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**Newbie101** · 11-03-2014, 07:34 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Balgi View Post

Okay guys, Neither the dukes nor the RC bikes have any starting issues, be it stalled in traffic or cold morning starts.
The bike has an electronic ignition timing adjuster (its in the specs for gods sakes). This causes the bike to take 2-3 seconds to calibrate the engine and throttle body as per the stroke position every time the engine is turned off for any reason at all.
We Indians have the habit of thumbing the starter in panic or impatiently (whichever applies to your situation) and thus the bike is unable to calibrate itself for optimum starting.
So just thumb the starter when the yellow ignition light on the left side of the gear shift indicator turns on and the bike will start in 2strokes of the piston max.
Follow this guide and trust me, like myself you'll never have starting trouble again. Also please stop calling it a Bajaj bike. I know its still Bajaj but it makes me feel like I bought a chetak for 2 lakhs.

You just explained how it is supposed to work and thank you for that! The reason we talked about it is because it isn't working as it should. I didn't have a problem with start-up with my bike, as I said 4-5 seconds ( maybe less) is normal.
But what [MENTION=25713]ksameer[/MENTION] talked about is a problem, that's not how it was designed to work.

**Balgi** · 11-03-2014, 07:35 PM

Re: 500 km owner ship review

Originally posted by sparky View Post

Regarding the defective RC, I think no amount of hard revving should cause engine to malfunction unless there is sufficient quantity of oil. The engine is already tested till the rpm limiter for every gear and hence shouldn't throw up as speculated.

I suspect the manual specifies an rpm limit during run-in is mostly for keeping it well within limits of safety and interestingly they ask us to do so until coincidentally the warranty expires, why? I think maybe it is a good idea that we find out if the engine can take reasonable revving bursts during the initial run-in itself to identify any serious issues.

The engine is tested to full rpm limit my friend but not under load like 2up riding and upward inclines at high revs. Also a new engine is not capable of holding high rpm's for prolonged periods. It can for example hold top rpm for 10secs at a stretch.
I do agree the company plays safe at every turn coz otherwise warranty claims would pile up. But with every new engine the piston rings have to become seated properly in the cylinder for maximum compression and smooth rides and therefore the bike runs hard and heats up more during run in period. The company has no agenda here trust me.
While you can safely redline the bike after second service (actually even the first) it is not advisable for the sake of engine life which will significantly go down if the bike overheats or seizes. But no company ever puts restrictions on the owner past the second free service of the bike otherwise no one would buy such a delicate flower of a bike bro. Cheers

**Balgi** · 11-03-2014, 07:39 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Newbie101 View Post

You just explained how it is supposed to work and thank you for that! The reason we talked about it is because it isn't working as it should. I didn't have a problem with start-up with my bike, as I said 4-5 seconds ( maybe less) is normal.
But what [MENTION=25713]ksameer[/MENTION] talked about is a problem, that's not how it was designed to work.

I have to be honest with you bro, I have never faced this hot start issue in my 5 month ownership of the bike just coz I start it the way I explained but lots if people are facing starting issues here. I honestly feel like I got the most problem free piece off the assembly line.

**Newbie101** · 11-03-2014, 07:45 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Balgi View Post

I have to be honest with you bro, I have never faced this hot start issue in my 5 month ownership of the bike just coz I start it the way I explained but lots if people are facing starting issues here. I honestly feel like I got the most problem free piece off the assembly line.

Glad to hear you have a problem free bike.
I agree that most of the time, the problem occurs because of how we use it and not because of a product failure. But let's not jump to blaming the person using it, we have to cover all angles don't we? Even with a 99.99% quality check, we still have 1 bike out of 10000 that aint working as designed and we all know that number is an illusion!

**sub-zero** · 11-03-2014, 07:52 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Newbie101 View Post

Even with a 99.99% quality check, we still have 1 bike out of 1000 that aint working as designed and we all know that number is an illusion!

1 in 10,000

**Newbie101** · 11-03-2014, 07:54 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by sub-zero View Post

1 in 10,000

Corrected!

**ksameer** · 11-03-2014, 08:05 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Balgi View Post

Okay guys, Neither the dukes nor the RC bikes have any starting issues, be it stalled in traffic or cold morning starts.
The bike has an electronic ignition timing adjuster (its in the specs for gods sakes). This causes the bike to take 2-3 seconds to calibrate the engine and throttle body as per the stroke position every time the engine is turned off for any reason at all.
We Indians have the habit of thumbing the starter in panic or impatiently (whichever applies to your situation) and thus the bike is unable to calibrate itself for optimum starting.
So just thumb the starter when the yellow ignition light on the left side of the gear shift indicator turns on and the bike will start in 2strokes of the piston max.
Follow this guide and trust me, like myself you'll never have starting trouble again. Also please stop calling it a Bajaj bike. I know its still Bajaj but it makes me feel like I bought a chetak for 2 lakhs.

