No more KTM RC8R 1190

2wzilla

2wzilla

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So there seems to be no more Supersports bikes coming from KTM above 390cc with Canada/US only having the KTM RC390 and a small amount of International countries getting the KTM RC125 and KTM RC200 along with the KTM RC390. I was always a fan of KTM, not performance wise as to me KTM seemed like a better brand then Ducati with less hiccups then Ducati and similar price tag. And honestly I wasn't very wrong with KTM RC390 having rather sketchy breaks and laughable gas tank that is even smaller than CBR250R's, which made me wonder "Why the hell KTM?". Don't get me wrong I still think KTM 1290 Super Duke R is a phenomenal and amazing naked bike with little "****" to say about it, sure there are the electrical and electronic issues here and there something KTM is known for.

Now I was bit surprised and in the same time not, when I heard KTM will stop selling RC8R's for street use. I did find there excuse pretty funny "The RC8R is to dangerous and fast for the street..." Well duh, but what make any other 1000cc+ Supersports bike any less dangerous? I see people cruising around on CBR1100XX, ZX-14R and GSXR-1300 and this are Hypersport bikes, more dangerous than RC8R can be. The real reason I think KTM pulled the plug on the RC8R is the price tag. 20K + HST is rather hefty price to pay and then you got the hefty insurance to pay on this exotic bike, it's just like Ducati's and bit like Triumphs/MV Agusta/Aprilia. But realistically you can pick up a used CBR1000RR for $5000 and that's with loads of mod's and in rather nice condition. I seen a CBR1100XX go for sale in good condition for just $3600, granted you can get the parts for the 1100XX.

I'm just waiting till KTM stops selling RC390 since I honestly don't think wasting $7000+, + HST on a single cylinder 390cc bike is a wise idea. I only seen a single RC390 in past few years riding around Brampton, and that was just one random run in. Most people I see are on either Ninja 250/300 or CBR 250/300 as this bikes are dirt cheap to get used with mods and are pretty cheap on insurance as they cost nothing to replace should it come to that.

So what are your opinions on the KTM RC8R 1190 and KTM's decision to make it Track Only bike, removing it from public sale?

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The Road Warrior said:
More money for the competition, KTM's loss.
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I don't think many people are willing to drop $20K on a bike with a performance of most Japanese bikes, that cost x3 less (used). There is motorcycle shop in Toronto and the owner has been selling his 2009 KTM RC8R since oh boy 2010 I think. 12,761 on it and he's asking $14,500 + Licensing + HST. Bike does have loads of mods but still rather pricey. Nor do I think KTM was ever competing with the Japanese manufactures I get the idea KTM was more competing with Ducati, Aprilia, Triumph and MV Augusta
 
KTM is involved with the European Union regulatory authorities (as are representatives of other European manufacturers). Many moons ago, BMW crooned about not making bikes with more than 100 hp (which was a European-market limit at the time). Then the S1000RR was a sales success, and you don't hear them saying that any more.

The RC8 was not successful in the marketplace ... this gives them an opportunity to score political points with the Euroweenie regulators and cancel the model at the same time.

The Superduke 1290 ain't a slow bike. You don't hear them wanting to cancel that one.
 
At their price and performance level many KTM bikes are built for a pretty small niche market. Will there be enough sales volume out there to support the importation, sales and then support of models with very limited sales potential. Seems KTM is determining there is not and models are to be pulled from the market.

Along a similar vein I wonder what an owner of an MV Agusta is going to do re parts and service availability and future sales or trade in value.
 
Brian P said:
KTM is involved with the European Union regulatory authorities (as are representatives of other European manufacturers). Many moons ago, BMW crooned about not making bikes with more than 100 hp (which was a European-market limit at the time). Then the S1000RR was a sales success, and you don't hear them saying that any more.

The RC8 was not successful in the marketplace ... this gives them an opportunity to score political points with the Euroweenie regulators and cancel the model at the same time.

The Superduke 1290 ain't a slow bike. You don't hear them wanting to cancel that one.
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But isn't it funny that the Duke 1290 is pretty much a stripped down RC8R with different fairings and front, if I'm not mistaking it's the same engine as the 1190 with bit more torque.
 
ReSTored said:
At their price and performance level many KTM bikes are built for a pretty small niche market. Will there be enough sales volume out there to support the importation, sales and then support of models with very limited sales potential. Seems KTM is determining there is not and models are to be pulled from the market.

