First showcased at the 2013 EICMA in Milan, the KTM RC 390 was spotted on test sans any camouflage in the country. One of the most awaited launches in the performance two-wheeler segment, the RC 390 shares its underpinnings with the street fighter Duke 390 and is scheduled for a July launch this year. Designed by automotive design house KISKA; these clearer spy shots showcase the complete design details of the RC 390 that gets very funky looking dual projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights in the front and an aerodynamic fully faired design.
Despite sharing the same underpinnings, very less is actually similar in terms of visual design between the RC 390 and the Duke. The riding position is also more committed towards a sportier stance than its naked sibling the Duke 390. The bike gets an all digital instrument cluster that comes from the Duke 390 and uses a trellis frame done up in KTM orange. The bike also gets an integrated underbelly exhaust.
The RC 390 shares its powertrain with the Duke 390 and will be powered by a 373.2cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that produces 44 PS of power and 35 Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed gearbox. KTM is likely to also address the issues of overheating on the engine, which was a common problem on the Duke 390. The RC 390 will be riding on Metzeler tyres, while stopping power comes from a 300 mm disc brake at the front and a 230 mm disc brake setup at the rear working in conjunction with ABS offered as standard.
The KTM RC 390 will give enthusiasts the chance to burn tarmac and is certainly meant for the track. The RC 390 will weigh way a tad bit more than the Duke 390, but is expected to sport a higher top speed of around 175 km/hr. The motorcycle is expected to be aggressively priced in the segment and will carry a price tag of around Rs. 2.40 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai). The full faired sports bike will be competing against the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the upcoming Honda CBR300R in the segment.
Source – Evo India