Can't confirm if it is problem or not but I did turn ignition off and on when couple of attempts to start failed after stalling and bike started instantly. Will test and update on this.

And it is a Bajaj bike for me. I have already made several futile attempts to tell people it is KTM and it doesn't even register. Tell them its a Bajaj and only then the query is resolved!

**Balgi** · 11-03-2014, 08:11 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Newbie101 View Post

Glad to hear you have a problem free bike.
I agree that most of the time, the problem occurs because of how we use it and not because of a product failure. But let's not jump to blaming the person using it, we have to cover all angles don't we? Even with a 99.99% quality check, we still have 1 bike out of 10000 that aint working as designed and we all know that number is an illusion!

Yes that would be true for one I ten thousand bikes. But I heard that the problem exists in about 5 in 10 bikes. The Bajaj QC can't possibly be that bad bro. Not unless Bajaj was trying to commit business suicide.

**Balgi** · 11-03-2014, 08:12 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by ksameer View Post

Can't confirm if it is problem or not but I did turn ignition off and on when couple of attempts to start failed after stalling and bike started instantly. Will test and update on this.

And it is a Bajaj bike for me. I have already made several futile attempts to tell people it is KTM and it doesn't even register. Tell them its a Bajaj and only then the query is resolved!

LAMAO on that bro.

**Shantnu** · 11-03-2014, 08:42 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Newbie101 View Post

From now thread :

I had the same problem on my RC390 twice. I let it go because it wasn't that common, but now that you mentioned you had the same problem on your D390, I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for it.
What was the problem with the D390 ? What fixed it??

I think there were talks of some poor quality fuel due to which there were desposits in the throttle system...and when the throttle body was cleaned and tweaked it went off.... [MENTION=63586]DukeDey[/MENTION] would know more I guess...

does the bike stall only when u leave the throttle and press the clutch? If yes it could be with the fuel supply as it snaps back to idle . Try keeping the throttle slighly open and test.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

**Newbie101** · 11-03-2014, 08:48 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Shantnu View Post

I think there were talks with some poor quality fuel due to which there were desposits in the throttle system...and when the throttle body was cleaned and tweaked it went off.... @DukeDey would know more I guess...

does the bike stall only when u leave the throttle and press the clutch? If yes it could be with the fuel supply as it snaps back to idle . Try keeping the throttle slighly open and test.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

I filled up at HP, so it's possible that it's bad fuel. I thought it could be because of bad fuel, but then [MENTION=63586]DukeDey[/MENTION] said that he had problem I thought otherwise.
The bike doesn't stall if I leave clutch, I can roll on without any throttle input.

**Alfa** · 11-04-2014, 11:53 AM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

hey members guide me regarding following :-

1. Tank bag for RC 390

2. Best chain lubricant and cleaner

3. KTM orignal cover, when will it available in delhi?

4. How to clean helmet Visor? i bought HJC but it already has 3 scratches

, I finally bought a secondary Studds helmet for local use.

5. And also how to clean my RC, especially the radiator part. And do i really need to buy pressure water cleaner or i can survive without it too? And has anybody noticed that bike's front visor is prone to scratches(was thinking of getting it laminated

)

And yeah update till now about my RC ;-

1. Awesome. And its criminal to ride it in running in period as its just too cruel to hold it below 80(thats what i try and do i.e below 80 and below 5k RPM)

2. And yeah me too faced starting touble a few times but i guess i might be wrong in doing it fine.

3. And in my earlier update when i said problem regarding fuel filling, i meant the hose cant it inserted inside and i myself had to hold it, since petrol pump guy wont be that careful.

4. the bike is actually pain in ass on long journeys and i mean it, am 6.1" and weigh 80. Though no trouble with wrists but yeah ass not too happy with comfort provided.

**chinmayakar** · 11-04-2014, 03:28 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Balgi View Post

Okay guys, Neither the dukes nor the RC bikes have any starting issues, be it stalled in traffic or cold morning starts.
The bike has an electronic ignition timing adjuster (its in the specs for gods sakes). This causes the bike to take 2-3 seconds to calibrate the engine and throttle body as per the stroke position every time the engine is turned off for any reason at all.
We Indians have the habit of thumbing the starter in panic or impatiently (whichever applies to your situation) and thus the bike is unable to calibrate itself for optimum starting.
So just thumb the starter when the yellow ignition light on the left side of the gear shift indicator turns on and the bike will start in 2strokes of the piston max.
Follow this guide and trust me, like myself you'll never have starting trouble again. Also please stop calling it a Bajaj bike. I know its still Bajaj but it makes me feel like I bought a chetak for 2 lakhs.

