And while one second is an eternity in racing, consider this: The
superbike racer - a 1,000cc, fully modified production bike - produces
in excess of 200bhp while the puny Moto3 machine - a 250cc,
single-cylinder bike - pushes out only 50bhp, 10bhp less than BMW's
650cc C600 Sport scooter.
The Moto3 bike's Goliath-beating ability boils down to cornering
speed. Because it is light (65kg fully fuelled), it goes around corners
like The Road Runner of Looney Toons fame.
Now, mortals like us can experience what it is like to pilot a physics-bending pocket racer.
The new KTM RC390 is directly inspired by the Austrian firm's championship-winning experience in Grand Prix racing.
It definitely looks the part. Sharp, angular and looking like it
just came off the racing grid, it lies in a segment dominated by
conservatively styled rivals such as the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Honda
CBR300. Its ultra-racey stance puts even some Class 2 superbikes to
shame.
Like the rest of KTM's smaller bikes, the RC390 is built in India to
save costs. And it shows, mainly in the finishing and quality of its
components, especially the plastic bits. But picking on this flaw is
like watching a Michael Bay movie for its plot - you would be missing
the point.
The RC390 is designed to offer newer riders a somewhat exotic,
full-on sports bike experience without breaking the bank or wetting
their pants like they would on a big superbike. It was built to thrill,
not ace a quality test.
On the plus side, it comes equipped with features that would keep
any boy racer happy, including a digital dash with a gear indicator and
adjustable shift light as befitting a racer, radial brakes with a
Bosch-developed anti-lock braking system, an underslung exhaust,
daytime- running lights and a pillion seat cleverly disguised as the
bike's rear section.
On the move, its racing 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 147kg dry weight.
Even so, its prone riding position is comfortable, even for six-footers like me.
Best of all, because the engine pumps out only 44bhp, you can twist
the throttle all the way to the stop in between the twisty bits without
fear of losing your licence or crashing.
Its revvy liquid-cooled 375cc single- cylinder motor is smooth and
punchy from 4,000rpm onwards, and manic from 7,000rpm to its 10,500rpm
redline.
Its narrow, addictive powerband is as close as you can get to the
now-defunct smoky two-stroke bikes of yore, which, if you are old
enough to remember, were a hoot to ride.
The engine is equipped with balancer shafts, which eliminate
high-rev vibrations commonly associated with single cylinders. But it
is still prone to sputtering at below 2,000rpm - another trait of
single-cylinders.
Spend enough time in the saddle and the bike's "budget" tag rears
its ugly head again. Although the suspension set-up is soft, it is
devoid of any real damping.
Thankfully, this does not seem to affect its sharp handling, only the ride quality over bumps. The brakes, too, lack bite.
But this does not detract from the fact that this is the closest
thing to a Moto3 racer for the road. It is exciting, looks fantastic
and will keep Class 2A licence holders (200cc - 400cc) thoroughly
entertained until they upgrade to Class 2.
The best part is, there is a 200cc version too, so riders who have
just obtained their riding licence are not left out of the Grand Prix
experience.
Specs
KTM RC390
Price: $17,500 with COE
Engine: 373cc four-valve single cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Power: 44bhp at 9,500rpm
Torque: 35Nm at 7,250rpm
0-100kmh: 5.7 seconds
Top speed: 160kmh
Fuel consumption: Not available
