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/1541018
2026 KTM 990 RC R ($13,949) ENGINE Parallel-twin, 4-stroke VALVETRAIN DOHC DISPLACEMENT 947cc COOLING SYSTEM Liquid BORE X STROKE 92.5 × 70.4mm COMPRESSION RATIO 13.5:1 MAX POWER 128 hp. at 9500 rpm MAX TORQUE 76 lb-ft at 6750 rpm FUEL SYSTEM Electronic fuel injection system, 46mm throttle bodies EXHAUST 3-2-1 TRANSMISSION 6-speed, PASC slipper clutch, Quickshifter+ CHASSIS Chromium-molybdenum steel trellis, engine as stressed member FRONT SUSPENSION WP Apex 48mm open-cartridge fork, fully adjustable (30-click compression and rebound, three- click preload) REAR SUSPENSION WP Apex shock, adjustable for preload, rebound, high/ low-speed compression FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.8 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.3 in. FRONT BRAKE Dual 4-piston Brembo Hypure monobloc calipers, 320mm discs, ABS REAR BRAKE Twin-piston caliper, 240mm disc, ABS FRONT TIRE 120/70 ZR17 Michelin Power Cup 2 REAR TIRE 180/55 ZR17 Michelin Power Cup 2 RAKE 23.2° TRAIL 3.6 in. WHEELBASE 58.3 in. SEAT HEIGHT 33.3 in. FUEL CAPACITY 4.15 gal. WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED) 430 lbs. rear runs a fully-adjustable WP Apex shock matched to a linkage off the swingarm. This is also the first super- sport machine to come with the Brembo Hypure four-piston radially mounted calipers biting 320mm discs and a Brembo span-adjustable radial master cylinder (the same as on the Ducati Panigale V4 S), meaning braking performance is abso- lutely A+. If anything, the brak- ing power is almost too much for the chassis. Matched to the 48mm fork, the RC R is supremely stable under braking, but herein lies a machine curiosity. Unlike some- thing like the Panigale, the KTM doesn't like snappy mid-corner direction changes, preferring instead to have its rider choose their line and stick with it so they can use the performance of the twin-cylinder motor to jump out of the corner. The chassis has a 52.5 per- cent forward weight bias, but it's somewhat masked by the clip-on handlebars, which are mounted a little higher than they normally would be for a supersport ma- chine. This is more noticeable on the road, as comfort is good but not great. You'll still get a few aches and pains in your neck if you're on the taller side, but on track, the ride position is such that I covered 80 laps of the undulating 2.6-mile Circuito de Sevilla and could have done 80 more. After all, this is a supers- port machine, not a touring bike. Our test loop had us riding around the hills near the Seville circuit, a seemingly never-end- ing series of twisty switchbacks taken mainly in second and third gear, so relatively low speed but still bleedingly good fun. Even though I mentioned the chassis' tendency to hold its line more than provide quick direction changes at track speeds, on the road the chassis is a very willing partner indeed. The forward weight bias allows you to load up the Michelin Power Cup 2 rubber easily, with feel from the front-end coming in waves. It's an easy chassis to ride to a quick pace and keep it there— it doesn't come back to bite you like some of the more razor- edged sportbikes out there— and that just means you keep coming back for more. Add in the optional cruise control (seri - ously, just buy the Tech Pack), and you've got a bike for most (not all) conditions. The RC R has a real quality feel to it, from the clear-coated decals to the deep paint, the faux-suede seat covering, fat ol' winglets that produce 28 pounds of downforce at 150 mph, and neat but easy-to-use switchgear. It doesn't feel like corners have been cut in its design, something that owners would pick up immediately because the brand really is under a mi- croscope right now. Given the price, you get a lot of bike for the money, and you get a worthy addition to the supersport segment. More than that, however, we should all be happy to see the Austrians back and firing once again in the sportbikes class. They have created an excellent machine in the 990 RC R. CN P94 RIDE REVIEW I 2026 KTM 990 RC R