KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

A DIY is coming soon, keep watching this space for more...

Teaser:

I think I know that.. but I won't spill them beans..

[vishnu.leo]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

A DIY is coming soon, keep watching this space for more...

Aha RTR bar ends i tried removing the ones from my rtr last day but was stuck so dropped the idea, do tell if it works out well if so i will just go get a new pair on monday

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Aha RTR bar ends i tried removing the ones from my rtr last day but was stuck so dropped the idea, do tell if it works out well if so i will just go get a new pair on monday

you clever fellow.. got my cue.. anyways, let him post the DIY and hold our horses till he sets the whole thing on fire...!!!

[joe_marvy]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Aha RTR bar ends i tried removing the ones from my rtr last day but was stuck so dropped the idea, do tell if it works out well if so i will just go get a new pair on monday [emoji14]

Guys, I know most of you would have guessed. Please don't jump into action there's a bottleneck. I figured out how to solve, I'm just running around to get an item. I'll post it ASAP. Stay tuned.

[vishnu.leo]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Guys, I know most of you would have guessed. Please don't jump into action there's a bottleneck. I figured out how to solve, I'm just running around to get an item. I'll post it ASAP. Stay tuned.

waiting anxiously for the whole diy to be over keep posted

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Guys, I know most of you would have guessed. Please don't jump into action there's a bottleneck. I figured out how to solve, I'm just running around to get an item. I'll post it ASAP. Stay tuned.

Please!!! Man.. we are drooling & impatient.. we are losing patience.. oooooomy god..

Man, this is exciting!!!!

[joe_marvy]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Hi Guys,

As promised, here we go.

First I would like to thank @Evader_F , he told me this could be done!

Like most of you or everyone to be exact, even I had numb palms after continuous riding of KTM RC 200. The only solution to reduce the vibration on handle is Bar-End weights. I’m in no plan to change RC 390 handle mainly because of SVC fitment Vs Production fitment. Like [MENTION=16602]s1d[/MENTION] rightly said, “The less they touch your bike the better it is!” I was just wondering if there is something I could do without welding inside the handle bar or going to a mechanic or accessory shops to do it for me.

At that time there was a discussion in Duke 200 thread and saw Evader_F saying RTR’s bard end weights doesn’t require welding or making changes to the handle bar, but the discussion was for Duke’s handle bar and I haven’t even realized it. That was an instant relief and my journey towards this mod started showing a destination. Overwhelmed with excitement visited a TVS showroom near my place, as expected they said “No Stock”. I asked them when I can expect the stock, they said tomorrow. I again insisted and they were sure. With doubts I left and enquired back after two days, as promised two bar end weights were ordered and was in stock. Speechless and was happy, bought it for 460, a pair.



This is the first time I’m seeing the whole set and the turbulence started. How this will expand? Can this lengthy screw placed inside RC handle bar? Ran to TVS service section and asked the supervisor how it works:







When you tight the screw from outside, the nut inside tightens. The more you tight the rubber gets expanded, thus holds inside firmly, simple right?
Now, the length! From outside it looks it can go full length and still it will have enough space.

Procedure:

I started with the right bar end, as that side looked complex. Made a circular cut out on the handle grip.


Make a circular cut, this was taken while cutting it half and I couldn’t find the picture of the full cut one.

Once done, push the entire bar end weight assembly inside. Do not apply oil or grease, it may not help the rubber inside hold firmly. I pushed it hard using a soft hammer. Leave about 2-4 mm space and tighten the screw. This 2-4 mm would ease the throttle or it will be held tight. So I placed a fork and tighten the screw.





Now the worst part is, it is not coming out. Pulled it harder, soft hammered, nothing it just sits there without anything. God! What have I done and what’s next was running all over my head.

Liberally applied oil inside and pulled, saw a bit of improvement. Thank God, pull, pull, pull, pull and finally came out. What a relief!

Now I have a bar end weight on one side and a hole the other side! Looked closely inside the bar with the help of a torch, dam there’s about 2-3 mm of steel piece protruding. It is at the place of left switch gear (indicator, low beam, high beam, etc.), so this thing is blocking the assembly to pass through.
For about a week I was running around automobile spare shops, hardware shops, etc. looking for a similar screw but a bit small in length. No luck, everyone was stunned looking at the shear length of the screw, as if this was the first time they are seeing something this long. LOL

All my hunting went in vein, my project is hanging midair, right side looks cool and complete, left side looks incomplete and ugly.

One more week passed, nothing changed. One fine night, I was doing some spirited riding to reach home from office. My gloves were wet so didn’t wear gloves that day. I felt a difference between left and right palm. The vibration on left seems like a tuning fork which vibrates heavily after a beat and continues further, but the right felt very controlled. I won’t say the vibration on the right has completely gone, but it is very well controlled. I started to notice this very keenly and felt a drastic difference between both the ends.
Finally I got some free time in hand. Dismantled the completed Bar-End weight assembly into pieces. Had a close look again into the bar and I could see the protruding rod. Just inserted the bare screw and it went all the way inside and it still goes! Then added just the rubber to the screw with little oil applied on it, if something goes wrong I can at least pull it out. Now even with the rubber the complete screw is inside. How is this heavenly possible? Assembled everything into its place, applied little oil over the rubber and started slowly pushing. Since the rubber is lubricated with oil, without much pressure it goes inside. Pushed, bit more push and the unbelievable happened, Holly Molly! The entire bar-end weight assembly is inn, completely inn. With no time wasting with investigation, tightened the screw with all my effort and done!

