2017 KTM RC 390 Review
Bike Tested: 2017 KTM RC 390; Road Test No. 796; Test Location: Chakan
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 2.69 lakhs
The KTM RC 390 is the best sports bike you can buy which has a great VFM quotient
Full-faired bikes have a huge fan following but a sports bike in reach of the common man has all been a dream in India for a long time. But when KTM launched the RC 200 and RC 390 in the sub-continent in 2014, it immediately created a new breed of riders, those who wait till the weekend to hit the track or the closest valley road to get their kneedown. KTM has now updated the RC 390 for 2017 and it gets a slew of changes to keep the model relevant till the next generation is launched in February 2018, we sample the Race Competition bike on Bajaj Auto’s Chakan test track.
The colour scheme is quite loud on the 2017 RC 390
Styling – The KTM RC 390 has always had a love-it or hate-it design, some find the front-end design to be outlandish while others dwell in the evil looks of the flagship KTM machine for India. Not much has changed though and the most obvious difference is the new colour scheme which does look better in person. The new paint job is UV resistant and that itself is enough to identify the updated RC 390 from the old one but the side mounted exhaust is an instant giveaway.
The instrument console gets minor updates but is largely the same
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – Before you get on the saddle, what you immediately notice are the new mirrors which are bigger and offer a better view of what’s behind. The bike gets AHO so the headlight on/off switch has been removed while cranking the motor is easier as the RC 390 now gets a one touch starter (no longer does one have to keep the starter button pressed). The instrument cluster was always loaded with a ton of information but there is more on the 2017 model as the RC 390’s console also mentions if the engine kill switch is active, it also shows real time fuel efficiency.
The KTM RC 390 gets improved seat cushioning by 12 mm
Ergonomics – There are no changes to the ergonomics of this sporty motorcycle which isn’t comfortable for long distances. The riding position is aggressive and leaned in, good for track riding but not so good when you are trying to tour (of course the miniature fuel tank restricts touring range). KTM has increased the seat cushion on the RC 390 by 12 mm for both the rider and pillion seats so it is slightly more comfortable but not by a big margin. The bike also gets new adjustable levers so you can choose your comfort level of front brake and clutch operation.
The large capacity single feels more refined but heating is still an issue
Performance – At the heart lies the same 373.3cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which caused quite a storm when it first made its debut in the Duke 390. KTM has made loads of revisions to the motor, to start off with, the 2017 RC 390 is now BS-IV compliant which has necessitated the use of a side-mounted exhaust, this one is an aluminium unit but still pushes up the weight by a good 7 kgs. To counter this, torque output of the 2017 KTM RC 390 has been bumped up by 1 Nm to 36 Nm while power is the same 43.5 PS. The result is the bike is similar in performance as the old model and doesn’t feel any slower (or faster). 0-100 km/hr comes up in a blistering quick 5.6 seconds while top speed is 179 km/hr.
In spite of the increase in weight, the RC 390 is as quick as before
The KTM RC 390 sounds slightly better than before but the difference is minor
The 2017 RC 390 does feel a lot smoother and refined, heating issue is still present in stop-go riding conditions but the heat is thrown away from the rider. The bike gets a new Bosch fuel pump with changed fuel pump pressure while vibrations have reduced thanks to rubber mounts on the fairing. The new exhaust makes the RC 390 sound slightly better than before. The company has given the India model Ride-By-Wire which makes on and off throttle transitions much smoother, there is also shorter travel of the throttle making it more fun when you want to redline the bike. The slipper clutch which was brought in last year, continues to be offered so there is a lot of tech on offer. The motorcycle returns between 20-25 km/l in real world riding conditions.
The RC 390 offers terrific handling with excellent feedback
Riding Dynamics – The KTM RC 390 is a fantastic handler with its top spec components that make it such a cornering delight. For 2017, the Katoom gets better clearance as the change in exhaust has resulted in a revised belly pan, thus it no longer scrapes when you corner hard, instead it’s the pegs which touch on extreme leans. In order to save on costs, the 2017 model gets low H rated Metzeler tyres (from W) which on a new bike did not show any significant difference in grip but as you ride and wear the rubber, the grip levels could reduce faster as these tyres are rated to 210 km/hr. The Austrian motorcycle now gets a wider front alloy wheel.
KTM has improved the braking and the RC 390 offers better stopping power
The KTM RC 390 is a rider’s delight around a race track with its stiff chassis set-up
Brakes of KTM bikes haven’t been great and although the 390s get ABS, they lack the initial bite. KTM has updated the brakes, the front disc is 20 mm bigger (320 mm), the front brake pad is sintered, the ABS sensor has been repositioned and the brake master cylinder size has been increased from 12 mm to 13 mm. The overall result is stronger braking performance and the RC 390 stops with more confidence. There is no Rear-Wheel Lift Mitigation (RLM) so when you brake really hard, the rear wheel does lift.
The KTM RC 390 is the best single-cylinder track bike currently
Verdict – The 2017 KTM RC 390 gets changes in several areas which make it an even more desirable package, for just a Rs. 12,000/- price increase. While KTM has improved on some shortcomings like the mirrors, brakes and throttle, other areas like heating, stiff ride and lack of comfort have been completely ignored. Like we have said earlier, we shall say it again, KTM bikes aren’t for everyone and the RC is even more limited in usability for a majority of Indian riders, unless of course, you are a corner craver.
The 2017 RC 390 or the 2017 Duke 390? We choose the latter
What’s Cool
* Excellent performance, improved refinement and sounds better now
* Track focussed riding position, adjustable levers are functional
* Minor improvements make the RC 390 a better package
* One of the most value for money performance bikes in India
What’s Not So Cool
* Still doesn’t sound like it should
* Heating issue hasn’t been resolved
* Tyres now have a lower rating in the interest of costs
* Nearing the end of lifecycle, second generation RC 390 is less than a year away