KTM RC 200

Detailed Review by Maxabout Team

Overview

The RC series of sports bikes from KTM are special in all ways. The company gave us our first taste of 25bhp, 45bhp, serious sports bikes within a reasonable budget. But, since they came out, back in the day, nothing has changed in any major way and that is important to know because this is the first time KTM has updated the RC series sports bikes significantly. The 2023 KTM RC 200 is a brand new motorcycle with a lot of changes under the skin.

KTM RC 200 Design and Style

The updated 2023 model of KTM RC 200 looks a lot more like MotoGP or the Moto3 bikes, the KTM races today. In terms of looks, in real life, the fairing of the bike actually looks pretty decent. From the integrated indicators in the front of the fairing to the larger mirrors and an all-new bubble visor, everything looks pretty neat.

The new front visor is now higher so that the rider can fit in more precisely and it now provides more wind protection if the rider is out on the highway on this motorcycle. This is obviously a familiar distinctive design and this is a very large shift to take. The design of the new RC 200 definitely represents the generation change. The 2023 KTM RC 200 has a new ultralight structure that reduces the kerb weight by 1.5 kg over its predecessor. The trellis frame and bolt-on subframe offer greater speed stability and rider confidence.

The MY2023 KTM RC 200 has redesigned LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights and integrated indicators. It also gets a redesigned two-piece front fender that protects both the radiator and the engine, folding mirrors for a wider viewing range, better aerodynamics, clip-on handlebars, and two dual-tone colour options: White with Orange Highlight and Black with Orange Highlight.

KTM RC 200 Engine and Gearbox

The 2023 KTM RC 200 uses the exact same engine as before but there are two changes, one, the radiator is now a curved unit, it has got 10% more surface area than before, so the bike should run a little bit cooler. Also, the bike got a 40% larger airbox under the fuel tank. At the back, in the sprocket, they haven’t changed the gearing, but the sprocket unit itself is much lighter. The New KTM RC 200 is powered by a 199.5cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, single-cylinder engine. The motorcycle’s max power and top torque remain the same at 25 HP at 10,000rpm and 19.2Nm at 8000rpm respectively. The engine is coupled to a 6-speed gearbox.

KTM RC 200 Instrument Console

The new model of RC 200 comes with a larger LCD screen, which is taken from the 250 Adventure. The screen display has a fuel gauge, distance indicator, ABS light, clock, gear shift light that indicates on which gear the bike is running on, and it also has a digital speedometer and tachometer.

KTM RC 200 Brakes, Suspensions and Tyres

The rear shock unit of the 2023 model is the same as the last-gen model, it’s the preload adjustable WP Apex monoshock with 150mm travel but at the front, WP Apex 43mm USD forks now feature 120mm travel which is 10mm more in comparison to the old model. Coming to the other improvements, the bike gets lighter and stronger alloy wheels. Talking about the brakes, the front disc is now 320mm so there is more brake force and the rear has a 230mm disc. The bike comes with a dual-channel ABS unit with supermoto mode as standard.

Key Features of KTM RC 200

Key features of New KTM RC 200 include - All-Digital Console, Wide Tyres, Supermoto ABS, All-New LED Headlight with LED Daylight Running Lights (DRL) and Integrated Indicators for Optimal Visibility, Lightweight Footpegs, Comfortable Pillion Seat, WP APEX Suspensions are a few key features offered by RC200.

KTM RC 200 Top Speed and Mileage

New KTM RC 200 offers a mileage of around 35 kmpl under mixed riding conditions. Performance claimed by the brand is that the bike reaches from 0-60kph in 4.2 seconds and 0-100kph in 11.7 seconds. Other than that, the top speed of the sports bike is around 142kph.

KTM RC 200 Colour Options

The 2023 KTM RC 200 is available in India in two flavours that are orange with black and orange with silver and both the combinations look fantastic.

KTM RC 200 Price Range in India

The 2023 model of RC 200 is available in India with an ex-showroom price tag of Rs 2.18 lakhs while the on-road price is Rs 2.51 lakh in Delhi, Rs 2.59 lakh in Mumbai, Rs 2.54 lakh in Kolkata, and Rs 2.57 lakh in Chennai. The prices mentioned here are approximate and we suggest you contact your nearest KTM dealership to get the exact on-road price quote in your city.

Difference Between Ex-showroom and On-road Price

Ex-Showroom Price is the Manufacturing Cost of the vehicle + Dealer/Seller Profit + GST (Goods and Service Tax) + Transportation Charges (from the manufacturing plant to the dealership). On the other hand, the On-Road Price is the actual cost you pay to the dealership to make the vehicle legal to run on the roads. It includes Ex-Showroom Price in your city + RTO Charges (Vehicle Registration) + One Time Road Tax + Insurance Charges. The On-Road Price also includes some optional things like if you opt for Genuine Accessories and Extended Warranty while buying a vehicle. Please note that the On-Road Price varies a lot across different states in India due to different percentages for the State Registration Charges.

Competitors of KTM RC 200

The KTM RC 200 stands against the Honda CBR250R, Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 and the Yamaha R15M. KTM RC 200 has more displacement, power and torque advantage over the Yamaha R15M.

Verdict - Should you buy the KTM RC 200?

Together, the new KTM RC 200 feels really very nice to ride because it does feel lighter to steer, it feels more responsive, more natural, the sort of deliberate thing that the old RCs used to do, is completely gone. On the street, where a lot of these RC 200s will be ridden, it is a much superior motorcycle to ride.

The RC 200 is so much easier to extract performance from in corners that it puts the spotlight on the tyres, the stronger and lighter wheels, powerful engine and whatnot. If you are looking for a fun motorcycle for casual rides, then you can go ahead and buy the new KTM RC 200. But if you want a daily commuter, then we won’t recommend this motorcycle to you as it has a very aggressive riding stance and it can cause wrist pain and lower back pain.