The fastest rider in this year’s Moto3 Grand Prix race at Sepang lapped the circuit only one second slower than the slowest rider in the World Superbike Championship round held at the same track.
And while one second might be an eternity in racing, consider this – the superbike racer (a 1000cc, heavily modified production bike) develops in excess of 200bhp, while the Moto3 machine (a 250cc, single-cylinder bike) pushes out a wimpy 50bhp, which is 10bhp less than BMW’s 650cc C600 Sport scooter.
The answer to a Moto3 bike’s giant-slaying ability is simple: cornering speed. Because a Moto3 bike weighs next to nothing (65kg fully fuelled, to be exact), it goes round corners like the Road Runner from the Warner Brothers cartoons. Now, mortals like us can come close to a Moto3 race bike experience with the new KTM RC 390.
Directly inspired by the Austrian firm’s championship-winning Moto3 racers, the RC 390 definitely looks the part. Looking like it just came off the racing grid, it lies in the segment dominated by conservatively styled rivals like the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Honda CBR300.
Like the rest of the smaller bikes in KTM’s range, the RC 390 is built in India to cut costs and it shows – the finish and quality of its components, especially the plastic bits, feel like they’re built “down” to a price.
But picking on its build quality is like watching a Michael Bay movie for the riveting plot. Rather, the RC 390 is designed to offer newer riders an exotic (ish), full-on sports bike experience without breaking the bank or scaring themselves witless like they would on a bigger superbike. In short, it was built to bring superbike ownership to the masses.
To up its superbike street cred, it comes equipped with features that would keep any boyracer happy, including a digital dash with gear indicator and shift light, radial brakes with a Bosch-developed ABS, an underslung exhaust, daytime running lights and a pillion seat cleverly disguised as part of the bike’s rear section.
On the move, the racing-derived DNA is obvious. Light, nimble and hard-charging, it is exactly how I imagined a Moto3 racer to be. The bike turns with ridiculous ease and is extremely agile, thanks in part to its compact dimensions and low dry weight of 147kg. Its riding position is aggressive, yet comfortable enough even for a 6-footer like me.
Best of all, because the engine only has 44bhp, you can twist the throttle all the way to the stops without fear of losing your licence or crashing. This enhances the bike’s racer vibe. The revvy 375cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor is smooth and punchy from 4000rpm onwards and manic from 7000rpm up to its 10,500rpm redline.
That narrow, addictive power band is as close as you can get to the smoky two-stroke bikes of yore, which, if you’re old enough to remember, are a hoot to ride. If the roads are twisty enough and if you’re smooth enough, the RC 390 will keep up with a bigger bike, much like the Moto3-versus-Superbike contest I mentioned at the start.
The single-cylinder engine is equipped with balancer shafts that work to eliminate nasty vibrations commonly associated with such engine types at high revs (the sort that causes the pins-and-needles sensation in your hands). Though effective enough, venture below 2000rpm and the sole, massive piston splutters and the engine threatens to stall. This is, however, a common gripe with single-cylinder engines.
Spend enough time in the saddle and the bike’s “budget” tag rears its ugly head again. Although the suspension setup is soft enough for everyday riding, it’s devoid of any damping finesse. This does not seem to affect its sharp handling; only its ride quality over bumps. The brakes lack bite, but because the bike is light, scrubbing off speed isn’t too harrowing an experience.
But this does not detract from the fact that the RC 390 is the closest thing to a Moto3 racer for the road. It’s exciting to ride, looks fantastic and will keep Class 2A licence holders (200cc-400cc) thoroughly entertained until they obtain their Class 2 license.
The best part is, there is also a 200cc version, so riders who’ve just obtained their riding licence aren’t left out of KTM’s “Grand Prix” experience.
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE 373cc, 4-valves, inline-1
MAX POWER 44bhp at 9500rpm
MAX TORQUE 35Nm at 7250rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed manual
0-100KM/H 5.7 seconds
TOP SPEED 160km/h
CONSUMPTION Not available
PRICE INCL. COE
$17,500
