The KTM 990 RC R is perhaps the most eagerly awaited model from the Austrian manufacturer of the past few years, but you don’t have to wait for it.
Because, instead, you can go back in time - all the way into the ancient past when KTM last made supersports machinery. Yes, all the way to 2011.
That was the first year the KTM RC8 was replaced by the KTM RC8 R. The ‘R’ effectively stood for 45 more cubic centimetres, 22 more horses, and five more pound-feet of torque. Final outputs were 173bhp and 90lb ft from the 1,195cc V-twin. It was an evolution, but a pretty strong one at that, but KTM nonetheless gave up on its superbike machine in 2015.
Since then, KTM has limited itself to only the RC125 and RC390 in terms of fully faired options, which are a far cry from what came before.
Until now, at least, or almost now. KTM has confirmed its new 990 RC R that it intends to put into production next year and to race in the Supersport class of WorldSBK as well as national championships like British Superbikes.
The 990 RC R is expected to put out 75lb ft and 126bhp, which is the same torque and five more horsepower than the 2024 KTM 990 Duke. Yet, to buy one, you will be shipping well over £10,000 to Mattighofen: the 990 Duke costs £12,999, and you can bet the RC R will come in heavier than that, especially with those fancy wings that are absolutely not only there to make it look slightly more like the RC16 MotoGP bike.
In comparison, you can - right now - get almost 50bhp more and 15lb ft more and for probably a decent amount less. The RC8 R pictured here is being sold by Superbike Factory for £7,591, which could turn out to be almost half the price of the new 990 RC R when it eventually arrives in dealerships some time next year.
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Image credit: The Superbike Factory.
