KTM RC 390 long term review: After 4,780km and 5 months

Halley Prabhakar Published: April 15, 2015, 12:36 PM IST

It's been a little more than five months since she entered the OD garage and the RC 390 has already clocked close to 5,000km. I'm enjoying every moment and have been finding every excuse to ride out of town. Quick trips to Pune and back have been super fun, especially through the ghat sections. The RC loves cornering and she ends up putting a smile on my face every single time. The trellis frame is fantastic but the slightly wide handlebar is also confidence inspiring, it's comfortable and doesn't require a lot of effort to steer. The suspension setting from the factory is set more towards the softer side, making it better suited when riding through Mumbai roads. However, I'm going to stiffen the suspension soon to check how much more capable the RC can be in terms of handling. Hope it also helps prevent scraping the under belly while leaning.

KTM RC390 long term

Engine vibration seems to be settling in and it still doesn't feel as smooth as the KTM 390 Duke. This seems to be the problem with all RC 390s. However, there haven't been any major issues so far. I've been carrying a size-10 spanner with me at all times after the gear lever rod got loose just days after receiving the bike. I recently visited the KTM service centre to get the blinkers replaced but they're continuing to get fogged up when the bike is washed. There seems to be no solution so far. The visor too is easily picking up scratches and I'm thinking of getting it replaced in a few months, thankfully it costs only Rs 650. I'm also hoping to get a few KTM Powerparts installed on the bike, like the tank protection sticker and softer ergo seat, but the problem is that they aren't being offered yet in India.

Total mileage: 4,780km, date acquired: Nov'14, mileage this month: 3,120km, fuel consumed: 130 litres, efficiency: 24kmpl

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