the rear carries an elevated stance much like a race track sports bike. At the recently held 2014 Auto Expo event in Delhi, Stefan Pierer, President and CEO, KTM Sportmotorcycle AG, said, “We are a fast-growing company, not only with our products, but also with the joint products of Bajaj Auto out of India. We had a record year in 2013. We expect to carry forward the momentum with our full-faired RC motorcycles this year as well. The Indian market is so big; it is expected to be the biggest market in the next couple of years as we are eying sales of 50,000 units.”
If KTM is serious on considering to launch the RC series in the Indian market, it is expected to undergo mass scale production in Bajaj’s production plant in Chakan which is currently being used to manufacture the existing line of KTM series. As per sources, the international bike-maker shall also unveil a new DUKE 690 for the Indian market, though confirmed reports on the same are awaited. The bike maker is clearly eying to create a strong footing for itself in the Indian performance bike segment, but it shall only be clear post the launch of these anticipated bikes. KTM being a prominent name in the racing sector, it is expected that bike shall be tuned for sheer performance.
Recently the bike was spotted undergoing road tests by Goutam Shankar, Bajaj Official on long winding Ghats of Pune. Further detailing on the bike may be known post an official launch by the company in India.
