[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by black12rr

BTW who told you 200 is not a good tourer

I guess it has a limited range (smaller tank?) compared to some of the other 'regular' touring bikes available?

Hope they give a bigger tank in the 390. Way to go - Bajaj! If the KTM 390 is 45PS, i guess Pulsar 375 will atleast have 35 - 38 PS and should be 20k cheaper! Man, lots of options to choose from!

[Oreen]

Originally Posted by vroomsome

over the moon about this bit of news! would this machine be more of a tourer than the 200? better comfort for the pillion? making a case with the better half.

YES, a pillion seat is what's missing in the 200, and I doubt the 390 will be much of an improvement either, given what the Zigwheels article says. The 200 is a good tourer as we saw some of our fellow bullet buddies on KTMs zoom from bangalore to kodai in much lesser time than we could manage on bullets. But it is strictly for a single rider.

I guess I can understand your point. Wifey likes the backrest and modified seat (broad, at 10 inches) and she has done long rides (2000 kms) and sometimes even a single-day ride of 500 km + with me. Can't see her doing that on a faster but uncomfortable bike (uncomfortable for the pillion).

So, what is the option for those who have a budget of around 3 lakhs and want to tour with our wives? ST-7 is too low and too expensive, plus it has a lot of tacky chrome and Gangnam-style Korean bling. *** is a total suspect because by the time you ride from Delhi to Bangalore, the ownership of the company might have changed! Enfields are Enfields, and can't impress you beyond a point. Reliability is a big issue. Thunderbird 500? A bigger Avenger with more comfortable seating for the pillion?The only affordable alternative is a Karizma, which is underpowered. Will the KTM 390 answer our prayers? Or will it be a bigger-capacity Impulse?

Till then, an Enfield it is.

[vroomsome]

you ve hit the nail right on the head.
there is not an affordable, reliable,powerful cruiser or close to cruiser for two in India apart from the cbr250r.

wish the karizma came with a more powerful heart.
while its a great bike, it could be right on the verge of being dethroned by the supposedly upcoming lot of yamahas, suzukis, ktms . 2013 looks very promising.

[ebonho]

The best bike to tour with wife has got to be the Unicorn. I am in love with its refined nature and super pliant suspension.

The 390 is nowhere close to being a cruiser. Its going to be a badder hooligan brother of the 200. And not a whole lot bigger.

My wishlist for it is very basic and simple and easily done for Bajaj:

1) Spoked wheels

2) Bigger tank (15-18 liters)

I know for a fact that (1) is not happening. No idea about (2).

As it stands today, the Duke 200 has a tank range of around 300-320 kms. Not great but not much different to my Bullet 500s either.

Add two 2.5 liter Pepsi bottles on each side of the saddle bags and that's an additional 180 odd kms.

Which means a total of 500 kms before you run dry.

That is really pretty decent. You can do Manali Leh (400+) in that much, Zanskar circuit (600+) in a pinch (with some extra fuel bungeed to the rear seat), and the Lake circuit (500+) as well.

Nothing else in India needs a tank range greater than that.

[nitro.1000bhp]

As long as we are wishing

1. Dual discs up-front
2. fully adjustable forks and shocks
3. bigger fuel tank
4. bigger speedo console
5. taller wind screen
6. bar-end weights
7. proper levers
8. chain guide
9. better tires

[Abhi_Automobile]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

I guess it has a limited range (smaller tank?) compared to some of the other 'regular' touring bikes available?

Hope they give a bigger tank in the 390. Way to go - Bajaj! If the KTM 390 is 45PS, i guess Pulsar 375 will atleast have 35 - 38 PS and should be 20k cheaper! Man, lots of options to choose from!

20k cheaper than KTM

Man, its got to be a lot cheaper than a mere 20k difference. I don't see too many people buying the 'bigger' Pulsar if you have a KTM sitting above it at just 20k more. BTW, the prices for the Duke 200 have been revised and now stand at 130k (ex- Delhi). Since the Pulsar 200NS is available for a cool 85k (ex Delhi), I expect the price gap to be similar, if not more. Expect the Pulsar 375 to be at least 50k cheaper than the KTM Duke 390. The Pulsar 'faired' version may be closer.

Still, a KTM is a KTM. International product with world class engineering. Even though Bajaj will share more of the engineering aspects with the KTM, it will never match the brand equity of a KTM (and Rajiv Bajaj doesn't want to, either).

Anyway, kudos to Bajaj for bringing us truly world class products, one after another. I wish Hero Honda learns a thing or two from them and move up from its third world products.

