Gadgets Philippines – July 2019

MOBILITY

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

TEST

DRIVE

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.

KTM RC 390

Reviewed and Photos by Ren Alcantara

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,

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

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-it-

or-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,