KTM 1190 RC8

• Video

Ascari, a winding track in the middle of Spain, a prestigious racetrack built by a Dutch billiard player for fun, awaited me in ideal conditions. There was no crowd, just the white and orange KTM RC8s, the warm spring sun and the excitement you get before trying something new.

And what politely waited for me was really new! KTM has been waiting for this moment for 53 long years. So much has passed since Erich Trankempolz (son of the founder of T on behalf of KTM) first took to the racetrack on a 125cc sports bike. Cm.

It seems that everyone knows the success story of "Oranges", and their transition from muddy and sandy tracks to asphalt was only a matter of time.

It happened in 2003 in Tokyo! It was then that we first saw the prototype, under which they signed a contract, in our own design studio Kiska. The surprise was great, and the sharp lines were prophetic. Just look at the competition, with rare exceptions, modern motorcycles are very sharp today.

It was 2007, and just as we were confident that KTM would finally hit the rails, an order came from FIM's top management that two-cylinder superbikes could be up to 1.200cc. This caused a lot of headaches for the engineers, and the athlete had to wait another year, as he had to completely redraw the engine.

This is the engine that most confuses people about this KTM. It is a mistake to believe that the same engine as the Adventura 990 or Superduk 990 was only lightly started and inserted into a steel frame. The only thing it has in common with the previously known unit is the angle between the cylinders of 75 degrees.

The design is compact and, like between the rollers, it also allows for a longer swingarm, which means better suspension performance. The dry sump is integrated with an integrated oil tank, which makes the engine even less space-consuming. Main shaft mounted with sleeve bearing, stroke 69 mm, inner diameter 103 mm? everything for the sporting needs of the new car.

1.148 cc engine The CM is capable of developing a decent 155 "horsepower" at ten thousand rpm, and the torque data is even more interesting. This is as much as 120 Nm. Weighing just 64 kilograms, the engine lives up to the orange ambitions.

So, by “learning” the specs of a 188kg motorcycle (with all fluids except fuel) ready to ride, you have an itch to test how theory works in practice.

With an aerodynamic backpack that is part of the accessories you can buy for the full look, and a windstopper over the top of a perforated racing suit, I first checked out what it was capable of on the road. The first impression of the driving position is excellent, the knees are not very bent and the position does not make you tired of leaning on your hands. Aerodynamic protection is decent too, with air flowing smoothly over the shoulders up to 180 km / h and then bending down intelligently to get into an aerodynamic stance.

The device quickly revealed its nature, pulling immeasurably smoothly and continuously, and the most impressive was the torque. Third and fourth gears are the best choice for rhythmic driving on winding roads, as at moderate speeds between 80 and 140 km / h, the engine responds best to the addition of gas. The only obstacle is the opaque mirrors, in which nothing is visible except your own elbows. But the road is not where the RC8 is made for. His polygon is a hippodrome!

KTM thought of the details and left nothing to chance. In the fully standard setting, the handlebar-seat-foot triangle is ergonomic and also suitable for slightly larger riders. For the track, experienced mechanics adjusted the height of the rear, which proved to be an easy task due to the eccentric mounting of the rear suspension arms. The position of the pedals, the position of the gear lever, the steering wheel and of course the suspension (WP, fully adjustable in all directions) can also be adapted to the individual needs of the driver. Finding supercar perfection has never been easier. Therefore, the feeling of being at home in the first round was not accidental. KTM and I quickly merged into one, and then from round to round we continued to seek our own limits. Well, I found them before KTM.

The RC8 is awfully fast in corners and the mind just commands the right wrist: "He's too fast, he can't move that fast, he'll walk on the ground ..." But it didn't work! Stuck in Pirelli Supercorsa tires, it stuck to established lines in an incredibly neutral position without understeer or oversteer.

KTM goes exactly where you tell it. And even at high speeds, it always gives great feedback on what's going on with the bike. The fact that the bike never jerked, slipped, swayed, in short, made my bones tingle, overwhelmed me. Subsequent viewing of the footage, recorded by the camera glued to the fuel tank, only further confirmed my feelings. You can also see these records at www.motomagazin.si. Never once did the rudder jerk or sway nervously. The RC8 is as stable as a train on a rail, the suspension and frame are incredibly uniform, reliable and predictable.

The incredibly powerful brakes instill the same level of confidence. At Brembo, they bought a set of radial lugs from the top shelf in the store, as this is something that is still available for the money, moreover, it is just a racing advantage for professional use. The KTM is also extremely easy to maneuver, and at least in terms of feel, I would easily place it among the thousands of lighter sports cars. However, for an even more accurate impression, it should be compared directly with competitors.

And to find out how fast it is, the next task that still awaits us is that very comparison that makes it clear what the device is capable of. Thus, on the track, he is extremely cultured and strong, but, I confess, I expected a sharper one. KTM says their goal was to put all their power into the most comfortable rev range. This statement was also backed up by the sentence: "It doesn't matter how many 'horses' you have, it's more important how you get them on the track." The stopwatch shows his feelings, not his feelings!

The freshness the RC8 brings is enjoyable and we really can't blame it for being bored. We seriously suspect that this is one of the most rideable athletes at the moment, as we are not used to such a good and reliable riding experience on production bikes. It is true, however, that no additional "horse" will harm him. But for that, KTM has a richly equipped Power Parts catalog where you can find everything you need for such a machine? from noble titanium racing exhaust to protective sliders, lightweight rims, sports electronics, carbon fiber armor and small accessories.

Interestingly and surprisingly, Akrapovich signed not only under the exhaust, but under all the carbon fiber details on the motorcycle on display.

But for a start, a completely serial RC8 is enough. Last but not least, for 15.900 € 8 you get a very good and completely different sports bike with such rich equipment that it is difficult to find a comparison. However, if you have about ten thousand dollars left in your wallet ... you can easily spend them on RCXNUMX.

KTM 1190 RC8

Test car price: 15.900 EUR

engine: 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, angle of rotation of the cylinder V 75 °, 1.148 cm? , 113 kW (155 HP) at 10.000 rpm, 120 Nm at 8.000 rpm, el. fuel injection, 6-speed gearbox, chain drive.

Frame, suspension: chrome-moly bar, front adjustable USD fork, rear single adjustable damper (WP).

brakes: radial 4-piston calipers and pump, front disc 320 mm, rear disc 220 mm.

Tires: before 120 / 70-17, back 190 / 55-17.

Wheelbase: 1.340 mm.

Seat height from ground: 805 / 825 mm

Fuel tank: 16, 5 l.

Weight without fuel with all fluids: 188 kg.

Contact person: www.hmc-habat.si, www.motorjet.si, www.axle.si.

We praise and reproach

+ driving performance

+ secure position

+ brakes

+ engine agility, torque

+ flexibility, ergonomics

+ rich equipment

- frosted mirrors

- all sold out this year

– CPR requires a firm foot, does not like inaccurate movements

Petr Kavchich, photo :? Hervey Poiker (www.helikil.at), Buenos Diaz

• Basic data

  Test model cost: € 15.900 XNUMX €

• Technical information

  engine: 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, cylinder angle V 75 °, 1.148 cm³, 113 kW (155 HP) at 10.000 120 rpm, 8.000 Nm at 6 XNUMX rpm, el. fuel injection, XNUMX speed gearbox, chain drive.

  Frame: chrome-moly bar, front adjustable USD fork, rear single adjustable damper (WP).

  brakes: radial 4-piston calipers and pump, front disc 320 mm, rear disc 220 mm.

  Fuel tank: 16,5 l.

  Wheelbase: 1.340 mm.

  Weight: 188 kg.