No more RC8R from KTM?

[backinthesaddle]

Supposedly they don't feel a liter sport bike is appropriate for public roads. I have ridden them twice and think the latest generation is a smooth, friendly, comfortable bike. While I hear what they are saying, why then are they making that 1290 bike (SuperDuke) that has more power than the 1190 RC8R? Is it due to no fairings on the 1290? I don't see a lot of young squids rushing in to buy the RC8R. In fact the 3 friends of mine who have them are 70, 60+, and late 50s/early 60s.

No More Superbikes for KTM - CEO Says They're Too Dangerous For Public RoadsTheRideAdvice.com

[Kurlon]

Let me translate the corp speak for you: "Our bike isn't competitive anywhere, so here is a way out without saying 'sorry we suck'."

[Paul_E_D]

That may be it Kurlon, but saying it isn't safe was pretty stupid.

[Kurlon]

That may be it Kurlon, but saying it isn't safe was pretty stupid.

He's trying to score political points somewhere. The scary part is waiting to see what pops up to justify this little speech.

[backinthesaddle]

I know I should have bought one so I could say I bought this bike because its so fast and dangerous that KTM stopped making it. Good, fun bike but come on its not a TZ750.

- - - Updated - - -

And a 1290 superduke is a better wheelie machine.

[xrocket21]

RC8R is one of the few bikes I'd replace the RC51 with!

[South of Heaven]

WOW! Very interesting. I owned a '12 RC8r and absolutely loved it. It was the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden and the engine/chassis feel was second to none. I rode that bike to PA, upstate NY, VT several times, and all over MA,NH. Never got fatigued and I'm 6 feet tall. The tech was minimal....but I loved that aspect of it. No frills. I put on 14k street miles in 2013 from March- November.....Then it was stolen from my Boston condo in December. Still can't get over that. Lol.