KTM showcases the RC 390

The RC 390 is the motorcycle thousands of enthusiasts in the country have been waiting for since its announcement. The bike finally broke cover at Milan, and KTM even surprised us by showcasing the RC 200 and RC 125 along with it. All three are essentially fully faired versions of the 390 Duke, 200 Duke and 125 Duke, sporting the same powertrains and frames. KTM is renowned for its dirt bikes, but these three sportsbikes are expected to offer class leading performance and handling.
The twin headlamp fairing with a short beak makes for a distinctive identity, while the rest of the design is edgy like all KTMs, and these bikes kick off a new design direction for KTM. All three will be manufactured here, but only the 390 and 200 will be sold in India while the RC125 will be for exports only. We expect Bajaj Auto to launch the RC390 at the Auto Expo in February.

Mechanically it is the same as the 390 Duke though a few changes have been effected to suit the sportsbike character — the final drive sprocket is smaller to liberate some more top end performance. We expect the front suspension to have less travel as well, apart from being stiffer to aid handling. The steering head angle has also been increased to sharpen steering response and the riding position is more aggressive with clip-ons and rear set footpegs. Pricing? Knowing KTM’s penchant for aggressive pricing, the RC 390 shouldn’t cost more than Rs 2.5 lakh.