With the launch of naked-bike model KTM 890 Duke R 2022 (RM75,800) and sports motorcycle RC390 (RM33,800) in Malaysia, paultan.org was invited to take them both for a media test at Sepang International Circuit (SIC). Aimed at very different market segments, the 890 Duke R and RC390 complete KTM’s line of stable bikes in Malaysia.
As for the 890 Duke R, this naked sports car will compete with the likes of Ducati Monster and Streetfighter V2, Triumph 765RS and Yamaha MT-09 in the local market. An evolution of the previous generation Duke 790 “The Scalpel”, the 890 Duke R takes the “The Super Scalpel” tinker and makes everything stand out.
Like the 790, the 890 Duke R carries a twin tandem engine, in this form for 119 hp and 99 Nm of torque from 889 cc. As is typical for KTM motorcycles, power comes through a six-speed transmission – an optional quickshifter available – and a PASC anti-slip clutch with chain drive to the rear wheels.
As we were told that day, the 890 Duke R was intended as a performance midsize car, for riders who appreciate engine torque and precise handling. This is made possible by a fully adjustable WP front fork, with adjustable compression and bounce, and a fully adjustable WP Apex monoshock at the rear, with preload as well as compression and The bounce is hydraulically adjustable.
The suspension is coupled with light-alloy wheels, which minimizes springless mass and allows for quicker turns and turns. Taking the 890 Duke R to the track, the car is set to Sport mode, one of the four available, the others being Street, Rain and Track modes that disable rear wheel ABS.
With wheel control in place and explicitly forbidden by SIC track date rules, we don’t know how easy it is to lift the front wheels of the 890 Duke R but follow the urge shown when accelerating. Through the gears, we can safely assume that the Duke R’s reputation as a wheeled machine remains intact.
Shifting is precise and the 890 Duke R quickly takes the driver to around 220 km/h (plus) on the straight ahead of Sepang. Naturally, being a naked sport bike, the wind blew uneasily at very high speeds and we kept it below 180 km/h for most of our time.
The forte of the 890 Duke R is handling, more specifically the ability to quickly turn and grip the road. Going through the bends in Sepang, we found the 890 Duke R to be a bit more solid than the 790 Duke.
There isn’t any hint of any suspension with the bike simply following the path the rider has chosen and staying there. Likewise, corner exits are predictable and confidence is inspired with a tendency to turn outwards very slightly when the bike is pulled into a straight line.
The upright sitting position is suitable for monitoring work without undue discomfort. At this point, we reserve our assessment of road comfort from the seats as we haven’t had a chance to do so yet, perhaps when KTM Malaysia has an 890 Duke R review.
Overall, the 890 Duke R delivers on what it promises, responsive handling with enough power for any rider to get up and running. Moving on to the RC390, KTM’s small sports car has been revamped to follow the lines of its sibling, the Duke 390 naked sports.
A new look adorns the RC390, with LED daytime running lights and updated headlights. Inside the cockpit, the same color TFT-LCD panel as the Duke 390 is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity to the driver’s smartphone.
Regarding the engine, the performance is similar to the Duke 390, the RC390 has a capacity of 42 hp and 37 Nm of torque from a single cylinder, capacity of 373 cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC and four-valve. The PASC slipper clutch is equipped with a six-speed transmission with a quikcshifter that sends power to the rear wheels via a chain drive.
Also new to the RC390 are ride-by-wire throttles along with more precise engine mapping and traction control. Standard equipment is cornering ABS at the front and rear wheels with the option to activate the “Supermoto” mode, in which the rear wheel is allowed to lock and slide for use on the track.
As we approached the RC390, we were told that some changes had been made to the driving position, and it was. The RC390 2022 has a less harsh riding posture than the previous generation, the driver is less constrained in the track and has more space to move.
When we started on the track, we found the riding position to be very suitable for our tastes, allowing for a good offensive position in race mode while also being reasonable on the street. Definitely a plus for younger riders, the RC390 is for those who will likely use the RC390 as their only form of two-wheeled transport.
Through the first corners on wet roads, the RC390 demonstrates good traction, with plenty of feedback from the 43 mm diameter WP up-down front suspension with 30-step adjustment for on and down. At the rear, the WP Apex monoshock is resilient and preload-adjustable and performs very well, although we wish we had had time to adjust the suspension to be a bit softer on review. driving conditions.
However, the RC390 is a compact sports car that takes the driver’s input at the controller and translates it into fine directional changes. We ran into a bit of trouble with the RC390, also shown in the Duke 390, in that there are more tires than ground clearance when cornering.
The RC390 cornered perfectly, without great drama, but when it returned to the track, it could be seen that there were more tires to corner, like the infamous “chicken strip”. No bugs and absolutely no problems, but to get the most out of the RC390’s handling, you’ll need a racing rear and a tire heater.
Overall, the general impression we got from the RC390 is that it’s a fun little sports car, easy to handle and light at 155 kg dry. Competing for the RC390 in Malaysia includes the Honda CBR250RR, Yamaha R25 and QJMotor SRK250RR, all of which are two-cylinder engines.
LIBRARY: 2022 KTM RC390 Malaysia
LIBRARY: 2022 KTM 890 Duke CHEAP
