The Bajaj-KTM alliance drew first blood when they launched the Duke 200 and Duke 390 street fighter motorcycles. The announcement of their faired siblings, RC 200 and RC 390 further boosted the morale of true blood performance motorcycling lovers.
At last we Indians will have access to more world class motorcycles from KTM’s stable, at relatively affordable prices, all thanks to Bajaj. Do not mistake the upcoming RCs to be just an everyday run of the mill motorcycles. They have been crafted to provide a feel of proper Moto3 motorcycles.
Bajaj on the other hand has turned out to be an equally big beneficiary from this alliance. In an active participation with KTM, the Pune based manufacturer is incorporating a lot of technological advancements to their bikes giving rise to products which set them apart from the competition.
Here is a quick list of motorcycles coming from the Bajaj-KTM alliance by Diwali:
1. KTM RC 390:
Using the engine of the critically acclaimed Duke 390, the RC 390 is going to be one hell of a motorcycle. The bike will churn out 43 hp of raw power from a single cylinder mill, making your neighbor super envious. The 373.2cc single cylinder powerhouse will be controlled by a six speed gearbox.
The light weight 147 kg body can be expected to be blisteringly quick to give you the taste of the wind rushing against you. Adding to the agility will be the super sticky Metzelers which can grip practically anything. The bike will be launched on September 9, 2014 at an expected price tag hovering around 2.4 lakhs on road.
2. KTM RC 200:
Once again, the RC200 is the faired version of the Duke 200. The bike, which aims to be a powerful city performer, is propelled by the 199.5cc single cylinder mill which churns out 25 horses of power. The engine is mated with a six speed transmission. Being one of the first steps on the KTM’s ‘Ready to Race’ ladder, the RC 200 boasts of top class performance with a humble balance with economy.
Charged with components which are usually reserved only for premium motorcycles in India, the RC 200 promises to be an excellent value for money. The RC 200 is also going to be launched along with the RC 390 and will have a price tag of around Rs 1.7 Lakhs.
3. Bajaj Pulsar 200SS:
So the Pulsar 200NS is the best ever Pulsar yet! And there is not even an iota of doubt about it. How much does it sell vis a vis older Pulsars is a different story though. The Pulsar 200SS will be the first ever fully faired Pulsar from Bajaj’s stables and will be based on the 200NS. The 200 ‘Super Sport ‘ will be sharing the same engine which can be found in the P200NS, however, we have the confirmation that it will be fuel injected.
Exact official specs are not known but they will be in the vicinity of the current 23.52PS of power along with Bajaj’s treatment of an extra spark plug! It will carry the same menacing looks of the bigger 400SS which was displayed at the Auto Expo. Prices are expected to be about Rs 1.25 Lakh on road and launch is expected within 3 months from now.
Apart from this, Bajaj is also preparing their Pulsar 150 NS (Naked Sports) which was expected to come somewhere around this time. However, in an exclusive word with a top Bajaj official, we got to know that Pulsar 200NS will not be launched by Diwali. We expect it to come a little later, probably sometime early next year.
And then we have the Bajaj Pulsar 400SS and Pulsar 400CS (pictured above) which will be launched sometime next year and in 2016 respectively.
Related: Bajaj Discover 150F & 150S Road Test & Review: Official
