2022 KTM RC 390 Top 5 Highlights: From Expected Price And Features To Specifications And More!

The 2022 RC 390 is a major upgrade over the current-generation model, and here’s everything you need to know

KTM wowed us with the unveiling of not one but three motorcycles earlier this week: the updated KTM RC 125, RC 200, and the RC 390. Among these, the 2022 KTM RC 390 is by far the most exciting motorcycle as it features tons of changes, making it a much more formidable supersport in the 300+cc category. We walk you through the changes: 

A Brand New (Polarising) Face:

The most noticeable change is the new fascia, inspired by the KTM RC 16 MotoGP bike. The wide LED headlamp cowl with integrated indicators looks high-tech and purposeful, but the design may not be palatable for everyone. Things look much more coherent as you move to the side. The newly designed fairing not only looks sportier than before, but is also designed to improve the ventilation as the radiator fans are now mounted on the side. Moreover, the bodywork now gets a reduced number of screws so that it can be easily removed and swapped with race-centric ones if you’re going out on the track. 

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KTM has taken cues from its MotoGP cousin for the exhaust too. It now gets stainless steel headers with an aluminium muffler for optimum weight reduction. The tail section is built on a bolt-on subframe with a conventional split-type seat instead of the race cowl-like pillion seat. But this setup is claimed to offer better pillion comfort, thanks to the fatter cushioning, and also extra space for the rider. This, coupled with the larger 13.7-litre fuel tank, should make the motorcycle a better mile-muncher than its predecessor. Speaking of mile-munching abilities….

Revised Ergonomics & Better Features:

The 2022 RC 390 comes with height-adjustable (by 10mm) clip-on handlebars, so you can set the riding stance as per your requirements. The knee recesses are narrower and offer greater contact patch. This, coupled with the revised rear-set foldable foot pegs, should make for perfect ergonomics for carving corners.  

KTM has done away with the dated LCD instrument cluster in favour of a 390 Duke-like full-colour TFT screen. It comes with an auto-brightness feature, shows all the necessary details, including mileage, and is compatible with smartphones as well. You can navigate through the menus using the directional buttons on the left switchgear. 

Potent Powertrain:

The 2022 KTM RC 390 gets the same 373cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled 43.5PS engine as before, but the peak torque has gone up from 36Nm to 37Nm in the new model. The new, rerouted exhaust system is complemented by a 40 percent larger air-box, allowing the engine to breathe more freely. The engine mapping is also new, and the six-speed slipper clutch-enhanced gearbox now gets an optional Quickshifter+ as well. 

KTM has also equipped the 2022 iteration with a lean-angle-sensitive traction control system and cornering ABS with supermoto mode (switches off the rear unit). All these enhancements should make the motorcycle a lot more newbie-friendly on the track.

Lighter Chassis:

KTM has built the 2022 RC 390 on a new trellis frame (1.5kg lighter than before) with a bolt-on subframe. It’s linked to a new, more sophisticated 43mm WP Apex inverted fork with 30-click compression adjustment and a 30-click rebound adjustment. The rear comes with a preload-adjustable WP Apex monoshock that also offers a 5-step rebound adjustability.

KTM has also blessed the motorcycle with lighter wheels and brakes for reduced unsprung weight. The newly designed wheels are lighter by a massive 3.4kg, and the new 320mm front (with radial caliper) and 230mm rear rotors are also lighter by 960g. Oh, and the brake and clutch levers are adjustable too. While the tyres are from Continental in the Euro-spec version, we’re yet to see whether the India-spec model will come shod with Metzelers.

Expected Price and Launch Details:

KTM says the 2022 RC 390 will reach global dealers in March 2022. So expect the bike maker to launch the motorcycle in India in early 2022, just like how KTM launched the 390 Adventure back in January last year.

To keep costs in check, the India-bound 2022 RC 390 may not get the adjustable fork. Despite that, the upgrades over its predecessor are significant enough, and KTM is likely to price the bike at just under Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom). To give you a perspective, the current-generation model retails at Rs 2.77  lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). If the upcoming RC 390 isn’t your cup of tea, then you can choose the 2021 TVS Apache RR 310, which costs around Rs 2.80 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) if you add the optional Dynamic and Race Kits. Another pricier but less feature-packed alternative is the dated Kawasaki Ninja 300, pegged at Rs 3,18,000 (ex-showroom India).