In one shocker of an unveiling event at the Tokyo Motor Show, KTM, out of nowhere unveiled the new KTM Duke250 and the RC250 which is claimed as their strongest 250cc mill. And if their claimed power figures of 31.3 Ps at 9000 Rpm and 24 Nm at 7250 Rpm are to be believed, you would not disagree as well. Sound something familiar here?
Around a year ago at the Indian Auto Expo in 2014, Hero MotoCorp also showcased their new bike; the Hero HX250R with similar power figures. But what Hero showcased and is working on, KTM already did it. Before anyone could even catch a whiff or what was cooking, KTM has even come out with production ready models of its Duke250 and RC250 bikes.
If you do happen to check out the unveiling pics, you can see that there really is nothing different to the looks of the KTM twins. KTM has mentioned that the bike is based on the 390 rather than being an extra bored version of the 200. At least the bike should be getting the slipper clutch to say the least along with other gadgetry and gizmos. But if KTM had to unveil the KTM 250 twins, they could have at least tried to knock our socks off by getting a new design for the bike to say the least. The constant design makes it very difficult to actually differentiate the bikes if not for the labeling sticker and graphics.
We all know the cost cutting ways of Bajaj and hence the similar design ranges across the Duke 125 all the way to the 390. Well, if not some new design, at least a unique paint jobshould be on the cards to give the bikes some refreshment. Maybe try some different shades of orange, black and white; or else go fresh, go bold, try out a completely new colour. We leave that decision for KTM to decide.
Coming to the launch of the KTM 250 twins, recently some spy pics had emerged on the internet of some KTM bikes being tested which were touted to being the newer 2015-16 version of the Duke and RC390 models. But now it seems that those in actual could have been the new Duke250 and the RC250 being tested in the final stages of production.
Considering the Bajaj-KTM partnership here in India, it would be pretty safe to consider (rather pray to lord and hope!) that the 250 twins will be launched here in India itself to fill the 200 to 373.3cc gap. Now if the KTM twins are launched, it means they will be open to a lot of competition in the quarter liter segment which already has quite some players already plying their products on the road. There is the Kawasaki Ninja 250/300 (the 250 was discontinued recently), the Hyosung GTR250R which still has quite the elite customer base, and there is the Honda CBR250R with the new kid on the block, the Benelli TNT300. Also not to forget the TNT250 being in the works.
Now, what would separate all these machines to the KTM twins is the cost factor. Since KTM manufactures the bikes locally in India, it costs pretty less compared to its other international rivals already present here. But what we are talking here is the more homegrown rivalry from our very own Hero MotoCorp who is also going to launch the Hero HX250R soon (we hope it is sooner).
Since the cost of the bikes is going to be a huge factor, Hero might actually have an edge here since it has the timidness to price the bikes really competitively (it is expected to be launched at around 1.5 lakhs ex-showroom, which is what the Duke200 costs ex-showroom). But what KTM has which Hero lacks is experience and the test of time with performance machines. Yes, the partnerships with Eric Buell Racing and Engines Engineering will help, but the after sales service performance is going to matter as well.
Now consider this for a debate. The Hero HX250R is a fully faired bike which is a direct competition to the RC250. So to expect the least it is all going to come down to the costing of the bikes to lure the customers. That also means the Duke250 has no competition since there is a lack of a naked 250cc mill in our market (The Kawasaki Z250 costs a bomb). Now that could be filled up if Hero decides to put out a naked 250 based on the HX250R as well, but then Hero is rumored to be tinkering around with a possibly 250cc Impulse in the making. Now if that turns out to be the case, then Hero will have another cherry on the pie since the Naked will also be taken care of. But again KTM is also working on an off-roader based on the 390 platform.
Phew! The competition is seriously heating up here and it is nothing else but party time for the consumer here. One is seriously going to be spoilt for choices soon and that’s terrific news. This only means one thing, it’s time to get a tub of popcorn and enjoy the sweet Royal Rumble. It’s time to Vroom Vroom Go!!! Shoot down your comments below to let us know what you think about all this.
