KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Currently facing numerous issues with my 2017 RC390.
•Got my front brake pads replaced(sintered) 2months back and clocked only about 300kms and lost the initial bite now that was evident once i got the pads replaced.
At present there’s completely no hope on the braking part as it doesn’t stop at panic braking situations.
•At present odo stands somewhere around 16000kms and acceleration has dropped for which the KTM service people are recommending a clutch plate change.
I don’t find any excessive rpm raise or lag between gear shifts, it’s normal until half throttle and beyond which the throttle response picksup slow. No rpm raising issues
Is it the clutch plates that are worn out or something else to be checked?
•Gear shift from first to second sometimes feels as though I’ve banged on a wall
Happens occasionally
And sometimes shifts back to N from second gear.
The bike is regularly maintained at KTM service centres and is not ridden harsh or too slow. All these issues cropped up just after a long rest from lockdown.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Answer in bold

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

I'm running the same 300mm stock setup on stock organic brake pads. I get what you explained.

1. Get the master slave overhaul kit replaced, the new slave kit will do wonders adding back new life to your braking feel
2. Drain the complete brake fluid, flush it and fill it with Moutl RBF 660(if you can get it somehow in stock somewhere) normal Motul DOT 4 should do the job 90%.
3. For 30% the cost you were about the spend on the entire 320mm setup (disc, alloy wheel, axle etc etc), get the new RCB master cylinder for 7K for the same cost you were willing to pay for RE disc setup 7K.
4. Which front tyres are you using: MRF, Ceat, Apollo, Michelin Pilot all lose steam in terms of front end braking, feel, and how ABS kicks in, stick with Metz M5 or Pirelli only
5. And you already have EBC pads as you mentioned.

Do all these and the "chul" should be satisfied pretty enough for 20-30% of the price and the entire braking setup and feel should be improve by 20-40% easily without messing the with ABS, barking and riding geometry.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Ha Ha

Thanks ..Basically i like slight spongy feeling ,it gives me more precise feeling of how much brakes are getting applied. so when i apply my brakes at lever setting 4 than there is a wooden feeling but more than adequate power and lever pull but applying at 3 give little spongy feeling which i like but due to less lever pull there is little less braking so thought of adding this 320mm setup may be it would have done the trick ..Hope I am able to explain it correctly.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Finally, it took you some hammering to get to the practicality side of it. Happy for you, ride it, enjoy the stuff you have with you right now.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

HelloTo be honest I am satisfied with my setup but there is sentence "CHUL mach rahi hai " as i am currently upgrading my RC..but i dont want to do any mod which affect my safety and engine life..I have already upgraded my brake pad to EBC sintered one both front & rear( thanks to my friends .these are cheap outside india) and also got new MC ..I am happy with my brake performance but thought of doing that bcoz of that word "chul" now with this abs safety aspect I am skeptical and now considering your advise I am planning to drop it .Also I have purchased bubble visor which is needed after rising handlebars and also currently restoring my old cbz so I think I better use this budget on cbz as i am not sure about cost to benefit ratio .cheers

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Rawat, from what I see, the offset doesn't affect the ABS mount, secondly, we're not replacing the ABS ring also. The gap between the senor and the ABS ring too would absolutely remain the same, which would mean, the ABS "theoretically" should work just as fine. Now, w.r.t to @kiran2508 has mentioned, the newer models too come with 320 mm rotor which I have suggested to you on my earlier reply. The catch is, the newer rims are comparatively different to 2015 and pre ones, so the newer Duke's 320 mm rotor will not fit the older 2015 Duke's. You have to change your complete front rim assembly along with rotor for you to use this rotor.

So, if you can get the complete KTM Rim/Rotor set cheaper at a junkyard than the Interceptor's brake rotor itself I'd suggest you have a great proposition on your hand as opposed to paying 7k for the RE rotor, which is a bummer in my opinion

I'd suggest you upgrade to the newer semi-sintered brake pads, and replace your master cylinder to the post 2017 ones, with the same old 300 mm rotor. I've suggested it to most of my friends and they're all happy with this mod.

Hope it helps!

