KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Okay,

Went for a 60+ kms ride (40 in pure highway and 20 in city) to a lake near the city, (shamirpet to be specific, so you get it now I guess..)

Went a little off-roading on the lake rocks and the RC actually held it's ground and it actually has pretty good ground clearance. Not just on paper, I went with a friend who has the duke and it went all the places where the duke went.. I say it's a win.. The MRFs are pretty grippy and are actually nice.. The headlights are really bright too.. I was able to test it (courtesy the government employee who loves to switch off the street lights at 4.30 AM in the winter & 10AM in the summer) and I actually felt that the low beam is bright enough and the high beam was like the worst case (oncoming traffic with high beam that blind you). Other than that it's awesome..

Mileage showed 50KMPL.. drove at a constant 60.. Don't want to trust the console.. at least not now.. The fuel gauge is showing almost full.. Now out of the blues it suddenly showing only the bottom two bars.. Guess the fuel gauge is also wrong here.. Maybe she needs more time to calibrate or I broke something..

Pics not available as I didn't take my cam & my mobile cam is $hitty as stone age..

[s1d]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Went for a 60+ kms ride (40 in pure highway and 20 in city) to a lake near the city, (shamirpet to be specific, so you get it now I guess..)

Went a little off-roading on the lake rocks and the RC actually held it's ground and it actually has pretty good ground clearance. Not just on paper, I went with a friend who has the duke and it went all the places where the duke went.. I say it's a win.. The MRFs are pretty grippy and are actually nice.. The headlights are really bright too.. I was able to test it (courtesy the government employee who loves to switch off the street lights at 4.30 AM in the winter & 10AM in the summer) and I actually felt that the low beam is bright enough and the high beam was like the worst case (oncoming traffic with high beam that blind you). Other than that it's awesome..

Mileage showed 50KMPL.. drove at a constant 60.. Don't want to trust the console.. at least not now.. The fuel gauge is showing almost full.. Now out of the blues it suddenly showing only the bottom two bars.. Guess the fuel gauge is also wrong here.. Maybe she needs more time to calibrate or I broke something..

Likewise, I did a 175km trip yesterday morning on my d200 along with fellow xbhp member sarvajit and two others.
btw, regarding the fuel gauge, it always worked normally on my d200.
I noticed yesterday that on my d200, at the end of the trip i was left with 1 bar and then i filled up for 400rs. when i flipped the key to on the bars were empty. i waited for a few seconds but still it was empty (because normally ive noticed that as soon as i refill and flip the key, i can see the bars going up depending on the amount of fuel going in)
I was thinking 'damn, did this guy fill fuel or just air in my tank'. So i again flipped the key off, waited a few seconds and switched it on.. still showed empty.
I thought ok last try before i bash the bunk guy , so again i flipped the key off waited few more seconds and switched it on..and bingo the reading went up. This was the first time it went all the way down to the last bar or two.
Just observe for a few more days, by filling up fuel /using it and seeing how the gauge reads out. It shouldn't normally fall all of a sudden from full to null!! Sometimes on a slope there might be variation but on a flat ground the reading will drop one bar at a time. And of course it will go up from null to full, if you do a full tank on its empty stomach!

[sparky]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Stupid electronics at work here, why can't they put in a good old analog fuel gauge. It works every time, all the time.

[theironhorse99]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Stupid electronics at work here, why can't they put in a good old analog fuel gauge. It works every time, all the time.

cuz it was good old analog... i still wonder after over year or release of ktm's why cant they still sort out small issues like these.. i am sure consumer must be giving them feedback...

[Balgi]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

cuz it was good old analog... i still wonder after over year or release of ktm's why cant they still sort out small issues like these.. i am sure consumer must be giving them feedback...

I have seen this problem. It usually arises if you get fuel filled with the key in the ignition and the kill switch flipped on. Best to turn ignition and kill switch on only after filling is done.

Besides, the fuel gauge, being digital, still uses a float to determine how much fuel there is and it recalibrates once every 10mins of constant riding only. So as far as accuracy is concerned its about as accurate as any analogue fuel gauge out there.

Also, ktm fuel gauges are most accurate when the bike is resting on the side stand with no weight on it, on level ground.
So its not a quality issue or design oversight. Its just another fuel gauge that functions like an average fuel gauge.

