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KTM Considering 500cc & 800cc Motorcycles in India?

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Capital goes where capital flows, and it seems that India is turning out to be both a huge market expansion and production opportunity for many manufacturers.

As such Stefan Pierer, KTM’s President and CEO, says the Austrian company is considering manufacturing a 500cc and 800c parallel twin motorcycle on the subcontinent sometime in the next three years.

With the company’s 390cc offerings, the KTM 390 Duke & KTM RC390, already being manufactured there, it seems that KTM is considering upping the ante with larger displacement bikes that can both expand the market for such bikes in India and also be exported to established markets where such larger, heavier bikes are the norm.

While some of us have enjoyed the lightweight and torquey 690 Duke, its small tank capacity and annoying vibrations at highway speeds made it strictly a back road brawler. A smooth running parallel twin would be a welcome addition to the KTM lineup as long as the company can keep the power up and the weight down.

It is interesting how new production capacities open up new opportunities for products that would have otherwise been papered-over by historical market norms. So while American brand Harley-Davidson moves into India, Indian brand Hero moves out to the rest of the world.

This cultural cross-pollination is going to produce some interesting products and maybe even some perceptual changes in the riding populations across the world.

Source: OverDrive.in

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