The Bike KTM RC200
Design:
The bikes looks unique with the Orange trellis frame. The colour combination of black and orange looks better than the RC390 combination of white, black and orange is what I feel.
The stares you get when riding this bike is something special.
The twin projector headlamps light up the road efficiently and evenly.
The LED Position lights stand out from the usual lights found in other bikes.
The faring is covered in matte paint and the fuel tank is also protected in a plastic fairing.
The clip on handle bars do take time getting used to as they can be painful on the arms while riding in city. Rider's seat is hard and the pillion seat is designed to look like a cowl.
That's some brilliant piece of work done by KTM! Standard LED rear lights look cool at night with the centre strip acting as parking lights. Mirrors are 70% visible and the LED indicators on the mirror are bright enough.
The front windshield does get scratched and the dust gets into small crevices which are difficult to clean. The rear mud guard is of no use as mud is still flung all under the seat and sometimes on the rider.
Instrument Display is the same as Duke so will not go into the details.
Engine and Transmission:
The engine is exactly the same as the duke.Power delivery is linear and when required, it pulls on opening the throttle further.
Slight changes in transmission now allow the rev band to be explored rather than quickly shifting up. Gear shifts were hard initially but after riding for more kms its more easy and precise.
Since engine is running in, I've not gone beyond 6.5k rpm. (Manual recommends keeping below 7.5k rpm). I did find a slight difference in exhaust note or maybe I wanted a difference hence I assumed its different. Sometimes the gears get stuck in between while downshifting and the clutch has to be let out slightly in order to get into the lower gear.
Finding neutral is easier from 2nd than from 1st. The radiator fan kicks in when the display shows 4 bars less than maximum and it sounds like a jet plane.
Suspension and handling:
Front suspension is the same WP suspension found in Dukes with less travel. Rear is the same monoshock as the duke. I haven't tweaked with the suspension settings as I find the stock setting comfortable.
The ride is slightly hard and the handling is agile. Can easily slide through traffic without any worries.
Tyres and Brakes:
Tyres are the MRF Rev Z 110 at the front and 150 section at the rear.
The front brakes are bigger at 300mm and the rear is at 230mm with the front haning a four pot and the rear having a one pot calliper. Steel braided lines on the front and back as standard. S
topping power is more than sufficient. The tyres are grippy enough but in wet conditions I did not feel that confident to open the throttle.
Pros:
1. Looks.
2. Handling.
3. Attention Grabber.
4. Power- The engine pulls real hard and the rear passenger can easily fall off.
5. Exhaust note- I've always been a huge fan of the Engine sound of dukes.
Cons:
1. Hard Clutch: In normal riding its not much of a deal but in heavy traffic its painful to the palm.
2. Heat - The fan does kick in quite a lot in traffic and without appropriate clothing you will feel the heat but its not unbearable like the 390.
3. Keeping it clean is one hell of a task with all those small crevices and difficult to access location.
Conclusion:
For this price point, this is one of the best bikes out there in the segment.
With its sharp and edgy design and the proper engine,
I feel like its the best decision I've made in my life.
Design:
The bikes looks unique with the Orange trellis frame. The colour combination of black and orange looks better than the RC390 combination of white, black and orange is what I feel.
The stares you get when riding this bike is something special.
The twin projector headlamps light up the road efficiently and evenly.
The LED Position lights stand out from the usual lights found in other bikes.
The faring is covered in matte paint and the fuel tank is also protected in a plastic fairing.
The clip on handle bars do take time getting used to as they can be painful on the arms while riding in city. Rider's seat is hard and the pillion seat is designed to look like a cowl.
That's some brilliant piece of work done by KTM! Standard LED rear lights look cool at night with the centre strip acting as parking lights. Mirrors are 70% visible and the LED indicators on the mirror are bright enough.
The front windshield does get scratched and the dust gets into small crevices which are difficult to clean. The rear mud guard is of no use as mud is still flung all under the seat and sometimes on the rider.
Instrument Display is the same as Duke so will not go into the details.
Engine and Transmission:
The engine is exactly the same as the duke.Power delivery is linear and when required, it pulls on opening the throttle further.
Slight changes in transmission now allow the rev band to be explored rather than quickly shifting up. Gear shifts were hard initially but after riding for more kms its more easy and precise.
Since engine is running in, I've not gone beyond 6.5k rpm. (Manual recommends keeping below 7.5k rpm). I did find a slight difference in exhaust note or maybe I wanted a difference hence I assumed its different. Sometimes the gears get stuck in between while downshifting and the clutch has to be let out slightly in order to get into the lower gear.
Finding neutral is easier from 2nd than from 1st. The radiator fan kicks in when the display shows 4 bars less than maximum and it sounds like a jet plane.
Suspension and handling:
Front suspension is the same WP suspension found in Dukes with less travel. Rear is the same monoshock as the duke. I haven't tweaked with the suspension settings as I find the stock setting comfortable.
The ride is slightly hard and the handling is agile. Can easily slide through traffic without any worries.
Tyres and Brakes:
Tyres are the MRF Rev Z 110 at the front and 150 section at the rear.
The front brakes are bigger at 300mm and the rear is at 230mm with the front haning a four pot and the rear having a one pot calliper. Steel braided lines on the front and back as standard. S
topping power is more than sufficient. The tyres are grippy enough but in wet conditions I did not feel that confident to open the throttle.
Pros:
1. Looks.
2. Handling.
3. Attention Grabber.
4. Power- The engine pulls real hard and the rear passenger can easily fall off.
5. Exhaust note- I've always been a huge fan of the Engine sound of dukes.
Cons:
1. Hard Clutch: In normal riding its not much of a deal but in heavy traffic its painful to the palm.
2. Heat - The fan does kick in quite a lot in traffic and without appropriate clothing you will feel the heat but its not unbearable like the 390.
3. Keeping it clean is one hell of a task with all those small crevices and difficult to access location.
Conclusion:
For this price point, this is one of the best bikes out there in the segment.
With its sharp and edgy design and the proper engine,
I feel like its the best decision I've made in my life.
