Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

how are some people already so confident and sure about RC200's handling significantly better than the R15 (v1 or v2) which is saying way too much about a bike that has hardly been ridden by anyone for long and stable time periods yet in varying conditions and situations and at most some people have ridden it for just a few kms as a test ride ? :-)

i am sure it will be at least comparable or maybe turns out to be better (hard to assume so easily about an unknown bike new to the market, knowing R15v2's very very high standard bar for handling characteristics) but i find it weird some people already so confidently declaring it. :-)

even professional test riders/reviewers have to ride 2 closely matched bikes a lot (lots and lots kms usually spread over several days) in all kinds of situations before they start making their minds about which one is better than the other in which aspect and by how much is the difference :-)

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

Agreed
All our initial observations dear
Let it get launched then we can comment firmly on it
V2 vs rc 200 first thing you like about rc is the more HP let u feel less frustrated as r15 looks like it will keep its nose ahead but thats not the case ya i know its mere 150 but still
Its no doubt awesome bike i would have bought it with eyes closed if it was on sale when i was in market looking for ma CbZ replacement
Engine upgradation is what r15 need of da time cosmetics are subjective
Atleast 25 bhp with that handling and package will keep sales chart up word to north

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

Wasnt it proved a long ago with duke 200?
Rcs just upped the ante.


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Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

Took a test ride of the RC390. The ride lasted around 30 minutes. Here is the impression:

1) Looks. killer is the word. Doesn't look very big, but still has fantastic road presence. I am digging the looks like nothing else.One of the elements I like the most is the projector setup. I know most people hate it but I looks mean. I am not a big fan of the exposed trellis on the side and the underside though!

2) Build. Good!!. The fairing panels felt nicely made and robust. Nothing felt weak, save the instrument panel. The console area felt a bit flimsy and would move a bit when nudged.
This was not the case however on the RC 200 which sadly was not available for rides yet. I was more pumped to ride the 200 in fact, to see how different it'd feel from my duke.
This certainly doesn't mean the cycle parts would be top notch though. I remember having the same impression about the duke 200 when it was launched and it hasn't been all hunky dory owning it.

3) Power. Plenty on tap. The initial madness is definitely not there like there is on the duke 200, but once it gets going, oh maan!!
This is of course known to everyone here given the fact that the engine is same as that of the Duke 390, but as reported by a few mags already, it feels a bit more tractable and less intimidating. May be due to the added weight. Or may be the programming is a bit different(can't confirm this).

4) Stability. I did 170 on the speedo and didn't realize it at all till the time I actually glances at the speedo The bike is rock solid and well planted. The suspension is pliant and the feedback is good. Nothing like the edge of the seat drama I am used to at 125-130 on the duke 200 I ride. I am not sure how stable the duke 390 is on a straight line , but this felt at ease.

5) Handling. I was riding on the (in)famous road which is usually everyone's favourite in Mumbai when it comes to speed runs. There are two long sweeping left handers. No hesitation in leaning and holding the line, even at 150. Very impressive dynamics. I have no experience with big bikes, but I am now itching to ride one. This is that good. It makes you feel a superstar. To compare with the nakeds, if the duke is the James Bond played by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, brute and visceral, then the RC 390 is the Pierce Brosnan of the franchise. Suave and effortless. There is equal dose of explosions and car wrecks, but the latter would give you a sense of calm when at it.

I don't know how it would fair on the usual off road circuit which is Indian roads in general given the shorter fork travel but it felt wonderful on the road I rode the bike. I suspect it won't be nice however given the fact even the dukes don't ride well there with longer travel.

6)Ride quality. Is nice. There is a bit of vibration to be felt. not at the bars but overall, especially if you downshift a bit early. I am not used to the power curve of the 390, so there were a few instances where I may not have been at the optimum gear and the engine protested with lugs if I was at a higher gear and low vibrations and rattles if I was at a higher gear. May be down to the loose console panel and that the bike was a abused test ride bike with less than 1000 kms on the odo. It felt nice alright, but I don't think I'll call it super refined.
The gear box was clunky and they engaged with a loud thud. Again this may be due to the fact that it was a new bike, but I hear the gearshifts on the 390 aren't too silent either. So don't know what to say!

There was this scary moment, when the gear didn't engage properly when I tried upshifting and it came back down. I felt the wheels locking I think. This ahs happened many times on my duke 200 and it's all noisy and annoying but surely innocuous there but it was no joke at 140 plus .I am sure the ABS intervened there or else medical intervention would have been needed

7) Ergonomics. Awesome! This is one aspect many riders are apprehensive about if they are considering the RC390 as a next bike. Coming from the upright supermoto posture of the duke the leaned supersport riding stance was so much refreshing. I had thought that it'll feel unnatural and would take sometime getting used to and I won't be able to enjoy the ride but I was wrong. I felt at home right from the moment I sat on the bike. It was intuitive. I didn't feel the reach taxing at all and the 30 odd minutes on the bike didn't leave any discomfort which I was so expecting given my problematic shoulder blades.
Now again, how this would pan out in the stop go traffic with frequent braking is anyone's guess but I wouldn't think twice before taking this thing out on 500km rides on highways atleast.
There was a bit of sliding down though when braking and your balls would take a beating sometimes. But the padding was better than the duke. But I can't be too sure on this relative comfort since I felt the duke padding adequate in the beginning but it's not as comfortable now as it was before.

PS: I am 5'9" and weigh 75 Kgs and I could easily plant my feet on the ground

Braking : Good but could be better!!The brakes were good but they were not God like. I say this because I remember the astounding braking I experienced on my new duke 200. It's another thing that that feel quickly vanished in less than a year never to come back again, but I certainly didn't feel the brakes were very sharp.
Not sure how it is on the duke390!

Some pics I clicked -

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

Congrats on ur booking...At which show room did u get the TR of RC390?

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

Fantastic review!!
And I am with you on almost everything you said here
Thanks!!

As the RTO clearance have not been received by the showrooms so, I was requested to not disclose anything about the TR

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

[MENTION=48967]Doga[/MENTION]
How the headlamps work? Like R15 (Only one lights up in low beam) or both projectors have low/high beam functionality? I heard RC has DRLs too, how does it work? Are the headlamps 55watt halogens or HID?

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

Sorry man!! In the rush and excitement, I didn't even turn the headlamps on. Also I won't be sure if the DRLs were on while I was riding. Since when I parked the bike for taking the shots I turned ignition off
Besides it was day, so I wouldn't have been able to comment on beam throw and illumination performance.
But I should have checked them.

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

You have to switch on the DRLs, no automatic/always-on ones here. [MENTION=61791]Cleaner[/MENTION]

When using upper-both the headlights are one (one upper-one dipper).
When using only dipper, the upper is off!!

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

What do you mean?

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

When you flip the switch for low-beam (dipper), only one of the two headlamps glow.
When you flip it for high-beam (upper), both of them glow. One for low and the other for high-beam!!

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

^^Got it, same as R15

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

Then it shouldn't be called a DRL!

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

The only difference being that in an R15, one light has two filaments for high and low beam and other light has only one for high beam. In case of the RC, when you put on high beam, the projector beam for low beam stays put and the other projector gets turned on.

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The only difference being that in an R15, one light has two filaments for high and low beam and other light has only one for high beam. In case of the RC, when you put on high beam, the projector beam for low beam stays put and the other projector gets turned on.

Re: KTM RC 200 & RC 390 Launched

Does anyone else think it would look better with black alloys?