KTM has been through the wringer these past few years. It went from being Europe’s hottest upstart to suddenly staring down a future where bankruptcy was a real possibility. The whole thing got so close that the idea of KTM fading into a footnote in motorcycle history didn’t seem far-fetched. And then Bajaj stepped in. A long-standing partner became the outright owner, pulling the brand back from the edge and giving it the stability it desperately needed.
Now that the dust has settled, KTM is slowly finding its footing again. And fittingly, it’s doing so in what is now essentially its home market. Not Austria. Not Europe. India. That shift in identity may feel strange to long-time fans, but in a global sense it makes perfect business sense. India is KTM’s biggest market with nearly half a million customers, and it’s where the brand’s small-displacement models thrive. If KTM wants to rebuild itself, this is where it happens.
That brings us to Orange XP-160, a new track-based experiential program built around the KTM 160 Duke. This isn’t a fancy track day for seasoned riders. It’s a no-pressure test ride designed for curious newcomers and potential buyers who want to know what the hype is all about. It launches in Pune on November 29, 2025, before heading out to more than forty towns across the country. It’s one of the biggest outreach programs KTM has ever done in India and probably the most hands-on way the brand has ever introduced a new model.
The idea is simple. Take a compact, confidence-friendly bike like the 160 Duke and let riders try it in the safest place possible: a go-kart track. These circuits may be small, but they’re perfect for learning how a motorcycle behaves. The corners are tight, speeds are manageable and the environment is predictable. You’re not dealing with buses, potholes or random dogs running across the road. Just a clean layout where you can explore braking points, feel the chassis load up and understand how the bike reacts without worrying about the usual chaos of Indian traffic.
And based on that, along with our own Janaki Jitchotvisut's experience doing her first track day, it should go global to attract new riders.
KTM’s expert riders run the sessions and give quick pointers on corner entry, throttle control, braking technique and body positioning. For someone who’s never ridden on a track, this kind of guided experience is gold. It lets you push a little harder than you normally would, but within a safe boundary. There are also interactive zones that test reaction time and agility, which makes the whole thing feel more like an event than a simple demo ride.
The 160 Duke itself is built for this kind of environment. It’s powered by a 164.2cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that makes about 19 horsepower and 11.4 pound-feet of torque. It sits at the entry point of KTM’s Naked Street lineup, which runs from 160cc all the way up to 400cc. For many Indian riders, this is the first taste of what a performance-focused brand feels like. The bike is light, flickable and playful, and on a kart track those traits stand out immediately.
What KTM is doing here is smart. The Indian market leans heavily on small bikes. They sell in huge numbers and they bring in real revenue. Giving new riders a taste of KTM handling and performance in a controlled setting builds loyalty early. And while this program is designed for India, it’s not hard to imagine it working just as well in other parts of Asia.
But the US and Europe could benefit from something like this, too. A small bike track experience is an easy entry point for beginners, and it’s way more engaging than sitting on a bike in a dealership. The latter of which still sucks and is a major pain point for those who wish to learn or start motorcycling.
After everything KTM has been through, Orange XP-160 feels like the brand reminding everyone that it’s still here, still hungry, and still committed to building riders from the ground up. It’s a practical move, a market-savvy one, and honestly something more manufacturers should be doing.
