P112
RIDE REVIEW I 2024 KTM RC8c
Powering the RC8c is a heavily
breathed-upon 899cc KTM paral-
lel-twin motor, one that started its
life as the heart
of the 890 Duke.
There's not a lot left between the
walls of the twin that's stock KTM.
Titanium conrods, titanium inlet
and exhaust valves, higher lift
and longer duration camshafts on
the intake and exhaust side, CNC
ported cylinder-head, higher com
-
pression forged Pankl pistons,
and
larger Dell'Orto 48mm throttle
bodies compared to the 45mm
The RCR will see to it that all
KTM's sportbike might is put
into this new, mass-produced
platform, and thus the RC8c will
become an instant collector's
item. It is the sharpest sportbike
ever to feature a KTM badge on
the airbox cover available to the
public because, as we all know,
you can't buy Brad Binder's bike.
Although the Krämer genes are
painfully obvious, they in no way
detract from the awesomeness of
a KTM RC8c. Purpose-built with
no ties to pesky homologation
rules, it is physically impossible
to get off an RC8c at the end of
a track session without having a
gigantic, face-hurting smile.
With a claimed, ready-to-go
weight of 313 pounds, everything
on the KTM is designed to make
you go as fast as possible around
a racetrack. Pedro Acosta uses
an RC8c as his practice bike; that
alone should be all the convincing
you need.
(Left) The rear-seat unit
triples as the fuel cell, and the
subframe is designed to flex
in a crash. (Below) Winglets
give the RC8c a bit of MotoGP
cool. Whether they are of any
benefit to the end user is up
for debate. (Bottom) That
Akrapovic exhaust produces
one hell of a bark.
