Test mule of the 2018 KTM RC 390 has been spotted somewhere on the old Mumbai-Pune highway.
Ever since its launch in the second half of 2014, the KTM RC 390 has been a hot favourite among performance enthusiasts. Its menacing looks, blistering performance and attractive pricing makes it an irresistible proposition. The latest update to the RC 390 in January 2017 bestowed it with considerable aesthetic and mechanical improvements. With less than 15 days to go for the new year, images of the 2018 KTM RC 390 test mule in an undisguised state have delighted KTM fans.
With every successive update, the Austrian manufacturer has been known to incorporate user feedback in its motorcycles. As we have seen in previous updates, KTM has also focussed on improving the functional aspects with changes to minor things like the width of the mudguard, sealed indicators, dust cover for the monoshock and so on. Going by the looks of it, the 2018 RC 390 is similar in appearance to the outgoing model. There are no obvious changes to the body panels or graphics.
Currently, the KTM RC 390 comes with Metzeler Sportec M5 tyres which are known for their impressive performance on the track. The test mule is sporting a different set of tyres as the tread pattern looks quite different from the Metzeler tyres. Changes to the MY 2018 model are likely to be concentrated on the mechanical and electrical side. It is expected that KTM will add LED headlamps to the RC 390 to keep equipment levels at par with the competition.
The 2018 KTM RC 390 will continue to be powered by a 373.2cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which develops 43 BHP of power and 36 Nm of torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox with slipper clutch and offers top-notch suspension and braking hardware. The RC 390 currently on sale is priced at Rs. 2.35 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai) and competes with the likes of the TVS Apache RR 310 and Kawasaki Ninja 300. The launch of the 2018 version is expected in the coming months.
2018 KTM RC 390
– Test mule spotted in Maharashtra, India without any camouflage
– Looks identical to the 2017 KTM RC 390
– Test mule is shod with a different set of tyres
– Competes with the recently launched TVS Apache RR 310 and Kawasaki Ninja 300
Images Source – Motoroids.com