Stefan Pierer: KTM-Bajaj to launch Husqvarna dual purpose enduro motorcycle in India
Fresh from its acquisition of Husqvarna, a Swedish motocross motorcycle brand from BMW Motorrad, KTM is already charting out an aggressive path for Husqvarna. Though the Husqvarna brand has been limited to motocross motorcycles and a few naked streetbikes and is mainly limited to the markets of the developed world, KTM has big plans for Husqvarna even in emerging markets such as India. Given that KTM has tasted success with the low cost-high quality motorcycle of the Duke range of small capacity motorcycles in India, the Austrian brand is expected to leverage Bajaj Auto’s frugal manufacturing and sourcing skills with Husqvarna as well.
2012 Husqvarna Nuda 900R used as an illustration
Here are brand new details of the 2013 KTM Duke 390(Called 350/375 before)
Austrian motorcycle major KTM building a bigger engined version of the Duke 200 is a foregone conclusion, but how big has been the question that has not been answered concretely. Today, we have a few indications on the specifications of the upcoming KTM Duke 390, the same motorcycle which has been known as the Duke 350 and the Duke 375. KTM is expected to give this motorcycle the Duke 390 moniker, in keeping with the Austrian brand’s tradition of naming its motorcycles with the last two digits ending with 90.
2012 India-spec KTM Duke 200 used as an illustration
KTM developing twin cylinder engine and two new motorcycle platforms with Bajaj Auto
With an eye on the future, Austrian motorcycle maker KTM is developing a twin cylinder engine with its Indian partner and stakeholder, Bajaj Auto. This twin cylinder motor is expected to be used in future KTM and Bajaj products. Other details regarding the cubic capacity and the exact products that the new twin cylinder engine developed by KTM-Bajaj are things that remain unknown at this point in time. Even so, this is a very exciting development as it has the potential of resulting in the first twin cylinder motorcycle from an Indian motorcycle maker, in this case, Bajaj Auto, after more than 2 decades.
2012 KTM Duke 200 used as an illustration
2012 KTM Duke 200 gets RaceLine stickers for a sharper looking ride
The KTM Duke 200 has now gotten itself brand new accessories that are designed to make the street fighter motorcycle to look sharper than ever before, in the form of RaceLine stickers. The stickers are available at a price of INR 4,560. That much money will get you four sets of stickers. One set of stickers will adorn the tank of the motorcycle while another will sit on the front shock absorbers. The engine cowl and the rear seat cowl also get the RaceLine stickers. All in all, this accessory makes the Duke 200 sharper than the stock version of the motorcycle.
2012 KTM Duke 200 with RaceLine Stickers
2012 Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS now available in Karnataka at an ex-showroom price of INR 85,863
Continuing its phased launch of its new flagship motorcycle, Bajaj Auto has made the 2012 Pulsar 200 NS available in Karnataka. With that, Karnataka becomes the third state in India to get the Pulsar 200 NS, after the likes of Maharashtra and the NCR region. Bookings for the Pulsar 200 NS are now officially open at Bajaj Auto dealerships in Karnataka with deliveries to begin soon. By August 2012, the 200 NS is expected to be available on a pan India basis given that Bajaj Auto is betting big on this motorcycle, along with the recently launched Discover 125 ST, to bring in big volumes for the brand.
2012 Bajaj Pulsar 200 NS Sports Motorcycle
Will Bajaj Auto’s lack of scooter focused business strategy pay off in the long term?
Bajaj Auto earned its spurs and became a formidable company that commanded respect on the back of the humble scooter, which once upon a time, was as ubiquitous as the 100cc fo9ur stroke ecomuter motorcycles that it was replaced with. In the late 1990s though, there was a paradigm shift in the way India moved on two wheels with the scooter giving way to four stroke commuter motorcycles like the Splendor and the CD100, leading the field. In the difficult period of transition, Bajaj Auto grappled with scooter sales bottoming out, which led the Akurdi based two wheeler maker to step up efforts to build motorcycles.
A Bajaj Chetak Scooter used as an illustration
