KTM RC8-R

[Io-bot]

Was far from impressed by this thing at the track... felt underpowered, suspension wasnt much to brag about and just overall ehhh... Anyone else ride one?

[reiobard]

Was far from impressed by this thing at the track... felt underpowered,

I see what you mean.....

[SVRACER01]

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Who in thier right mind let YOU ride one.
i think you lack the expertise to properly evaluate

[R7]

i think you lack the expertise to properly evaluate

maybe so, but the rag articles i've read pretty much agree with what IO is saying

[OreoGaborio]

I rode both the RC8 and the RC8R that Valley Motorsports brought up for us.

Both bikes:
Throttle had way too much slop for my liking (easily fixable)
Throttle had way too little return spring for my liking (easily fixable). It felt like you were turning a screwdriver in mid air. Very little resistance. I didn't like that.
They reminded me a little of the MV Agusta I rode in New Jersey. The harder you rode them, the more the bike liked it (unfortunately I didn't have the balls or the wallet to REALLY flog the piss out of them). They did not like being ridden slow. When ridden slow they were very twitchy and felt unstable. The bars were set too wide (which makes sense once you realize they they were set up by a motard racer ) and I think that contributed to that twitchy feeling, at least when it came to the steering response. But when being flogged the overall "twitchiness" of the bike became "responsiveness". The on/off throttle transition was a little abrupt, but no more than most superbikes. It takes some getting used to and you really had to concentrate on getting on the throttle early or else you had to delay your roll on to avoid upsetting the bike mid corner.

RC8
Seat was too low. It felt like you were sitting IN the bike, not on it, the way I prefer. (easily fixable with the adjustable sub-frame)
Power was SUPER linear & there was a lot of it.
Suspension was typical stock/street suspension. Needs a little tweaking but has potential.


RC8R
Seat height was good, but the foot pegs (same location as the RC8) were then too low for my liking (again, easily fixable) but were great for a street bike as your legs weren't cramped.
Power, like the non R version, was SUPER linear, but pretty ridiculous. The R had another 20 (or 30?) hp over the regular version. KB and I took them both out at the same time and we switched 1/2 way through the session. Whoever was on the R easily walked the other on the power. KB said when he was on the R he had the front wheel 6" off the ground from the exit of 12 to about the start/finish line. I believe it. Think I got the R up to about 140mph indicated and it probably could have done more if I really hammered out the apex of 12 instead of being a pussy & standing it up before really getting on it.
Again, the suspension needed some tweaking but was better.


Overall, I also didn't fall in love, BUT I think the bike has a lot of potential. The things I didn't like most are easily correctable. I just don't think they were set-up well for Loudon.

[Pittenger5]

Pretty sure I wouldnt use all the power

[Half Squid]

I like the breakdown Pete!

That bike is so fuckin SEXY!

[nhtodd]

I like the Katoom always been a fan of their bikes. Never ridden one of those but would love too. Would even try to evaluate anything as I'm no where good enough to use even half that power.

[Io-bot]

I see what you mean.....

I could wheelie a 250 though

But no, dont get me wrong, the thing had power... i guess i just expected more grunt. And as Pete said, the thing was a bit sloppy and at slow speeds the throttle and brakes were like on/off switches.

[OreoGaborio]

i guess i just expected more grunt.

Yeah, it didn't punch you in the ass when you whacked open the throttle... But I have a sneaking suspicion that the fly by wire throttle was taking a bit of the edge off.

[Manny]

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I rode both at mid-Ohio for a day. I probably rode 7 different r's and the throttle/fueling sucked on all of em and they were all differnet. Some of them felt like an inch of slack. Odd.

[The Snowman]

I was signed up to take the non-R out at the 4:00 session, but when the sky spit, they packed up the show. So, I missed out. Too bad, because the rain held off for the rest of the day.

Oh well, another day.

[TuonoMark]

Nice write up Pete!

I haven't ridden either KTM, but for $20k that brings the RSV4 Factory and 1198S into the picture. I just don't see how you spend the money on the KTM.

[benVFR]

If it's fly by wire is the throttle "slop" actually easily fixable?

Is there still a cable on these bikes and the cable routes to a sensor that the computer interprets?

Or is the sensor right on the handlebar?

In either case... there can be slop in the cable (easily fixed) and there can also be slop built into the computer software... (probably not so easily fixed).

I would love to play with a programmable throttle by wire that wasn't a "black box".

[Paul_E_D]

good question.

From what I understand in talking to Jerry the KTM has zero traction control software, and that may be why they tamed the power curve to be super smooth.

The bike is super sexy, but out of my price threshold anyway...

[Ken C]

I rode the regular RC8 and the throttle was a huge distraction for me. It took two laps before I was able to not lurch forward in T3. As Pete said, once I felt more comfortable and picked up the pace, it started to feel better.

I liked the narrow feeling and the bike was stable, yet responsive.
The thing felt like a cross between a motard and a superbike. The power was linear and abundant...more than you'd ever really use at Loudon.

I was too busy to ride the R.