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.
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.
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.
