KTM has simply rolled out the RC 160 in India, and on paper it appears to be like like one other small-capacity sportbike. For riders within the US who’re used to considering 400 cc is “entry stage,” which may not sound like a giant deal. However right here’s the factor that basically stands out. It’s a full-on pint-sized supersport, not a funds commuter pretending to be a sportbike.
I’ve ridden KTM’s small-displacement RC vary a number of occasions up to now, and it is apparent that the driving place is correct racebike stuff. Low clip-ons, excessive rear-set pegs, and a decent tank you’re meant to grip along with your knees. The fairing is straight out of the larger RC playbook with sharp traces and full LED lighting. It appears to be like prefer it desires to be at a observe day, not parked outdoors a espresso store.
And that’s necessary, as a result of in locations like India and the Philippines where I’m from, bikes on this class aren’t checked out as “starter bikes.” They’re raced on the observe in mulitple grassroots sequence, one-make cups, and native membership racing. A 160cc single will get wrung out each lap. So yeah, it is apparent that the KTM RC 160 exists exactly for this goal.
Picture by: KTM
Below the bodywork is a 164.2cc liquid-cooled single that makes about 18.7 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and 11.4 pound-feet of torque at 7,500 rpm. It spins to only over 10,000 rpm and sends energy by means of a six-speed gearbox with an help and slipper clutch. That slipper alone tells you KTM expects this factor to be downshifted aggressively.
Prime pace is round 73 miles per hour, in no way neck-breaking pace, however on a decent observe or a technical again street, it’s greater than sufficient to have a blast. Small bikes reward dedication and method. You may carry pace by means of corners and pin the throttle exhausting on exit. And sure, it is on bikes like these the place you really be taught to trip.
Chassis sensible, it makes use of KTM’s break up trellis body and rides on 17-inch wheels entrance and rear. Suspension duties are dealt with by WP models, and braking comes from a entrance and rear disc setup with dual-channel ABS. There’s even a supermoto mode that permits you to loosen issues up a bit by disabling rear ABS. That’s not newbie fluff. That’s fanatic {hardware} that KTM has been identified for for years.
Pictures by: KTM
As for pricing, properly, the RC 160 begins at 185,000 rupees over in India, which works out to roughly $2,200 USD. That’s a number of 1000’s lower than what of us usually pay for a 300 or 400cc sportbike.
And that is as a result of within the US and Europe, we are inclined to equate greater engines with legitimacy. 300cc is “beginner-friendly,” 600cc is intermediate, and 1,000cc is legit. However bikes just like the RC 160 problem that logic. They’re gentle, sharp, and constructed for use at ten-tenths with out terrifying you or making you pay the value when issues go sideways.
It’s straightforward to dismiss a 160 cc supersport should you’re considering in dyno charts. It’s tougher to dismiss one once you notice it delivers the identical driving place, the identical visible drama, and a really related studying curve to larger bikes, simply at saner, safer, extra wise speeds.
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