KTM Crowds the Superbike Market, Unveils their Angular 2008 RC8 Crotch Rocket
Tuesday November 13, 2007
The superbike market just got more crowded: KTM, Austrian purveyor of fine offroad motorcycles, recently revealed their new 1190 RC8 at the Milan Motorcycle Show.
Ready to duke it out with Buell's 1125R and Ducati's 1098, the RC8 comes equipped with:
- A 1,148cc liquid-cooled v-twin that produces 155 horsepower at 10,000 rpm.
- A powder-coated chromium-molybdenum trellis frame
- Wind tunnel-tested bodywork that looks like it was designed using only straight lines.
- WP suspension components (inverted 43mm front shocks and a rear monoshock)
- Brembo monobloc brakes
- A total weight of 440 lb with a full tank of gas.
The RC8, which will come in orange/black or white/black paint schemes and doesn't yet have an price, will be available in March 2008. Check out our 2008 KTM RC8 photo gallery, and comment on whether or not this vectorized vision of the future is something you'd want to own.
Photo © KTM
Comments
long live 90 degree V-Twins!!
Interesting “wings” on the tank.
Got my AMA mag last night and it had a “hit list” of sport bikes that the govt. deems too fast. I guess this will be added to it.
Scottie…..Is it a long list? Can you share? Love to see it…
I read it and tossed it (can’t let things pile up in NYC apartment), but the list was fairly long. I’ll try to see it online tonight as I don’t have my AMA login with me right now.
Aprilia
RST Futura, RS 250, RSV 1000 R, RSV 1000 R Factory
BMW
F800S, F800ST, K1200GT, R1200RT, R1200ST, K1200S, K1200R, R1150R, R1150R Rockster
Buell
All models
Ducati
1000DS, 620 Sport, SS800, 749, 749R, 749S, 999 Biposto, 999R, 999S, Monster S2R, Monster S2R 1000, Monster S4R, Monster S4R Testastretta
Honda
Interceptor 800, Interceptor 800 ABS, ST1300, ST1300 ABS, ST1300 Police MC, CBR1000RR, CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, RC51, 599, 919
Kawasaki
Concours 1000, Ninja 250R, Ninja 500, Ninja 650R, Ninja ZX-14, ZZR600, Ninja ZX-10R, Ninja ZX-6R, Ninja ZX-6RR, Z1000, ZR-7S
Suzuki
Hayabusa, Katana 600, Katana 750, GSX-R1000, GSX-R750, GSX-R600, SV1000, SV650S, V-Strom 1000, V-Strom 650
Triumph
Sprint ST, 955 Daytona, Daytona 675, Speed Triple
Yamaha
FJR1300, YZF600R, YZF-R1, YZF-R6, YZF-R6S, FZ6, FZS1000
Thanks Scottie! This is exactly what I expected…what a shame a bunch of mindless bureaucrats who can barely recognize a motorcycle on sight, much less decide which ones are ‘too fast’ have the power to legislate stupid laws in to place. 500 Ninja, 599 Honda, SV650, 650 VStrom hardly belong on this list.
The truly fast bikes (where’s the 1098?!!) belong on a list by all means…a list that prohibits inexperienced riders from licensing one. How can we let a 17 yr old with 3 months behind him get on a 1000RR or R1??
They don’t get it!! … The bike is not the problem!! It’s the asinine licensing laws in Canada for sure and I suspect most of the U.S. as well.
Wow, Scottie– at first glance, I thought that list was spam! What a remarkable and ridiculously wide swath of bikes… I’m surprised the Honda Metropolitan didn’t make the cut.
Stuff like that makes you appreciate when an enthusiast (like Mary Peters) gets involved in motorcycle safety outreach.
Basem
Didja have to use the term “crotch rocket”?
;)
TEvo,
Sometimes, I just can’t help myself
Basem
I’m with you on that. I hate the term ‘Crotch Rocket’ ….. they’re “Sport Bikes”.
And while we’re at it…I suspect most of us here are “motorcyclists”.
I for one am NOT a biker - never been one - never will be.
“Bikers” - at the risk of sounding stereotypical ride hogs with colors on their jackets.