SPIED: First Look At Next-Gen KTM RC 390 And RC 125

The next-generation KTM RC 390 has been spied on test, and it looks to strike a perfect balance between the old RC’s edgy look with the aerodynamic lines of the current bike. 

This is the first time the next-generation RC series, comprising the RC 390 and RC 125 have been spied on test, and honestly, it does come as a surprise. The current bike was only launched in India eight months ago, while it has been less than 18 months since the global launch. 

Has the backlash over the current generation RC series been so bad that the brand has fast-tracked its successor? Let’s decode the test mules to find out.

Firstly, the test mule of the RC 390 is the international spec, as it gets a pre-load-adjustable upside down fork. Additionally, it looks to be powered by the same engine as seen on the upcoming 2023 KTM 390 Duke, which is said to be an all-new 399cc liquid-cooled single cylinder unit. 

Also the test mule sports an identical subframe to the next-generation Duke series, along with a revised swingarm, which has resulted in the monoshock to be offset and in line with the axis of the swingarm along its length. The trellis frame looks to be modified to accommodate all the revisions to the underpinnings. While the test mule is seen on the same alloys as the current bike, the front disc is a petal rotor, which may possibly be from the brand’s powerparts catalogue.

The next-generation RC 125 too was spotted along with the RC 390 test mule, and it too sports the same design as its bigger sibling. The front end of both bikes is now more in line with the flagship supersport, the track-spec RC 8C, with the only missing elements being the winglets. 

The test mules are seen with a projector headlamp, a proper throwback to the old-generation bike. The bodywork looks to be a single piece unit, but as the bike is in its initial development stages, we can expect this to evolve and simplify for ease of manufacturing as well as repairs.

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The footpegs look to be mounted on sliders, which indicate that the brand is in the midst of optimising the rider’s triangle. The rear section of the bike looks rough aesthetically, which indicates that this area is still work in progress. However, the taillight looks to be the same unit as the current bike’s unit.

The test mules clearly show that the bikes are currently in the initial stages of development, and thus we can expect the next-generation RC series to be launched only by 2025 at the earliest. That said, the 2023 KTM 390 Duke launch timeline was recently revealed, check it out here.

Credits: BMH-Images/Bernhard M. Höhne