The legendary KTM RC8 may have been out of production for a while now but the Austrian bike maker is all set to revive the iconic nameplate with a new fully-faired middleweight sportbike. Or so it seems going by the latest spy images. A near-production version of the KTM RC8 C was recently spotted testing promising a road-going offering of the track bike. The KTM RC8 C was unveiled earlier this year and was sold out in mere minutes after bookings opened for international markets. The road-spec opens room for new markets as customers enjoys some of KTM’s MotoGP learnings on the race track.
The upcoming KTM RC8 will share its underpinnings with the KTM 890 Duke sold globally. So parts sharing should hardly come as a surprise to many. And that’s what the test mule showcases. Several components seem to be a direct lift from the 890 Duke including the tubular frame, rear swingarm, alloy wheels, braking set-up and the fully-adjustable monoshock unit at the rear.
Much like the RC8 C, the road-going KTM RC8 will be a focussed machine as well with enhancements to make it road legal. Some bits that seem to be carried over include the air vents in the fairing, as well as the fuel tank. The dual projector headlamp, on the other hand, is quite similar to the older generation RC390, albeit covered in an aerodynamically-shaped fairing.
Power will come from the same unit as the 890 Duke. The 889cc motor with its 285-degree crank to mimic a 75-degree V-Twin develops about 223PS and 99 Nm of peak torque. The engine could produce will over 130PS on the RC8. The test mule also suggests a modified cylinder head that further promises more power over the 890 Duke. The bike will also come with a gamut of electronics including cornering ABS and traction control, wheelie control, engine braking control, as well as a full-colour TFT screen.
The production-spec KTM RC8 is still sometime away from making its global debut though and we expect it to arrive towards the end of next year. The launch can take place in 2023. There’s no word if the RC8 will make its way to India anytime soon but we do have our hopes up on this one.
