KTM RC Motorcycles might be introduced with a slipper clutch

Yes, you heard it right! There is no official announcement from KTM India yet, but our sources have informed us that the company is planning to introduce the slipper clutch for the RC motorcycles.

It has become a tradition to use slipper clutch in Moto GP racing motorcycles. Today, most of the high performance motorycles use the slipper clutch, such as the few available in India - the Yamaha R1, Suzuki Hayabusa and the Honda VFR1200F etc. The Kawasaki Ninja 300 also gets a slipper clutch which sets it apart from the Duke 390 which misses out on the same.

So how does the slipper clutch actually help or set the motorcycle apart from the ones which are not equipped with it? The main concept behind slipper clutch is to control the rear wheel against locking in during downshifts which can result in rear wheel locking and losing its traction/momentum.

With the use of normal clutches, the engine braking force is sent to rear wheel through a chain drive or shaft drive which causes the rear wheel to lose traction with a jerk. However, the slipper clutch, also known as back torque limiter clutch, assists by allowing the clutch to partially slip until the engine speed matches the bike's speed. So the rider can downshift aggressively while keeping the bike stable under heavy braking.

KTM India officially unveiled the RC390 and RC200 for the Indian market and globally launched it at the same event. The bookings for both the motorcycles started last month and deliveries have also begun. The new slipper clutch will be a bold new addition for the RC motorcycles, if introduced. We think with this special technical upgrade, it will only add to the excitement of the prospective buyers as these motorcycles will get more road-friendly.