Thanks for putting that. But please do not generalise your experience as whole of Duke 390 or RC390. As someone above mentioned, most here are riding FI bikes for a long time. And we understand how these things work. I too have experienced starting trouble and stalling issues on D390.

And yes, not everyone frantically presses the starter button. Not everyone is naive. Yes, there are stalling and starting issues, but not in all Duke and RC 390's. If you are not facing any such issues be happy and enjoy the ride.

Well, it is a Bajaj bike. Thats your personal choice if you want to accept it or avoid it.

**Balgi** · 11-04-2014, 03:54 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by chinmayakar View Post

Thanks for putting that. But please do not generalise your experience as whole of Duke 390 or RC390. As someone above mentioned, most here are riding FI bikes for a long time. And we understand how these things work. I too have experienced starting trouble and stalling issues on D390.

And yes, not everyone frantically presses the starter button. Not everyone is naive. Yes, there are stalling and starting issues, but not in all Duke and RC 390's. If you are not facing any such issues be happy and enjoy the ride.

Well, it is a Bajaj bike. Thats your personal choice if you want to accept it or avoid it.

I am not generalizing any specific riding group, just presenting my own observation of other riders behaviour in traffic and also presenting the observations of ktm service mechanics from two service centres accessible to me from my place of residence.
The ktm bikes unlike other non super or non super sport bikes currently is the only bike manufacturer other than Kawasaki that happens to be installing electronic ignition timing adjustment feature for optimum starting feedback (mind you I'm not talking about anything above 400cc and not talking about bikes from other countries either). The presence of said feature causes the bikes ignition system to come online after 4 seconds max of flipping the cut out switch.
Keep in mind friend that while you and I have ridden bigger bikes and fi bikes, most who are buying ktm's and Kawasaki's have upgraded from bikes like Honda 150's and pulsar 220fi's. The ignition timing issue is mostly faced by them (ktm service engineer's words not mine). In India fast big bikes have only very recently caught on even though they were there for a long time and as such many are oblivious to the facts about proper operating procedures of these bikes.
My own observation was of the frantic thumbing of the starter which I acknowledge was not a generalization of ktm riders or fi bike riders but of riders in general. This includes smaller bikes as well.
But as such you are right and I apologize for the crude manner in which I presented my statement.

**chinmayakar** · 11-04-2014, 10:21 PM

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Originally posted by Balgi View Post

I am not generalizing any specific riding group, just presenting my own observation of other riders behaviour in traffic and also presenting the observations of ktm service mechanics from two service centres accessible to me from my place of residence.
The ktm bikes unlike other non super or non super sport bikes currently is the only bike manufacturer other than Kawasaki that happens to be installing electronic ignition timing adjustment feature for optimum starting feedback (mind you I'm not talking about anything above 400cc and not talking about bikes from other countries either). The presence of said feature causes the bikes ignition system to come online after 4 seconds max of flipping the cut out switch.
Keep in mind friend that while you and I have ridden bigger bikes and fi bikes, most who are buying ktm's and Kawasaki's have upgraded from bikes like Honda 150's and pulsar 220fi's. The ignition timing issue is mostly faced by them (ktm service engineer's words not mine). In India fast big bikes have only very recently caught on even though they were there for a long time and as such many are oblivious to the facts about proper operating procedures of these bikes.
My own observation was of the frantic thumbing of the starter which I acknowledge was not a generalization of ktm riders or fi bike riders but of riders in general. This includes smaller bikes as well.
But as such you are right and I apologize for the crude manner in which I presented my statement.

Relax bro and please do not apologize.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Originally posted by Balgi View Post

I am not generalizing any specific riding group, just presenting my own observation of other riders behaviour in traffic and also presenting the observations of ktm service mechanics from two service centres accessible to me from my place of residence.
The ktm bikes unlike other non super or non super sport bikes currently is the only bike manufacturer other than Kawasaki that happens to be installing electronic ignition timing adjustment feature for optimum starting feedback (mind you I'm not talking about anything above 400cc and not talking about bikes from other countries either). The presence of said feature causes the bikes ignition system to come online after 4 seconds max of flipping the cut out switch.
Keep in mind friend that while you and I have ridden bigger bikes and fi bikes, most who are buying ktm's and Kawasaki's have upgraded from bikes like Honda 150's and pulsar 220fi's. The ignition timing issue is mostly faced by them (ktm service engineer's words not mine). In India fast big bikes have only very recently caught on even though they were there for a long time and as such many are oblivious to the facts about proper operating procedures of these bikes.
My own observation was of the frantic thumbing of the starter which I acknowledge was not a generalization of ktm riders or fi bike riders but of riders in general. This includes smaller bikes as well.
But as such you are right and I apologize for the crude manner in which I presented my statement.

Relax bro and please do not apologize.

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