Bajaj launches mid-size sports bike KTM 390 Duke

Bajaj Auto today launched its premium bike from the KTM platform at a price of Rs 1.8 lakh and said it expects to clock higher sales from the premium segment.

The KTM 390 Duke is the second offering from the KTM portfolio as Bajaj Auto had launched the first KTM offering, KTM 200 Duke, in January 2012. The Duke is the first mid-size sports bike from the Bajaj stable.

The premium segment accounts for 1,000 units per month and Bajaj commands nearly 75 per cent share in it. The company expects volumes to grow in double-digits with the launch, vice-president for Probiking, Amit Nandi, said at the launch.

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Bajaj reported a 5.32 per cent fall in its motorcycle sales at 3,04,780 units in May against 3,21,922 units in the orresponding month the previous year. Its exports too declined sharply by 14.35 per cent in the month at 1,11,835 units down from 1,30,573 units.

The company has so far sold 11,000 KTM 200s since its launch, out of which 7,500 units were sold last fiscal, Bajaj Auto managing director Rajeev Bajaj said after the launch.

"The KTM 390 Duke is conceived, designed and developed at the Chakan plant. With the new offering we have created a new segment not only in the domestic market but globally as well. So, there will be no direct competition to this product," Bajaj claimed.

However, it is expected that the Duke will face competition from Yamaha R15, Honda CBR 250 and Ninja 350.