News 12 Jun 2015

Review: 2015 KTM RC 390

CycleOnline.com.au test rides the 2015 KTM RC 390.

The learner market is stronger than ever for choice, style and performance. So popular are learner machines that a learner legal sportsbike headed the sales charts in Australia last year.

This year it’s the same story, but now there’s three sportsbikes in the top 10 sellers. As such, if there’s a machine a manufacturer wants to have in their product range at the moment, it’s a small capacity sportsbike.

Styled on their superbike siblings, they are the best starting point for aspiring sportsbike riders. With output based around power-to-weight ratios, both singles and twins feature in this class. With capacity ranging up to 660cc, there has never been so much choice.

Image: Alex Gobert.

Image: Alex Gobert.

At the smaller end of the capacity class are the 300s. Parallel and V-twins are the usual configuration choice, because it’s easier to get desired power and torque characteristics from these engine formats, but KTM is one of the few bucking the trend with the single-cylinder RC 390. And if anyone knows how to build a good single cylinder motorcycle, it is KTM!

KTM has championship winning know-how from hundreds of titles won with single cylinder engines. It’s this technical know-how KTM injected into their shareholder Bajaj in India that builds the RC 390. In this class price is another important aspect that determines success and Bajaj is one of the world’s largest motorcycle producers, so know a thing or two about mass production, cost-effective motorcycles.

Side by side the smaller RC 125 and 200 in other markets, the RC 390 mimics the styling of the RC8 R superbike. Designed by the same company crafting KTM’s since 1990, the Kiska-designed RC has many detailed features for a machine in its price range.

The exhaust exiting the belly-pan, painted trellis frame, compact tailpiece, WP rear shock and USD forks give both a quality and racy look. Up front there’s no doubting it’s a KTM sportsbike by the style of triangulated fairing, a design element continued in every single body panel.

Image: Alex Gobert.

Image: Alex Gobert.

A close look at the specifications shows the RC 390 has a sportier edge to it than its rivals. It has a more aggressive rake and trail, tall seat, wider 150-section rear tyre and weighs in around 10kg lighter fuelled.

The riding position of the RC 390 is sports-focused, by far the raciest ride position of the 300 sportsbikes. Though the bars are comfortable and wide, they are set to tilt the rider a little forward while the seat is firm and tilted into the tank. The pegs are set low enough not to cramp, but still rear-set to give that racy ergonomic triangle. The riding position for shorter riders will feel less racy as it doesn’t restrict you in its dimensions. If you are taller than six foot you will feel it a little more confined but still comfortable.

As racy as it looks, the RC has the easy handling attitude you want in a learner bike. It is stable at speed, supple over bumps and responsive on heavy braking. The suspension isn’t challenged in regular riding situations, but riders with a bit of experience will want better performance from the rear shock.

Chances are if you are taller you’ll weigh a bit more, like me, and feel the rear WP shock needs better damping control. Adjusting the pre-load won’t sort this issue, nor should it. This machine is for learners and a firmer rear end would loose that forgiving nature of its handling.

Image: Alex Gobert.

Image: Alex Gobert.

The brakes are Bybre, which is Brembo’s product line name for smaller machine hardware. Aided by the two-channel Bosch 9MB ABS system, they have no trouble pulling up the lightweight RC. The front four-piston caliper on 300mm disc pulls up bigger bikes than this! The single-piston rear gives great power and feel too.

The engine is core to a learner bike’s success and the single-cylinder format was a no brainer for KTM. Their experience in single cylinder engine design has allowed them to create a lightweight, compact and powerful unit. The architecture involved in the design of this engine shares a lot with the LC4 690s.

With all but a handful of kilometers ridden on wet roads, the engine was friendly in these tricky conditions. Power comes on strong from 5000rpm through to the rev limiter at 9000rpm. Off the line through to the mid-range it moves with reasonable pace. It has enough power to shoot you away from the lights and is easy to moderate in tricky or low-speed situations.

The RC 390 gearing on the freeway sits in the rev range with power to overtake from the crack of the throttle. The 10-litre tank holds enough fuel to do 190km. The tank is holds 3-5 less fuel than other machines in this class, but you can forgive it for the bike’s light weight and handling benefit that advantage provides.

Image: Alex Gobert.

Image: Alex Gobert.

With its styling and chassis dimensions, you could think the RC 390 is too hard-edged for a learner, however its performance is anything but. The suspension is supple, the brakes are strong and the handling predictable. The engine is friendly and easy to control. All these aspects are what learning riders need.

If you ride harder, the raciness so obvious in the styling is there. Power comes on strong in the mid-range, while the handling is sharp and predictable. The handling balance skewers to the learner rider rather than the boy racer about to step up to a supersport or superbike.

If that’s the way you are planning to go once you have your full licence, the bigger brother RC8R should be your next step. In the meantime the RC390 is a great way to hone your skills and get a feel for the excitement and character a sportsbike delivers.

Specifications

Engine type: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valve per-cylinder single
Capacity: 373cc
Bore x stroke: 89 x 60mm
Compression ratio: 12.5:1
Claimed power: 32kW @ 9500rpm
Claimed torque: 35Nm @ 7250rpm
Dry weight: 147kg
Seat height: 820mm
Wheelbase: 1340mm
Fuel tank capacity: 10L
Colours: White
Price: $7295 + ORC
Detailed specs: www.ktm.com/au

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