Race Dynamics Powertronic V2.0 product review, first report

    Is this just another performance upgrade or is there more to it? Read on to find out.

    Published on May 23, 2016 01:04:00 PM

    1,87,857 Views

    Before I get started with this review I must admit some prejudices. Firstly, I like my bikes stock. Secondly, I like my bikes to be on the calm side of wild. That, I’ll explain.

    When I got my 390 Duke, I had briefly tested the Race Dynamics Powertronic V1 but passed it up. The reason was that the performance, for my taste, felt too hooliganish. It reminded me very much of the 2013 KTM 390 Dukes that had a dull bottom end and very potent mid-range. Now take this and amp it up. Yep, the Powertronic V1 could be exciting, but also a bit tiring to ride. So, very soon, I was happy to pull off the box and get back to stock. Stock is good.

    But recently, I noticed Race Dynamics talking about a new Powertronic V2. Meh. Except, traction control! That caught me hook, line and sinker. An aftermarket traction control system is a fantastic idea! So, I pestered them to let me test it. More on that later. So, shortly after, the Powertronic V2 kit turned up at my doorstep, ready to be strapped onto my bike. And here’s what followed.

    Installation and build quality

    Inspired by the manual that came in the box, I decided to take this on as a DIY project. The booklet turned out to be quite unhelpful and so, I turned to some RaceDynamics installation videos on YouTube to help me out. It took me a couple of hours to complete the installation, but if I had to do it again, it would take less than half that time. The tricky part was that the videos do not show you how to install the new crank and throttle position sensors and figuring that out took a bit of time. However, new installation guides are on the way. And, you always have the option of the RaceDynamics rep installing it for you.

    Now, on to the good stuff. The quality of parts is fairly impressive. The sheathed loom, the Powertronic case, and the connectors look and feel solid. With the V2, Race Dynamics has moved to an all-new wiring loom that does away with the need to cut or splice any wires. The wiring loom has four couplers, each neatly labelled, that plug straight into the stock points. The kit also comes with three zip ties to strap the wires to keep them away from hot parts. The Powertronic box feels tough and squeezes under the seat. However, if you had to nitpick, small details like the cutouts for the two status lights, and the coupler to turn the bike back to stock settings look a bit rough.

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