The return of the RC8: KTM RC 8C revealed

The orange giant has revived the well-known RC8 nametag, and brought forward the KTM RC 8C. The KTM RC 8C is a fully handmade, lightweight sportsbike built together with Kramer Motorcycles and has one specific mission: to completely decimate the race track! One could say that the KTM RC 8C is the closest thing customers could experience to a factory race bike from KTM, without the need of a race team to maintain it of course. The KTM RC 8C is ready to race.

The KTM RC 8C shares its engine with the 890 Duke R: the LC8C 889cc engine, with slight modifications that puts out 126bhp and 101Nm of torque. This engine is bolted on to a bespoke 25CrMo4 steel tubular frame, while also featuring a unique airbox and a twin air filter for better throttle response. The exhaust is a bespoke stainless steel unit built by Kramer Motorcycles which is equipped with an Akrapovic titanium muffler and a carbon end cap. As if that wasn’t enough, the RC 8C has a dry weight of just 140kg, translating into a near 1:1 power/weight ratio. Sounds like a dream? It does, except it’s actually real.

The bodywork of the KTM RC 8C draws inspiration from the RC16, and uses lightweight carbon kevlar reinforced GRP fairings throughout the body, a carbonfibre front fender with quick-change function, RC-16 styled winglets, and crash protection. The fuel tank measures 16 litres and is also integrated into the rear subframe and seat unit.

The RC 8C gets fully adjustable WP Apex 7543 43mm closed cartridge forks made out of lightweight material up front along with a WP Apex 7117 steering damper. The front fork gets an internal reservoir, and since it does not have a hydraulic stroke limitation, riders can control the damping properties. Meanwhile, the rear gets a WP Apex Pro 7746 monoshock which is also fully adjustable.

With great power and a 140kg dry weight, comes great braking equipment as well. The KTM RC8C sports Brembo discs, with 290mm Brembo Stylema calipers featuring aluminium rotors at the front , and a 230mm two-piston caliper fully floating disc at the rear. The RC8C also features a Brembo 19RCS Corsa Corta master cylinder to allow riders to tailor the ‘bite’ of the brakes according to their preferences with the help of three different modes that can be accessed via the selector above the master cylinder.

The KTM RC8C wears Pirelli Diablo Superbike racing slicks equipped with Dymag UP7X forged aluminium alloys, with a 120/70R17 at the front and a 180/60R17 at the rear, which can be upgraded to an even thicker 200/55 rubber if needed.

The KTM RC8C features a factory-spec AIM MXS 1.2 Race dashboard complete with a data logger and navigation, which can be accessed via the 5-inch TFT display screen. This can be used to analyse the rider’s performance on the racetrack, as it records lap times, track speeds, gear and rpm, acceleration and deceleration figures, engine stats, ECU settings, and oil pressure.

Only 100 units of the KTM RC 8C will ever be produced, and what makes it even more special is that out of the 100, only 25 lucky customers get to join the Red Bull KTM Factory racing team for a one-off event at Circuito de Jerez, as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity awaits them where they get to ride with race icons Dani Pedrosa and Mike Kallio who will be guiding the riders during the event. The KTM RC 8C will be available for pre-order from July 22.

This also means that the only way to get one in India is via imports, and it will not be affordable by any standards. KTM currently sells the Duke, the RC, and the Adventure in India. The RC is due for a major upgrade and it is bound to reach us soon. Which KTM would you love to add in your garage? Let us know in the comments, and keep up with us on our social media handles for more such information.