By: Pratik Patole
Around a year ago at the Indian Auto Expo in 2014, Hero MotoCorp also showcased their new bike; the Hero HX250R with similar power figures. But what Hero showcased and is working on, KTM already did it. Before anyone could even catch a whiff or what was cooking, KTM has even come out with production ready models of its Duke250 and RC250 bikes.If you do happen to check out the unveiling pics, you can see that there really is nothing different to the looks of the KTM twins. KTM has mentioned that the bike is based on the 390 rather than being an extra bored version of the 200. At least the bike should be getting the slipper clutch to say the least along with other gadgetry and gizmos. But if KTM had to unveil the KTM 250 twins, they could have at least tried to knock our socks off by getting a new design for the bike to say the least. The constant design makes it very difficult to actually differentiate the bikes if not for the labeling sticker and graphics.
We all know the cost cutting ways of Bajaj and hence the similar design ranges across the Duke 125 all the way to the 390. Well, if not some new design, at least a unique paint jobshould be on the cards to give the bikes some refreshment. Maybe try some different shades of orange, black and white; or else go fresh, go bold, try out a completely new colour. We leave that decision for KTM to decide.Coming to the launch of the KTM 250 twins, recently some spy pics had emerged on the internet of some KTM bikes being tested which were touted to being the newer 2015-16 version of the Duke and RC390 models. But now it seems that those in actual could have been the new Duke250 and the RC250 being tested in the final stages of production.
Considering the Bajaj-KTM partnership here in India, it would be pretty safe to consider (rather pray to lord and hope!) that the 250 twins will be launched here in India itself to fill the 200 to 373.3cc gap. Now if the KTM twins are launched, it means they will be open to a lot of competition in the quarter liter segment which already has quite some players already plying their products on the road. There is the Kawasaki Ninja 250/300 (the 250 was discontinued recently), the Hyosung GTR250R which still has quite the elite customer base, and there is the Honda CBR250R with the new kid on the block, the Benelli TNT300. Also not to forget the TNT250 being in the works.
Now, what would separate all these machines to the KTM twins is the cost factor. Since KTM manufactures the bikes locally in India, it costs pretty less compared to its other international rivals already present here. But what we are talking here is the more homegrown rivalry from our very own Hero MotoCorp who is also going to launch the Hero HX250R soon (we hope it is sooner).Since the cost of the bikes is going to be a huge factor, Hero might actually have an edge here since it has the timidness to price the bikes really competitively (it is expected to be launched at around 1.5 lakhs ex-showroom, which is what the Duke200 costs ex-showroom). But what KTM has which Hero lacks is experience and the test of time with performance machines. Yes, the partnerships with Eric Buell Racing and Engines Engineering will help, but the after sales service performance is going to matter as well.
Now consider this for a debate. The Hero HX250R is a fully faired bike which is a direct competition to the RC250. So to expect the least it is all going to come down to the costing of the bikes to lure the customers. That also means the Duke250 has no competition since there is a lack of a naked 250cc mill in our market (The Kawasaki Z250 costs a bomb). Now that could be filled up if Hero decides to put out a naked 250 based on the HX250R as well, but then Hero is rumored to be tinkering around with a possibly 250cc Impulse in the making. Now if that turns out to be the case, then Hero will have another cherry on the pie since the Naked will also be taken care of. But again KTM is also working on an off-roader based on the 390 platform.Phew! The competition is seriously heating up here and it is nothing else but party time for the consumer here. One is seriously going to be spoilt for choices soon and that’s terrific news. This only means one thing, it’s time to get a tub of popcorn and enjoy the sweet Royal Rumble. It’s time to Vroom Vroom Go!!! Shoot down your comments below to let us know what you think about all this.
By: Pratik Patole
