KTM RC 390 [2020] vs Yamaha YZF R15 V3

From its design and features to chassis and engine, almost everything has been revised with an aim to make it more versatile. In that case, have these changes played their part and made it more desirable?

This is the first major update for the sharp, slim and tempting KTM RC390. The obvious change on the new bike is the new colour scheme; it's still black and white but it now gets an extra splattering of orange. The new-for-2017 RC390 also gets a new belly pan courtesy an all-new exhaust system. The underbelly exhaust gives way to an aluminium end can, which may not be to everyone's taste, but personally, I think it looks fine. It makes the 390 sound better too, especially at full clip. The new RC390 also gets adjustable levers for both clutch and brake.

If you have read our launch ride and track-day stories, you must be aware of the Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0’s superiority on the track. But what about the real world, where it will spend most of its life? How does the R15 perform as an everyday ride?

For the 2018 BikeWale Track Day, I wanted to get my elbow down on a Yamaha YZF-R1M at the Valencia track in Spain. But then I was reminded of our budgets and my capabilities by the wide chicken strips on my Apache. So we settled for the next best thing – a Yamaha YZF-R15 on the MMRT in Chennai. The YZF-R15 V3.0 shares its platform with the Yamaha M-Slaz, a streetfighter sold only in select global markets.

This is the YZF R15 V 3.0.