BREAKING: 2021 KTM RC 125 And RC 200 Launched In India At Rs 1.82 Lakh Onwards

The 2021 KTM RC 200’s price remains unchanged...but there’s a catch

The new KTM RC series bikes have been one of the most highly anticipated launches of the year, especially after the bikes made their global debut in September. Now, the Austrian bikemaker has finally launched the 2021 RC 125 and RC 200 at Rs 1.82 lakh and Rs 2.09 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) respectively, which is Rs 2,000 more than before for the RC 125, while the RC 200 is priced the same as before. Bookings are already underway for both the bikes, and while the RC 200 will arrive at the dealerships soon, the RC 125 will likely arrive next month.

As has been the tradition at KTM, weight savings are the key aspect of this update. The bikemaker has managed to shed 3.4kg from the wheels, while the braking system is now lighter by 960gm. Even the new subframe has helped KTM drop the weight by another 1.5kg.

The design has been one of the most talked-about aspects of the 2021 KTM RC 125 and the 2021 KTM RC 200. As per the Austrian brand, this design is inspired by its MotoGP machine and is more aerodynamic than before. We saw the test mules equipped with halogen headlights, however, in a surprise move, KTM has introduced LED headlights for the 200cc model, while the RC 125 will get a halogen unit.

There are a few other changes made to the India-spec models of these two bikes. For starters, the European-spec RC 125 gets the TFT instrument console from the 2022 KTM RC 390, however the Indian model gets the LCD unit from the RC 200. This is the same console from the KTM 250 Adventure, so there’s no bluetooth connectivity.

Another big change for the India-spec bike comes in the form of MRF tyres, which replace the Continental rubber from the International model. KTM has even tweaked the ergonomics of the bikes by setting the clip-on handlebars at the highest position, but customers can choose to lower it by up to 15mm.

While the 43mm USD fork and monoshock remain unchanged, braking duties are now handled by a new 320mm disc up front and a 230mm disc at the rear. The RC 200 now features dual-channel ABS with the option to disengage the system at the rear.

While the engine is pretty much the same as before, KTM has equipped the bikes with a bigger airbox, new engine maps, a curved radiator and better throttle response. This has improved the performance slightly, with the RC 200 now putting out 25.8PS and 19.5Nm (up by 0.8PS and 0.3Nm) while the RC 125 churns 15PS and 12Nm (an increase of 0.5Nm).

The 2021 KTM RC 125’s price of Rs 1.82 lakh puts it against the Yamaha YZF-R15 V4 which is priced Rs 1.67 lakh onwards. On the other hand, the RC 200 goes unchallenged in its class, and with the price unchanged, justifies its tag a little better than before. That said, the prices are introductory, so expect these to shoot up in the coming months. And lastly, those of you wondering how these bikes are to ride, will need to watch out for our first ride review, coming out soon!