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Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News
I would like to share my humble thoughts on the topic... Firstly, we're mostly on the streets where there's no legal competition going on. There, such things don't matter. On racetrack, ok fair enough.
But believe me, comparing these 2 bikes is not that easy as comparing 2 power values. I've ridden the Ninja 250R on road, and my own Duke 390 on the Racetrack (BIC)... And for learning purposes, I would still prefer Ninja (if considering engine only).
Reason being that, Duke has a smaller power spread, with high power output, combined with the light weight, so if you miss the shift at the max power spot, you will most likely hit the limiter in an instant & lose momentum in a snap. At BIC on 15 March, most riders were hitting limiters very often, even on straights, and good shifting helped me gain some momentum in some parts of the track. (Of course, those were not professional riders but still...)
However, you can overrev the Ninja 250R (probably the 300R also) significantly beyond the maximum power point, without losing significant amount of power. On the track, its a big advantage,
Firstly, because mostly you don't lose much momentum when you goof up a shift, as some variations in shift up rpm won't matter that much,
Secondly because overrev helps, if you're about to slowdown for a corner ahead, but still have some distance left before you do so, then you can choose to overrev in the same gear (instead of upshifting and then waste time downshifting again). In milliseconds, it matters a lot.
This is all practical stuff, something that actually happens but doesn't show on paper, because no human rider can give computer like performance, (or not all human riders). A stock Duke (probably RC) rider might lose momentum instantly on goofing up a shift. Even if human error is 0%, then too overrev is more favorable, for the cornering reason I mentioned in the last paragraph.
So, while Duke rider will concentrate more on shifting, the Ninja rider can instead focus on other important aspects like racing line, corners, etc.
Yes, 70 extra cc's may be justified. But beware, Ninja (or a similar parallel twin) might still come out advantageous on a certain kind of racetrack, more so if it is modified for more power... All depends on the final tuning of the RC 390 though.
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That said, I'm happy at how things are turning out for the Indian biker. RC 390 is not just going to be a fast machine, its going to be one uniquely designed machine too. Yes, maybe, quality is not one of the strong points of KTM in India, specially when compared against Kawasaki. But, from my experience, I didn't notice any deficiency big enough to build a strong argument against KTM. I do believe that RC should fare better than Duke in this aspect.
The way faired bikes grab attention, RC's not going to be for me though, and my Duke is doing well enough. But, wishing KTM all the best anyways!
Originally posted by jackofsome
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i wanted to comment on this post of yours somehow.
regarding the displacement-
less cylinders equates less power. thats why world over when 1000cc inline 4s are allowed, they give an extra 200cc to the twins to be in the same class. in this respect the rc should be given a fair chance to compete coz with the N300 jus coz it has a cylinder less. now thats a different matter that it produces a monstrous 43.5 bhp(relatively). it should be and is indeed being compared to the ninja. now coming to quality its a different ballgame altogether
but you cannot take away this fact that the RC wins here after compared.
regarding the displacement-
less cylinders equates less power. thats why world over when 1000cc inline 4s are allowed, they give an extra 200cc to the twins to be in the same class. in this respect the rc should be given a fair chance to compete coz with the N300 jus coz it has a cylinder less. now thats a different matter that it produces a monstrous 43.5 bhp(relatively). it should be and is indeed being compared to the ninja. now coming to quality its a different ballgame altogether
but you cannot take away this fact that the RC wins here after compared.
But believe me, comparing these 2 bikes is not that easy as comparing 2 power values. I've ridden the Ninja 250R on road, and my own Duke 390 on the Racetrack (BIC)... And for learning purposes, I would still prefer Ninja (if considering engine only).
Reason being that, Duke has a smaller power spread, with high power output, combined with the light weight, so if you miss the shift at the max power spot, you will most likely hit the limiter in an instant & lose momentum in a snap. At BIC on 15 March, most riders were hitting limiters very often, even on straights, and good shifting helped me gain some momentum in some parts of the track. (Of course, those were not professional riders but still...)
However, you can overrev the Ninja 250R (probably the 300R also) significantly beyond the maximum power point, without losing significant amount of power. On the track, its a big advantage,
Firstly, because mostly you don't lose much momentum when you goof up a shift, as some variations in shift up rpm won't matter that much,
Secondly because overrev helps, if you're about to slowdown for a corner ahead, but still have some distance left before you do so, then you can choose to overrev in the same gear (instead of upshifting and then waste time downshifting again). In milliseconds, it matters a lot.
This is all practical stuff, something that actually happens but doesn't show on paper, because no human rider can give computer like performance, (or not all human riders). A stock Duke (probably RC) rider might lose momentum instantly on goofing up a shift. Even if human error is 0%, then too overrev is more favorable, for the cornering reason I mentioned in the last paragraph.
So, while Duke rider will concentrate more on shifting, the Ninja rider can instead focus on other important aspects like racing line, corners, etc.
Yes, 70 extra cc's may be justified. But beware, Ninja (or a similar parallel twin) might still come out advantageous on a certain kind of racetrack, more so if it is modified for more power... All depends on the final tuning of the RC 390 though.
--
That said, I'm happy at how things are turning out for the Indian biker. RC 390 is not just going to be a fast machine, its going to be one uniquely designed machine too. Yes, maybe, quality is not one of the strong points of KTM in India, specially when compared against Kawasaki. But, from my experience, I didn't notice any deficiency big enough to build a strong argument against KTM. I do believe that RC should fare better than Duke in this aspect.
The way faired bikes grab attention, RC's not going to be for me though, and my Duke is doing well enough. But, wishing KTM all the best anyways!
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