Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Hi just wanted to give the suggestion, this sticker while looks good will start discolouring while turning yellowish within a month I have been using it and it looks very bad, I would suggest to cancel it, and buy from company that might be expensive but so is our bike, one time investment and it looks damn good.

ride, eat, sleep, repeat

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Hi I have been using keiti tank pad it is of good quality, looks good and probably won't turn yellow, I would suggest to refrain from buying the cheap ones available on eBay those loose there shine and become yellowish believe I have a fuel cap sticker which looks so bad, and earlier used same kind of tank pad sticker which turned yellow, my suggestion go for good quality tank pad and company fuelcap sticker. U can find tank pad sticker on planet dsg

ride, eat, sleep, repeat

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Guys, what is the price of the clutch lever?
Today, i accidentally dropped my bike while trying to park it. Because the side stand did not engage properly and the bikes clutch lever is bent.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

i understand what you mean.
gear to rpm is more apt as you said when one means 'lugging' .. i just put it in a way that was easier for everyone to understand (higher gear low speed.. which obviously means the rpm is also lower, because for a given gear n speed, the rpm is same for a particular bike, and the rpm will obviously drop the lower the speeds in that gear)
this is true for every bike, be it a splendor or a hayabusa.. just that the gear ratios vary as i mentioned in my earlier post. one just has to get used to the gearing when riding a different motorcycle (a hayabusa rider riding a shine shouldn't complain that it doesn't do 100 in first gear)

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Around 110rs IIRC.
the duke's clutch lever is similar to a pulsar 180's lever, i am using it on my 200. I guess the rc is also same. in an emergency try to get hold a pulsar's clutch lever.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Thanks s1d. Wow that's good. I was expecting it to be around 500 to 600 range.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

none of the regular spares (levers, filters, cables) cost as much

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

On the same note, can we retro fit the new adjustable one of 2016 model to older model or in my case a 200 RS and what could be the price.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Guys, I have a query. When i ride the bike over uneven roads (not bad road or potholes, I am talking about the roads which are in good condition but the surface is not so plain and hence it feels lil bumpy or uneven ), there is a wierd vibration on the handlebars like it's buzzing when the front forks travels up and down. I don't think it's due to engine braking or engine vibration. Because it only happens while i am breaking or going over uneven roads. I can even feel it sometimes when I am running in constant speed. Since i didn't take a test ride before, I am not sure if it's a normal thing. Is it something to be worried about or it's just a normal characteristic of the bike?

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I don't think so we get adjustable levers on the 2016 model.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Does it feel like the front is bobbing up and down excessively?

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Yes, but only slightly. And when it does that there is a slight vibration.

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Thanks for the info.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

WHATT ! Just the lever or the lever+yoke set ?

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Do let us know the price once you get it replaced. I find it hard to believe that it costs over 600rs for just the lever.

Re: KTM RC 390 (MY 2016) Ownership Experience

So after months of contemplating whether to get a bike I finally bought it.

Well, anything on wheels has always piqued my interest. I bought a car during the first year of my college and have been running with it ever since. A few long trips down south in Kerala in a Chevy Cruze aka ‘The Diesel Rocket’ left me wanting for more when I got back home. Since I owned a 4-wheeler already, I felt the need to experience riding a bike. My requirements were very clear:

a) High power to weight and torque to weight ratio
b) Priced at not more than INR 5 lakhs on road
c) Good after sales service and easy availability of parts
d) With ABS
e) Purely to be ridden for fun, so the bike should have a fun factor
f) Preferably a bike with fairing

KTM RC 390 fit the bill instantaneously.

To make an informed purchase, I went through numerous reviews on YouTube and the xbhp forum to understand the pros and the cons of the RC 390. I even read the manual to know everything there is about it. Then I called up various showrooms in Delhi for a quote and took a test drive of the bike where it was available (it was the shabbiest bike I have ever ridden). Finally, booked the bike on 20^th April’16 and waited for a new unit to come. When it did, I went to the showroom armed with my PDI checklist to inspect the bike before registration, and found it up to my expectation. At last, made the complete payment of INR 2,38,000 and got delivery on 1^st May’16 from the Connaught Place showroom (Delhi). I did not face any hassle on the purchasing process and overall had a wonderful experience from the showroom staff. Mr. Paras, the showroom manager was very polite and a delight to interact with. The entire process, right from the moment I started research to taking the delivery took 3 months.