Along a similar vein I wonder what an owner of an MV Agusta is going to do re parts and service availability and future sales or trade in value.
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Yep, that is why I always like the Japanese bikes, they are supported everywhere and you can get parts for them no problem. I heard clutches and gaskets blowing on the RC8R's from highway riding, a bike that supposed to be a hardcore track bike. MV Agusta are pretty rare, I haven't seen one in Brampton/Mississauga area. Most bikes I see on the road are GSXR-600 or 750's with few 1000 here and there and a 1-2 Busa's ones in a blue moon. There is also few Ducati's you see here and there, but again I never seen Aprilia or MV Augusta or KTM (other then the RC390) in Peel Region.
 
2wzilla said:
Yep, that is why I always like the Japanese bikes, they are supported everywhere and you can get parts for them no problem. I heard clutches and gaskets blowing on the RC8R's from highway riding, a bike that supposed to be a hardcore track bike. MV Agusta are pretty rare, I haven't seen one in Brampton/Mississauga area. Most bikes I see on the road are GSXR-600 or 750's with few 1000 here and there and a 1-2 Busa's ones in a blue moon. There is also few Ducati's you see here and there, but again I never seen Aprilia or MV Augusta or KTM (other then the RC390) in Peel Region.
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I have seen a MV Agusta. A friend in Muskoka had an Aprilia (do not remember model, about 1000cc, semi naked) for a few years. Aprilia was an absolutely beautiful bike and was way way out in front on an ST run, but very expensive to buy and maintain.
 
The 390 and smaller are typically starter bikes. New riders are not going to spend that much money on a bike they will likely drop and also sell a year later.
When your 2x priced machine is getting whipped by the cheaper Japanese machine, you got problems.
 
KTM's CEO has been on about killing off the RC8 for a while now. In a 2015 story he said "sportbike with such performance doesn’t have any place on the public roads" and that they, KTM, wouldn't be doing them anymore. They'd still do race bikes but wouldn't homolgate them for street use.

Who knows? Maybe he's onto something. Not a huge market for "superbikes" here in Ontario anyway. There's so much to choose from in the marketplace now -- very well done, quick, nimble bikes with half the power of a "superbike" -- that this doesn't seem like such a loss.
 
Blackfin said:
KTM's CEO has been on about killing off the RC8 for a while now. In a 2015 story he said "sportbike with such performance doesn’t have any place on the public roads" and that they, KTM, wouldn't be doing them anymore. They'd still do race bikes but wouldn't homolgate them for street use.

Who knows? Maybe he's onto something. Not a huge market for "superbikes" here in Ontario anyway. There's so much to choose from in the marketplace now -- very well done, quick, nimble bikes with half the power of a "superbike" -- that this doesn't seem like such a loss.
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Saying they are too fast for public roads is a much better sound bite than "we made a bike that isn't magically better and costs a lot more so nobody is buying it"
 
Blackfin said:
KTM's CEO has been on about killing off the RC8 for a while now. In a 2015 story he said "sportbike with such performance doesn’t have any place on the public roads" and that they, KTM, wouldn't be doing them anymore. They'd still do race bikes but wouldn't homolgate them for street use.

Who knows? Maybe he's onto something. Not a huge market for "superbikes" here in Ontario anyway. There's so much to choose from in the marketplace now -- very well done, quick, nimble bikes with half the power of a "superbike" -- that this doesn't seem like such a loss.
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They sure look stupid. We make sport bikes, ship them, then realize they are not for street use.
 
I think they are cool bikes but really most supersports are all the same to me. Maybe they will focus more on off road and adventure style bikes now. I'd love to see an 8-900cc off road capable adventure bike thrown im the mix, maybe competitiom for the africa twin.

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Beekman said:
I think they are cool bikes but really most supersports are all the same to me. Maybe they will focus more on off road and adventure style bikes now. I'd love to see an 8-900cc off road capable adventure bike thrown im the mix, maybe competitiom for the africa twin.
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... but all the ADV bikes look the same to me, and all the cruisers look the same to me.

Different strokes for different folks.
 
Seems odd that they'll be competing as a factory team in motoGp next year and also will be killing their flagship sport product. Unless they're using the track research to make better bikes holistically, it doesn't make sense. Regardless, the RC8 was never on anyone's radar as a bike to have, so meh. Also, I think they got their *** kicked by BMW in the adventure space for the past five years or so let's see if KTM India (Bajaj) buys out the rest of the company in the next few years and revamp the product.
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