Cycle News

VOL. 51 ISSUE 39 SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 P111 this is an easy bike to cope with in slippery conditions, even with- out other higher-tech features like TC, engine braking control or a slipper clutch. But with 30Nm of torque al- ready on tap at 6000 rpm, you don't need to row the RC390 along too hard on the gear le- ver to get really pleasing perfor- mance. And the gear ratios are perfectly chosen for the engine's character. Although you don't need to use the six-speed gear- box overly hard, you will find that this has the same flawless op- eration as on other Indian-made KTM models. Revs mount steadily rather than hurriedly, though, but up above 6000 rpm acceleration is even more zestful, and there's a good sense of flywheel effect. Roll-on response in the higher gears is immediate, and pretty re- sponsive, without needing to shift down a gear and rev it hard to get any sense of zest. With the kind of controllable performance it offers, it's little surprise that the RC390 is catch- ing on big time as a starter bike for road racing, with the single-make ADAC Junior Cup series run in Germany this year as a support class to the IDM Superbike se- ries set to be replicated in 2015 in the UK at BSB rounds, as well as in Holland, Brazil, Scandinavia and others still to be confirmed. And even if you don't take to the track yourself, a race graphics kit and all the higher-spec compo- nents used by the Cup bikes are available as accessories. Since the RC 390 is so ag- ile and quick steering it's really confidence inspiring to ride hard on a racetrack, with only the chance that your feet may slip off the quite slithery footpeg rub- bers at full lean like to cause any concern. Sportbikes like this de- serve metal footpeg. The KTM RC390 is a brilliant product that captures the sharp handling and confident steering, coupled with high-speed stability, which you need in order to ex- ploit the key advantage of a race- bred single – cornering speed. The good level of grip from the front Metzeler tire gives you the confidence to do this, though I suspect the rear tire is the wrong shape, since you can use all of the front tire right to the edge, and there's still another 10mm of unused tread on both sides on the rear. Strange. The relatively firm 43mm WP fork may be non-adjustable, but it's brilliantly dialed in for race- track use. Ride quality on the street from both ends of the bike with the rear preload on setting five of 10 was also outstanding for a small, light sportbike like this. The suspension, while budget- priced, is clearly well developed. There was unexpectedly good feedback from the front tire in the rain as well – a key element in inspiring confidence in slippery conditions. Finally, that Italo-In- dian brake package is excellent – even if you do need to squeeze the front brake lever quite hard to get maximum stopping power. It was quite a surprise how well the single disc and four-pot radial caliper worked despite being so lonesome. It showed good bite in getting the bike slowed down from 99 mph – the most I saw in- dicated in sixth gear, just before the shifter light started to flash. Engine braking is also quite good. Even tough the U.S. price tag has yet to be set, at Euro 5,595 ($7176) in, say, Germany (includ- ing 19 percent local tax), the KTM RC390 may well be the most fun for the least money you can pres- ently buy in the entire panoply of the global motorcycle market- place. No matter the pricing, it will be a bike that will appeal to younger riders as the entry key to the thrill of genuine performance. Ditto to the older riders who are as- tute and experienced enough to know that boasting about horse- power numbers isn't the key to going faster than anyone else from A to B along a winding road, or a twisty racetrack. In real world riding terms on to- day's highways, we believe riding the RC390 will be hard to beat in the satisfaction stakes for those fortunate enough to own one. Even if you take it to a track day and end up battling out in turns with CBR600s and GSX-R1000s, only to get left behind down the straight before catching them up in corners again… at the end of the day, who's going to have had the most fun? CN

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