[tabrez]

Motoroids has reported the sighting of both - Production ready bike as well as test mules - being road-tested here in India. This is quite contrary to what was earlier confirmed by KTM with regards to it's plan for Duke 250. Some of the cues on the bike are very India-specific. Could KTM/Bajaj be planning a surprise for its enthusiasts here in India ?

Source : http://www.motoroids.com/news/2017-k...-range-launch/

Note to Mods: I couldn't find an appropriate thread, hence starting a new one. In case there is an existing one, kindly merge my post.

[The Brutailer]

I think duke 250 is made in india and exported to other markets. So spotting is not that big of a deal.

It is basically made for countries where there are restrictions for 250cc+ bikes for new license holders.

Anyway, KTM can't sold a bike between 200 and 390 as the price difference is too low in India. Won't make business sense.

So this is a baseless speculation.

[tabrez]

Originally Posted by The Brutailer

I think duke 250 is made in india and exported to other markets. So spotting is not that big of a deal.

Agreed, that it is made in India for the export market but then what are those India specific bits (Saree Guard, Grab rails, MRF tyres & missing ABS) doing on the bike ?

Originally Posted by The Brutailer

Anyway, KTM can't sold a bike between 200 and 390 as the price difference is too low in India. Won't make business sense.

The old Duke 200 retailed at about ~Rs.1.7L & is speculated to retain the same price while the MY17 Duke 390 is speculated to be around ~Rs.2.5L (OTR Bangalore, my numbers could be off) which still gives a room of around Rs. 80K. The export markets that you speak of are mostly South Asian countries such as Thailand. Not to forget the fact that Duke 250, internationally gets the same dual channel ABS of duke 390 fame which the Duke 200 doesn't even offer as an option. Unfortunately, even on these test mules, ABS has been given a miss. Why would they test a bike which is already sold in other market's san ABS (unless of course they are planning for a new Market) ?

Originally Posted by The Brutailer

So this is a baseless speculation.

Very quick to draw a verdict - I'm not denying the business logic that you speak of, but as a customer I would definitely like to see "safer" (Duke 250 but with ABS, optionally at-least) option between Duke 200 & 390 but still retaining KTM lineage.

[The Brutailer]

^ I think they'll be testing it on Indian roads which requires them to put saree gaurd but it doesn't mean they'll launch it here. Because even RC200 is there. Cross shopping will happen.

Or they can discontinue Duke 200 and launch this (as Duke 200 is little less VFM after Dominar launch).

Let's wait and watch.

[marcussantiago]

2017 KTM 250 Duke to be launched in India on February 23 instead of new 200 Duke?

Interesting developments. Rumor now has it that KTM might drop the 200 altogether and replace it with the 250.

[nishsingh]

Looks like there is going to be a slight twist in the tale - the Duke Twins in India are about to become the Duke Triplets!

The Duke 250 has also been spotted in India with the venerable saree guard - a sure shot way of confirming that an Indian launch is imminent.


Source: Motoroids

If this is true, (and the 250 is priced sensibly) I dont see much reason to go for the Duke 200. With the 250, one would get an additional ABS, DRLs, and of course a better engine.

http://www.motoroids.com/news/2017-k...-range-launch/

[farhadtarapore]

All the bikes look the same except for the lettering on the tank. Why can't they make them look different from each other..

[marcussantiago]

Originally Posted by farhadtarapore

All the bikes look the same except for the lettering on the tank. Why can't they make them look different from each other..

They have slightly different colour schemes.

Originally Posted by nishsingh

Looks like there is going to be a slight twist in the tale - the Duke Twins in India are about to become the Duke Triplets!

The Duke 250 has also been spotted in India with the venerable saree guard - a sure shot way of confirming that an Indian launch is imminent.

My suspicion is that they will remain twins . I suspect KTM will discontinue the 200s and replace them with the 250s. It doesn't really make a lot of sense to introduce the 250s along with the existing 200 still in place.

[LoneTraveller]

Originally Posted by nishsingh

Looks like there is going to be a slight twist in the tale - the Duke Twins in India are about to become the Duke Triplets!

Yep!

KTM is all set to expand its motorcycle stable in India. It can be revealed that the company, which is to launch its 2017 Duke models on February 23, will also launch the Duke 250 in India. This information, as revealed by a reliable source, makes the Duke 250 the third Duke sibling for India after the 2017 Duke 390 and 200.

Pricing will be critical to the Duke 250's success in the Indian marketplace...

Source:Autocar Professional

[The Brutailer]

If this comes true, hope they don't increase the price of 390 by too much. Right now it is the most VFM bike in India.

[swiftnfurious]

I think I read that the 250 will not be launched in India because of 'price' reasons. If I am not wrong, this came straight from Rajiv Bajaj himself too. The reason that was quoted was that the 250 will be based on the 390 engine and not the 200 engine and hence it'd not be as cost effective like the other Dukes when launched. With the price differences between the 200 & 390 not so big, the 250 will simply kill the 200 if priced right in between; can take sales away from the 390 as well.

[timuseravan]

Bajaj has a history of launching motorcycles with small increments of engine. eg: Pulsar 150, 160, 180, 200, 220.
It is not too far fetched to imagine the Duke triplets. D250 priced between 200 and 390 does have a definite market. With the 2017 D390, the price difference between D200 and D390 is almost 80k. So D250 at midpoint makes total sense.
D200 at 1.6, D250 at 2.0 and D390 at 2.4.

[roamer]

I have got a text message from a KTM dealer inviting to check the launch of new Duke series at 3 pm. It also mentions the Duke 250 as addition to the Duke family. Which is a clear indication of it being launched here officially!

[IshaanIan]

I think a 250 Duke/RC makes a lot of sense. There are many people in our population who match the 390 series with a certain stigma. Our lesser educated folks associate the 390 series with danger and morbidity and "unnecessary" levels of performance. For such folks or people who are swayed to easily by their friends, a 250 series KTM makes a lot of sense given the pricing does as well.

[.sushilkumar]

So official now :

Rs. 1,43,000 - ex showroom Delhi - 200 Duke

Rs. 1,73,000 - ex showroom Delhi - 250 Duke

Rs. 2,25,000 - ex showroom Delhi - 390 Duke


While 200 remains as it is, rest both get almost all goodies . Very aggressive pricing IMO.