So I got a March’16 manufactured bike with slipper clutch and always on DRLs. Unfortunately, repeated attempts of communicating with KTM for confirming the changes made to MY2016 (India Edition) yielded no result. They just would not reply back. Their website also seems outdated since it does not even mention the inclusion of slipper clutch on the RC 390.



Talk about a freaking jump start on biking!! The bike handles like a breeze and plasters a smile on my face each time I gun the throttle. As I am not used to bikes with such a committed riding position, my wrist starts to pain after a while. I believe it is something I can work on by practicing more on the bike and implementing techniques such as holding the tank tightly with my thighs, etc. I still haven’t crossed the 7.5K RPM limit and plan to give it the OEM specified break-in. The bike tempts you hard to push past 7K RPM and loves to be revved. Although the vibes on the bike does not bother me much yet, but the jury is out on that one.

Accessories I bought:
1) LS2 Helmet
2) Water and dust proof bike cover
3) Long BTwin lock for locking the tires with the frame
4) Riding gloves
5) Dust Mask
6) Formula 1 Bike cleaner and micro fiber cloth
7) Orange Assist

I am also planning to buy a riding jacket. After all, safety always comes first.

I shall keep this post updated with my experience!

Update: First Service (Odo: 947 kms)

I visited the Noida Probiking Service Centre (Suman Bajaj) this Sunday (5th June 2016) for the first service with nearly 950 kilometers on the odometer. I gave it the OEM recommended break-in, keeping the engine speed cycling below 7.5K RPM with a lot of variation. Compared to the initial days, the bike certainly felt a bit more smooth after crossing 600 kms on the odo.

I did not face any 'over heating' issue with the bike and the temperature always hovered around 8-10 bars on the guage even while riding in the scorching heat of Delhi (Good work KTM!, I guess?), but nevertheless, I decided to flush the stock coolant and go with the Motul Motocool Expert. I ordered the same along with the engine oil (Motul 7100 10W50) from Amazon before the service.

Having reached the SVC at 8:45 AM on Sunday I was expecting it to be done by 12 PM, but boy I was in for a surprise. Upon arrival, I was attended by Mr. Rinku (Service Advisor) whom I found to be a very polite person. I informed him that I wanted to change the coolant and since it was not covered on the first service he can bill me for the labor on it. I also told him that I bought the engine oil with me this time to which he said that I would need to buy the oil from them since it will show on their record. He agreed to using the oil I bought after I said that I'll buy the oil from them next time. He took down the bike details and gave me an estimated delivery time of 2:30 PM which seemed like a bit too long to me.

The bike was washed and ready to be serviced by 10 AM. Having read multiple testimonials, I had asked for Mr. Asif to be the one to service my bike. Mr. Rinku obliged and allotted my bike to Mr. Asif. I saw his certificate of training from KTM's head office in India hanging on the wall and realized why people recommend him. The actual service began at 12 PM since he was working on some other bike from the previous day. He was pleasant to talk to and entertained my inquisitive nature by answering all my questions. He took care of each and every point mentioned on the service manual and I was happy to watch him work diligently on my bike.



The service was completed by 2:30 PM which included a half an hour lunch break too. The total bill came out to be INR 719.00 (not including the cost of oil and coolant) and the break-up goes as follows (inclusive of taxes):

:: Chain Cleaning: Rs. 115.00
:: Coolant Flush: Rs. 517.50
:: Oil Filter: Rs. 74.00
:: O-Ring: Rs. 5.80
:: Rivet Snap: Rs. 6.83

I was out of the SVC by 2:45 PM (6 hours!! did not see that coming) and took the bike for a test drive. Invigorating experience!! Smoother gear shifts, change in exhaust note, lesser vibes, better pick-up and so much more fun!

Barring the delay in starting the service, my experience with the quality of workmanship in the SVC has been very good. I would be happy to recommend the service center and Mr. Asif in particular to anyone who asks.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience


I am sorry I meant gear pedal lever.
I edited my old post.
Sorry again!!!!

Re: KTM RC 390 (MY 2016) Ownership Experience


Congrats Man.
Its very good bike, you will be used to with position and pain over the period.
you wont believe but its 7k on oddo but still bike gives same grin and fun like day 1.
Its loaded with lots of power. just be easy on throttle during first few k kms. And yes buy a riding jacket first

Re: KTM RC 390 (MY 2016) Ownership Experience

Congratulations bro.....