Live: KTM RC200 and RC390 launch in India

KTM will launch the new RC200 and RC390 middleweight supersports motorcycles in the next couple of hours. One of the most eagerly awaited motorcycles of this year, the RC200 and RC390 are important models for KTM, both for the Indian and other global markets. Of the two, RC390 will replace Duke 390 as the flagship model in India. 

Both the models get angular fairing with twin projector headlamps and DRLs to transform them into supersports motorcycles. Designed to be more track- focussed than its naked models, the RC200 and RC390 are more flamboyant than the naked Duke series. The RC200 is powered by a single cylinder 200cc which churns out 25bhp and 19Nm of torque while the RC390 gets a single-cylinder 375cc unit pumping out 43bhp and 35Nm of torque. Both the engines are shared with their respective naked models, though the chassis have been slightly altered for a more supersports-like riding dynamics. 

Watch this space for more updates on the RC200 and the RC390 as we bring you live updates directly from the Hyatt Regency, Pune.

And we are live from the venue.

Mr Stefan Pierer is here for the India launch. The event starts with a KTM racing AV.

Mr Pierer on stage for the RC presentation. 

But first some business updates - KTM is the largest selling motorcycle brand in Europe.  KTM has over 30 subsidiaries and over 2,000 dealers around the world. Pierer acknowledges and thanks Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto for the support. The strategic partnership with Bajaj gives them an edge to compete with Japanese rivals and they hope to sell 2,50,000 sport bikes a year by 2020.

We are looking at  KTMs racing history - over 250 championships for the Austria brand in various types of events around the world. The inputs from the racing experience is fed into the production version. They say each motorcycle is a racing bike for them.

As of this quarter they will be selling 1700 bikes every month. In 26 cities KTM is Number 1 in the segment, in another 69 cities it is Number 2. Amit Nandi says that  KTM India has grown 120 per cent in the first five months of 2014. By the end of this month they will have 150 dealerships in the country.

Their marketing campaign, as they revealed, has been targeted at existing customers so that word of mouth does the advertising bit for them. KTM India has 75 per cent market share in the premium motorcycles segment in India.

Amit Nandi is now detailing how they engaged the customers with various events organised.

As mentioned before, the marketing strategy for KTM India also relies on word-of-mouth and outdoor events including track days, organge days, camps, stunt shows and orange rides.

The DNA  of an RC product has its source in two forms. KTM will support both on-track and off-track motorsports events in India. Mr Nandi says that Moto 3 is the backbone for the development of the new RC models.

A short AV now on what Moto 3 is about.

First the presentation on the RC390.

Mr Nandi is giving us the details and features of the RC390. The chassis is geared for racing with shorter wheelbase and reduced rake angle. Twin projector headlamps, optional Daytime running lamps for the Indian version.

Integrated pillion seat gets an LED tail lamp. Aerodynamic windshield, the tank and side panels are in matte finish giving the bike a premium finish. It gets upside down forks and  monoshock suspension. The brakes are from Bosch.

The dual disc brakes at the front and it gets forged brake and gear pedals and super soft metzeler tyres.

Nandi says - The RC390 is all the superbike that you need in India.

KTM RC390 has power-to-weight  ratio of 262bhp per ton.

KTM RC200 has power-to-weight  ratio of 162bhp per ton.

We see comparison with CBR250 - similar power figures for the RC200, but it is a lot lighter. The RC390 beats the Ninja 300 on almost all parameters.

And a short video on the RC200 and RC390. KTM says the RC200 is more of a supersport that can be used daily.

Mr Bajaj and Pierer on stage for unveliling of the bikes. Waiting for the prices now. 

And we have the prices: KTM RC200 priced at Rs 1,60,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) and RC390 priced at Rs 2,05,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). 

This is an amazingly killer pricing for both the motorcycles! So much so that the audience here at the launch waited five minutes to digest the news. These are introductory prices and they say their endeavour is to make KTM an affordable luxury brand and so the pricing.

Adventure bikes coming to India from Austria via CKD.

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