[Shubz]

And Motoroids say --> KTM India dealers to start taking bookings for 390 DUKE. March end launch!

[ebonho]

Please take with big fistfuls of salt.

The test bikes are also not out yet.

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Please take with big fistfuls of salt.

The test bikes are also not out yet.

Fistful is an understatement. Even Bajaj guys may be wondering who else is manufacturing Dukes in India. How credible is motoroids?

[Abhi_Automobile]

Originally Posted by Shubz

Fistful is an understatement. Even Bajaj guys may be wondering who else is manufacturing Dukes in India. How credible is motoroids?

'Quality' is not something that happens by chance. tbhp stands for quality because of the folks that participate in the forums.

xbhp is a good forum when it comes to biking, ACI/Overdrive generally credible for the infor they provide. Other than that, I woudn't care much about many wannabe forums

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Shubz

Fistful is an understatement. How credible is motoroids?

Yeah, there are way too many of these websites that specialize in blowing news snippets out of proportion, knowing full well that there are several thousand motoring enthusiasts just waiting for some positive news on new bike launches.

If, say, a Honda announces that they are 'planning to develop a 400cc engine', there will be hazaar websites that will run headlines like 'Honda 400 for India soon', 'Honda big bike unveiled for India', and 'Honda CBR 400 RR (!) heading to showrooms in June 2013'. These guys just want the initial hits to their web pages so they can use that to drive ad revenue. I've stopped looking at these sites in Google Search results, my mind reacts to them in the same way as spam/web ads.

The actual bike manufacturers don't help things either, keeping their plans under wraps for so long, or continuously changing launch dates.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Abhi_Automobile

So, if you get the sportsbike route, does the D200 stay? One of each kind? Thumper, Naked and Sports

For a person like me, who will essentially use the bike as a lifestyle product (ride it when you feel like), I just need one bike that will make me feel good when I am riding it. Simple as that. Simple requirements. Complex Choices.

No buddy, the Duke 200 makes way for the new bike - whichever it is.

If I can find a tank upsize for the Duke 390, then the price difference will be hard to ignore. If not, then the Ninja 300 will be ahead.

All depends on what Bajaj-KTM's plans are for the Touring/Adventure version of the 390. If its late 2013 or latest early 2014, I may just flog baby Duke 222 a little longer.

The thumper (my 500) is no longer a "bike" for me (in my calculations). She is an old trusted friend who I like to have around and take a ride with when in the mood.

[Waggy]

Originally Posted by ebonho

No buddy, the Duke 200 makes way for the new bike - whichever it is.

Why do you want to go for Duke 390 when you already seem to be happy with Duke 200 (I'm reading your other thread too)

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Waggy

Why do you want to go for Duke 390 when you already seem to be happy with Duke 200 (I'm reading your other thread too)

Because it will be bigger and faster - and more is never enough for a biker!

Even when I bought the 200, I wanted the 350 (at that time we did not know it was a 390), but that was still undecided and too far away, so the 200 came in as a stop gap.

The plan was always to have a bike that could top out at 170-180 and comfortably go past the ton.

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by am1m

The actual bike manufacturers don't help things either, keeping their plans under wraps for so long, or continuously changing launch dates.

The actual manufacturers do have a very good reason to keep things under wraps. They do not want to reveal anything much in advance, a rival could hijack their plans that could jeopardize their very entry (let alone existence) in the market - knowing Indian market!

If you notice, the manufacturers come up with clear cut dates/time frame etc and they stand by it, in other countries.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Shubz

They do not want to reveal anything much in advance, a rival could hijack their plans...

I get that. What I meant was, as a manufacturer, once you've put up your bike on your website (once you've put up an India-specific website itself), it would help your brand image and customers' patience and budget-planning if you followed through and delivered, or at least told us accurately when you intend to deliver.

Originally Posted by Shubz

If you notice, the manufacturers come up with clear cut dates/time frame etc and they stand by it, in other countries.

Precisely. It's only here that we see all this song-and-dance - a "coming soon" tag for years, a release without any semblance of service support infrastructure, and such drama.

I realize it's not a joke to make a bike and support it, and kudos to those manufacturers who do it, but a little more predictability will help no one more than the manufacturer.

PS: I'm a firm believer in "Love your bike, not the company that made it!" I think the only way to ensure a fair deal for bike customers, is to keep the manufacturers on their toes by being demanding customers.

[ebonho]

Waggy you seem confused bro. Which bike did you just sell off?

160 for the 390 (when the 200, with around 50% the power and torque, and 90% the weight, is nudging 140) is something no biker (stunter or tourer or racer) will accept.

180 is what most of us would hope for, 170-175 is what we will most probably get.

But with a brutally quick 140-150-160. Something the Ninja 300 will not be able to live with (even when fully wound up at stratospheric revs).

The other part of your post I did not get, is the part about the Duke losing to the Ninja on bad roads, and about "getting tired after 200 kms."

1) On bad/no roads, light and torquey and naked with good suspension/travel and ground clearance will ALWAYS trump heavy and peaky and faired with lower spec suspension/travel and lesser ground clearance.

Take a Ninja 250 and a Duke 200 off-road and see for yourself. Or if you are lucky, a Duke 690 and a Ninja 650 (with less plastic than the 250/300).

2) Most seasoned riders/tourers, do not take their first fuel/butt/sutta break before 250-300 kms. I do not know what sort of riding would tire even a half fit rider in 200 kms.

P.S. If the CB500F/X comes the same route as the CBR250R, then I do not see it being offered for anything less than 4 lacs in India. Which is about what the Ninja 300 will come on to the roads for as well.

Let us all pray that the early field testers can convince Bajaj-KTM to at least offer (as a company tested and authorized option) a 18-20 liter tank for the Duke 390.

Note from Support - Only 2 smileys per post.

[unk9ja]

Had been to the newly opened KTM shop at BTM layout yesterday to enquire about the 390. They are indeed taking the bookings with a 10K amount. The launch is end March or early April. No pricing announced, but the skeptical guy said the launch price may be around 2.3L ex-showroom Delhi and may touch 2.7L on road in Bangalore. So the 2.2L on-road may be a myth or will it be an introductory price at the launch?

[basilmabraham]

I had been to the Cochin Auto Show and the guy at the KTM stall said the 390 would be out only towards mid this year. He had no idea about the exact launch date or price.
He also said, there is a chance that the 200 with ABS may also come out by then. Also understood that the ABS module would be a straight retrofit to the existing 200.
Good times ahead..

[akshay4587]

And now Motoroids say that launch is only 6 days away?

http://motoroids.com/news/ktm-duke-3...ai-orange-day/

[Shubz]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

And now Motoroids say that launch is only 6 days away?

http://motoroids.com/news/ktm-duke-3...ai-orange-day/

I heard there is a 390 (or 690?) on display at the KTM stores. Anybody seen?