KTM’s motto is ‘Ready to Race’ and nowhere is that slogan put to the test than with the RC 390. The A2 licence rocket is inspired by the KTM RC16 MotoGP bike, with the sharp lines, an alienlike face, upswept tail, exposed frame and killer colours combining to make a mean looking machine. New bodywork takes the RC 390 to the year 3000, and provides excellent wind protection, with the better aerodynamics leading to a higher top speed than on the previous generation RC. I think it looks mega.
And the RC (which stands for Race Competition) is actually a race bike in its own right, being eligible for (and winning races in) the Supersport 300 World Championship. Powered by a 373cc liquid cooled single-cylinder engine, with a six-speed gearbox, the RC 390 kicks out a respectable 42.9bhp and 37 Nm of torque. It’s not quite as powerful as some other bikes in the class, which tip the dyno at the full 47bhp allowed under A2 laws. Honda’s CBR500R and the Kawasaki Ninja 500 may be more powerful, but the orange KTM is much lighter and never feels lacking. It’s got plenty of grunt and with a 0-60 time south of five seconds, not to mention a claimed top speed of 112.5mph, it’s quick and a lot of fun to ride. For track riders, this is a very competitive engine, likely stumping a few of the A2 rivals out of the gate, so a big plus for those who need a daily bike and something they can play with on the weekends.
In terms of fuel economy, KTM put out a ballpark figure of 83 mpg. It’s probably achievable but a rather optimistic vision for us young folk, who can’t help but string the motor out at every possible opportunity, but in my use, I saw a healthy 60 mpg, which is still decently frugal. With its 13.7 litre tank, you can likely expect around 200-250 miles per fill-up.
New design for ‘24
We’ve reviewed the last generation RC 390 on the channel previously (you can read Mossy’s review here) and although the new one might not look significantly different, KTM’s R&D team have put in a lot of work back at the factory.
A new ultra-light frame, which is also shared with the naked 390 Duke, shaves off 1.5kg over the previous model. New five-spoke wheels save a few kilos of rotating mass, and a new braking setup saves 960g, bringing the bike down to 158kg dry. With a full tank, it sits around 168/169 kg, making it the lightest A2 sportsbike on the market.
Suspension is provided by in house giants WP, with their Apex 43 front forks providing 120mm of travel and 30 clicks of compression and rebound adjustments, while a WP Apex monoshock on the rear gives 150mm of travel and compression and rebound adjustability. On the road it is smooth but tight, you do feel the big bumps but, in the corners, it is exceptional, with great feel and control. The adjustability gives owners total flexibility on their day-to-day rides, and on track too.
A 320mm front disc gripped by a four-piston ByBre caliper provides the majority of the braking power, supported by a 230mm rear disc paired with a one-piston caliper. ABS is provided by Bosch, with their 9.1 MP two channel system. It’s a sophisticated system, beyond what you’d expect on a model of this capacity, running a ‘supermoto’ setting and cornering ABS. You also get an adjustable front brake lever, which is a nice touch and allows the rider to modify the span to suit their personal taste. The braking feel is sharp and responsive and, thanks to the Supermoto ABS option which disables the anti-lock on the back brake, means some rear slide action is achievable (on circuit, of course). Under emergency braking the bike handles precisely, comfortably and most of all, safely. My clunky road use hardly touched the edges of what these can do on track, but I’ve faith they will perform fantastically.
Seat height comes in at 824mm and, at around 6ft (1.8m), I was surprised by how comfortable the RC 390 actually is. While the sporty ergos fold you up into a racing position, the narrow seat, gorgeous wide bars (with 10mm of adjustability) and excellent wind protection allow you to relax easily. You can enjoy a smooth pootle to work, but with the ability to tighten in and still feel like a GP rider when you want to.
The spec really is very high when you consider the KTM’s engine capacity and price. A litany of tech goodies adorn the bike: the TFT display looks sweet and has automatic dimming, there’s traction control, cornering ABS, Supermoto ABS, and in the case of our test bike, a plug-and-play accessory quickshifter.
The TFT dash is clean, with all the important bits easily readable on screen. The rider aids are felt through the bike but are not invasive. Only when really pushing can the traction control get a bit argumentative but, for the most part, it sits quietly in the background as a big safety net. The Supermoto ABS is super-fun and quite addictive, and the cornering ABS allows the bike to forgive my improper technique.
A real highlight of the bike for me was the Quickshifter+, KTM’s system that’ll set you back £225.61. Stringing out the gears felt seamless, up and down, with that all important smile-factor on every blip. It’s not necessary, but if you have the cash, I’d say chuck it on, it certainly improves the experience.
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Conclusion
To answer my own question, is the KTM RC 390 the sportiest A2 bike you can buy? I’d say so, although there’s some tough competition from the Kawasaki Ninja 500, Honda CBR500R and Yamaha R3. We’ve yet to see Aprilia’s new RS457, which might have something to say about things, but for now I’d say that if you want a race replica style bike you can ride on an A2 licence, this is the raciest of all.
The aggressive styling, raucous motor, race-level adjustability, premium tech and focused ergonomics are a league apart from others in this segment. On paper it might not be the fastest in a straight line, but from my brief time with it on some twisties, and my experience with competitors, it’ll be rapid on track. It’s also cheaper than its big Japanese competition, which will help those who are keen, but on a budget. It’s light, punchy, angry, and brings out the hooligan within.
What more can you ask for?
2024 KTM RC 390 specification
Price: From £5899
Engine: 373cc single-cylinder, four valves, liquid cooled
Power: 42.9bhp
Torque: 37Nm
Transmission: Six-speed, chain final drive
Frame: Steel trellis frame
Front suspension: WP Apex 43mm upside down forks, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: WP Apex monoshock with preload adjustment, 150mm travel
Wheels: Cast aluminium five spoke alloy
Tyres: (F) 110/70 x 17, (R) 150/60 x 17
Brakes: Single 320mm front disc, 230mm rear disc, Bosch 9.1 MP Two Channel ABS (Supermoto ABS) ByBre calipers)
Weight: 158kg (dry)
Wheelbase: 1,343mm
Seat height: 824mm
Fuel tank: 13.7 litres
Fuel consumption: 83mpg (manufacturer figure)
Warranty: 24 months unlimited mileage
Contact: www.ktm.com
