KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

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

3 weeks and how is it now..??

Tapped from my HTC.

[Ankey]

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..

I hear you bro,
Some one took off the Yamaha logo from the tail of my R15, when she was 2 months old. I was so mad when I saw the logo missing, went to showroom and got a new logo first thing next morning.
And about 2 months ago, someone took a sharp stone and chipped off the paint on the tank, didn't sleep that night.
I can't understand, why people who don't have anything better to do, can't achieve or dream something positive, have to spoil it for the other people, who work hard enough to make their dreams come true.
And I too never give my bike keys to anyone.

[hackernewbie]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Guys...!!

Those who are riding the RCs in the city, what is the Tank range you are getting, approx?
Any work-around for the RVMs?

[Balgi]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

I hear you bro,
Some one took off the Yamaha logo from the tail of my R15, when she was 2 months old. I was so mad when I saw the logo missing, went to showroom and got a new logo first thing next morning.
And about 2 months ago, someone took a sharp stone and chipped off the paint on the tank, didn't sleep that night.
I can't understand, why people who don't have anything better to do, can't achieve or dream something positive, have to spoil it for the other people, who work hard enough to make their dreams come true.
And I too never give my bike keys to anyone.

Good God! Where do you gents park your bikes??!

[s1d]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

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.

Where did you get this information from??
IIRC, the manual only mentions it as the 'emergency OFF switch' which closes or opens the ignition circuit.
From what i have generally read about this, the purpose for which the kill switch is provided is to be able to shut down the engine in certain emergencies when you usually might not have the time to reach for the key and turn it off.. that is why it uses the word 'emergency'. They are also used as a part of a circuit for security alarm systems on certain vehicles. In fact the dukes do come with a provision to fit in an alarm system, i think its a ktm powerpart or is sold separately.
So whether you use the kill switch (which remember, continues to power certain electricals) or simply use the key is up to the riders convenience, and either shouldn't be a problem. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the other way around (i.e. using the kill switch too frequently causing some kind of a problem)

[Balgi]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

the purpose for which the kill switch is provided is to be able to shut down the engine in certain emergencies when you usually might not have the time to reach for the key and turn it off

Honestly bro, Who The F@#$ is That lazy? The key is literally right there just inches away from the kill switch.

Anyway, My info is based on my observation as before. my bike and all others I know who follow my procedure are not facing errors of any kind in the electricals. My own fuel pump died because I used to hit the kill switch more than once before almost every start to get a proper reading off of the fuel gauge. but since I stopped that my bike runs like a charm and starts with ease. Others however (whom i saw at the svc) almost regularly coming in with electrical problems either excessively and unnecessarily use the kill switch or don't at all. So based on this I said what I said.

And the kill switch has no connection with the powerpart auto-locking feature (really, it comes with a tiny FOB and a sensor corresponding to it that connects directly to the ignition system). you can check it, its on the KTM site in the part description and on youtube (some guy imported and installed it)

But seriously bro. Who the F@#$ is that lazy? LOL

[s1d]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Honestly bro, Who The F@#$ is That lazy? The key is literally right there just inches away from the kill switch.

Anyway, My info is based on my observation as before. my bike and all others I know who follow my procedure are not facing errors of any kind in the electricals. My own fuel pump died because I used to hit the kill switch more than once before almost every start to get a proper reading off of the fuel gauge. but since I stopped that my bike runs like a charm and starts with ease. Others however (whom i saw at the svc) almost regularly coming in with electrical problems either excessively and unnecessarily use the kill switch or don't at all. So based on this I said what I said.

And the kill switch has no connection with the powerpart auto-locking feature (really, it comes with a tiny FOB and a sensor corresponding to it that connects directly to the ignition system). you can check it, its on the KTM site in the part description and on youtube (some guy imported and installed it)

But seriously bro. Who the F@#$ is that lazy? LOL

I am sorry, but your posts are confusing. First you said "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."

And then you say "My own fuel pump died because I used to hit the kill switch more than once before almost every start to get a proper reading off of the fuel gauge. but since I stopped that my bike runs like a charm and starts with ease."

And your third statement again contradicts either one of the above "Others however (whom i saw at the svc) almost regularly coming in with electrical problems either excessively and unnecessarily use the kill switch or don't at all."

So what are you saying finally ?

btw, regarding the alarm system,i said certain vehicles might use the kill switch as part of their circuitry.It may or may not be a part of how the alarm system functions on a duke. And since you said it directly connects to the ignition system.. then the kill switch also controls only the ignition part of the electrical.

Lastly, the emergency off switch aka kill switch can be used in cases like when you have a fall or for some reason the throttle is stuck..etc.. that is why it is located right next to your hand so that you do not have to take your hand off the handle bar (which in some cases might be dangerous.), there could be other kinds of emergencies too.
A control that is labeled as 'emergency' by the manufacturer, should ideally be used only when the primary method (i.e. key) fails or can't be used in certain situations.
Also remember the using the key always shuts down the power completely and this i believe will reinitialize everything including the ecu, like a clean shutdown and start up of a computer. And the kill switch 'interrupts' the ignition circuit only, and keeps other electricals running.



Ask an Expert Engine kill switch Technical Motorcycle Forums & Chat | MCN Motorcycle News

Let us not confuse the people who read this forum/thread. I would say, always keep the emergency off switch aka kill switch in the ON position.. and in case of an emergency use it to cut off the engine. For all other normal riding situations use the key to switch off/on/start the bike.

[Balgi]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

[MENTION=16602]s1d[/MENTION]. My fault entirely for not being detailed about what I was saying.



"More than once per start" by that I mean I used to unnecessarily flip the switch over and over again until I got a satisfactory fuel gauge reading. And only then would I start the bike.



