Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 vs KTM RC 390

I was excited when I got an email from Bajaj Motorcycles to test their new motorcycle, the Pulsar RS200, at their Chakan test track. And there were two reasons - the Pulsar RS200 and the Chakan track. Over the last couple of months, we have written quite a few articles on the Pulsar RS200 ranging from it being spied around Pune to its name changing from SS200 to RS200. Honestly, I don’t think we have written so many spy pictures story for any another bike like we have done for the Pulsar RS200. It was the most anticipated motorcycle from Bajaj because it was going to open the doors of the budget fully-faired entry-level performance motorcycles. With India’s ever growing young population, the Pulsar RS200 seems to have attracted lot of interest. We take the Pulsar RS200 for a spin at Bajaj’s test track to find out how far it will take the legacy of the Pulsar brand.

It was time to test KTM’s claims to have made the RC more useable, mainly in terms of engine refinement and tractability, ride quality, and seating comfort. What followed was a 1200km Mumbai-Goa round trip. Here’s how it went.

We are curious to find out if the new player can beat the RC at its game or succumbs to the Austrian engineering and finesse.

We thoroughly enjoyed testing the 2022 KTM RC 390's capabilities on the race track and during our road test review as well. However, if you want a quick summary of the bike, here are the positives and negatives of the all-new RC 390.