KTM RC 200

Despite being an almost six-year-old design, the KTM RC 200 still manages to turn a number of heads with its out and out sporty stance and sharp styling. The overall styling looks very aggressive, and the RC 200 definitely has got the big bike appeal in its favor.

The front fascia of the motorcycle looks compact yet sporty, with the twin projector headlamps tucked in neatly in a rounded rectangular housing within the front fairing. The beak-shaped visor below the headlamp console houses pointy looking daytime running LEDs, which add few more character to the front face.

The big transparent visor covering the entire sloping front face of the motorcycle is very helpful in giving additional visual appeal as well as handling wind blasts at higher speeds. The fairing mounted rearview mirrors look nice and come integrated with small turn indicators within them at their joints.

It is from the sides that the KTM RC 200 looks like a proper middleweight supersport, thanks to a large side fairing which partially hides the black coloured trellis frame behind it. This fairing, along with the bulky looking fuel tank, comes with bold graphics, which take the factor of aggression even higher. The lower portion of this side fairing hides in the underbody exhaust pipe very fashionably.

The aggressiveness of the overall design of the KTM RC 200 is taken even higher with no proper side body panels, exposing the rest of the trellis frame in all its glory. The rear tail piece looks pointy and is placed slightly higher, giving the RC 200 a pouncing forward stance reminiscent of proper supersports. This gives the RC 200 a split seat layout, with the very high positioned pillion seat looking like a proper tail piece. The angular tail piece accommodates the vertical split tail lamps beneath them.

The KTM RC 200 comes blessed with a small squared LCD panel for the instrument console, which comes with orange backlit and a host of data on display, making it one of the most comprehensive meter consoles in the entry level sportsbike category. The clip-on handlebars look purposeful, and the backlit switchgear adds to the visual drama as well as convenience to the rider.

The KTM RC 200 feels precise and focused, when it comes to ride and handling. The trellis frame, along with the front 43mm upside-down telescopic forks at the front and an adjustable monoshock at the rear, are tuned on a stiffer side to make the RC 200 a fun to ride machine around corners. The flip side to it definitely is the stiffer ride quality on offer, with the poor pillion comfort making it a strict track tool, curving its practicality for daily usage. The RC 200 comes fitted with single disc brakes at both the ends.

The KTM RC 200 comes fitted with a four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 200cc engine, which it shares with its naked counterpart from the KTM’s stable, the Duke 200. Coupled to a 6-speed gearbox, the engine develops a maximum power output of 25 PS and a peak torque output of 19 Nm. The engine impresses with its quick power delivery and the short gearing helps in utilising the power delivery to the fullest.

Save for a single-channel ABS and disc brakes at both the ends, the KTM RC 200 is devoid of more sophisticated safety features, including that of slipper clutch which is available in a couple of its smaller capacity rivals.

The KTM RC 200 is not a practical machine to live with, for its short gearing, stiff ride quality, and poor pillion comfort making it not so suitable for longer rides or even shorter point to point commutes. However, if one rides single most of the time and for those who love to take their motorcycle to track rides, the KTM RC 200 manages to give impeccable joy with its sporty demeanour.