[JayPrashanth]

Link to News Section

Ahead of its debut at the 2013 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, imagery and technical details of the KTM Duke RC390 have hit the interweb. The KTM Duke RC390 ADAC Cup Racer was a teaser of the production model and the design largely remains consistent but for the exhaust which retains the under seat design as on the other small-capacity Duke models. Apart from this detail, twin headlamps, and revised graphics, the KTM RC390's design is very similar to the race-spec model.



The full-faired RC390 is based on the Duke 390, with which it shares its engine and transmission. The engine is the 373 cc single cylinder four stroke motor, which features liquid cooling and fuel injection. The motor outputs 43 Bhp of peak power and 35 Nm of peak torque. The KTM RC390, owing to its full-fairing is heavier than the Duke 390 by 8 kilograms. The RC390 comes with changes to the steering head angle (66.5 degrees), which endows it with a shorter wheelbase, shorter trail and a larger ground clearance.



As is with the case of the Duke 390, ABS will be standard on the RC390 and so does the 10 liter tank. The RC390 is likely to have a higher top speed than the Duke 390 due to the presence of the full-fairing, a feature that will make the motorcycle more aerodynamic. Also, a rider is likely to feel more comfortable at high speeds on the RC390 than on the Duke 390 due to the presence of a wind drag reducing full-fairing.



The KTM RC390 will be built by Bajaj Auto, at Chakan, off Pune. Bajaj Auto and KTM will sell this motorcycle in India as their new flasghip version, by pricing and positioning it above the Duke 390. The made-in-India KTM RC390 will also be sold across the world, in line with KTM's strategy of using Bajaj Auto's Chakan production unit and India as low cost-high quality production and sourcing hubs respectively.

Expect the KTM RC390 to be launched in India early next year. The motorcycle is likely to be priced 10-20 thousand rupees more than the Duke 390.

Source VisorDown

[Ren8]

Aggressive pricing and the bike is definitely going to be the segment bestseller. The duke 390 is already selling like hot cakes and a 390 with a fairing will do even more.

Couldn't make out a pillion seat from the pics, is it existent or has KTM omitted that ?

[dreamseller]

Originally Posted by Ren8

Couldn't make out a pillion seat from the pics, is it existent or has KTM omitted that ?

It's probably only a rear seat cowl. A production bike will definitely carry a pillion seat. Even the rear foot pegs point to the same. I'm not much of a fan of KTM's front designs, but otherwise its a droolworthy piece of engineering and will surely rake in more sales for KTM/Bajaj.

[allajunaki]

Wow, she is a looker!
Love the twin lamps up front, very BMW'ish, though Beemers come with Asymmetrical lamps. Priced a bit above CBR250 and lot below Ninja 300, this will surely be a hit.
10L tank is a bit of let down though.

[Devenu]

This is what happens when you wish/dream/fantasize about a dream bike and then some gifted engineer somewhere goes ahead and delivers just the exact same bike!
This is Awesome!Looks stunning (very mechanical, with exposed frame et al), lightweight (lightweight is always good) and ample power (I don't think I am ready for a proper supersports yet, forget a liter class)! The pricing will be the icing on the cake, not to forget the decent size dealer and service network!

Thank you God! Thank You KTM!

[Ren8]

Pictures of the RC 200 & 125 revealed. Link http://www.motoroids.com/news/first-...125-ktm-rc200/

[sarathlal]

Check here for more of these:
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bike...ak/#more-49103

[parrys]

The power to weight ratio of the Duke 390 had already started the battle for an upgrade in my mind, but I am not a naked fan.

If the RC390 can handle even 70% as good as my R15 v2.0 does, I am game.
Those BMWish headlamps sure look aggressive
Also, I seriously wish that it sounds a little better than what the D390 does.

I will wait for 6 months after the bike is launched, so that Bajaj irons out the problems, if any.

PS: Yamaha, don't even bother developing a 250cc block now.

[bullet-tooth]

I am not a big fan of the KTM DUKE because of two reasons:

1. I ride a Yamaha R15. And the refinement and quality of the bike is a million miles ahead of the KTM.

2. I could not ride the bike in 120+ speeds for more than 10-15 minutes. The vibrations, the wind turbulence and the lack of confidence in the KTM at high speeds made me shy away from the 200.