Now, wondering what the heck just happened! It is plain stupidity. Both the side there is a small rod protruding, which holds the switch gear. Make sure end of the assembly, looks exactly same as this picture:



The end screw goes over the protruding rod. If the nut is at the end of the screw it gets blocked by the protruding rod, move the nut little bit above, so you get about 3 mm (as seen in the picture above). Also, make sure the angle of the screw is straight while pushing in, even that would make it stuck.







The mod is worth the stress I had gone through. Learnt new stuff, observed the difference with and without bar-end weights. And the final output is an awesome feel. Loved to share this mod with my pals of all time!



Thanks you for your patience guys. Feel free to ask me anything on this

[jRay]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

To people who ride long distances without bar end weights, how significant are the vibrations? Also how is the RC 200 for long distance trips other than the riding stance?

Hi Guys,

As promised, here we go.

Thanks for this DIY.

Also to what extent will wearing gloves help with the vibrations as I'm a little too scared that I'll mess something up while doing this .

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[Ishaan.humble]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

I went on a 2000km roadtrip and came home in one piece and without any complaints. The only thing to take care is that there should not be any road which is something even slightly worse than average. And plan your fuel stops prior to the trip because the tank will go flat often!

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[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

[MENTION=73103]joe_marvy[/MENTION]

you are awesome man.. so simply slide (correctly) and tight method with the TVS Apache bar ends.. I'm off to get a pair as well.. but 460 I feel is a bit on the higher side for bar end weights.... but whatever meh, cheaper than the whole handle replacement advise of the SVC guys who are apparently "professional".

Joe, can you please make a thread @ DIY section of xbhp as well.

Thank you,
Ajay

[jRay]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

I went on a 2000km roadtrip and came home in one piece and without any complaints. The only thing to take care is that there should not be any road which is something even slightly worse than average. And plan your fuel stops prior to the trip because the tank will go flat often!

Sent from my SM-E700H using xBhp Connect mobile app

That's good but the road near my college is really really bad. Daily commutes are gonna be painful for that part. Wonder what'll happen to my RC [emoji26] and more importantly what'll happen to me. I hope i don't shatter to pieces.

[MENTION=73103]joe_marvy[/MENTION]

you are awesome man.. so simply slide (correctly) and tight method with the TVS Apache bar ends.. I'm off to get a pair as well.. but 460 I feel is a bit on the higher side for bar end weights.... but whatever meh, cheaper than the whole handle replacement advise of the SVC guys who are apparently "professional".

Joe, can you please make a thread @ DIY section of xbhp as well.

Thank you,
Ajay

I guess the service center people wouldn't recommend fixing other bike parts on it.

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[jRay]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

[MENTION=23793]mod[/MENTION]s Delete this please.

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

That's good but the road near my college is really really bad. Daily commutes are gonna be painful for that part. Wonder what'll happen to my RC [emoji26] and more importantly what'll happen to me. I hope i don't shatter to pieces.




I guess the service center people wouldn't recommend fixing other bike parts on it.

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No.. They won't.. They need money.. So they only want us to buy their long and cumbersome and expensive products...

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[jRay]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

No.. They won't.. They need money.. So they only want us to buy their long and cumbersome and expensive products...

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Exactly. But if you ask the same mechanic outside the KTM svc he would most likely give a jugaad for that.

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[joe_marvy]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

To people who ride long distances without bar end weights, how significant are the vibrations? Also how is the RC 200 for long distance trips other than the riding stance? Also to what extent will wearing gloves help with the vibrations as I'm a little too scared that I'll mess something up while doing this .

You will never feel the handlebar vibrations, after the ride you will feel numb palms for a couple of minutes. If you are a tourer, no matter what bike you have you will hit the roads! You will get tired sooner than riding on other bikes for long distance. RC hates undulated roads, potholes, road patches and lane dividers, it will just transfer the shock to the rider, thanks to the tyre profile and stiff suspension setup. But you will get to know how to tackle them once you start riding your steed. Gloves gives you good comfort compared to riding with bare hands apart from the core necessity of protection. Don't jump in doing all the mods you read in this thread, take your time, enjoy riding your bike, start small DIYs like lubing, washing, etc. eventually you will start doing more stuff.

you are awesome man.. so simply slide (correctly) and tight method with the TVS Apache bar ends.. I'm off to get a pair as well.. but 460 I feel is a bit on the higher side for bar end weights.... but whatever meh, cheaper than the whole handle replacement advise of the SVC guys who are apparently "professional".

Joe, can you please make a thread @ DIY section of xbhp as well. Ajay

Thanks Ajay! I think the price differs place to place, Karnataka is bit on the costlier side. You don't need to buy from TVS showroom, just check around in other automobile spares shop, TVS original accessories are sold to outside vendors too, you will get it cheaper compared to showroom guys. Sure I will post in DIY section too, thanks for reminding!

No.. They won't.. They need money.. So they only want us to buy their long and cumbersome and expensive products..

Exactly. But if you ask the same mechanic outside the KTM svc he would most likely give a jugaad for that.

That's business. Nobody opens a shop and gives you free advice for some jugaad or DIY tips, right? Their staffs are trained like we are trained in our organization, we don't recommend others product, the same goes everywhere. Chill Out!