[Aditya]

KTM has launched the 200 Duke ABS in India at a price of Rs. 1,60,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). The bike will be available in 3 colours - Orange, White and Black.



The 200 Duke has a trellis frame with an aluminium swingarm and upside-down fork suspension from WP at the front. It is powered by a 199.5cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that produces 25 BHP @ 10,000 rpm and 19.2 Nm of torque @ 8,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission.



The Duke 200 comes with single disc brakes at the front and rear. The ABS system has been sourced from Bosch and is expected to improve the bike's braking performance.



KTM will continue to sell the non-ABS variant of the KTM 200 Duke as well. The bike is priced at Rs. 1,51,757 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Link to Team-BHP News Article

[nikhn]

This being a single channel system should be able to meet the norms making it perfect for the city and also fill the missing feature which was long due. In another month or so, we can expect the RC200 as well to have the same system.

[neil.jericho]

My first reaction to this was - does the Duke 250 now get ABS? I searched online but I couldnt find any news related to it. The step motherly treatment of the sensible (barring lack of ABS) Duke 250 continues, sigh! Why, KTM, why?

[Balaji31582]

With the slew of launches happening, KTM should have launched RC250 with dual channel ABS and together bring in ABS version of Duke 200, RC 200, Duke 250. That would have showcase all Dukes with ABS and with respective RCs.

[deepakchan]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

My first reaction to this was - does the Duke 250 now get ABS? I searched online but I couldnt find any news related to it. The step motherly treatment of the sensible (barring lack of ABS) Duke 250 continues, sigh! Why, KTM, why?

The Duke 250 and RC 200 also will get the system in a couple of months max. Anyway they can't do without it after March.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Why, KTM, why?

Sales! 200 is their bread and butter model, as compared to the 250.

Moreover, a 250 ABS could potentially also cannibalise the 390 or vice versa (As the ABS makes the 250 an even more pricier proposition closer to the price of the 390).

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...-analysis.html (October 2018: Two Wheeler Sales Figures & Analysis)

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by deepakchan

The Duke 250 and RC 200 also will get the system in a couple of months max. Anyway they can't do without it after March.

Yes, but how silly of KTM to not do it now in one shot as BHPian Balaji31582 had suggested. And whoever heard of a sports bike (RC200) not having ABS while its naked equivalent (D200) does!

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Sales! 200 is their bread and butter model, as compared to the 250.

Moreover, a 250 ABS could potentially also cannibalise the 390 or vice versa (As the ABS makes the 250 an even more pricier proposition closer to the price of the 390).

If I was in charge of sales at KTM, my aim would be to push first time buyers up from the D200 to the D250. Higher purchase price and safe to assume, higher profitability. Win win for KTM. The D390 would be a logical upgrade for these buyers in a few years time. And then the D790. Or maybe they bypass the D390 and jump to the D790. Either way they stay in the KTM family.


The way to push the buyers towards the D250 from the D200 is easy. Offer them ABS. Keep the fancy schmancy screen and fancy LED lighting for the D390. Where KTM erred was in pricing the D250 too high from the beginning. And now they are stuck in no mans land as you pointed out. Increase pricing with ABS and the D390 looks even more tempting (not that the sales boffins will actually complain).


Now on top of that, KTM has sandwiched the non ABS 250 between its other two offerings with ABS. Its almost as though they dont want to sell any D250s and are planning to discontinue it. It would be easy to justify as well, " No sales only saar, Indian market doesnt want this bike. Good we didnt launch RC250 saar. Lets clear out the inventory and cut out losses and go back to selling only 200 and 390 and prepare for 790 saar."

[mithun]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

If I was in charge of sales at KTM, my aim would be to push first time buyers up from the D200 to the D250. Higher purchase price and safe to assume, higher profitability. Win win for KTM. The D390 would be a logical upgrade for these buyers in a few years time. And then the D790. Or maybe they bypass the D390 and jump to the D790. Either way they stay in the KTM family.


The way to push the buyers towards the D250 from the D200 is easy. Offer them ABS. Keep the fancy schmancy screen and fancy LED lighting for the D390. Where KTM erred was in pricing the D250 too high from the beginning. And now they are stuck in no mans land as you pointed out. Increase pricing with ABS and the D390 looks even more tempting (not that the sales boffins will actually complain).


Now on top of that, KTM has sandwiched the non ABS 250 between its other two offerings with ABS. Its almost as though they dont want to sell any D250s and are planning to discontinue it. It would be easy to justify as well, " No sales only saar, Indian market doesnt want this bike. Good we didnt launch RC250 saar. Lets clear out the inventory and cut out losses and go back to selling only 200 and 390 and prepare for 790 saar."

You are spot on!

The Duke 250 is now selling in line with the 390 so they don't want to kill it. Plus quarter liter bikes are getting popular in India nowadays.

It may lack the bells and whistles of Duke 390, but it offers better ride and more FE who wants to upgrade from a 150cc, but don't want more than 30 horses!

The best option for them is to offer ABS w/o any price increase by April '19(which is doubtful).

[itisravi]

Just wondering, is it possible that the next refresh (if one is planned at all, maybe for BS6 compliance) of the Duke 200 for India could have dual channel ABS?