KTM RC Review Side Profile

KTM RC390 India Review: Spiritual Psychosis

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Yesterday had to be one of the most satisfying days in my life as an avid motorcyclist. Having ridden the much awaited and beautifully executed KTM RC390 for a review for the major part of a Sunday has been an experience which I struggle to put to words. The fact that we managed to do it before most other people brings some more joy and satisfaction, both as an enthusiast and as a journalist. What fired the excitement in all of us with the news of the faired Duke, followed by a whole bunch of spy images, has culminated into a delightful experience on the terrific machine. The RC390 exceeded our expectations, and our heartiest congratulations to Bajaj and KTM for achieving the feat. And we are not averse to letting you know that right in the beginning of this review, as most of us knew it was inevitable. Join us for the amazing ride, in the following pages.

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With the media motorcycles yet to arrive, in normal course of events, we’d have had to wait longer to lay our hands on the beautiful machine. Luckily, though, a Facebook update popped on my wall as the RC390 was spotted at KTM’s Seawoods service center. I grabbed my phone faster than lightening and dialled a few numbers. After a few restless days of discussion, the good folks at KTM Navi Mumbai agreed to give us the motorcycle for the first half of a delightful Sunday. But then, reviewing the KTM RC390 alone wouldn’t have completed the picture. So after a brief discussion, we decided to get to you a shootout along with this review. It’s anybody’s guess as to which are the most potent challengers to the RC390 in the Indian two-wheeler market today. So we arranged for its naked avatar, the 390 Duke and the Japanese warrior, Kawasaki Ninja for a showdown.

Click here to read the KTM RC390 vs Kawasaki Ninja 300 vs KTM 390 Duke shootout>>>

For now, though, we’ll be swinging a leg around the RC390 only for a standalone review. Let’s crank up the review, shall we?

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Looks and Styling

The very first glance at the RC390, and you keep looking till your boss literally shouts out your name. That’s the kind of impact the RC390 has on you. The black body styling, the white fairing, the well sculpted windscreen, the powder coated orange chassis and wheels and the uniquely styled twin projector lamps blend well to create a view that would grab attention in an instance. The RC means business, and you know it right from the very instance you look at it.

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The dual projector headlamps along with the daytime running lights give it a unique, aggressive front look while also providing superior illumination in the dark. The mirrors get integrated turn indicators which give the KTM RC390 a cleaner and meaner front look. The windshield offers protection from wind blasts at high speeds, while also allowing for better aerodynamics than its naked variant. The meaty WP upside down suspension at the front and the white monoshock at the rear lend the RC390 a premium look while taking most of the bumps on the road mildly better than its naked counterpart. The full fairing also transfers the heat from the radiator fan downwards, away from the rider’s legs – providing the much needed respite from engine heat in slow moving stop-start city traffic. The air sucked in by the fairing is allowed to pass through, further aiding aerodynamics. The front fender is a typical sports motorcycle unit and gets a matte finish treatment. The Indian variant gets an front fender extender which stops muck and dust from flying on to the engine and the radiator.

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The chiselled, angular tank has a plastic surface and has recesses on the sides to allow the rider to lock his knees in, boosting confidence while negotiating even the trickiest of corners. The tank also receives an ‘RC Race Competition’ sticker behind the fuel tank lid and RC lettering on its flanks. The handle bar grips have also been changed when compared to the 390 Duke. The bar grips receive a small KTM logo imprinted. The dotted pattern, unlike on the 390 Duke, covers only a part of and not the entire grip. The handlebar also receives bar-end weights helping reduce the vibrations and protects the levers in case of a crash.

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KTM have tried a new design element by keeping the powder coated orange trellis frame as visible as possible. This is a one off thing in the segment and works in RC390’s favour. The fairing is white in colour and is loaded with KTM stickers along with an orange strip which has 390 written over it. The lower cowl gets an ‘RC Race Competition’ sticker. A small peep hole is also provided to keep a check on the engine oil level.

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The aluminium swingarm, the powder coated orange wheels and disc brakes on the RC390 are similar to the ones that are found on the 390 Duke. This has helped the manufacturer to keep costs low and price the RC390 competitively. A rear tyre hugger comes as a factory fit but we really don’t think many people would keep it on especially after the monsoons are over. Same is the case with the saree guard.

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The underbelly exhaust, like its siblings, peeps out from the aft end of the undercowl, and appears extremely well integrated into the design. Another interesting element that grabbed our attention was the pillion seat. Can’t spot it? Well, that’s because it has been designed in such a way that it seems like part of the body. While the seat design provides a cleaner look to the motorcycle, the utility gets hampered a bit. The rear panel has a Kawasaki Ninja style pillion grab bar integrated into the body. The tail section has been inspired by its bigger sibling, the RC8. The LED tail lights add to the sporty look of the RC390 while, at the same time, provide better visibility to vehicles behind even in broad daylight. The tail light has been divided in three sections. The middle section is at peak illumination at all times. The flanking sections illuminate to the fullest when the brakes are applied.

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The brake and gear levers and the rider and passenger footpegs have been painted black which complements the overall look of the motorcycle. A new extended panel is connected to the frame which holds the pillion foot-pegs. Moreover, along with the mandatory saree guard, there is a new India exclusive addition to the KTM RC390 and that’s the one-sided pillion grab bar which has been designed for pillions who prefer to sit with both legs on one side. On this bike? Well, good luck to them! At the rear the KTM RC390 features the same sturdy aluminium swingarm that is found on the 390 Duke. The cast aluminium swingarm provides grea rigidity while keeping the weight in check.

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However, there is some scope for improvement. The seat for example, could have been better padded and more comfortable. It will take most average riders some time to adjust to the saddle, though that’s not something that an aftermarket gel seat cannot solve. Also, the daytime running headlights have to be manually switched ‘ON’. But that is not an earth shattering flaw and one can easily live with it. What we hope is taken into account are the rear view mirrors. It is difficult to keep a track of vehicles approaching from behind as the view in the mirrors is blocked by the arm.  Except for these few niggles, according to us, the overall design is excellent, and gels well with the wild nature of the KTM RC390.

Click here to know the KTM RC390 in pictures>>>

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