KTM unveils the Freeride 350 dual purpose motorycycle: Is this the same engine that the Duke 350 will get?

24 Bhp of peak power in a motorcycle weighing under 100 kilos is more than enough plonk on the motocross circuit for beginners. That is exactly what Austrian motorcycle maker KTM, which is partly owned by Indian motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto, has done with the KTM Freeride dual purpose on-off road motorcycle, which features a smallish 5 liter tank. The lower power rating of 24 Bhp from the 350cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC, 4 valve, fuel injected engine means that KTM is aiming for better fuel economy over higher power as the motorcycle is also intended for off road circuit racing, where it needs to have enough fuel for each off road race.

KTM Freeride 350 Dual Purpose Motorcycle

KTM does have a 350cc Duke in store for India for 2013, and there’s a fat chance that this very engine, in a higher state of tune could be plonked into the KTM Duke 350, when it debuts for the Indian market in 2013. The mild state of tune the current 350cc engine on the KTM Freeride opens up this possibility as it is very common for motorcycles to make close to 100 Bhp per liter. The 350cc engine on the KTM Freeride on the other hand makes only about 69 Bhp per liter. So, expecting at least 30 Bhp on the KTM Duke 350 wouldn’t be too much of an ask, isn’t it?

Amongst other things, the KTM Freeride 350 features top spec suspension and a ultra light weight frame made of composite materials. The dual purpose motorcycle segment is set to kick off in a big way in India, what with Hero MotoCorp just pulling the wraps off the Hero Impulse 150, which is a rebadged version of the Brazilian Honda NXR BROS. So, a dual purpose motorcycle like the KTM Freeride 350 could be just what the doctor ordered for as in 2013, the market for dual purpose motorcycles in India would have matured sufficiently with the Hero Impulse 150 being targeted as a volumes product.

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