Gadgets Philippines – July 2019

http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph july 2019 37

if, like me, you’re all of five feet and four inches,

you might not have the reach to sit more upright

in the saddle. It’s not quite as cramped and

aggressive as a 600 supersport, but it’s slightly less

uncomfortable than the sport tourer on which I

am accustomed. It’s a plus then, that you can zip

happily past traffic and get to your destination

quickly, before your back starts complaining. The

gearbox is top-notch, popping into each gear

reassuringly every time. I had no false neutrals, and

the gear indicator on the dash, as well as a neutral

light, reassure newer riders who might want a little

confirmation that everything is going according

to plan.

For me, the RC 390 checks all the right boxes. It

looks great, feels planted and sure in the corners,

pulls out of them just as well, and commutes more

than acceptably as a daily driver. It’s a blast to ride,

and each time I hopped on, I had a little smile on

my face, because I knew I would be having fun

getting to where I was going.

VALUE

At about PHP 300,000, the RC 390 is among one

of the more expensive single-cylinder bikes out

there, but given the racing DNA, exceptional

performance, great looks, and superb handling,

it’s worth every peso. While it’s capability as

a commuter will be limited by how long your

back can take it, you’re not going to regret the

purchase once you take it onto the track, or up

some nice, twisty mountain roads.

What’s Hot:

-Gorgeous

-So wonderfully agile

-Great, predictable power

What’s Not:

-A bit pricey

-Not built for comfort

BottomLINE:

As a starter bike, track bike, or fun little

weekend ride, the RC 390 is hard to beat.

get real-time fuel consumption, which is quite a

nice bonus. Overall, it’s a very newbie-friendly bike.

USER EXPERIENCE

Despite its position as a starter bike, it’s more than

possible for an older hand to have fun with it, and I

had every intention of doing so. It’s incredibly agile,

even compared to the already capable Duke. It

takes rider input very quickly, and doesn’t require

much persuasion to change direction at all. The

throttle is also quite eager, but unlike the Duke, the

more aggressive riding position feels less like it’s

trying to buck you off, even with a heavier hand on

the throttle. There’s plenty of room to tuck in if you

want to take full advantage of the windscreen, but

also enough space to ride a little more upright, as

long as you have the height for it.

As a commuter, it performs well. It’s slim enough

to get between lanes, with more than enough

pull to get off the line and out of a sticky situation.

The engine makes plenty of torque down low, and

will more than adequately pull under the 2000

RPM line, and delivers power smoothly until the

shift light blinks on. It’s also pleasantly smooth

for a single, without the hand-numbing buzz that

plagues many other thumpers out there when you

stay pegged at higher RPMs for a while. Riding at

night is made pleasant with the bright headlamp,

though I would appreciate a little more throw, as

this bike is meant to leave asphalt behind it quickly.

Make no mistake, this is a sportbike. The riding

position will soon take a toll on your back, and