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**NewsReaper** · 02-13-2013, 12:26 PM

KTM plans 250cc motorcycle for India?

KTM might be planning their first sports bike for the Indian market with a RC 8 inspired RC 25.

KTM is planning to launch the much anticipated Duke 390 within the next four months. Also a smaller Duke is planned to enter the lower segment of the market. As currently the Duke 200 is more expensive than the R15 and CBR 150.

Bajaj will also be bringing in a few RC8's into the country for display and not for sale.

Amit Nandi, President, Probiking, Bajaj Auto -

Bajaj has covered 70-75 per cent of the targeted market for the KTM brand and more expansion would continue in the coming months.

**nagoo** · 02-13-2013, 12:29 PM

KTM coming up with RC25 [prob'ly] based on RC8 SuperBike

It completes its first year in India this month. And KTM AG, the Austrian bike manufacturer part-owned by Pune-based Bajaj Auto, is already getting into the fast track of brand launches in India. The brand, known for its street, off-road and superbikes, is now clearing the decks for two new product launches in the next 12 months.

Graduating from the 200 Duke (KTM has sold 8,500 units so far), KTM will launch the 390 Duke in the next four months in India followed by a toned down version of the RC8 super sport bike in early 2014. The RC8-inspired sporty motorcycle (which could be the RC25) will be the first racing bike from KTM in India. While the real RC8 sports a 1300cc twin cylinder engine, the RC25 could be powered by a 250cc engine, though officials at Bajaj Auto are tight lipped about it.

Besides, Bajaj will also import a few units of the RC8, which are amongst the most powerful bikes in the KTM line-up, directly from Austria in the next two months. It will, however, be used only for display purposes in showrooms and not for retail.

Source:

KTM gets into top gear | Business Standard

**The Monk** · 02-13-2013, 02:11 PM

News Approved

**antz.bin** · 02-13-2013, 04:31 PM

WHOA! Nobody interested in the most interesting news of the Month? Shame on xBHPians!!

Anyways, considering the state of tune the Duke engine is in (in terms of bhp/liter), the power output of the RC25 should be somewhere very close to the current Ninja 250R. It all makes sense now. Thats why they have to discontinue the Ninja 250R and replace it with the Ninja 300 so they can price the (less powerful than the Ninja 300) KTM at a lower level without making the Ninja look overly bad value.

In all probability, it should be at least 20-25 kilos lighter than the current Ninja 250R but with more torque which will make it an immensely fast bike on track given the *speculated* R15esque aggressive riding position.

Any guesses on what its pricing would be like? Especially in comparison with the remaining 2 250s (CBR and GT)?

**Eshan-P180** · 02-13-2013, 04:41 PM

Its kinda boring to assume things and then post something irrelevant and then get into a forum fight...

**antz.bin** · 02-13-2013, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by Eshan-P180 View Post

Its kinda boring to assume things and then post something irrelevant and then get into a forum fight...

So is the new policy "I won't give any reaction till I see one on the showroom floor." ? Fair enough..

**payeng** · 02-13-2013, 05:02 PM

Originally posted by antz.bin View Post

WHOA! Nobody interested in the most interesting news of the Month? Shame on xBHPians!!

Its somewhat similar to the story of "Boy who cried Wolf"

We have been fed a lot of crap not only by BAKWASS BLOGS but even sometimes from National Publications in the past (R15 / R15 V2.0 will make 21 bhp, Ninja 250R will be available at 1.5 lakhs, Yamaha R125 / R250 will get launched in India, Pulsar 250 cc Twin Cylinder.. and what not).

People would rather wait for the Real Stuff now.

**dishayu** · 02-13-2013, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by payeng View Post

Its somewhat similar to the story of "Boy who cried Wolf"

We have been fed a lot of crap not only by BAKWASS BLOGS but even sometimes from National Publications in the past (R15 / R15 V2.0 will make 21 bhp, Ninja 250R will be available at 1.5 lakhs, Yamaha R125 / R250 will get launched in India, Pulsar 250 cc Twin Cylinder.. and what not).

People would rather wait for the Real Stuff now.

Touche. Way too much bullshit. Time to see some bikes for real now.

**The Monk** · 02-13-2013, 05:11 PM

I think that is the maturing xBhpian.

But this news piece does seem to indicate that the 390 or 200 will surely not get faired versions and will continue as nakeds only. The so-called RC 250 will surely be a looker going by its elder cousin.

Funnily the original news report calls a 250cc RC 25 a toned down version of the RC8

From 1300cc to 250cc is not toned down, its a whole new bike!

**antz.bin** · 02-13-2013, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by The Monk View Post

I think that is the maturing xBhpian.

Kinda True. Rumors no longer excite the Indian biker. But I would like to concede that I was a tiny bit excited since as far as I have seen, the KTM/Honda related rumors have a far greater probability of coming true as compared to the others.

Originally posted by The Monk View Post

Funnily the original news report calls a 250cc RC 25 a toned down version of the RC8

From 1300cc to 250cc is not toned down, its a whole new bike!

There is another thing. The RC8 is just 1195cc (or 1.2l) Not 1300cc as per the article.

**The Monk** · 02-13-2013, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by antz.bin View Post

There is another thing. The RC8 is just 1195cc (or 1.2l) Not 1300cc as per the article.

That is probably why the article loses credibility! Also the fact that the 390 is being released for the last six months. People have got bored of waiting for Bajaj-KTM.

**payeng** · 02-13-2013, 05:37 PM

Also a few years back, things like Full Fairing, Liquid Cooling, twin cyliders, exotic brands like KTM were all new to the desi bikers. Now things are a bit different and hae been exposed to stuff which were not there earlier.

**antz.bin** · 02-13-2013, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by The Monk View Post

Also the fact that the 390 is being released for the last six months. People have got bored of waiting for Bajaj-KTM.

How can it be 6 months? It was only unveiled on 16th November 2012 (< 3 months back)

And as for the launch date, any prudent auto manufacturer would delay launching / declaring the pricing of any new vehicle beyond the Budget announcement so that there are no surprises till next year.

**The Monk** · 02-13-2013, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by antz.bin View Post

How can it be 6 months? It was only unveiled on 16th November 2012 (< 3 months back)

And they said it will be launched in a month or something, now after three months, it still to be launched in the next three months, or by Diwali, or by Christmas or by God knows when. Does get a bit irritating don't it

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KTM planning RC 25, 250cc motorcycle for India?

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