Ktm duke 390 vs Ktm rc 390. Which motorcycle is better?

KTM RC 390

Almost any small-capacity new sportbike today is designed in the spirit of MotoGP or World Superbike, but it is extremely rare in these motorcycles that anything other than design is done at a high level.

Typically, the aggressive styling hides budget components and the manufacturer's very tentative concern for light weight, implying that these small-capacity bikes are designed for cruising between cafes, and not for racing.

KTM RC 390

Introduced in 2014, the KTM RC 390 completely broke this tradition. And now this model takes the concept of small-capacity sportsbikes to an even higher level: in addition to a refreshed aerodynamic cladding inspired by the Orange's MotoGP motorcycle, the RC16, the new KTM RC 390 2022 has received a number of premium components in which substance is even more important than form. In particular, this is a three-axis inertia measurement device, which powers first-in-class traction control and ABS with lean angle tracking, an updated and lightweight chassis, improved WP APEX adjustable suspension and a number of other improvements.

Outdoor test

This test will decide the winner of the competition, which fans of the KTM brand have not been able to decide for themselves for a long time. As mentioned above, the Duke 390 has an urban purpose, but after testing on long roads, this opinion turned out to be untrue. The motorcycle will be able to ride in an urban environment, but it will be more difficult to do so than a sports model. This is explained by the fact that the Duke received a heavy clutch and high gears, while the PC 390, on the contrary, has a convenient structure for busy city roads. Thanks to its thin profile, the motorcycle can fit between cars in traffic jams. Also, the very smart sporty look attracts a lot of looks on the street. And the positive characteristics of the model are completed by double projection headlights, allowing you to drive comfortably and safely at night.

Motorcycle KTM RC 390

Winner

As you can see, the winner is the KTM RC 390 track motorcycle, defeating its competitor by a margin of 1 point. But often people choose Duke 390 due to its low pricing. A sports bike has a significantly higher cost. Therefore, if you intend to buy one of these motorcycles, but are still in doubt, choose the KTM brand, because, first of all, it is quality at an affordable price.

KTM RC 390 engine

However, the single-cylinder, double-overhead 373 cc liquid-cooled engine remained relatively unchanged, minus a number of modifications for the new current Euro 5 eco-standard. The RC 390 received a completely new exhaust system, updated fuel maps and an airbox enlarged by 40 percent. The result of this was an increase of 2Nm - up to 37Nm at 7000rpm, but the power output remained the same, meeting the requirements of the European driver's license category A2 - 43hp.

Chassis and handling of the KTM RC 390

Most of the updates to the updated model relate to its handling: KTM has optimized the lateral stiffness of the steel cage frame and subframe bolted to it, in the process reducing their overall weight by 1.5kg. Weight has also been reduced thanks to the use of clever open-hub wheels, which are 3.4kg (30%) lighter than the previous version. A significant reduction in unsprung mass, and by the way, the new fork from WP is now equipped with compression and rebound smoothing adjusters. The APEX shock absorber is adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping, which is also a rare luxury for the small-capacity segment.

Stopping the KTM RC 390 with all its upgrades and modifications is a new ByBre radial four-piston caliper on a 320 disc at the front and a single-piston caliper on a 230 disc at the rear. The RC's braking system features tilting ABS, a feature unique to its class. The system switches to Supermoto ABS mode, which allows the rear wheel to lock and drift. By the way, the new brake system saved almost another kilogram of weight.

KTM RC 390 2022

The updated plastic in the MotoGP style, according to the manufacturer, made it possible to increase the maximum speed by 11 km/h despite the fact that the engine did not become particularly powerful. The clip-ons have changed in height by 10mm, and the new instrument panel just ahead of them is equipped with a full-color TFT display with Bluetooth wireless protocol, allowing you to connect a smartphone with the KTM My Ride app to the motorcycle. The tank volume of the new version has been increased to 13.5 liters.

KTM RC390 2015 motorcycle review

A unique, unlike anything else sportbike.

The new KTM RC390 is very difficult to compare with anything. Yes, there are other sub-500cc sports bikes out there, but none boast the exotic, angular design of the RC390. Bigger is better purists are often dismissive of single-cylinder sportbikes, but the RC390 may convince many skeptics with its performance and flashy looks. KTM hasn't ceased to amaze us with its street bikes lately. 1190 Adventure , 1290 Super Duke R are simply gorgeous motorcycles that have already won many awards. The RC390 is the Austrian manufacturer's next step in its desire to move beyond its established image as an off-road-only company.