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Promise, I will never ever give my bike to anyone..

Took it first time to office today..

- Someone meddling with her unknown to me in parking with the switches & the fuel tank.
- I normally won't give my bike to anyone.. but gave it to a friend coz he persisted... Started with a raise.. broke my heart.. stopped the vehicle twice due to poor clutch handling.. A record I wished to hold and I actually held.. he broke it.. went for a ride without helmet, jacket or gloves.. Never am I giving her.. I'm just writing this to vent my frustration out and promise myself and my bike..

Guess this is why sports bikes are not given to Indians..

[s1d]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

I have seen this problem. It usually arises if you get fuel filled with the key in the ignition and the kill switch flipped on. Best to turn ignition and kill switch on only after filling is done.

Besides, the fuel gauge, being digital, still uses a float to determine how much fuel there is and it recalibrates once every 10mins of constant riding only. So as far as accuracy is concerned its about as accurate as any analogue fuel gauge out there.

Also, ktm fuel gauges are most accurate when the bike is resting on the side stand with no weight on it, on level ground.
So its not a quality issue or design oversight. Its just another fuel gauge that functions like an average fuel gauge.

i've found the fuel gauge to be pretty accurate or should i say linear in its readings. And the key is always in 'off' and out of the key hole when i refill. the engine kill switch, i ignore it like the plague, so its always at the same position.
As i said, normally if there are 4 bars and I fill up for 100rs and then flip the key to on, i've noticed that the reading rises by a bar within a second or two as soon as the self check is complete. But maybe when the tank is almost empty and you fill up, it takes a few more seconds than normal for the reading to register.
IMO the console on the ktm is its strongest point, was impressed to know it was light sensitive as well which is why you don't see the orange on a bright day !

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Promise, I will never ever give my bike to anyone..

Took it first time to office today..

- Someone meddling with her unknown to me in parking with the switches & the fuel tank.
- I normally won't give my bike to anyone.. but gave it to a friend coz he persisted... Started with a raise.. broke my heart.. stopped the vehicle twice due to poor clutch handling.. A record I wished to hold and I actually held.. he broke it.. went for a ride without helmet, jacket or gloves.. Never am I giving her.. I'm just writing this to vent my frustration out and promise myself and my bike..

Guess this is why sports bikes are not given to Indians..

Forget sport bikes, am hesitant to give any of my rides to other ppl. for one i am very particular about the way people downshift (most don't rev match) and some just rev the heck out to listen to the sound. a strict no no for me.
You gotta chill man, a lot of ppl will stall such bikes the first few times.. its totally normal. I stalled the rc390 while trying to ride around the dealerships' cramped parking. One needs to get used to the riding position and the bike itself and it takes a couple of km or more to get that comfort feeling you as an owner now have.
And lets not bash Indians.. we are one of them too !!

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Thanks @s1d. That's reassuring.. I mean it's healing the would in my heart.. guess I'm oversensitive towards her..

But people here are like "wow" everyone want's a ride and look at her.. Wonder how the faces of people who take cabs at my office look at me.. There are like crazy lot of people who take cabs and wait for their turn to go home.. normally they are jealous of people who come self.. now this? lol..

[s1d]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Thanks @s1d. That's reassuring.. I mean it's healing the would in my heart.. guess I'm oversensitive towards her..

But people here are like "wow" everyone want's a ride and look at her.. Wonder how the faces of people who take cabs at my office look at me.. There are like crazy lot of people who take cabs and wait for their turn to go home.. normally they are jealous of people who come self.. now this? lol..

Relax man.. am sure you were ogling at the rc too before eventually becoming the owner. Its normal human reaction.
Don't think too deep in to if ppl are jealous or whatever.. maybe they were just admiring the bike. Don't tell me you that don't ogle at lets say if you spotted an R1 or a Harley or whatever.. I for one had been a cab user when i started my career, but switched to personal mode of transport to save time n get more sleep, and let me assure you that nobody who uses a cab is jealous of those who use own transport. lol man, that's like saying every guy who uses public transport is jealous of those who use their private vehicles.
Anyway, all this is OT.. lets stick to what this thread is meant for.

