VOLUME 59 ISSUE 16 APRIL 19, 2022 P85
New mapping has made
small throttle openings
incredibly smooth.
2022 KTM RC 390 ($5799)
ENGINE
Single-cylinder, 4-stroke
VALVETRAIN
DOHC, 4-valve
COOLING SYSTEM
Liquid
FUELING
EFI
DISPLACEMENT
373cc
BORE X STROKE
89 x 60mm
POWER
40 hp @8800 rpm
TORQUE
24 lb-ft @ 6800 pm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed
CLUTCH
Wet multi-disc, slipper
CHASSIS
Tubular steel trellis
FRONT SUSPENSION
43 mm WP Apex inverted
fork, compression and
rebound adjustable
REAR SUSPENSION
WP Apex monoshock, rebound
and preload adjustable
FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL
4.7 in.
REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL
5.9 in.
FRONT BRAKE
Single 320mm disc with ByBre
4-piston calipers, Cornering ABS
REAR BRAKE
Single 230mm disc with 1-piston
caliper, Cornering ABS
FRONT TIRE
Continental ContiRoad
110/70 ZR17 in.
REAR TIRE
Continental ContiRoad
150/60 ZR17 in.
SEAT HEIGHT
32.4 in.
WHEELBASE
52.9 in.
FUEL CAPACITY
3.6 gal.
WEIGHT (CLAIMED, WET)
365 lbs.
SPECIFICATIONS
of the game on an RC (as it is for
any 400cc-class sport bike), but
the KTM's willingness to keep the
revs north of 7000 rpm thanks to
super-light internals and only one
cylinder to push and pull makes it
easier to do so than some of the
competition.
The RC's agility is unquestion-
able. It'll splice its way through
an apex at the mere sight of it,
making the rider feel like a bit of a
hero while still letting them know
there's more left in the tank if they
push harder. It's an intuitive ride,
one that keeps the rider informed
of what's happening beneath via
some high-quality suspension,
lightweight wheels, good brakes
and surprisingly high amounts of
grip from the Continental Con-
tiRoad rubber that's more suited
to highway and canyon jaunts than
straight-up racetrack riding.
The 2022 RC 390 is a sterling
little machine and given it's under
$6000 and you get things like
an IMU, traction control, Corner-
ing ABS with supermoto mode, a
bigger gas tank, excellent suspen-
sion, you name it, this really is a
great bike for the money and one
that's a more-than-worthy succes-
sor to the original.
CN