Good luck.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

True, if I go through the parts catalogue and looking at images of both 2015 and 2017 bikes back-to-back, I feel its a direct swap, only way to know is better park your bike next to 2017+ bike and compare all parts physically and take the call.

Sometime parts number simply change when the vendor changes or quality is improved a bit after redesign but most new parts are built to backward compatible with older bikes as they dont make old part numbers anymore and discontinued.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Hello

Appreciate your quick response

Basically i am confused here to be honest..

My mind says it should not be a problem as RE disc is direct swap and we are not touching the abs ring and any of abs parts.
So as we are not changing abs ring it should be good.
Also ktm rc 390 320mm is not direct swap..we need to change rim and one more part that connect shocks to caliper..i am sure as it has been done by some rc320 owner ..so total cost does not justify the mode in my view.
Here in 75% cost i am getting floating one so i am planning for this..

Regarding bubble visor i have ordered that and they make or procure on order not sure.main thing is that there office/studio is 2-3 km from my house and there work seems to be good as far i have seen their other modifications also I saved 1.2 k in shipping .
One thing at least i want to appreciate about autologue design people they are very accommodating and helpful.their attitude is to accommodate people request not suck people money..

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Replacing with 320mm bigger disc won't affect the ABS, but you should swap only KTM 320mm disc, not RE disc as KTM and RE both have different count ABS teeths.
New 2017+ D390/RC390 have 320mm disc vs older 300mm disc. All you need is extra 2 spacers for the caliper, but ABS teeths remain same. So it should be staright swap.

Also for bubble visor, I'm running this exact similar visor got it from local dealer, its a direct fit for the Mirror screws. Does the job well in wind deflectrion
You can find the same one sold under many brand names on Aamzon, Autolouge, JBR, etc etc all are same product sourced from same Chinese vendor.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Hi..
I am not sure but in same video comment section someone claimed to have this disc installed in his friends bike and abs not working..o enquired and got answer that offset will be off and abs awill sometime work or not..not sure what he meant..i have again asked..so [MENTION=39214]B7ACKTHORN[/MENTION] do you any idea about this..offcourse i can't trade-off abs aith big disc..please suggest..thanks

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Hi..
I am not sure but in same video comment section someone claimed to have this disc installed in his friends bike and abs not working..o enquired and got answer that offset will be off and abs awill sometime work or not..not sure what he meant..i have again asked..so [MENTION=39214]B7ACKTHORN[/MENTION] do you any idea about this..offcourse i can't trade-off abs aith big disc..please suggest..thanks

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

how about this visor from autologue design,will order it than

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Wonderful tip and appreciate you sharing this. Do share a detailed photo/process once you've installed the rotors and the all the basic brake mods you've done, definitely helps the folks out here.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience


Yes ..BS6 have 5 mounting point..so i just now have checked with ktm and RE people..

RE- i need to order front rotor and it will come in a month so will order it tomorrow and it cost around 7k

KTM - 2 spacers and 2 nut are required,its available fortunately so will pick up those tomorrow.

Two more video who want to install raised clipons..i have done that and went with yamaha ones and it really works .. bike is little less precise but much more nimble and flickable..in city and highways it really helps day and night..for track days just swap with original ones.

https://youtu.be/XnafOOR_a8A Yamaha one



Thanks
Prashant

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There is one more mod for upgrading ktm headlamp.. new RC have only one bulb on at one time so not sure if they can pick up the load of both bulbs but below mod i have done..the picture below borrowed from DVJ auto and same setup i have purchased from him ..
These are weatherproof bi xenon projector with 55w fast bright 4700k hid,very low startup time and it doesn't consume more than 60-65w at start up.

here is the link https://feretrofit.com/collections/fe-projector-retrofit-kit/products/universal-fe-fog-hid-kit-3-0?variant=40398846985 i went with 3inch ,55watt & 4700k one and diff is day and night with nice yellow tinge.

for Info new rc rider seat cost 612 rs with taxes and it improved comfort a lot on my 2014 bike,i think its a gel seat.







and same installed in himalayan as extra lamps and here are the photos








and here is my bike

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

No. Thank you! I reckon, the BS6 have 5 lug mounts in the front as opposed to six on the BS4, am I right?

Cheers!
VJ