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Relax man.. am sure you were ogling at the rc too before eventually becoming the owner. Its normal human reaction.
Don't think too deep in to if ppl are jealous or whatever.. maybe they were just admiring the bike. Don't tell me you that don't ogle at lets say if you spotted an R1 or a Harley or whatever.. I for one had been a cab user when i started my career, but switched to personal mode of transport to save time n get more sleep, and let me assure you that nobody who uses a cab is jealous of those who use own transport. lol man, that's like saying every guy who uses public transport is jealous of those who use their private vehicles.
Anyway, all this is OT.. lets stick to what this thread is meant for.

Agreed..

talking about being on-topic, I happened to visit the service center today.. I explained the mechanic about the different sound that I get and the "controversial" topic about kill-switches and keys.. He said that the sound is the petrol being flushed in into the fuel injector and no need to worry and once is enough.

The kill-switch is just as good as the keys. The difference? Kill switch does not switch off the use of indicators and rear break lights etc etc. I.e. except the engine and the console, everything else can be kept on whereas the key is for complete shut down of the vehicle..

I wonder what he meant by that..

but somewhere I think he is right coz my unibabe doesn't have a kill-switch but has a provision to fit one.. However, I always used the key to switch on and switch off.. What do you guys say?

[s1d]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

my unibabe doesn't have a kill-switch but has a provision to fit one.. However, I always used the key to switch on and switch off.. What do you guys say?

what?! no kill switch on the rc? are you sure there is no red colored switch on the right side of the handle bar?
when you flip the key to on, the fuel pump primes the fuel, i.e. it needs to build up some pressure to deliver the fuel to the injector.

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

what?! no kill switch on the rc? are you sure there is no red colored switch on the right side of the handle bar?
when you flip the key to on, the fuel pump primes the fuel, i.e. it needs to build up some pressure to deliver the fuel to the injector.

Dude.. I'm sorry.. I got a bad habit of naming bikes.. unibabe : unicorn..

I got the switch in my Black Beauty (rc200)

Tapped from my HTC.

[Balgi]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Thanks @s1d. That's reassuring.. I mean it's healing the would in my heart.. guess I'm oversensitive towards her..

But people here are like "wow" everyone want's a ride and look at her.. Wonder how the faces of people who take cabs at my office look at me.. There are like crazy lot of people who take cabs and wait for their turn to go home.. normally they are jealous of people who come self.. now this? lol..

Bro, believe me you're not the only one here. I too would be highly sensitive if it were my ride that was being abused in any way.

Its just that the love we have for our hard earned money, others don't have that. I refrain from giving my bike to anyone at all save just two people (my best friends) and my dad. But that I do coz I know they can ride.

Owning a bike is like being in a long term relationship with a beautiful girl. You've got to treat her well and keep her stylish. And you don't let others hit on or ride you girlfriend. Am I right?

[Balgi]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Agreed..

talking about being on-topic, I happened to visit the service center today.. I explained the mechanic about the different sound that I get and the "controversial" topic about kill-switches and keys.. He said that the sound is the petrol being flushed in into the fuel injector and no need to worry and once is enough.

The kill-switch is just as good as the keys. The difference? Kill switch does not switch off the use of indicators and rear break lights etc etc. I.e. except the engine and the console, everything else can be kept on whereas the key is for complete shut down of the vehicle..

I wonder what he meant by that..

but somewhere I think he is right coz my unibabe doesn't have a kill-switch but has a provision to fit one.. However, I always used the key to switch on and switch off.. What do you guys say?

Your unibabe also doesn't have digital ignition and an ecu. That is what the kill switch is for. As I explained before, switching on the key supplies power to all systems sorta like the ecu priming the motor for startup. And then when you flip the kill switch the ecu and speedo turn on and recalibrate. Keeping the kill switch in on position and turning on the key sends a surge of power to all systems which in the long run will cause a malfunction in the ecu. Its like not having a ups for your desktop. When the power goes out and comes back it effects your hard drive. In any case if you don't want to keep flipping the kill switch then at least do it every time you start the bike after it was off for long duration (say 2-3 hours).

[Varkey Painadath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Went for a 52 KMs ride.. my back, palms and shoulders (triceps to a little extent) took heavy hits.. guess it's just a matter of time for getting used to eh..

Only for a week brother...a week!
Google could help a lot with sitting postures. :P
You can overcome everything except your lower back...gotta get used to it! :P
Its been 3 weeks for me