It seems the “Ready to Race” crowd won’t have to say goodbye to their big single favourites just yet. In a move that differs from Triumph’s strategy, KTM India has decided that its upcoming 350cc range will live alongside the existing 390 line-up. This dual-strategy is a calculated move by Bajaj-KTM to keep the performance purists happy while offering a much more affordable entry point for those feeling the pinch of India’s new tax rules. Or it might be a limited time test to see how the market responds and make a decision about which version to keep a few months later. Either ways, the OG 390 has to remain in production for the international markets.
Why Two Sizes? The GST 2.0 Factor
The main driver behind this shift is the GST 2.0 reform. In the current tax climate, motorcycles with engines over 350cc are slapped with a hefty 40% GST. However, those that sit at 350cc or below enjoy a much friendlier 18% tax rate.
While brands like Triumph have shifted their entire Indian 400cc portfolio to the 350cc platform, KTM is playing it differently. They know their riders is a more mixed bag: some want the absolute pinnacle of sub-500cc performance (the 390s), while others want that KTM “edge” at a more accessible price (the 350s).
The Price Gap: Savings of up to ₹50,000
By selling both ranges side-by-side, KTM is creating a clear “Good vs. Better” hierarchy in their showrooms.
- The 390 Range: After recent hikes, the KTM 390 Duke now retails at ₹3.39 lakh, and the 390 Adventure X sits at ₹3.43 lakh (ex-showroom).
- The 350 Range: The upcoming KTM 350 Duke and 350 Adventure range are expected to launch later this month with a price tag under ₹3 lakh. We suspect though that only the Adventure X variant will come with the 350 engine.
This creates a massive price gap of ₹40,000 to ₹50,000, making the 350s a serious value-for-money proposition for urban riders and casual tourers.
Performance: What’s Under the Tank?
The new 350cc motor is essentially a downsized version of the 399cc LC4c engine.
- State of Tune: While the Triumph 350s are tuned for a relaxed ride, expect KTM to keep things spicy. We’re anticipating more aggressive throttle mapping and a higher power output than the 40 PS seen in the Triumphs. A little worried about the torque numbers, as on the Triumphs we saw a massive 5 Nm of drop.
The Lineup: Duke, Adventure, and More
KTM isn’t just stopping at one bike. The dual-engine approach will apply to:
- The Duke Series: Both the 350 Duke and 390 Duke will be sold simultaneously.
- The Adventure Series: The 350cc model is expected to replace the “Adventure X” role as the accessible entry point, while the high-spec 390 Adventure R remains for the hardcore explorers.
- The Enduro R: There are even whispers of an India-specific 350 Enduro R launching alongside the international-spec 390 version.
Interestingly, the RC 390 is unlikely to get a 350cc sibling for now, as it still uses the older 373cc platform and remains a niche, track-focused tool. Long term, the word on the street is that the very soon the entire 390 range will be replaced by 490 Twins, thus having the 350s at a lower price bracket a huge advantage to avoid overlap. First look of these is expected at the EICMA 2026.