It caused the fuel pump to keep priming the engine and small shocks like these can cause malfunctions.



Completely not using the kill switch can also be harmful, but I'm not gonna get into that (its been discussed to death and still the house is divided).



The procedure I strictly follow now is "once per start" by that I mean if I flip the switch, I start the bike. I don't flip the switch for any other reason and I try to keep my starter use to a minimum as well. I know its not economical or green to do so but I am more concerned with the bike that I spent a bomb on than the environment that others are going out of their way to pollute.



In conclusion, flipping the switch excessively and unnecessarily as I USED to do, and not using the switch at all other than in emergencies are both not good practices and are both two EXTREMES. What I do is a "play it safe" middle ground that you may or may not choose to follow.





I hope I have made myself clear this time.





And only in case of emergencies when you can't reach the key??


Its like an inch away from the switch or maybe two. In what situation can you reach the switch where you can't reach the key? Only explanation is if you broke the key in the lock while bike was still running in which case despite the kill switch in off position your bike's Electricals will still be powered up and you'll still drain the battery.





Anyway like I said before our experiences can differ ain't nothing we can do about it. But please refrain from accusing people of misguiding others. I don't misguide people (not wantedly nor otherwise) but just in case I have I'll take my ignorant ways and simple mind away from this thread. Happy biking.



Cheers

[Ajay Vishwanath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Guys...!!

Those who are riding the RCs in the city, what is the Tank range you are getting, approx?
Any work-around for the RVMs?

280 kms approx..

Good God! Where do you gents park your bikes??!

I park it at a pretty secured location.. many security guards at my office.. still someone managed to happily fiddle her..

Where do you park..?

Tapped from my HTC.

[Balgi]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

280 kms approx..

I park it at a pretty secured location.. many security guards at my office.. still someone managed to happily fiddle her..

Where do you park..?

Tapped from my HTC.

Only where I can see it when I'm. At a place away from home. And at home securely next to my car with a cover on it. And I pay the security guys a couple of hundred bucks to make sure my bike remains untouched. Its just the security measures one must take for these bikes.
I have seen that mostly the fact that these bikes have no pet-cork is what attracts most people to it and then they try to find it and in that attempt they damage our bikes. I once found a kid trying to find the speedo needle on my bike. He was fiddling with the buttons on the console to see if that did anything.
But of course people will stare and try to touch. Our bikes are very attractive.

[Ankey]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

Good God! Where do you gents park your bikes??!

The logo was stolen right from my office parking..
And the paint was chipped on a free parking of a commercial complex..

Apparently, the only place safe in India, for bikes like ours is the garage of our house, inside closed gates.

[Varkey Painadath]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

3 weeks and how is it now..??

My lower back still hurts! :P
When we ride with a position where our back supports our whole upper body, the weight of our helmets play their part.
I'm more comfortable without my >1kg LS2, but safety comes first! :\
Also extra weights like laptop backpacks is another trouble...


Between, how's your bike treating you?
Noticed anything new?

[hackernewbie]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

280 kms approx..

...

That's way to wonderful a range, 280 kms for 8lts (assuming 1.5lts of reserve) is very good. What is the RMP range you are riding in mostly?

I am assuming your calculation is based on reserve to reserve?

[s1d]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

280 kms approx..

I park it at a pretty secured location.. many security guards at my office.. still someone managed to happily fiddle her.. .

99% of those security guards are useless and themselves do the fiddling. My friend once caught a guard at mindspace, moving his locked passion by dragging it to make way for another companys' cab parking. The guard ended up with a bloody nose. I almost hit another guard who tried similar stunts with my bike, but controlled my temper and instead removed the keys from the cabs that kept parking in our slots and made them run around for 3 hrs for the keys.
You gotta live with it.. the only relatively safer way to keep the bike away from prying eyes is to cover it up as mentioned by balgi.. at least its safer that way if you live in an apartment. But a covered bike in a public parking will attract more attention.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

My lower back still hurts! :P
When we ride with a position where our back supports our whole upper body, the weight of our helmets play their part.
I'm more comfortable without my >1kg LS2, but safety comes first! :\
Also extra weights like laptop backpacks is another trouble...

For a lot of people their backs are going to hurt. You need to do some stretching and back strengthening exercises regularly. the rc is amongst the least comfortable bike to ride especially is city traffic. A laptop backpack will make it worse. Try sitting a little farther behind and keep your arms bent and don't hold the handles with a stiff grip.. overall maintain a 'loose' posture and not a rigid one.

[BiKeLovER]

re: KTM RC 200 Owners Experience Thread

99% of those security guards are useless and themselves do the fiddling. My friend once caught a guard at mindspace, moving his locked passion by dragging it to make way for another companys' cab parking. The guard ended up with a bloody nose. I almost hit another guard who tried similar stunts with my bike, but controlled my temper and instead removed the keys from the cabs that kept parking in our slots and made them run around for 3 hrs for the keys.
You gotta live with it.. the only relatively safer way to keep the bike away from prying eyes is to cover it up as mentioned by balgi.. at least its safer that way if you live in an apartment. But a covered bike in a public parking will attract more attention.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----



For a lot of people their backs are going to hurt. You need to do some stretching and back strengthening exercises regularly. the rc is amongst the least comfortable bike to ride especially is city traffic. A laptop backpack will make it worse. Try sitting a little farther behind and keep your arms bent and don't hold the handles with a stiff grip.. overall maintain a 'loose' posture and not a rigid one.

After listening to all this back pain issues i really feel like going and getting a Duke 200, as i need to carry the laptop bag regularly with me to office.

And to make it worse bike delivery getting delayed to Jan first week(even after booking in last week of september) my head is screaming to go ahead and get a duke 200 but the heart still says waitttttt don't do it.

confused !!!