The next-generation KTM RC 390 is now under development and is being tested on the roads. The upcoming model will pack hardware and visual upgrades over the current bike.
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The 2020 KTM RC 390 has shown itself on several occasions through spy photographs. Based on the spy images, we asked our in-house render artist Shoeb Kalania to create a digital image of the 2020 model. The upcoming bike, like the current vehicle, will carry sporty styling. Thus, you would see the full-fairing design and a windscreen for better aerodynamics than the city-oriented Duke range. The windscreen on the 2020 iteration will be tweaked for a refreshed look to the front fascia.
The twin-pod, projector-style headlight, too, will be traded for a new setup. The 2020 RC 390 will retain the full-LED lighting (blinkers, taillight and headlight) setup as standard. More changes will be visible to the cockpit, and the motorcycle will have a 390 Duke-sourced full-colour TFT-display with Bluetooth capabilities instead of the orange-backlit LCD screen. We would really like to see a lap timer on the upcoming RC390 – a feature that is available on its rival, the TVS Apache RR 310.
The fuel tank will also get a few styling changes for an updated look, although we do not expect to see a major difference in the storage capacity. The current model, for reference, can store 10 litres of fuel. The saddle layout will retain the split-style, step-up design. However, the new bike may drop the rear-cowl-style design for the pillion seat.
Major changes will also come to the chassis and the engine. The 2020 KTM RC 390, like the 390 Duke, will feature a bolted sub-frame. The engine, on the other hand, will receive tweaks and additional hardware to comply with the Euro-V/BS-VI emission norms. The current RC 390, for reference, uses a Euro-IV/BS-IV compliant 373.2 cc single-cylinder, 4-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled engine that pumps out 43.5 PS of peak power at 9,000 rpm and 36 Nm of max torque at 7,000 rpm. The engine will continue to use an assist/slipper clutch system and a six-speed transmission.
Braking and suspension department should not receive major tweaks. Thus, the anchoring power will come from a 320 mm disc with a four-piston calliper at the front and a 230 mm disc with a single-piston calliper at the back. Dual-channel ABS will govern the braking department. Suspension setup will retain the 43 mm, inverted forks at the front and a pre-load adjustable mono-shock at the back.
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Also Read: Husqvarna 401 Indian launch rescheduled to 2020, high-end KTMs lined-up too
Apart from the RC 390, KTM is also expected to bring out a new RC product that will use the company’s newly developed 499 cc parallel-twin cylinder engine. More on that, and other 2020 products here.