KTM RC 390 Café Racer - Marla review, test ride

Faaster Wheels has just made a café racer based on the KTM RC 390, and has called it Marla. Yes, the mad hatter from Fight Club.

Published on Oct 27, 2015 12:32:00 PM

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KTM RC 390 Café Racer - Marla review, test ride

The engine itself has not been tinkered with, but to get more out of it, it is controlled by a plug-in performance ECU from PowerTRONIC. This lets it rev higher, compensating for the larger rear sprocket which now has 47 teeth, a couple up on the stock RC, and weighs 0.486kg compared to the stock's1.146kg. Helping it breathe better while revving higher is a K&N performance air filter. These small upgrades make a considerable difference while accelerating off the stop light.

Twist the throttle open, and the motorcycle takes off with an urgency. The gearbox remains the same, and the close ratios will have you shifting fast through all six gears before you see figures in excess of 130kph. It’s easy to get carried away and have the front wheel simply skimming the tarmac in the first two gears.

Connecting the engine to the gearbox is a slipper clutch, picked up from the 2015 KTM 390 Duke. We managed a top speed of 165kph on the speedo, before I started closing on traffic ahead on the highway.

However, this KTM RC 390 café racer is not only meant for speed. Yeah, the stock KTM RC 390 offers great handling. Faaster Wheels has tried to make it even better. The T-plate on the front has been dropped 5mm, and rake reduced. As a result, turn-in is easier, and overall flickability of the motorcycle is improved. The suspension remains stock, working flawlessly over rough patches and round bends. The brakes have also been upgraded with EBC pads at the front and rear. The improvement in braking prowess is evident in how quickly the motorcycle sheds speed.