The new graphics on the KTM RC 390 really enhance the sporty and aggressive look of the motorcycle. The bright orange of the inner fairing, and the revised decals are quite striking and really make the motorcycle stand out. And let’s not forget, thanks to the new side-slung exhaust, the new RC 390 also gets a revised belly pan. It is now less bulbous than before and the narrower design addresses the issue on the older motorcycle where the belly pan would scrape the ground during hard cornering.
The rest of the body work remains relatively unchanged. It does, however, get a 12mm bump in seat cushioning. But this is solely for the purpose of added comfort on longer stints in the saddle; the seat height remains unchanged at 820mm. The new KTM RC 390 also gets a Despite the BS-IV upgrade, the 2017 model still produces peak power of 43hp from the 373cc, single-cylinder unit, while torque figures have gotten a 1Nm bump and now peaks at 36Nm. This increase, however, is not noticeable when riding the machine.
The slipper clutch helps reasonably well for hard downshifting. It also keeps the lever light and easy to operate. The six-speed gearbox remains unchanged and the power is delivered smoothly across the engine’s entire rev-range is adjustable levers for that added bit of usability and comfort.