[onesomeone]

Originally Posted by Abhi_Automobile

I wish Hero Honda learns a thing or two from them and move up from its third world products.

You mean Hero or Honda or both? Anyhow I very surely agree with you that Bajaj needs to be commended for bringing international products at very competitive price points

[Harbir]

I loved the original 640cc Duke. A buddy at work had a Duke II (first generation duke with some improvements). It was one of the earliest factory offered supermotards, and just incredible fun to ride (more than any sportbike I've ever ridden).

I want to be able to say that I am excited about the Duke 390, but I can't since this bike (including the 200), is a mini streetfighter configuration (think Triumph Speed Triple, Aprilia Tuono, kawasaki Z1000), and not a supermotard. No doubt street fighters are fun in their own way, but fun like a supermotard they are not. supermotards are real hooligans in the urban jungle and on paved winding roads, thanks to their dirt bike like penchant for changing direction, huge suspension travel to blast over things and bumps at speed, and stability that is seriously compromised in the interest of hyper-responsiveness.

Perhaps Suzuki will respond to the Duke 390 with their own true supermotard, the DR400SM. Thats a bike I would buy in an eyeblink. The KTM 390 I am not so excited by.

[Abhi_Automobile]

Originally Posted by onesomeone

You mean Hero or Honda or both? Anyhow I very surely agree with you that Bajaj needs to be commended for bringing international products at very competitive price points

I meant Hero. Or should I say Hero Moto Corp. Stil;l in the habit of calling them Hero Honda

Acoording to me, they make seriously frustating products even for commuter segment now. Coz they basically have the same products, which keep getting new versions every now and then.

Going slightly off topic, the congrats was for Bajaj for giving us world class stuff. And on a related note, if Hero can't give us any 'real' new or exciting products on their own, why not buy a top shot company? One thing they don't have, is innovation. But one thing they do have, is C-A-S-H!

[karan86]

Now if only they could get the cb 500x to india.

[dreamseller]

Originally Posted by karan86

Now if only they could get the cb 500x to india.

Amen to that! IMO, this is makes the most sense in India among the 500 trio. Will make for a very VFM tourer.

[praful]

Originally Posted by ebonho

The 390 is nowhere close to being a cruiser. Its going to be a badder hooligan brother of the 200. And not a whole lot bigger.

My wishlist for it is very basic and simple and easily done for Bajaj:

1) Spoked wheels

2) Bigger tank (15-18 liters)

I know for a fact that (1) is not happening. No idea about (2).

I'm hoping for a bigger tank too, I find a 300 Kms or anything Sub-300 Kms range very very limiting. Already used to a 450-600 Kms full tank range, will be a mild culture shock getting used to tanking up every 300 odd kms.

Depending on how much of hooligan this turns out to be, I'd also like to sprocket this down to bring down a bit to make it a little more comfy for touring.

*fingers crossed* Been waiting too long for a suitable upgrade to the 220. I'm hoping this checks at least most of the boxes!

[bond_bhai]

Originally Posted by Oreen

YES, a pillion seat is what's missing in the 200, and I doubt the 390 will be much of an improvement either, given what the Zigwheels article says.

....

Till then, an Enfield it is.

Well, just a thought. Can they plonk this engine (Tuned/De-tuned for mileage, whatever) on an Avenger? Like what has been done currently with the Avenger. This can easily challenge RE stable. Forgive, if the thought is too stupid.

[Abhi_Automobile]

Originally Posted by bond_bhai

Well, just a thought. Can they plonk this engine (Tuned/De-tuned for mileage, whatever) on an Avenger? Like what has been done currently with the Avenger. This can easily challenge RE stable. Forgive, if the thought is too stupid.

The engine would be completely unsuitable for Avenger Cuisers are generally fitted with long stroke, less revvy, but more torquey engines. Whereas the naked/sports breed typically thrive on high revving, high output engines.

Bajaj put the earlier Pulsar engine into Avenger so as to price it competitively. If you remember, the Avenger was initially called 'Eliminator' and came with a 175 cc Kawasaki engine. Thus Bajaj had to pay huge royalties to Kawa. Bajaj's game had moved on since then and it is a much more matured company (does not mean less exciting) now.

[invincible7]

Checked with one of the KTM dealers in delhi, got confirmation its coming next year around March 2013, that all he was ready to share.

He had no idea if the bike is going to be on display in Nov 12 or not, or maybe he didnt want to divulge it soo soon.

Keeping my fingers crossed, I am hoping if this comes I can again rejuvenate the joy of fun riding.