Now the RC390 has aerodynamic fairing and the clip-on bars looks like they have worked on the handling and high-speed cruising as well. Like parrys^^ if only it could handle better, I think this would be my next ride.

[Rahulkool]

I am not a great fan of bikes with full fairing but this one looking amazing. But i guess riding position will be too sporty which again does not help in city commuting. But still a great looking bike nonetheless.

[parrys]

Originally Posted by Rahulkool

But i guess riding position will be too sporty which again does not help in city commuting

It is just a matter of preference, & what type of biker lies under your skin.
I commute on my R15 v2.0, for around 70-80 kms daily, and now I don't think I can sit upright when on 2 wheels.

If I could, then I would have been cleaning my new Duke 390 as we speak.

[Rahulkool]

Originally Posted by parrys

It is just a matter of preference, & what type of biker lies under your skin.
I commute on my R15 v2.0, for around 70-80 kms daily, and now I don't think I can sit upright when on 2 wheels.

If I could, then I would have been cleaning my new Duke 390 as we speak.

Absolutely mate, its personal thing. I use my bike mostly for commuting and these days very little highway runs. i prefer the upright position of Duke.

[JayPrashanth]

Link to News Section

The small-capacity KTM Duke platform has spawned three new full faired motorcycles in the form of the RC125, RC200 and RC390. While imagery of the RC390 leaked onto the interweb a few days ago, we now have fresh images of the RC125 and RC200. All three full-faired motorcycles will be built at Bajaj Auto's Chakan factory, from where they will be exported worldwide. Of these motorcycles, the RC200 and the RC390 will be sold in India.



The RC125 is meant for export markets, where it will compete with the Yamaha R125. While the RC390 shares its engine, gearbox, frame and most parts with the Duke 390, the RC200 does so with the Duke 200. Also, the cycle parts of the RC range are shared with that of the small-capacity Duke range. The RC200 will slot in between the Duke 200 and the Duke 390 in terms of price and positioning, while the RC390 will sit at the very top of the Duke line up in India, serving as the flagship model.



The following are the key changes on the KTM RC series:

• New tail-frame section
• Turn indicators integrated onto the rear view mirrors
• Full fairing
• Twin headlamps
• Clip-on handlebars
• Shorter wheelbase

The KTM RC200 is likely to be priced close to the Honda CBR 250R in the Indian motorcycle market. With the RC200 likely to be heavier than the Duke 200 by a few kilograms, expect it to be marginally slower in terms of acceleration. However, the presence of the full-fairing and the resultant improvement in aerodynamics is likely to make the RC200 faster than the Duke 200 in terms of outright top speed. The KTM RC200 and the RC390 are likely to be launched in India during 2014.

[ku69rd]

How I wish they launched the 390 Adventure into the market? Think that is one segment which is lying virtually untapped with only the Hero Impulse with an apology of an engine doing job :(

PS: For god's sake why only 10 liter tank? What is the rationale behind? Would be very keen if any of our intelligent pressmen pose this question across to their technical staff than simply going Ga Ga over the bike and its lines. No doubt the bike has been chiselled pretty well.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

How I wish they launched the 390 Adventure into the market? Think that is one segment which is lying virtually untapped with only the Hero Impulse with an apology of an engine doing job :(

PS: For god's sake why only 10 liter tank? What is the rationale behind? Would be very keen if any of our intelligent pressmen pose this question across to their technical staff than simply going Ga Ga over the bike and its lines. No doubt the bike has been chiselled pretty well.

Out of 100 typical riders/potential buyers in India, how many of them would go for the Adventure versus the Dhoom?

Once you answer the abvious, you will get a pretty good idea as to why there is no news about the Adventure anywhere as yet.

P.S. I am in the same boat as you aspiration-wise. You just have a bigger bike than me currently!
P.P.S. This bike looks yummy, especially the beak and the twin round eyes ala the GS in front. A design cue that with a little bit of tweaking could so easily be transferred to an Adventure ....