The KTM RC 200 is a very sharp handling bike, its riding position is sporty and the way it goes through corners can make you feel like Rossi, says Faisal Ali Khan of MotorBeam.com
KTM has taken bike enthusiasts by storm in India, launching a slew of performance bikes which are affordable too. It all started with the Duke 200 in 2012, followed by the Duke 390 in 2013 and last year, the company launched the RC 200 and RC 390.
The RC 200 is the more affordable bike and the cheapest full faired bike from the Austrian manufacturer in India. We ride it to find out how it fares.
The KTM RC 200 is a very appealing motorcycle to look at. The full faired machine has some quirky design bits but the styling is sure to grab attention. The front gets twin projector headlights and the parking lights can be used as daytime running lights. The rearview mirrors are placed on the indicators which is a nice touch. That's not all, the RC 200 also gets orange coloured wheels and the frame is finished in the same colour. The pillion seat looks like a cowl and the sharp tail carries an all LED unit.
The instrument cluster is the same as the one you get in all other KTM motorcycles in India. The all digital console has a plethora of data on offer, including distance to empty, distance to service, low fuel warning, shift light indicator, mileage, gear indicator to name a few. The usual trip meters, odo meter, speedometer and tachometer are placed in easy sight.
Switchgear is backlit and good in quality, the piano black touch is nice.
The KTM RC 200 is powered by a 199.5cc, single-cylinder mill that generates 25 HP of power and 19.2 Nm of torque. Weighing less than rivals and being quite short geared makes the KTM quite urgent and ferocious to say the least.
Power delivery is instant and the motor is quick to get going, doing the 0-100 km/hr sprint in 9.31 seconds. The power delivery is smooth and the refinement levels are decent, in fact good when you compare it to its elder sibling, the RC 390.
What robs fun from the KTM RC 200 is the top speed and the rev limiter. Redline comes in at 10,500 RPM and it comes in quite abruptly. Top speed is just 137 km/hr which is less considering this bike has more punch in its belly.
The motor sounds decent, but isn't the most sporty and won't please your ears much. The 6-speed gearbox is smooth shifting, so is the clutch action which is positive.
The KTM RC 200 is a very sharp handling bike, its riding position is sporty and the way it goes through corners can make you feel like Rossi. The steering is quick and there is good grip from the MRF tyres too.
The stiff chassis inspires you to ride hard and fast but that also results in a harsh ride quality which makes this KTM not at home on bad roads. The brakes offer good performance but there is no ABS on offer.
The KTM RC 200 is the cheapest way to feel like a racer. The bike has good amount of performance and offers very sharp handling. It looks gorgeous too in this black shade, the only colour on offer. Yes it doesn't excel when it comes to ride quality and nor does it offer comfort to the rider due to the riding position and hard seat but if you love to ride fast around corners, the Rs 1.86 lakh for the RC 200 is money well spent.
