New KTM 350 range expected to debut in India this April

KTM is expected to launch a new line-up of 350cc models in India this month, but according to reports, the new range will join the current 390s rather than replacing them. 

The new 350 line-up is expected to offer buyers a cheaper alternative to the 390s, which feature a 399cc engine, and are considered ‘big bikes’ in India. 

The KTM 390 Duke has already seen its price bumped up in April, and reports say more of the Austrian company’s 390 models could receive a similar fate. This is because of the India Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates.

The Indian outlet Rushlane is reporting that the new GST 2.0 reforms puts motorcycles with an engine displacement of 350cc or more under a tax bracket of 40 per cent. This is compared with 18 per cent on motorcycles with an engine smaller than 350cc.

With the arrival of the new 350 line-up, customers are likely to get better value for money while also benefiting from models that share a lot of the same DNA as their slightly bigger siblings. 

Keeping the 390s as part of its line-up is an interesting move, because in February, reports, again from India, suggested KTM could be looking at replacing the LC4 399cc engine with a bigger, more powerful parallel twin, likely sitting in the sub-500cc class. 

It will be interesting to see how all this plays out, but what does appear to be clear is that the new 350cc machines are not far away from landing in the Indian market. 

With regards to the UK, the 390 line-up will remain for now, at least, as the 390 Enduro R, 390 Adventure R and X, and the 390 Duke are all available as 2026 models. The LC4 399cc liquid-cooled engine produces 44bhp and 29Ib-ft of torque.

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