While the Austrian motorcycle brand KTM struggles to survive internationally, it is still working on new bikes that will cater for the mass market segment. KTM is now making a new 160cc platform, which will soon replace the outgoing 125cc bikes in India.
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KTM is currently undergoing restructuring due to its financial issues. However, the brand continues to develop new motorcycles to cater to mass market segments. The latest online reports hint that KTM is developing a 160cc platform that is likely to replace the 125cc bikes soon.
Not long ago, the news of KTM axing out the 125 Duke and RC 125 in India broke out. This led to a dismal among buyers who are planning to purchase the entry-level KTMs. But, the latest news report says otherwise, as the brand is going to introduce the 160 Duke and RC 160 soon.
As per the report, the new 160cc bikes will be based on the KTMs 200cc platform. In fact, the engine will also be derived from the 200cc powerplant by downsizing it. This new 160cc engine will likely develop 19-20 bhp power, which is substantially higher than the outgoing 125cc bikes with 14.5 bhp.
So, why the 160cc? This is because the entry-level sportsbike market is largely dominated by the Yamaha R15 and MT-15. The Japanese duo cumulatively sell more than 20,000 units monthly, which is a huge number to defeat. Therefore, a new platform that is more powerful than the rivals is likely to garner more customers.
Speaking of Bajaj’s involvement in this project, the engine, chassis, and other components will all be taken from the KTM 200 Duke. This means Bajaj will likely play its regular role of production and development, but it will not share the components from its 160cc platform.
As of now, the exact launch timeline of the new KTM 160 Duke and RC 160 is unknown, but the report says that the launch will take place by mid-2025. KTM 125s were steeply priced, and we expect the same for the 160 bikes as well. This could mean that both the new 160cc bikes might be positioned above Rs 1.90 lakh.
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With the new 160cc bikes, KTM is betting high on the Rs 2 lakh price bracket sportsbike market in India. These bikes are likely going to offer premium hardware and powerful performance altogether. More details will be revealed as we head towards the official debut timeline.