TVS Apache RR 310 vs KTM RC 390: Spec Comparison

Apache RR 310 or RC 390? We compare the best from TVS and KTM to find out which one comes out on top on paper

The KTM RC 390 has been around for a while now, and even though it's one of the best supersports in its segment, it’s been facing a lot of heat from its competition lately. The RC 390’s closest rival in the price-per-performance area is the TVS Apache RR 310, so let’s spec test them against each other to find out which one you should put your money on. Here’s how they fare on paper.

Design & Features -

The Apache RR 310 takes the cake in terms of design. Inspired by a shark, the bike, with its mass-forward design, crisp creases and sharp angles looks nothing short of stunning! Get a little closer and you notice minute details like the tricolour decal on the windscreen, forged aluminium triple clamp and the red side stand mounting bracket. Pan to the rear and you see its distinctive snake fang-like LED tail light with a fin-like panel sticking out from the bottom. It resembles the tail of the shark and adds to the sharpness of the RR 310. Up front, you have the bi-LED headlamps, the first in its segment, which lights up the road pretty well even during the darkest of hours. And last but not the least, the vertically stacked instrument console features a host of information that's second to none. It includes information like a lap timer, top speed and launch time recorder and race diagnostics over and above the usual readings. We would’ve loved to see a colour TFT screen though, like the one on the Duke 390.

What makes the Apache RR 310 so much more interesting is the fact that it's been designed in a wind tunnel. TVS paid extra attention to make the front end as aerodynamic as possible and consequently achieved a drag coefficient of 0.52cd. This makes the RR 310 the best aerodynamically packaged bike in its segment with the lowest drag coefficient. And that’s not all, the bike features gill-like vents that funnel hot air away from the engine, allowing it to run cool even in stop-and-go traffic. The fit and finish of the bike is top notch!

Moving onto the king of the segment, the KTM RC 390. The bike has been around for a while now and is known to be one of the best handlers in this segment. Just last year, the RC 390 was updated with a new paint scheme, graphics and a side-mounted exhaust which makes the underbelly look a lot neater. The absence of the underbelly exhaust allowed designers to make the bottom fairing narrower, allowing for better lean angles as well as improved ground clearance. It also gets wider stalks for the rear view mirrors, thus offering better visibility, adjustable clutch and brake levers and AHO (All-time Headlamp On) function for the twin projector headlamps up front. Unfortunately, unlike the previous iteration of the RC 390 which used both projectors at the same time, this one uses one projector for low beam and the other for high beam.

Also, the digital instrument console on the RC 310 looks a bit dated and offers less information in comparison to the RR 310. It’s a bit surprising since its naked cousin, the 390 Duke, gets a colour TFT screen. Overall though, the track-focused KTM RC 390 is still one of the sharpest looking supersports in its segment, but does tend to lose out on the overall appeal when compared to the Apache RR 310.

Engine -

It's a known fact that the RR 310 shares the same engine and gearbox as its BMW counterpart. However, due to its different gearing, retuned ECU and aero aerodynamic fairing, it manages a company claimed top speed of 160kmph. While the RR 310’s power sits in the midrange of the rev band, it's quite quick to pull from nought to 60kmph and manages to do so in just 2.86 seconds.

The KTM’s single-cylinder engine is known to be a monster. It produces 9.5PS more than the RR 310 which makes the RC 390 a much faster bike. The RC 390 also gets ride-by-wire, which makes throttle response more precise, and a slipper clutch, which negates wheel hops while downshifting aggressively, things the RR 310 misses out on. As for the motor, it's said to be most happy in its mid-range and the immediate surge of power when you open the throttle should make quick overtaking a piece of cake for the RC 390. The engine runs cooler than before owing to the tweaks made after several heating issue complaints, but it's nowhere as good as the Apache RR 310 in terms of heat dissipation.

Underpinnings -

The TVS Apache RR 310 is a pretty good handler both on and off the track. Also, as per our road tests, TVS has managed to hit the sweet spot with the bike’s suspension settings as it isn’t too soft or too hard, helping it carve corners and soak up bumps with ease. The brakes on the RR 310 aren’t particularly good though and could do with some initial bite.

Although we haven’t ridden the bike, the 2017 RC 390 is known to be a good handler and the absence of the underbelly exhaust on the new version should improve the riding dynamics even further. However, this very trait works against the bike as it’s designed to be a track weapon and not a daily commuter. The track orientation of the bike makes for an aggressive riding posture, which will make you uncomfortable while riding over longer distances. On the contrary, the RR 310 manages both sides of the coin quite well.

Price and Verdict -

Getting to the point then, if you’re looking for a performance-oriented bike that will only be used over the weekends for spirited riding, go for the KTM RC 390, hands down! On the other hand, if you need a bike that can do both city commutes as well as corner-carving equally well, go for the Apache RR 310. You would lose out a bit on the performance front, but other than that the TVS Apache RR 310 makes for one heck of an all-rounder.