The RC390 continues Duke's of 125cc, 200cc and 375cc single-cylinder motorcycles and related RC models that are already in demand in global markets such as Europe and Asia. The bikes are also popular in India, where they are manufactured under the Bajaj , which has a small stake in KTM.

The RC390's stylish looks are surprisingly attractive for a motorcycle that won't cost more than $7,000 in America.

Over the past year, 30 thousand 125/200/390 models have been sold, which is quite a lot for street motorcycles from KTM, the manufacturer of motocross models. Due to them, the sales level over the last six months increased by 28% (70.5 thousand cars), and June 2014 was the best month for sales in the entire history of the company. Street models now account for half of KTM's revenue.

KTM's Indian division will soon begin shipping motorcycles to the North American market, with the 390 Duke and RC390 slated to launch in the US this December.

We recently returned from the presentation of the motorcycle for the press in Italy, where in the morning we rode the streets and slopes (and this, by the way, is the birthplace of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati), and in the afternoon we ran laps on the Autodromo di Modena track, where the RC “outdid” its competitors in the form of a two-cylinder Kawasaki Ninja 300 , a single-cylinder Honda CBR300R or even a Honda CBR500R .

The RC390 is powered by a fuel-injected 375cc DOHC engine with premium components like a forged aluminum piston. The cylinder diameter and piston stroke are 89 millimeters and 60 millimeters, respectively, and the maximum permissible speed is slightly more than 10 thousand per minute.

The RC390's single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine design allows for a short wheelbase and a long aluminum swingarm. The powder-coated trellis tubular steel frame looks much cooler than any other entry-level sportbike frame. Robots do great welding.

The power of the RC390 motor is 32 kW, that is, 43 horsepower. Considering the 10 percent reduction in power when measured through the RC's six-speed gearbox, you can expect almost 40 horses at the rear wheel. According to KTM, the bike weighs around 147 kilograms without petrol in its 10-litre tank. Thus, there are about 3.4 kilograms per horsepower.

About daily matters

Big guys needn't fear the RC390: for a small-engined sportbike, it has surprisingly plenty of legroom. The 820mm seat height and relatively low footpegs make the motorcycle comfortable enough for riders taller than 180cm. The handlebars are flush with the top crossbar, so you have to reach a little further to reach them than on the CBR300 or Ninja 300. However, none of the levers can be adjusted to suit palm size or finger length, which is strange for a modern motorcycle aimed at the global market.

A 172-centimeter-tall driver expectedly sat comfortably behind the wheel of the RC390, but the 190-centimeter guy was also pleased with the ergonomics of the motorcycle. Notice how the stainless steel exhaust system is almost completely hidden inside the lower body.

The soft and pliable stroke of the clutch lever ensures an easy start of the bike, which is also facilitated by good torque at low speeds; The RC390 is arguably quicker at low revs than the CBR300 or Ninja 300. Short gears shift very smoothly, and the transmission handles clutchless upshifts well.

There's a small gap somewhere in the mid-range where the engine sag a little and gives in a little slack, but the tiny scale and numbers on the tachometer made it impossible to determine the exact speed of the revs. Otherwise, the digital instrument panel is good: there is fuel economy information, a fuel level and temperature indicator, a gear indicator and a programmable indicator light to notify you when a gear change is required. The mirrors are quite wide, but they are partially covered by the driver's forearms.

The digital instrument panel is good because it displays a lot of information, but the tachometer (scale on top) is too small.

The RC was not as nimble as we expected from a motorcycle with a steep rake (23.8°) and a small wheelbase (1341 mm). However, it corners easily and is quite stable. The firm seat is comfortable and easy to move around, but by the end of the test drive I was tired of its rigidity.

The suspension produced by WP Suspension, a subsidiary of KTM, is responsible for softening the ride. The fork is a robust 43mm unit, the same diameter used on the RC8R . The rear suspension is a single shock absorber design with an aluminum swingarm. The suspension left a pleasant impression after many uneven sections of the road, and the only adjustment options are the spring preload.

The matte black tail section is actually the rear seat, which is made from a special material from Canada, used for the first time on a motorcycle. The handrails are conveniently installed at the bottom.

The RC's braking system is better than the competition, with a steel brake line up front driving a four-piston radial caliper on a 300mm disc. The caliper brand is ByBre, and it itself was developed by Brembo and manufactured in India. The rear 230mm disc is compressed by a single-piston caliper. Bosch 9MB dual-channel anti-lock braking system is standard and can be switched off as desired.

