NEW SPORTS BIKE KTM , I'm really looking forward to see what the fate of the KTM 690 dual-sport bike will be. When Hero Motors decided to enter the premium market in 1996 with the BMW F650, a dual-sport 650cc single cylinder motorcycle, it was nothing short of a catastrophe for the two giants! Back then the F650 was possibly one of the most popular dual-sport single-cylinder motorcycles. However, the KTM 690 and the BMW F650 have similarities galore. For starters, both bikes have an Austrian connection. The KTM is built and designed in Austria, while the F650 had its engine designed and manufactured by Austrian powerhouse Rotax. Both bikes sport the most advanced single¬cylinder engines that displace 650cc. and both have been closely associated with the Dakar Rally.

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Domestic sales performance of the 'Funduro', as the F650 is popularly known, would suggest that big single¬cylinder endurance bikes aren't the natural choice for Indian bikers, primarily because our ears aren't tuned to the engine note and seating position, which is-best described as 'un-sporty'! And then there's the style statement. You couldn't possibly aspire to pose as Maverick or Rossi or even John Abraham on a dual-sport trail bike. So will the KTM sell well? Sure, since Bajaj plans on importing a limited number. So is this a brand building exercise? Is Bajaj just testing the market for straight-handled bikes? Why would Bajaj bet on the dual-sport segment which has been a grey area in the Indian two-wheeler industry? Only time will tell. Perseus Cyrus BandrawaJla
Mumbai.