HomeBuy And Sell BikeKTM RC a hundred twenty-five: Track Ride Review

KTM RC a hundred twenty-five: Track Ride Review

If you’ve handiest, these days turned 18 and are freshly licensed, you couldn’t have timed entering this global higher. Not that you can have had a say in it, but never thoughts. I say this because that 18-year-old nowadays has such splendid alternatives as their first motorbike. From the crop of 150s and even low-price 200s to a new breed of low-displacement, excessive-cognizance machines, including the KTM, a hundred twenty-five Duke, and, of course, the Yamaha R15 V3. Having tasted success (through its admission) within the 125cc phase, KTM now believes the world desires a faired model of the 125 Duke, which is – no prizes for guessing – the RC 125 you notice right here.

Nice of KTM to position an ear to the road, but the size is priced at a no longer-so-tempting Rs 1. Forty-seven lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). To arrange things for the gain of attitude, the KTM a hundred twenty-five Duke, which takes place is precisely as powerful, and 13kg lighter is Rs 17,000 less expensive and, speaking of faired bikes, the R15 V3, which offers 5PS more, remains Rs eight,000 cheaper than the RC.

When you don’t forget that buying a motorbike in this league includes limitless rounds of arguments with your dad and mom, foot-stomping, and threatening to skip meals (the ultimate one typically does the trick), the RC a hundred twenty-five is on shaky ground with that asking charge. And then there’s the huge query that overshadows even your ability to shop for it – is the RC 125 certainly a ‘Ready to Race’ motorcycle?

That’s a tall order for something powered by a 124.7cc, 14.5PS unmarried-cylinder motor. Sure, it’s gas-injected and liquid-cooled and has four valves at its disposal, but with a 154kg dry weight, those numbers have a steep incline to ascend. Viewed towards this backdrop, the 12Nm of height torque kicks in at 8000rpm, or the 6-velocity transmission appears insufficient to assist the RC a hundred twenty-five shine. What became KTM questioning, then? Tell you what. In the last six months, by myself, KTM India sold almost as many as one hundred twenty-five Dukes because it did all of its other bikes put together. That’s 14,000 125s by using the way, and it’s no marvel KTM is tempted to play every other 125cc card.

The formulation is exactly as within the different Duke/RC pairings; the powertrain is identical, and the mechanicals are precise as on the bigger machines. This means that the RC a hundred twenty-five gets the equivalent level of equipment (very high, that is), which includes the 43mm upside-down fork, a ten-step adjustable mono-shock, that energetic trellis frame (painted orange of the path), alloys inside the identical hue, a 300mm disc up front, a 220mm disc at the rear (with a single-channel ABS) and, like on all different KTMs except the 390s, a one hundred ten/70 R17 the front tire and a 150/60 R17 rear tire courtesy of MRF. That’s a few severe bits of the package you get in your (equally extreme) cash, which tightens the RC 125’s case.

How this system-rich package translates to the riding experience honestly underlines the significance of getting a strong basis. You see, the RC 125 has the dedication of a man with a point to prove every single time it goes around a corner. Here, the aggressive using stance turns into a precision tool in supporting your awareness of your lines. All of its additives and the more complete in their sum come collectively to offer you a cornering bundle that’s very pleasant. Turn-in isn’t as razor-sharp as on the R15 – the RC surely looks like a motorbike designed for larger-displacement cars – but what it lacks in phrases of the Yamaha’s enthusiastic agility, it makes up for through being poised and confidence-inspiring. If only I’d had a system like this to hone my riding capabilities after 18!

Around the Bajaj/KTM test music at Chakan on the outskirts of Pune, the RC one hundred twenty-five flows from nook to corner with a degree of maturity that’s a primary for a 125 and not even below the maximum competitive of inputs. Does it do anything untoward. That can be the song to your dad and mom’s ears, at the very least. The single-channel ABS also secures the tough-driving experience further, even though the lack of rear ABS nevertheless lets you have a touch bit of a laugh – we didn’t inform you that, okay?

It’s what occurs when the road straightens out that demands easing off superlative phrases. The RC one hundred twenty-five boasts that it isn’t an outstanding performer and shouldn’t come as information in output figures. However, the RC suffers greater than the Duke in this regard. Foreseeing what its overall performance will translate to inside the real international (full of interruptions and site visitors bottlenecks not like on this flowing check music), the RC is underwhelming in acceleration. While it keeps the crispness and strength of the bigger KTMs, the RC 125 is a censored model of an RC two hundred in terms of outright punch. I think KTM could do nicely to sell it with a PG18 sticker because your parents will honestly love the sound of a motorcycle that struggles to get beyond 120kmph on maximum generous straights.

It’s no longer an entire slouch either – with the proper gears and revs, you may get it up to 90 kmph or so without attempt – but it simply isn’t a motorcycle you’ll revel in out on the toll road. An R15 V3 is a far higher guess in that place. However, the flip facet is the gasoline performance you may expect. With the 125 Duke returning 47kmpl (metropolis) and forty-eight kmpl (highway), it wouldn’t be a ways-fetched to expect similar numbers from the RC one hundred twenty-five, deliver or take a minor distinction due to its heavier weight but also its greater green aerodynamics. This means you may keep most of your pocket cash for things apart from petrol – we didn’t inform you that either, k?

Elaine Howell
Elaine Howell
Automobile engineering is my hobby and I like to write about cars. My blog covers everything related to automobiles, from engines to design, manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and even new models. Automobile engineering is something that requires lots of skills, and I have been practicing since I was in college. Automobile engineering is limited to one’s technical ability and involves understanding many other aspects such as sales, marketing, legal, financial, and so on. Therefore, this is a perfect job for an individual who is interested in all aspects of automobile industry.

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