TEST MOBILITY DRIVE
KTM RC 390 Reviewed and Photos by Ren Alcantara
The first time I ever saw a sportbike, was at about 8 years old. It was in a store in Makati--Park Square, I think-and I remember being absolutely fascinated by it. That day started my love affair with motorcycles. Now, as a grown man, and with a bike of my own, I still feel giddy at the sight and sound of a nice sportbike. KTM, a brand that has made quite a splash in the country thanks to their 390 Duke, was kind enough to let me borrow their RC 390 to review. Some may scoff at the small displacement, or the single cylinder. I think, however, as many like me, that this is much more a sportbike than many people give it credit for. DESIGN There’s something about the RC 390 that just revs my engine. It’s a combination of sharp lines, an aggressive, low-slung stance, and slim tail that comes together to make a bike that in my eyes, has looks that rivals any screaming 600. It has a distinct face that’s quite unlike anything else out there, and if you weren’t standing right next to it, you wouldn’t be faulted for thinking it was a bigger bike than it was. It looks like it means business, and dares you to sit in the saddle. It comes in an orange, white,
36
july 2019
and black that’s distinctly KTM, and reinforces the feeling that you’re part of a racing team, without looking garish. The headlight, which is a love-itor-hate-it kind of deal, has me sitting firmly in the “love it” camp, and gives it a look that won’t be mistaken as any other bike on the road. Seriously, the longer I stare at it, the better it looks. I doubt you will feel any different.
HARDWARE The beating heart of the RC 390 is a single-cylinder 373.2cc water-cooled, four-stroke engine. This puts out about 43 HP, which might not seem like much,
but in a bike that’s all of 147 kg dry, it goes a long way. To match the power from the engine are a 320mm rotor at the front, and a 230mm rotor for the rear wheel. Brakes are ByBre, which, if the name hasn’t clued you in, are developed by Brembo, so you know they’re up to snuff. ABS comes standard on the RC. The tank takes 10L of fuel, and with a rated fuel consumption of about 3.5L for 100Km, this is going to put quite a few miles between refills. The dash is spartan, compared with the full-color digital deal on the Duke, but it’s plenty informative, and very easy to read. Everything, including the fuel gauge, is clear with a quick glance down. You even
www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
