Menus
- The noon demon
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- In the city
- Departmental
- National
- Highway
- Braking
- Practical aspects
- Consumption
- Conclusion
The noon demon
Revamped and streamlined version of the Duke 125, the RC 125 arrives in our cities with its muscular frame and air of medium displacement. A real KTM, both sporty and intelligent which did not disappoint us.
Leading European manufacturer, KTM is expanding its range to small-displacement to conquer new markets. Associated with the Indian Bajaj which produces 3 million motorcycles per year (!), The Austrian brand has created a "platform" of three displacements (125/200/390) which are assembled in Asia. First offered in the form of small roadsters, the Dukes, they now come with fairings in more sporty variations. While waiting for the 390, let’s discover the 125 and note that, unlike the Duke, the 200 will not be distributed in France.
Discovery
The impression of robustness is immediate. With its trellis frame, reinforced swingarm, big tires and sturdy 43mm inverted fork, the "little" RC makes an illusion and even a good impression. The style is not overdone, custom way, it’s authentic.
In this set, the 150 MRF rear tire doesn’t swear, although one suspects the raging 15 horsepower isn’t going to make it sweat outrageously. To keep the price of this jewel within reason, the Austrian giant has made some concessions. The first and not the least is to have the motorcycle manufactured in India at his partner, Bajaj. With a very low local labor cost, it is much cheaper to build and assemble the motorcycle. Another tip: standardization. The engine as a whole is identical to the Duke, which is already the best-selling 125 in Europe. Unique difference between the 2 models: the power of the alternator superior to the RC with its double optics. Swingarm, electronics, dashboard are also identical to the Duke. For the frame, the structure is similar, but the caster angle has been reduced by 1.5 ° to improve handling. Finally, we also notice the front triple clamp which acts as a handlebar support and the rear seat backrest made of foam which also serves as a passenger seat. One part, but two functions, it is well seen!
In the saddle
Well installed on a slightly firm saddle, not leaning too far forward, we discover a small very complete dashboard with very small numbers to indicate the speed. It’s not easy to read (probably more at 16 than at 50-plus), but a shiftlight tells you when to shift. Gear indicator engaged, average fuel consumption, residual range, average speed, driving time, 2 trips and due date for the next service are on the menu. Not bad is not it? The ergonomics are excellent, however with levers which are not adjustable in spacing, economy obliges. So much for this first tour of the owner.
Ready to go?
In the city
Preferred land for small cars, the city poses no problem for this sportswoman. No overheating or heat release, a muffled noise (too much?) That will not attract the wrath of pedestrians. With its light weight, excellent turning radius and flexible engine, you’re ready to go to high school, college or even work, standing out from the herd of scooters and without breaking the bank. Only small regret, the retro not very effective, but we have seen much worse! A very positive assessment therefore for this first round.
Departmental
Another playground, another facet of the character of our little mono. Rather playful, the little "katoche" likes high speeds. It must be said that its low displacement forces you to juggle the box, a bit abrupt when you shift gears on the fly, to stay in the revs that is to say after 7,000 and up to 10,000 to have a little pep. Underneath, it’s flexible, perfect for riding at constant speed, but for overtaking or accelerating, no way! On pure attack, do not hesitate to downshift to get out of bends, the best thing being not to brake in order to maintain maximum speed..
The cycle part is perfectly up to par, with good quality suspensions which adequately absorb bumps and ensure correct comfort. Road holding is perfect in all circumstances. It must be said that given its size and the power to be transmitted, this is hardly surprising. The BYBRE braking (which stands for By Brembo!) Is also excellent, however, experienced pilots who will push it to its limits will then discover a lack of consistency which means that the handle must be tightened with 4 fingers during very heavy braking. In fact the power is managed more with the stroke of the lever than with the pressure exerted due to a control a little spongy on the attack. A detail that will disturb the most seasoned. But we have to admit that even in fast use, the performance is there and that the brake feel will not surprise beginners, nor others. Only pilots at heart will feel these nuances.
National
Thanks to its 15 thoroughbreds, the RC fits in with the flow of vehicles, on condition of keeping its momentum and not being ridden by a too bulky or heavy pilot, because in these conditions, the aerodynamics and the weight / power ratio in net decline dramatically drop performance. Beware of risky overtaking, you have to be careful! So thanks to my reasonable weight (63 kg in Adam’s outfit) and my leather suit that is much less penalizing than the jackets of my colleagues blown by the wind (the jackets, not the colleagues), I was able to keep in contact with the leading peloton "of the pilots" on the 120 km of memorable flurry that we have pulled off !
Highway
Capable of exceeding 125 km / h (and even reaching 134 at the switch on a slight descent), the small RC will do the trick, with the same reservations about the size and equipment of the pilot. Very robust (designed to last 80,000 km according to its designers), the mono will withstand the treatment without flinching, as long as it is relieved a little from time to time.
On the occasion of good rain, we were able to appreciate the very good weather protection offered by the fairing. The vibrations are not felt and in the absence of long distances, intercity highways will not scare him.
Braking
We have already mentioned this point, which will give satisfaction to 99% of users. The radial 4-piston caliper and 300mm disc get the job done, with a slight lack of consistency that will be felt when driving very fast on the road, or on the racetrack. The rear brake is forgotten, it is perfect. Also perfect is the disconnectable ABS, which has never been triggered unexpectedly, in rain or in dry conditions, despite a very fast driving pace. Delivered in series it is really flawless. On bumps it certainly "stalls", but it’s also the lot of more sophisticated systems on more high-end machines. A detail which underlines the remarkable quality of the suspensions and their good original setting, since thanks to them the wheels do not lose contact with the road.
Practical aspects
Let’s start by mentioning the pleasant surprise of the Indian MRF tires which never disappointed or surprised us, in the dry as in the wet. Hats off, because we could expect the worst with an "exotic" brand.
Consumption
Also worth noting is CR’s poor appetite, despite the shock treatment she received. If the on-board computer was true, it would have been content with 2.5 L / 100, at a really strong pace. This remains to be checked, but when you open the fuel cap, you can see that the fuel level is still very high. The KTM manager confirmed it to me, telling me that in general for these 120 km, it took about 3 L. He told me that this sobriety was a requirement of the specifications, because in the emerging countries, consumption is monitored very closely. Some of my colleagues, however, sometimes showed up to 4.5L, while we were riding together, even if they had a few "burns". So without being able to say 100% that this value is exact, we can say that the 125 RC is really sober..
Conclusion
Despite a modest level of performance, imposed by the legislation which limits the power to 15 horses, the little KTM is really very attractive and will fill with happiness the young budding pilots. Its quality of finish, its fittings do not have to be ashamed of its Indian origins. This is a real KTM! Moreover, those arriving in Europe all go to Mattighoffen, the factory’s headquarters, for final quality control. On his handlebars, we really enjoyed ourselves! If you have € 4,595 in your pocket and a 125 license, you won’t be disappointed with this extra toy. Come on, ride youth !
Strong points
- Manufacturing quality
- The very efficient cycle part
- ABS
- The sobriety
- The reputation for reliability
Weak points
- Limited power (legislation)
The lack of peps at low revs - The duo
- The disappointing sound of the engine
The technical sheet of the KTM RC 125
Price € 4,595
Available September 2014
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She has a good face as a bonus !!