KTM RC 125 India Launch Timeline Revealed

The entry-level KTM supersport is coming to our shores sooner than expected

[UPDATE: The KTM RC 125 has been launched in India. Head here for the price, availability and other details]

• KTM will be launching the RC 125 supersport bike in India in June 2019.
• The KTM RC 125 and 125 Duke share the same 124.7cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine. 
• Once launched, it will be the most affordable KTM RC bike on sale in India. 

Our sources have confirmed that entry-level supersport from KTM, the RC 125, will be launched in June 2019. After witnessing an overwhelming response for the 125 Duke, which managed to outsell all of its siblings combined, KTM rushed into production for the RC 125. However, bookings for the bike are yet to begin. We were the first to spot the bike being tested near Pune, and the test mule suggests a small change compared to the KTM RC 125 sold overseas. 

The India-spec model gets an underbelly exhaust compared to the side-mounted exhaust available on the international version. The move is most likely to keep costs in check. Colours, on the other hand, are expected to be the same as the Euro-spec RC 125.

The bike will be powered by the same 124.7cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder motor seen on the KTM 125 Duke. It’s capable of producing a maximum of 14.5PS at 9250rpm and a peak torque of 12Nm at 8000rpm. The motor comes mated to a 6-speed transmission. Notably, the RC 125 and 125 Duke sold abroad generates 0.4PS more.

The RC 125 gets premium WP upside down forks and a monoshock suspension setup, just like its streetfighter sibling. Anchoring the bike is a single 300mm disc paired to a radially mounted four-piston caliper up front and a 230mm disc brake at the rear.  Single-channel ABS comes right off its naked sibling. Its 17-inch alloys comes wrapped in a 110/70-section tyre at the front and a fat 150/60-section rear tyre. 

Considering the price of the KTM 125, which costs Rs 1.24 lakh post the recent price revision, we expect the RC 125 to cost around Rs 1.40 lakh (ex-showroom). This will put it up against the Yamaha R15 V3 (1.39 lakh), a higher-capacity supersports that dishes out more power and benefits from dual-channel ABS (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).