Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News


Yeah. I agree. You're completely right about the term supersport.
But GT and others are being called supersport may be because of the lack of a better term. Also, like stated above, it is a pretty good performer in its price range and handles better(from what I've read) than its competitor too(N650). The term supersport is getting diluted these days and is being associated with any track focused tool, again may be due to the lack of a better term. But Bajaj calling their full faired bike as Supersport is absolutely ridiculous

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

well put. what you have penned down was known though.
but then thats the reason i called rc a supersport.
as for the gt650r, it was all about what we are getting at that price point.
if i got a 636 at 7 lacs here i wouldnt have bothered to mention gt650r.
it was all about the perspective, my friend.

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Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

Let my try to explain my perspective and thought :

I thought a middle weight super sport is much more than forward lean posture.

Like 636, r6, gsx r 600, cbr 600, Daytona etc will have top end engine, frame and suspension bits. And great electronic packages. Usually a middle weight super sport bike will have best performance for the capacity (at least 100 wheel hp) and will be light. Then a they have nice bits like slipper clutch etc.

I cannot see GTR ticking anything more than the posture here. It's heavy old tech no high end performance no high tech equipment. If it was a super sport it will be competing with 636 instead of ninja 650 in the middle weight category.

Didn't intent to hurt any owners in any way.

About emerging small capacity bikes called super sport.

Let us take us the example of r15, when other 150s were on tubular frame, carburettor, producing 13-15 hp, r15 managed 17. When other 150s died at 100 -110 kmph, r15 did 130. It was having technology quality, handling and performance to beat anything in that segment. It looked like a starter for the track in 150 cc segment not just by design and ergonomics.

So I won't be able to say against someone claiming an r15 v2 as a supersport.

Different people these days have different expectations about a supersport, for example addiing a full fairing will suffice for bajaj.

What I said are my considerations after all. If I have a gtr I will not call it supersport.

If somebody considers that bike for its track friendly riding stance, I will recommend a ninja 650 with handle bar and rear set mods.





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Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

AFAIK, KTM redoes the quality checking process in Austria on the India built bikes before selling them off to the first world. That's why those bikes have a lot better quality than the Indian ones. May be the export bikes undergo stricter QC here in India too(than the ones meant for local market)?

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

When a new production is launched there is bound to be oil leaks, vibrations and some other minor irritants (which may not be be minor for the owners) because these would be coming freshly baked off the assembly line for the first time. All these niggles will be rectified in due course when the production stabilises and settles down. I don' think they can afford to use sub-standard material since the bikes are same are exported ones and it would be flagged by KTM scanner. Even smaller parts for these would have to undergo a stabilising ripple for small parts source from third parties since it would be new for them too. This is a continuous process for any manufacturing company but they iron it out in a few batches or production runs.

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

The big fairing part scares me. I can live with the vibes as long as it doesn't makes any irritating sound. But in the long run, these bikes wont be reliable since, frequently leaking oils and coolant are not a good sign.
Though bajaj is taking a long time to launch all the bikes(390RC,400ss,etc) even after test running the bikes, maybe they are trying to remove all the teething issues they have faced in test running bikes. Lets hope for the best.
Fingers crossed!

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

To me unknown sounds in duke 200/390 are not much of an issue. They are mainly due to loose chain and may be loose chassis nuts. A bit of tightening in general(better if according to the recommended torque) takes care of the general squeaks a lot and vibs too. Of course they can't totally be eliminated owing to the engine config(big singles).
If we look at the entire KTM range you'd see a common binding factor : gear box with an agricultural character, small vibs(not unbearable) which are dowsed when rpms rise, sharp fuelling leading to a bit of jerkiness at low rpms , delicious torque and generally having dollops of character
Refinement is never associated with KTM bikes and in fact Europeans/ Americans go for a KTM(or may be a duc) after being tired of the super refined/ well behaved/dependable Jap bikes.
KTMs are also classfied as being a bit more maintenance requiring, less thanthe ducs of course, but more than the ultra dependable Japs.
The Indian made dukes confirm to all of these characteristics IMO.

The real issue to me is relatively inferior(read made of lesser materials) parts which Bajaj may have chosen to maximise profits. This quality might have suited the regular 150 cc Indian fare, but the same parts gone inside a lot more powerful and stiffly strung Duke give up very early.
The nut threading gives up, oil starts leaking out from engine, small amount of coolant overflows out, mags getting cracked(in case if 390 and NOT the 200 in general) , fan winding gone in about 10-15 k, clutch plates needing two replacements in 25 kms, these are real quality issues to me.

Btw I believe the RC series would have less issues , at least no oil leaks. No one would notice small leaks thanks to the big fairing

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

Ok when i said supersport i meant the commited riding position( around 30 degrees of forward lean). i did not mean the middleweight 600cc screamers.

and i was comparing it with RC with around the same forward lean.
i hope i could clarify. :thumbup:

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Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

Why? What's wrong? The term supersport has sort of become a common name for a type of motorcycles which have track focused handling and riding position. When a puny KTM RC125 is called a supersport, what's wrong in calling the big boy GTR by the same name?

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

Gt 650 Supersport?

Oh god.

Most abused words in India :
Super sport
Sports tourer

Most abused letter :
R




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Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

i still remember i was the one who was ranting about how the RC390 would beat the pants out of a N300.
n now these quality issues. kind of anxious now.

P.S.- it would still beat the N300

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Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

Some personal views regarding KTM RC series -
If the naked bikes are having so many teething issues like
1)vibrations
2)unknown sounds
3)nuts and bolts (loosen time to time)
And so on(if any)
Then the conditions of fully faired bikes in India would be the worst, since fairing involves a lot of fit , finish and precision while assembling, and we know that how good bajaj is when it comes to fit and finish.
If Bajaj was not able to make it's naked bikes like pulsar 200nd and tge two dukes(200,390)vibe free, then the no. Of these issues will probably increase only.
P.S.- I liked ktm RC 390 and pulsar 400ss very much and I am planning to buy any one of these two. I know that BAL is trying its best to improve there quality and 200ns is a very nice machine but acc.to me its difficult to make fully faired bikes than naked ones.
Cheers

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

I agree but my SBK dream was completely shattered after the Triumph launch. So, I'll need the RC to act like an SBK till I can get an SBK(if at all). That'll take a minimum of 5 years and the RC needs to stay till then. If any other bike is launched that betters RC, which I seriously doubt is gonna happen, it'll be only be better

Re: KTM RC 390 Launched: xBhp News

The problem with this approach is within that one year you'd have many more equally/more powerful and may be better bieks available, so you wait more in deciding. lol

I think best would be to buy the first lot. It would be the pure version(with niggles admittedly). The later lots might get a milder map or a smaller sprocket for taking care of snatching and whatever blah blah the public complains of making the bike neutered. Enjoy it for 1-2 years and then dump it into the 2nd hand market before the frequent visits to svc start frustrating you.
Start looking for a used SBK since by then an R1/blade would cost aorund 20 Lac on road