Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

I did! Not too many options and dunno about the quality either. Hence, asking if anyone has upgraded their windscreen here, and if so the details thereof.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Queries:
Is it suggested to replace fine fuel filter after every 3500-4000 kms? Engine is getting choked in neutral. I generally use normal petrol and Gumout Fuel System Cleaner from Amazon for cleaning fuel inside the tank. I cleaned the throttle body and fuel tank around 7000 km odo and now it is 10500 km.
When I am riding around 60 kmph, getting a really peculiar sound like a bus travelling in high speed (I really don't know how to describe the sound)

Brake pads have "hardened" as per service centre, bite is great and 50% life is left after 3+ years and 10500 kms. Does it need a replacement?

I cannot start the bike/the bike struggles to start up right after a jet spray wash. Which area should I leave from being sprayed?

Guys, how do you lift up the front wheel? I have a paddock stand for the rear though.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

no, normally you don't need to replace the fuel filter so early. It is easily good for at least 6000km in normal conditions.

brake pads - don't fall for the svc bs if your braking is good and enough pad material is left (as a reference, i changed the rear pads on my 200 after 4.2 yrs/34k km.. they still had material left for another 2k km). Just clean them with soapy water and maybe rough them up evenly on a piece of sandpaper and put them back in.

Check the spark plug area/wiring and the ignition coil. Also does it crank up but refuse to start or it simply does nothing when you push the starter ?

lift up the front wheel ? pop a wheelie . why do you want to lift up the front wheel ? you could place a sturdy stool under the belly pan area to prop up the bike, or suspend it by cables fastened to the handlebar area and the ceiling (haven't seen anyone employ the later method). In a emergency, you could pivot it off the side stand to lift the front wheel up.. but be careful to not break of bend the side stand.
at the svc there is a paddock available for the front, fixes to a spot under the lower triple clamp and jacks the front end up.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Regarding the pads, I am getting the weird squeaking noises like there is water in drum brakes and same thing happens while manually moving the bike. I know it is due to dust and dirt accumulation, still it keeps happening even after cleaning. Hence, my query regarding brake pads. Is it a myth that brake pads harden due to less usage?
Pardon my ignorance, how do I check the ignition coil?
After a wash, it cranks but engine doesn't come to life. Give it some time, around max 10mins and its all fine.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Have u cleaned the pads with sand paper ? If not do that.. scuff up the pads to remove about 0.5mm of material. You could also clean the rotor, and gently scuff it up with sandpaper too(just don't over do it).
A squeak here and there while moving it manually is ok. but while braking it shouldn't constantly squeal. also inspect if the pistons are moving freely in the caliper and if its the rear, maybe get the caliper pin greased too.
first just visually inspect the ignition coil for dust/rust accumulation.. and the plug wire that runs from it to the spark plug.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

First get the brake master-major cylinder checked and replaced if needed, and bleed the entire line once to check for air bubbles, if you feel the brake lever is hard or the lever travel is reduced and does not have the same spring spongy feel when compared to brand new.

Wash all you can the rear and front wheel parts but keep the pressure wash away as much as possible from engine area places radiator, temperature sensor, oil pressure sensor, air-box breather in-out pipes, battery box fuse/relay area, inside of the exhaust pipe and finally ignition coil (behind the right side faring just below the two top faring screws)

You can use the rear paddock stand for the front aswell if you front fork spools installed, it basically hooks up the spools and lifts the bike up, the same as it would do hook up the swingarm/bobbins in the rear.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Thanks everyone for your views. I will surely get all this checked. Is there a chance of a faulty spark plug as bike is now feeling a bit choked in gear and skipping the constant rpm hum in neutral. Is there anyway I can locate the spark plug and change it myself with the tools provided?

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

unlikely the spark plug is the cause. you might want to have them run a diagnostics using the scanner and see if it throws up anything. there could be other things causing that bad idle, one being the idle control stepper motor (sitting on the throttle body).
changing the plug on the rc is a pain due to the fairings, but can be done with the tools provided.. but isn't as easy as on the naked dukes. the plugs sit deep inside and takes some dexterity and experience to remove them without removing the fuel tank. if you are willing to spend some time and do it, you can .. otherwise watch someone do it first before you attempt such maintenance.

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this method will be pretty useless for any sort of maintenance you want to do, i don't think with the spools as the mounting point one can remove the wheel/work on the forks etc.. works only for rotating the tire n finding a puncture i guess

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Hello.

Update on front leaking fork's:

Checked with Marathahalli KTM service centre.

As per them 2015 model has different frok design than current one.
Both fork replacement costs ~22k
( 9x2 for two forks, 2 k for oil seals and fork oil and 1.5k for labour)

I wanted to change only fork tube (costing 4k each) which as per them didn't come separately. I know they are misguiding or they really don't know.

So as of now driving with forks which has almost no oils. As my daily running is limited to less than 7kms I am trying to pushing replacement for next couple of months.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

They are right, the MY 2017/2018 have a different fork setup, as the current ones are Separate Function Fork setup, where the internal piston is changed. The fork outer tube assembly (THE BLACK TUBE) comes as a spare on the KTM series, unfortunately, the fork pipe (SILVER PIPE) doesn't come as a spare. In that case the entire fork has to be changed, your SVC is right. I'd suggest you start hunting a local junkyard or chor bazaar so that you can find a fork setup at a cheaper price.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

You said earlier only one side is leaking, if that's the case may I ask why are you replacing both side if the problem is with one side?

Also, you can still use one side with old fork setup and another side with the new separate function fork setup, there is no cross-relation or sync or tuning needed between left and right side as both sides behave and work independently, the difference with separate fork setup is bare negligible unless you'll notice it only on track during entry and exits out of corners.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Yes problem started with one fork and within a week other fork also started leaking.
Now oil seals replacement done twice for right fork and once for left fork, but still same problem started leaking within month.
Now running with leaking forks as daily running is very less.
I am planning to use them for 7-8 months and replace both forks altogether after that.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

I'd suggest by the time, the forks might get really bad and start leaking excessively. If you can get the newer forks, the new separate function fork, as compared to the old one, I'd suggest don't mind spending the extra, these forks have excellent feedback, dimensions they are very much similar and are a direct swap. Nevertheless, it's advisable to get them replaced as pair, keep your observations posted.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

You mean RC 2017/18 model forks are direct swap to old 2015 model.
If that's the case surely I would opt for them. Thanks for inputs.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Yes they are a direct swap.

Cheers!
VJ