KTM RC390 vs Honda CBR 250R vs Kawasaki Ninja 300: Spec comparison

So, the latest supersport bike from Bajaj-KTM – the RC390 – is here at a very attractive price of Rs 2.05 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). At this price and the performance it promises, the RC390 is certainly going to get enthusiasts lining up. However, is it all that you need? That answer will only come once we line up the three bikes side by side in a comparison test. In the meantime, here’s how they compare on paper.

Features

The KTM RC390 gets is a full fairing trailing behind twin projector lamps and DRLs, trellis frame, upside-down forks, standard ABS braking, Metzeler tyres, triple clamp racing clip-on handlebars and a pillion seat which has been designed to look like a rear seat cowl on a single seater sportbike. The RC390 looks like a true blue sportbike designed just for track duties. Take off the lights and assorted street focused paraphernalia, and you’re, er – ‘Ready to Race’!

Compare the RC390 to the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and you notice the difference in character. Where the RC seems out and out designed for the track, the Ninja looks more grounded, more street sport oriented, but with some racing genes from Kawasaki. And it shows in the equipment. There’s no fancy tech here, just regular entry-level sportsbike stuff. The Ninja 300 gets part-analogue-part-digital clocks and regular suspension; tubular frame and no ABS. The tyres aren’t track focused either.

The Honda CBR250R is even more focused towards road riding and comfort and it looks it too; the CBR250R looks more like a sport touring machine than an out and out sportbike. It packs in similar equipment as the Ninja; similar frame, similar suspension; and similar road focused tyres. The instrumentation like the Ninja 300 is partly digital as well. But, you can order the CBR with ABS and that’s a plus. Finally then, neither the CBR nor the Ninja can match the RC390 on the feel good factor of packing in more features.

Engine, Suspension and Brakes

Looking at the suspension – the Honda gets telescopic front forks and a pro-link rear suspension. Braking duties are taken care of by a 296mm disc in the front and a 220mm disc at the rear. The Honda though, gets ABS as an option but at an additional cost of almost Rs 30,000.

The Kawasaki gets 37mm front telescopic forks up front with a bottom-link Uni-Trak gas-charged damper at the rear with 5-way adjustable pre-load. The KTM on the other hand, gets larger WP suspension 43mm dia upside down forks at the front with a WP monoshock with 150mm travel at the rear.

The Kawasaki gets a 290mm petal disc at the front and a 220mm petal disc at the rear. The KTM however, gets standard ABS Bosch system with a larger 300mm disc brake in the front with four-pot caliper from Bybre.  The rear is also a Bybre unit – a 280mm disc brake with one pot caliper. Yes, in the braking as well as the suspension departments, it is the KTM which seems to have the goodies.

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In terms of displacement, the Honda CBR250R displaces the least. It is a 249.6cc single cylinder liquid-cooled engine that makes 26.3PS of max power at 8500rpm and 22.9Nm of peak torque at 7000rpm. The KTM comes in next. The RC390 is also a single cylinder mill like the Honda’s but it is larger displacing 373cc. But it’s the 43.5PS of max power that it packs in at 9,000rpm and a 35Nm of maximum torque at 7000rpm that truly should make this a special tool to ride. And ride fast!

The Ninja is the only bike with a twin cylinder engine here.  The 296cc parallel twin presents the Kawasaki with 39PS of power at 11,000 revs and 27Nm of torque at 10,000rpm. The Ninja might sit between the KTM and the Honda in terms of output figures but its twin cylinder layout does lend it a unique riding experience.

Pricing

The Honda is the cheapest here – the ABS version available at Rs 1,80,137 (ex-showroom Delhi), but the RC390 at Rs 2,05,000 comes pretty close. The most expensive here, and by a fair margin, is the Ninja 300. At Rs 3.5 lakh ex-showroom Delhi, it costs almost a lakh and a half more than the RC390. Sure, it has a twin cylinder configuration and our experience with the bike has shown that it is fun, refined and very capable. But, a lakh and a half just seems too much on paper.

The Honda CBR250R on the other hand might be down on power, but it has a wider network and the trusted Honda name backing it. It should also be an easy bike to live and tour with. However, as on paper, the KTM RC390 clearly looks the juiciest. Over 40PS of power in a bike that weighs under 150kg (dry) is just tremendous! And then there’s the fancier cycle parts as well. We just can’t wait to ride the three back to back...