Bajaj-KTM have launched the Duke 390 in India, priced at a mouth watering and totally salivating Rs. 1.80 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). When the Duke 200 was launched on 24th January, 2012, it was priced at Rs. 1.17 lakhs (introductory). The Pulsar 200 NS was launched at an non-introductory price of Rs. 85,000/- (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). Both bikes share engine components among them although on hardware, they are poles part, with the KTM getting more expensive bits like a Trellis frame, WP suspension, multi-information display, etc.
Just like last time, expect Bajaj-KTM to hike prices of the Duke 390 by around Rs. 20,000/- in the next three months. The price hike was done on the Duke 200 to give both bikes (Pulsar 200 NS and Duke 200) some breathing space. The same is expected on the Duke 390 as well, since the Pulsar 375 will be cheaper by a significant amount. With all this logic put together, we expect the Pulsar 375 to be priced at Rs. 1.50 lakhs (ex-showroom), which will simply blow the Rupees per BHP ratio completely.
The Pulsar 375 won’t be introduced with an introductory price and might not feature ABS, although for a bike as fast as this, we expect ABS to be available, at least as an option. The Pulsar 375 will share many components with the Pulsar 200 NS while engine parts will be shared with the Duke 390. The high capacity Pulsar 375 is expected to get a full fairing, a first for the Pulsar. Power output is expected to be around 44 BHP and 32 Nm and the Pulsar 375 will be launched by the end of the year. How will Bajaj-KTM prevent cannibalisation? We are not quite sure.
