KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News



Fck yes... bring it on!
I hope Bajaj gets the power parts here, the rear sets would be an absolute must have for me.


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Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

i just hope bajaj doesn't do cheap quality work on it as they have always done...that is the only, but a really major, hesitation about this bike that anyone can have in theory.

KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

Yes, some of the stuff is plain cheap, like the switchgear, levers & grips. Putting those Pulsar bits on an otherwise stylish bike is in poor taste and all that's thanks to Bajaj. But, I don't know who is to blame for egregious issues like oil seeping out of the head, engine starting problems and so on...


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Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

perhaps responsibility for such issues lies partly on KTM as well ?

i am not sure if KTM has given the work of engine and other delicate engineering stuff to bajaj as well or not..it isnt clear from generally available articles in the internet on bajaj/ktm partnership...those articles just say ktm provides the know-how to bajaj and bajaj takes the responsibility of production and distribution..production as in full manufacturing or what is not clear to me.

i think most of engine-related and other more delicate engineering works are also done by bajaj, with probably just the theoretical engineering principles/R&D/whatever coming from KTM...hell if that's really the case these are pretty much just bajaj bikes pimped up with the looks and names of KTM..

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

I believe the technology Bajaj is sharing with KTM is filtered down from their premium vehicles Bajaj RE Auto, Three Wheeler - A World's No. 1 Three Wheeler
I think I'm talking myself out of buying the RC 390!

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

haha, I hope not. Although, I wonder if the 390's sold across the world are 'exactly' the same as the ones sold in India. Because I haven't come across any international reviews complaining about these problems.


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Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

News from internal sources at Bajaj - KTM : All KTM bikes irrespective of domestic / export are rolled out of the same assembly lines at chakan plant.

Issues reported in India are primarily due to the Indian road / traffic conditions and partly due to final QC.

I heard that exports to EUROPE / USA go through another round of QC at Mattigofen, Austria. That possibly explains the pricing of 2.5 times more as compared to India pricing.

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Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

Probably have a few different parts, a bit like the Suzuki Swift vs Maruti Suzuki Swift, the Maruti variant is built to a tighter budget and has a less quality.

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

You mean to say that the global shipments are routed through Austria for QC, before they land up in US etc?
I don't think so, logistically this would be jack up prices.

I think they land up direct in the intended regions and then KTM does a QC or something.

Btw I think Bajaj gets the blueprints from KTM, everything from the designs etc and then the vendors manufacture according to them.
I heard that the engine etc come from bharat forge.
The difference may be in the tolerances which Bajaj prescribes for Indian KTMs to perhaps keep costs down. I don't know.

But what I do know is that the KTMs shipped to Europe etc had their fare share of niggles and were panned a lot quality wise. Look up a few UK forums.
The same problems which the Indian dukes had. Fork oil seals, head leaking blah blah.
Gives a very bad name to Indian manufacturing.

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

indeed it's all actually bajaj duke 200/390, bajaj RC 200/390 :P

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

Maybe this is the reason they have been testing the bikes for so long now, to correct the defects/problems surfacing in the Duke 200/390.

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

yeah probably...we can only hope their tests result in needful lessons/changes in the faulty things and that the RCs then come with the (statistical) reliability of the japanese or comparable to that..

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thank god we have the exported R15s to compensate for the bad name :-)

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

Bajaj has been working hard to give us good performance bike at extremely low price. Isn't their effort appreciable?
Low cost of course comes at a price- Reliability, in this case. But I'm sure The dukes would have been as reliable as any Japnese bikes if it was priced right. Afterall Bajaj too would want a profit from their products, won't they? We don't expect them to be manufacturing world class products and then sell them cheaply. I, for one, was shocked to the core when I read that Bajaj had priced the D390 at 1.8 lakhs at launch. That was ridiculously cheap !! With all the goodies that its comes with, I just couldn't believe how could bajaj had managed to keep the price down. That was a joyous moment for all the common man. People who drooled over the ninja but couldn't afford it, felt that the D390, which could well be the ninja killer in terms of performance, was well within their reach. For this alone, Bajaj DESERVES applause

A year past, we all are well aware of the niggles with D390 but wasn't that an obvious coming?

Bajaj is a new player with this global small displacement performance bike scenario. Give them a chance to improve. Give them some breathing space. I am sure they would only get better as they mature and gain more experience. Sadly, inevitably they'll learn that to keep the enthusiasts happy they'll have to improve on many aspects and eventually the final price would have to go northwards and the common man would be left sad again.

As for the RC390, I hope that Bajaj and KTM gets this reliability issue right. Anxiously waiting for the final product.

N:B- this post is not directed to anyone. I just felt people often undermine home products. Try and see the brighter side.
A happy owner of P200NS and future owner of either an RC390,N300 or R25. fingers crossed

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

I agree to your points! ... we must be realistic and positive about the comapnies' new products. They have made a good effort and will improve. However lets not see them as doing some charity, won't mince words saying that Bajaj earns almost super normal profits!, its adjusted Gross margins are expected to touch 30% (and increasing every year), more than any other two wheeler player in the country! ... so yes, they are making money! . ... and as simple econmics says, more pricey the bike, more the margin they earn on it! .... . From the consumer point of view, yes they have launched the cheapest 300+cc bike avail, and i'm thankful to KTM/Bajaj for that, my sport bike breams come true due to that!

Re: KTM RC 390 Launch confirmed: xBhp News

GUYS! ...Bookings officially open for RC 390 from today onwards at many dealerships ! ...
(source: rc390 fb page).

Someone please contact dealership and confirm (Chennai - Adyar dealership says No though.)