The GST revisions that were introduced last year were one of the biggest surprises for the motorcycle industry. Motorcycles above 350cc are now taxed with 40 per cent GST, whilst bikes under 350cc are taxed at 18 per cent. This has led to the increase in the prices of bikes like the KTM 390 series and the Triumph 400 series, howerever Triumph and KTM have absorbed the price hike for now, but this price won't be there for long.
While the implementation and timing of the GST revisions is a debatable topic, brands like KTM and Triumph have decided to launch their new 350cc lineup, taking advantage of the GST structuring. With the launch scheduled for April 2026, here's what you can expect-
KTM to sell both the 350cc and the 390cc models
The new engines are expected to have a power drop of 4-5bhp
Triumph plans to replace all its existing 400cc lineup with the 350cc bikes
KTM India has announced that it will be offering the new 350cc bikes alongside the 390cc models. The new 350cc engine will be a derivative of the existing 399cc LC4c engine. Power and torque figures are expected to be in the 40bhp and 35Nm range, which is a drop of 4-5bhp compared to the outgoing models. You can expect a change in the final drive to account for the loss of power. With a shorter final drive, these bikes would still have the hooliganistic nature of their bigger siblings.
The new 350cc engine will make its way to all the 390cc bikes, including the Duke 390, the Adventure 390 series, as well as the upcoming SMC-R and the RC series.
This change can be seen in 2 ways: on one side, the new 350cc KTMs will offer a lower entry point to the bigger KTM lineup, offering identical features with a slight drop in power compared to the 390s. On the other hand, there is a huge uncertainty with the future of the 390 series, as the 390cc models will be around ₹40k to ₹50k more expensive than the new 350s, the sales figures are surely expected to take a massive hit moreover it will be a huge logistical nightmare maintaining two separate inventories and production lines for essentially the same bike which might force KTM to discontinue the model altogether. Which is a shame considering the 390 is such an iconic motorcycle series.
Triumph, on the other hand have a golden opportunity at its hands, unlike KTM, Triumph has decided to discontinue all its existing 400cc lineup, which includes the Speed 400, Speed T4, Scrambler 400X and Thruxton 400 models and replace them with the new 350cc bikes. This will position them in the same displacement and price bracket as the market leaders, the Royal Enfield 350s.
Mechanically, these new bikes will feature a smaller 349cc engine with a smaller bore compared to the existing 400cc TR-series engine, and the expected power drop will be between 4-5 bhp compared to the existing models. No further information is known regarding the changes in the gearing and the final drive, but it is expected to remain the same.
With the new GST benefits, these bikes are expected to be anywhere between ₹20k to ₹40k more affordable compared to their 400cc counterparts. This allows them a strategic advantage over the pricing compared to the Royal Enfield 350s, as buyers can now have a more powerful machine at the same price.
For an enthusiast, these changes make no sense, while you could still buy a 400cc from KTM at a higher premium, the option to buy a 400cc Triumph will be gone, which is sad considering how good the 400cc bikes from Triumph were. However, the new 350cc bikes will offer more or less the same performance at a much lower asking price, meaning more people will now be able to fulfil their dream of getting a Triumph or a KTM.
