Bikes

KTM RC390 with Major Changes Debuts for the 2022 Model Year

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We already had a pretty good idea what to expect from the 2022 KTM RC390, but that perhaps only whet our appetite for the pint-sized road bike.

Getting the full monty today, we can see explicitly what changes the Austrians have brought to the KTM RC390, which will debut in the United States in March 2022.

The most striking update is obviously the bodywork, which is less polarizing in its design, and KTM says it is more aerodynamic as well.

Every body panel has been changed, and some attention has been made to consider how the pieces mount to the chassis, so swapping in race bodywork can be a less tedious affair.

The fairing is a dual-layer design to help move the air not only around the rider for less drag, but also through the bike to help with cooling.

A larger fuel tank is part of the package (3.6 gallons), and there have been a number of weight savings.

New wheels drop 7.5 lbs from the rolling chassis, which should be a huge benefit for their lighter unsprung mass and rotating moment of inertia.

The ByBre brakes also save 2.11 lbs, and KTM has found a way to shave 3.3 lbs off the RC390 chassis.

Suspension on the 2022 KTM RC390 is handled by WP, of course, and features a fully adjustable APEX upside-down forks at the front, and a WP APEX shock at the rear with preload and rebound adjustment.

The motor has been updated as well, and features more torque than its predecessor, thanks primarily to a larger airbox and revised electronic settings.

Saving the best for last though, KTM has equipped the RC390 with a robust electronics suite for 2022.

As such, the KTM RC390 now comes with lean-sensitive cornering ABS and traction control, “supermoto” ABS mode where the rear-wheel ABS can be disabled, and an up/down quickshifter is an optional add-on. 

All of the electronics are controlled through the new color TFT dash.

There’s no word yet on pricing, but that will likely be announced as we get closer to the March 2022 delivery date.

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