KTM 390 Duke price increased by Rs. 40,000!

KTM has announced the significant price increase for the 390 Duke, with the model now commanding an additional Rs. 40,000. The move likely comes as the decision by Bajaj to no longer absorb the additional GST-related costs, which came into effect last September.

When a higher 40 per cent 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 the customer. This allowed pricing for the KTM 390 range to remain unchanged, although the competitors increased almost immediately.

Bajaj has now decided to stop absorbing these costs, resulting in an expected price revision. The KTM 390 Duke, 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, like the RC 390 and 390 Enduro, which will see similar revisions, will be updated, although it is safe to assume those updates are on the way.

On the other hand, the price increases for the current 390 Duke, which 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 per cent GST rate, which is similar to what it did with the new Triumph 400 range.