According to KTM, the brakes have been designed to provide a wide range of control for varying levels of braking in city street conditions. At first they seemed underpowered due to their softness, but you just need to get used to it and squeeze the brake lever a little harder and further.

On straight and free sections of the road during the street part of the test drive, the motorcycle accelerated to the coveted 100 mph (160 km/h) without any problems. In general, the bike feels quite comfortable on the highway, at least in terms of engine performance. The balance shaft dampens strong vibration, and the increase in speed when overtaking is quite brisk: acceleration from 110 to 130 kilometers per hour in sixth gear took about three seconds.

Test drive on the track

The race track is the best place to test the performance of a sportbike, and KTM chose the perfect track to test drive the RC390. The Autodromo di Modena is a technically challenging one and a half mile long circuit with many turns following each other.

This morning's ride showed the RC390's agility on the streets, but it was on the track that the bike really shined. Yes, you are unlikely to be able to stand on your rear wheel at the start, but the pleasure and excitement of reducing your lap time by tenths of a second is no less than driving a more expensive and high-speed sportbike.

Don't even doubt it: racing 40-horsepower sportbikes with friends is incredibly fun! Rich people can even buy at least four RC390s for the price of one Panigale R.

The baby KTM joyfully and dashingly fits into every turn: its low weight allows you to instantly change direction, and the rigid chassis stays firmly on the asphalt and inspires confidence even during aggressive maneuvers. The cornering ground clearance will not allow you to be completely reckless on turns because of the pegs, but this is not surprising for this class of motorcycles. A set of rear footpegs is available in the KTM Power Parts catalog.

The suspension, which seemed too good for city streets, does its job well on the track. The same can be said about the brakes. ByBre calipers may lack the incredible precision of top braking systems, but they do a great job of slowing the bike down and don't lose effectiveness as they heat up. The threshold for turning on ABS is quite high, and the system turned on only a few times during braking on bumps. If you want, you can turn off ABS by pressing a button on the dashboard.

Another upscale touch on the RC390 is the LED marker lights below the headlights. LEDs are also used as small turn signals. The front turn signals in the mirror mounts are almost invisible.

The bike's engine has an impressive and wide powerband compared to its competitors, although the rider's arms are not stretched out of their sockets during acceleration. According to the manufacturer, maximum torque (35 Newton meters) occurs at 7250 rpm, so it is better to keep the engine at high speeds. Maximum power is achieved at 9500 rpm.

Let’s repeat: rushing around the race track on a low-power and lightweight sportbike turned out to be wildly fun, and the smile never left the faces of drivers with decades of experience behind the wheel of powerful motorcycles. And for beginner athletes going to the track for the first time, the RC390 will be an ideal option.

The RC390 can teach you everything you need to know about driving on a race track, without intimidating the driver with its power and steep price.

But the RC drivetrain is certainly not perfect. In addition to the aforementioned flat section of the mid-range powerband, you can complain about the shift from third to fourth gear, which is a bit harsh if you rush it. Otherwise, the KTM engine performs better than all competitors with a volume of up to 400 cc.

Conclusion

Judging by how much joy and fun the test drive of the motorcycle brought, the KTM RC390 is quite capable of becoming a worldwide hit. Its technical characteristics and dynamics make the bike a must-see alternative for those considering buying a Kawasaki Ninja or Honda CBR. Combine all this with the RC's eye-popping design, and rival models seem a little outdated.

The RC390 rear tire (150/60-17) is slightly thicker than the CBR and Ninja (140/70-17). Notice how tiny the LED turn signals and tail light are.

Of course, it shouldn't surprise anyone that the RC will be more expensive than its class competitors, but the price difference may be less than you think. KTM hasn't announced an official retail price yet, but based on conversations with representatives who say the model will be very competitively priced, the bike won't cost more than $5,000 in the US.

By comparison, the new CBR300R and twin-cylinder Ninja 300 with anti-lock brakes cost $4,899 and $5,299 respectively in the US; without ABS they are $500 cheaper. Also don't forget about weight: if you don't take into account the different weight of gasoline in the tanks, the CBR (153 kg) and Ninja (162 kg) are both heavier than the RC390 (145 kg).

One of the advantages of a KTM motorcycle is its engine, which is more powerful than competing models. Its horsepower numbers are significantly higher than the 286cc Honda and slightly more than the 296cc Kawasaki. More importantly, the RC390 has better torque thanks to its larger engine displacement.

