KTM has announced a significant price increase for the 390 Duke, with the model now commanding an additional Rs 40,000. The move likely comes as a decision by Bajaj to no longer absorb the additional GST-related costs that came into effect last September.
- KTM 390 Duke price increased to Rs 3.39 lakh
- GST-related burden was previously absorbed by Bajaj
- KTM is also working on sub-350cc models
KTM 390 Duke price hike details
The KTM 390 Duke now costs Rs 1.22 lakh more than the 250 Duke
When a higher 40 percent GST rate for motorcycles above 350cc was announced last September, Bajaj decided to absorb the additional tax burden for affected KTM bikes rather than passing it on to customers. This allowed pricing for the KTM 390 range to remain unchanged, while the competitors increased theirs almost immediately.
However, Bajaj has now decided to stop absorbing these costs, resulting in an expected price revision. The KTM 390 Duke, previously priced at Rs 2.99 lakh, now costs Rs 3.39 lakh – a substantial Rs 40,000 more. There is no official word yet on when the other 390 models, such as the RC 390 and 390 Enduro, will see similar revisions, but it is safe to assume those updates are on the way.
On the other hand, the price increase for the current 390 Duke will potentially widen the gap with the upcoming sub-350 Duke when it launches. Bajaj is currently working on downsizing the 399cc single-cylinder engine to fit under the 350cc threshold and benefit from the lower 18 percent GST rate, similar to what it did with the new Triumph 400 range.
Reports suggest that Bajaj will continue to sell both the 399cc and 350cc versions of the Duke side by side, at least initially, and time will tell how long the 390 Duke will continue in its current guise in our market if the smaller-capacity version provides comparable levels of performance.
All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.
Ved Janve
Azaman Chothia
