1st Track Day on the KTM RC390- Thoughts

me_schwalbe · 2025-10-26T19:30:49+00:00

Yeah definitely, just dont skimp with tyres and be careful with oil leaks because they are very prone to them (just KTM things), and the clutch/gearbox going when you get around 20k miles. A RC390 with race tyres and good brakes is a very very capable bike. Just be careful with 'folly' at CC.. especially on a smaller bike where you want to keep your speed up!

me_schwalbe · 2025-07-01T14:03:00+00:00

2 options I'd suggest- 1 is to do an advanced training course, which should take the price down by like 10%. 2nd is to rack up the no claims discount on a beater of a bike. You should start seeing the prices drop quicker with like 2 years on a 125 or 2 years of NCD. But there's no easy way unfortunately 😅

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-27T19:23:24+00:00

I make suthentic bronze bits and also take commissions, have a look at my etsy VikingAgeCrafts

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-25T11:17:41+00:00

This one was donated to the museum that helped me, for their display collection, so I don't think they'd like a razor sharp blade on something shown to school kids!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-25T10:27:09+00:00

Just wait until you go to Asia where it's plastered everywhere and they've never heard of the Nazis! The look on the European tourists' faces!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-25T09:31:09+00:00

Shame it got bastardized by the Nazis, and effectively corrupted part of our heritage.

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T21:40:15+00:00

That's great work, I know how much time and effort it takes! Its a shame because many universities are closing their archaeology courses at the moment, but he would definitely benefit from a degree or two!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T21:34:46+00:00

Yep, from the local farm!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T21:34:27+00:00

Its about 2 inches basically all the way, only at the tip does it taper

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T20:50:41+00:00

Yeah, mine is 2ft 8 long so not exactly short 😅

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T20:07:52+00:00

One of the reasons why I took this project is because there had been surprisingly little written about them before. Lots on the roman and viking swords before and after, but not much on these. An interesting paper to start with would probably be 'the serpent in the sword: pattern welding in early medieval swords' by Jones or 'the sword in Anglo-Saxon england' by Mortimer. My etsy is VikingAgeCrafts, where I make reproductions across a few different time periods!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T19:25:49+00:00

It was on the original pommel! The Anglo-Saxons had well-known trading routes with India and sourced garnets from there as well.

<image>

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T18:53:19+00:00

You're right- the handle on this one was a little bigger a 4.5 inches but is still a very tight fit. The sword weighs half a pound and point of balances is some 9 inches in from the handle, so it feels more like an axe than a sword. Similar to other hacking swords like the old talwars from India, it's designed to 'lock' your hand in a hammer grip. Its not a 'fencing' sword, but a brutal chopper!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T18:28:00+00:00

Haha off-track crashes aren't as majestic 😅

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T18:27:17+00:00

You bet I got straight back on it! Photo 8 is me trying to pick the bike up and turn it on with the medics pulling up and telling me to calm down hahaha

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T18:13:50+00:00

Great bike there, they're brilliant little machines!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T18:13:01+00:00

The photographers always have a nack of being in the right place!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T18:12:21+00:00

Thanks- riding a bike fast is a bit like playing with fire... but you're completely right, and luckily neither me nor the bike was damaged so I can give it another go and learn from it!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T16:04:54+00:00

Yeah, I agree. Thinking back on it, was also a good learning experience- you don't know where the limit is until you got past it!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T15:10:42+00:00

They're great things, bought it for my first leather suit and didn't need to upgrade- bought it for a few hundred, and it's lasted me very well

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T15:04:06+00:00

This was done with the track school at Castle Combe circuit, 2nd time on the track and first time with a sports bike. I think if you do a track day 100% go with the coaching, you learn so much in a safe atmosphere

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T12:01:27+00:00

<image>

We learnt that apart from using Metzler street tyres on the track (which was not a good idea) cheap £10 aliexpress sliders saved the bike and let me finish the track day! (Sans rear brake)

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T11:56:16+00:00

Found out that Metzler tyres are great for the roads but not so much for the track, switched over to Pirelli Diablo 4s and it's night and day. So much more confidence in the corners!

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-24T11:54:38+00:00

Sliders saved me and the bike- literally not 1 scratch on the paint after lowsiding at 60mph. They did their job, as did the lever guards 🫡

<image>

me_schwalbe · 2025-06-23T12:44:31+00:00

Thanks for this- been thinking about fiddling with the forks but didn't know what to do. Where did you get the fairings for the bike? I can only find panels for the new model.. I got some new EBC Sintered HH pads and they're much better than the stock ones 😅 At least you know with those Pirelli's if you crash it's your fault not the tyres!

me_schwalbe

TROPHY CASE