Other than the slight price difference, the RC390 has few downsides. The KTM dealer network is actively developing, but it cannot be compared with the number of showrooms and dealers of Japanese manufacturers. In addition, you will have to visit the dealer more often, since the manufacturer recommends maintenance every 7,500 kilometers (4,700 miles). It is recommended to adjust the valves after 15 thousand kilometers (9300 miles).

But these little things fade into insignificance when you consider the RC390's performance and appeal, which easily justify its price.

“Creating motorcycles for young audiences is one of the responsibilities of manufacturers,” said Thomas Kuttruf, KTM public relations manager, at the RC390 launch. In support of these words, the company already sponsors the ADAC Junior Cup race series in Germany and plans to similarly support the sport in the United States.

KTM RC 390 On the road

The 2022 KTM RC 390's engine impresses with its friendly character, even if the exhaust note is somewhat muffled at low revs. Up to 6000 rpm, this single-barrel pulls great and gives a clear feeling of connection between the throttle (electronic, by the way) and the revolutions - much better than many single-barrel guns of the past with cable throttle.

Rev it above 6000 and you will be rewarded quite seriously: the exhaust sound becomes real, aggressive, and the engine comes to life. At 120 km/h the revs are slightly above 7000, leaving a wide field for maneuver. The RC readily pulls in any gear right up to redline, and easily reaches 180 km/h.

Of course, this is far from a liter sportbike; it does not have excess power. But this is what makes it so exciting: it is so simple and understandable, it controls so well and accelerates well without fear of going into first space with all the ensuing consequences, and it responds so predictably to any actions that you clearly feel: here it is, a motorcycle in chemically pure form, albeit not the largest portion. Riding it means honing, polishing and polishing your turning technique. You focus on the braking point, the choice of trajectory, apexes, feel the grip and response of the chassis, open the gas in time - and repeat many, many times until it shines. If you overdo it a little, the new traction control will reduce the intensity to acceptable levels. As they say, it's better to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike to ride slowly.

KTM RC 390

The excellent quality and feedback of the WP APEX suspensions makes the ride soft on the road and predictable, if a little too soft for an 80kg rider at a fast pace. The suspensions are adjusted quickly and conveniently using standard tools from the kit under the saddle, and immediately affect the ride quality, which rarely happens on budget small-capacity bikes. On city streets, the RC 390 feels at home, light and free, steering with minimal effort and easily clearing traffic jams.

KTM RC 390 On the track

Unlike many of its conventional classmates, the KTM RC 390 has premium build quality and components, allowing it to meet the tough demands of the track even in stock form. After several rides on it, you can only wonder why it is initially perceived as a beginner’s motorcycle.

The assembled chassis, confident operation of the suspension, quite decent ground clearance and adequate standard tires make it easy to lay the KTM RC 390 at quite good angles. The increased braking force from the ByBre components proves to be a major benefit on the track, where the brakes proved to be responsive, confident and powerful. The ABS of the new braking system behaves excellently, interfering only to the point of necessity, and the Supermoto ABS mode, which allows you to lock, drift and lift the rear wheel, is ideal for the track.

Quite a large line of KTM Powerparts accessories will allow true enthusiasts to make the RC 390 even more effective on the track. In particular, the catalog includes a racing muffler, tackles, lever protection, racing chains and so on.

KTM RC 390 on the track

Long-distance testing of KTM motorcycles

The 2013 Duke 390 was designed purely to be a fast vehicle, but not for long-distance travel. A fairly powerful motor sometimes produces amazing results despite its small size. Durable engine components allow the motorcycle to be positioned as a high-speed bike for the city and highways. Reviews from satisfied customers say that the motorcycle shows excellent speed data even after tens of thousands of kilometers of operation. Accordingly, you can be sure that the motorcycle is ideal for short-distance touring trips.

As for the competitor - the KTM RC 390 model, the superior bike wins due to a large number of advantages. The main disadvantages of the RC 390 are:

• Small and therefore uncomfortable rear seat
• Sports fit, which makes it impossible to travel for a long time
• The gas tank has a volume of only 10 liters, so you will have to refuel often
• The rims are weak, because the suspension size of 125 mm puts a large load on the motorcycle

Judging by the long trip test, the winner is the Duke 390 model. In addition to more reliable characteristics for long trips, this model has a low price, which cannot be said about its competitor. If you want to ride on highways and short roads, use the sporty RC 390. But how do motorcycles perform on the track?

Motorcycle KTM DUKE 390