KTM Hits the Nail on the Head

Welcome to the first test of the eagerly anticipated KTM 990 RC R, a bike that has kept sports bike lovers on the edge of their seats for what seems like an eternity. We first witnessed its MotoGP-inspired 947-cc prototype in early 2024; however, due to KTM’s recent and well-documented financial issues, it has taken until now to officially launch this dramatically styled motorcycle. Here is how our first ride went off, both on the road and racetrack

- Story: Adam Child 'Chad'

KTM NEEDED ITS first new model since the Mattighofen factory resumed production to come out punching from the bell, and on first impression, it appears to have done so. Its LC8c parallel twin makes 128 hp at 9,500 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 103 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm to make it the most powerful bike in this middleweight sports bike class (if we ignore non-Euro5+-compliant bikes). Multiple riding modes, four ABS settings, anti-wheelie, all accessible by new switchgear, and a hugely wide "landscape" 8.8-inch full colour TFT dash are just for starters.

Suspension, as you would expect of KTM, is fully adjustable WP APEX, with stopping power coming from the very latest Brembo HyPure callipers, usually seen only on high-end superbikes such as the Ducati Panigale V4 S. Do not be fooled, though; the RC R is not a 990 Duke in a fancy aero suit. It has a completely new steel tube frame and aluminium subframe, swing-arm, and linkage, while its wheelbase and steering geometry are completely different from its naked stablemate. The only major component that is shared between the two models is its eight-valve parallel twin powerplant, albeit with different exhaust and fuelling. Its UK price is £13,499 (Rs 15.79 lakh).

KTM is clearly confident in its first pure road-going sports bike since the RC 8R and treated us to two full days of testing: one on Spanish roads on a standard bike fitted with Michelin Power Cup 2 rubber, followed by one on track shod with Michelin track-day slicks. Can the new 990 RC R go as quickly as it looks on track, while also being a versatile and usable road bike? We headed to a very hot southern Spain to find out.