Yamaha R15-Rivalling KTM RC 160 Spied; India Launch Soon?

KTM RC 160 Spied: The upcoming KTM RC 160 has been recently spied on undergoing testing on Indian roads. Likely positioned as a new entry point to the RC lineup, the KTM RC 160 fully faired bike appears to share its underpinnings and engine with the naked 160 Duke. Compared to the one spotted testing months ago, the recently spied test mule features an orange and black paint scheme, while having a silhouette comparable to that of the RC 200. The obvious design elements are twin projector headlamps with DRLs, and a sharp front fairing. 

KTM RC 160: Chassis, Suspension

Also familiar is a steel trellis frame, suspended by an upside-down front fork and a rear monoshock. There is also the same cast aluminium swingarm and disc brakes. The 17-inch alloy wheels also seem to be carried over from the RC 200. The instrument cluster is likely to be the LCD unit for readouts.

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KTM RC 160: Engine

Based on the RC 200, the KTM RC 160 is expected to draw power from a 164.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled unit, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The power and output are also likely to be the same, 19bhp at 9,500rpm and 15.5Nm at 7,500rpm, respectively. If that materialises, the RC 160 will be more powerful than the RC 125 (14bhp) and position it close to the Yamaha R15 V4 (18bhp).  

KTM RC 160: India Launch Details

KTM has yet to reveal the launch timeline, but market reports suggest that the brand could bring the new RC 160 sometime in Q1 2026. KTM could target a price range of Rs 1.70 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh (ex-showroom).   

Image 2 Credit: Zigwheels