Bajaj Auto launches sports bike KTM Duke 200

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To strengthen its position in sports bike market in India, Bajaj Auto, in collaboration with Austrian manufacturer KTM, Tuesday launched its 200cc power bike Duke 200, priced at Rs.1.17 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

"Launch of Duke 200 is one of the many steps in Bajaj Auto's association with KTM over the last five years," said Rajiv Bajaj, managing director.

"Between the Bajaj Pulsar and the KTM Duke, we intend to further strengthen our dominant position in the sports motorcycle segment in India."

He said the company will be launching at least one new KTM bike every year in the country.

Bajaj Auto has a 39 per cent stake in the Austrian company with whom it produces two models- Duke 125 and Duke 200 - at its Chakan plant near Pune.

The bike would be retailed through 34 KTM stores which were earlier known as Bajaj Probiking showrooms.

Duke has nearly 95 local components and is powered by 200cc, liquid cooled, four-valve engine which generates peak power of 25 bhp and a maximum torque of 19 Nm.

"We will be producing 3,000 units per month at the Chakan plant. We are very optimistic about the sales prospects as we have a very attractive price," Hubert Trunkenpolz, chief sales officer, KTM Power Sports, told IANS.

The total capacity at the plant for the two KTM bikes currently stands at 30,000 units.