Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1523461
P116 RIDE REVIEW I 2024 KTM RC8c Dymag wheels to produce a riding experience normally only in the domain of GP riders. Nimble and agile are terms that simply don't do the chassis justice. The RC8c slices through corners with such ease and precision, you need to be a pro-level rider to even get close to the limit. Relatively tiny 280mm front brake discs help reduce unsprung mass, and when combined with the wheels, the KTM turns too quick and with such little input, it consistently surprises. However, like a good race bike, it works better the faster you ride it. It's stiff— stiff like a real race bike—and the more you push it, the better it responds. Dilly-dallying around a track on a RC8c is not a pleasant experience. Your teeth rattle out, and a 990 Duke suddenly becomes a much more appeal - ing prospect. Ride the RC8c like it's supposed to be ridden, and you'll be rewarded. Should you find the need, the KTM RC8c is infinitely adjustable to your riding needs and style. A quick look at the cockpit shows that the handlebars, steering offset, and fork posi - tion are all adjustable, as is stuff like swing- arm pivot position and, of course, suspension in every possible way. The electronics contain all the usual traction, wheelie, and engine map controls, so dialing in the perfect setup should be easy enough. You don't have quite the adjustability of the Mec - tronik ECU, which has been developed along- side the best in WorldSSP and all the metrics they need to play with, but regular track riders will likely be fully satisfied with what's on offer. And well, they should. At $41,499 MSRP, this is by far the most exclusive production KTM money can buy. I suspect most won't even see the light of track time, cotton-wrapped as "investment" pieces, hidden away and never ridden. And for those who do so, you're miss - ing out on one of the finest track-focused motorcycles ever created. But hey, you do you. For those who buy and ride their RC8c as nature intended, congratulations. You've made the right choice. But I suspect you already knew that. CN 2024 KTM RC8c ($41,499) ENGINE: Inline 2-cylinder, 4-stroke VALVETRAIN: DOHC, 8-valve COOLING SYSTEM: Liquid DISPLACEMENT: 899cc BORE X STROKE: 90.7 x 68.8mm FUEL INJECTION: Electronic fuel injection system, 48mm elliptical throttle bodies, Ride-by-Wire throttle COMPRESSION RATIO: 14.1:1 EXHAUST: 2-2-1 TRANSMISSION: 6-speed CLUTCH: ASC slipper clutch, hydraulically actuated ELECTRONICS: Adjustable Traction Control (9 Levels + Off), Adjustable Wheelie Control (5 Levels + Off), Pitlane Speed Limiter, five-inch AIM MXS1.3 dash CHASSIS: Tubular steel trellis FRONT SUSPENSION: WP Apex Pro 7543, closed-cartridge, fully adjustable, split function damping REAR SUSPENSION: WP Apex Pro 7746, fully adjustable, high- and low-speed compression, remote preload, ride-height adjustable with progressive linkage FRONT BRAKE: Dual 290mm full-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Stylema monobloc four-piston calipers REAR BRAKE: 230mm disc, Brembo twin-piston P2 caliper FRONT TIRE: 120/70-ZR 17 in. REAR TIRE: 180/60-17 in. SEAT HEIGHT: NA/adjustable FUEL CAPACITY: 4.2 gal. WEIGHT (CURB, CLAIMED): 313 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S