KTM will unveil the Duke 390 at the EICMA Motorcycle Show which takes place from 15-18th November 2012. The Duke 390 will be launched in the Indian market by March 2013 and will be priced around the Rs. 2 lakh mark. Bajaj Auto has already confirmed a bigger Pulsar is in the works, which will be launched by the middle of 2013. This new Bajaj Pulsar could be called the Pulsar 375 and will share most of its parts with the KTM Duke 390. Just like the Pulsar 200 NS and Duke 200, the upcoming Pulsar 375 and Duke 390 will have minor differences in technology and pricing.
The Bajaj Pulsar 375 will be a pocket rocket, as the company plans to price it around Rs. 1.5 lakhs (ex-showroom). The Pulsar 375 will use a single-cylinder engine, with power output being around 40 BHP and torque output being 30 Nm. It will weigh around 165 kgs and should reach the 100 km/hr from standstill in less than 7 seconds. Top speed is expected to be around 160 km/hr, making the Pulsar 375 the fastest Indian motorcycle by a good margin.
The Pulsar 375 is most likely to sport triple spark plugs but will share quite a few engine parts with the Duke 390. Bajaj will focus on value for money and class leading mileage to differentiate the Pulsar 375 from the KTM Duke 390, which is expected to be a hooligan of sorts. The styling of the Pulsar 375 will be quite similar to the 200 NS and there are no plans for a full faired model just yet. We hope Bajaj Auto offers ABS (atleast as an option) on the Pulsar 375 and KTM Duke 390.