Engine: 44 hp From a Single—Strong in the Midrange, Requires Right Revs

The RC 390’s 373 cc single-cylinder engine produces 44 hp at 9,000 rpm and 37 Nm at 7,000 rpm. It uses DOHC valve gear, four valves, and carbon-coated finger followers to reduce friction and improve reliability under sustained use. Ride-by-Wire enables traction control and more precise engine management. A slipper clutch arrived with this generation: it opens when reverse torque from the engine becomes excessive and closes through spring pressure, preventing rear-wheel hop during hard downshifts while also reducing clutch-lever effort.

At low rpm, the engine takes a little time to come alive. It is convincing through the midrange, then begins to lose some urgency at very high revs. That is not a fault; it is the character of a high-revving A2 single. Riders who understand how to keep it in the right part of the rev range are rewarded. The stainless-steel header and aluminum silencer take inspiration from KTM’s RC16 MotoGP machine and produce a distinctive, deep exhaust note near maximum rpm.

Suspension: Fully Adjustable WP APEX With 30 Clicks—Exceptional in This Class

The RC 390 chassis is its biggest technical surprise. The 43 mm WP APEX USD fork provides independent compression and rebound adjustment, with 30 clicks for each—a specification virtually unheard of among A2 motorcycles. New fork bottoms and a hollow front axle reduce weight. At the rear, the WP APEX Split-Piston shock is also fully adjustable for compression and rebound damping. Suspension travel is 120 mm front and 150 mm rear.

The result is a motorcycle that can be properly tailored to the rider on a racetrack while delivering unusually precise feedback for its class on the road. Braking is handled by a radial-mount BYBRE four-piston front caliper on a 320 mm disc and a single-piston rear caliper on a 230 mm disc. BYBRE is Brembo’s Indian subsidiary, developing components for the small-bike segment. It is not full-size premium Brembo hardware, but it is considerably more sophisticated than budget-standard equipment. Cornering ABS, Supermoto ABS with rear ABS switch-off, and traction control are standard.

Ergonomics: Aggressive and Unfamiliar—But Very Good

Seat height is 824 mm, the upper body is pitched strongly forward, and the handlebar is low. This is not a compromise; it is a deliberate choice. The RC 390 wants to be ridden aggressively. The first few laps can feel unfamiliar because the riding position demands active body movement and places more weight over the front. Once the rider adapts, the perception changes. With a low dry weight of 158 kg, 164 kg ready to ride, and a compact 1,343 mm wheelbase, the handling is exceptionally direct and agile. The TFT display is modern and easy to read. Quickshifter+ is optional.

ADAC Junior Cup: The Only A2 Production Bike Homologated for an Active Race Series

The RC 390 forms the basis of the ADAC Junior Cup powered by KTM RC 390, a race series in which production motorcycles compete with minimal modification. Buy an RC 390 and you are buying the homologation model for an active racing series. It explains the level of the suspension—30-click adjustment is driven by racing requirements, not by a specification-sheet arms race. It also explains the uncompromising ergonomics: this motorcycle is designed with racetrack use in mind, not city commuting.

The End in Europe: Why KTM Dropped the RC 390—and What Comes Next

KTM has withdrawn the RC 390 from the European market. The reasons cited in the source are persistently low demand and the cost of adapting the engine to Euro 5+, an investment that no longer made economic sense. Production continues in India, where demand remains stable and where the motorcycle is built. The press has already spotted prototypes of a completely new RC 390 based on the newer 399 cc engine, but when it will arrive and what it will cost remain unknown.

Anyone buying an RC 390 now is buying remaining MY2024 stock. That is not necessarily a bad idea. Prices are well below the original list price, the motorcycle is mature and fully homologated, and riders looking for an A2 sportbike with genuine racetrack DNA will find very little serious competition at this equipment level.

Verdict

The RC 390 is not an easygoing beginner bike. It demands involvement and a period of adaptation, then rewards the rider with handling precision and racetrack capability that remain unmatched in the A2 class. MY2024 is the final opportunity in Europe—and as the closing chapter of a long-running model line, it is good enough to buy with confidence.

Quick Check

+ 43 mm WP APEX USD fork: 30 clicks each for independently adjustable compression and rebound—unique in the A2 class.

+ WP APEX Split-Piston rear shock: also fully adjustable.

+ Radial-mount BYBRE four-piston front caliper on a 320 mm disc: Brembo subsidiary hardware and an above-average braking package.

+ 158 kg dry / 1,343 mm wheelbase: the most compact and lightest A2 sportbike with this equipment level.

+ Slipper clutch: prevents rear-wheel hop and reduces clutch-lever effort.

+ Cornering ABS, Supermoto ABS, and traction control standard.

+ ADAC Junior Cup homologation: the only A2 production motorcycle supporting an active race series.

+ TFT display; Quickshifter+ optional.

+ Remaining-stock MY2024 pricing is significantly below the original list price.

 

– Engine is weaker at very low and very high rpm: it wants to be revved and requires acclimatization.

– Aggressive riding position: takes getting used to and is uncomfortable on longer tours.

– MY2024 is the final European model year: no factory upgrade path and no successor officially announced.

– Remaining-stock purchase: standard new-bike warranty only and limited availability.

– 110/70-17 front tire size: narrower tire selection than the common 120-section standard.

 

Technical Specifications: KTM RC 390 (MY2024—Final European Model Year)

Country of Manufacture: India, Bajaj plant; developed by KTM in Mattighofen, Austria

Engine: Single-cylinder, 373 cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves, carbon-coated finger followers, Ride-by-Wire, Euro 5

Power: 44 hp / 32.5 kW at 9,000 rpm; A2-compliant

Torque: 37 Nm at 7,000 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed; slipper clutch; Quickshifter+ optional

Riding Modes / Electronics: Cornering ABS; Supermoto ABS with rear ABS switch-off; traction control; TFT display

Frame: Steel trellis frame; aluminum subframe

Fork: 43 mm WP APEX Open Cartridge USD; 120 mm travel; 30-click compression adjustment; 30-click rebound adjustment; new fork bottoms and hollow axle

Rear Shock: WP APEX Split-Piston monoshock; 150 mm travel; fully adjustable for compression, rebound, and spring preload

Front Brake: Radial-mount BYBRE four-piston caliper; 320 mm disc; cornering ABS

Rear Brake: Single-piston fixed caliper; 230 mm disc; Supermoto ABS

Wheels: 17-inch front and rear; cast aluminum; 3.0-inch / 4.0-inch widths

Tires: 110/70-17 front; 150/60-17 rear

Exhaust: Stainless-steel header; aluminum silencer inspired by RC16 MotoGP

Dry Weight: 158 kg, 964 g lighter than MY2020 predecessor

Ready-to-Ride Weight: 164 kg

Seat Height: 824 mm

Ground Clearance: 158 mm

Wheelbase: 1,343 mm

Fuel Tank: 13.7 liters

License: A2

Race Series: ADAC Junior Cup powered by KTM RC 390; homologation model

MY2024 Status: Final European model year; remaining dealer stock available into 2026; production continues for India; successor prototype spotted, presentation date unknown

Price: Remaining-stock new-bike pricing through dealers; original MY2024 list price EUR 7,394 plus ancillary charges; current remaining-stock prices below list

Warranty: KTM standard manufacturer warranty for MY2024: 24 months