It is the end of the week, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the weekend than to ogle some ultra high-resolution photos of the KTM RC 8C.
Zie Austrians uploaded these to their media site well after the fanfare of the track-only bike had settled, so I don’t think they have really been seen until now – the fact it sold out in less than 5 minutes probably didn’t help that fact either.
If you were hoping to get your hands on one of those new (and very orange) KTM RC 8C track bikes, you may have missed your chance if you didn’t act fast.
This is because the KTM RC 8C sold out in five minutes…actually, it was four minutes thirty-two seconds. Umpf!
The KTM RC 8C just dropped, and it is quite the stunner. More so, the bike is destined to be an absolute blast to ride on the track, since it is built upon the Kramer GP2 890R platform.
With the Austrian firm’s 890cc parallel-twin engine at the heart of the machine, and making close to 130hp (94 kW), it would be easy to get infatuated with the bike’s brawn, but it is really its nimble nature that makes the RC 8C such a weapon.
Have we just seen the unveiling of the ultimate track bike? The KTM RC 8C certainly fits the part on paper with its 128hp on tap, 140 kg dry weight (308 lbs), and high-spec components.
Though the exterior is all-new, we have seen much of the KTM RC 8C before, as the bike is really just a rebadge and massaged Kramer GP2 890R track bike, though the Ready to Race folks make no mention of the involvement of their German counterparts.
On the KTM social media channels today, the Austrian brand has let slip that it plans on making a limited edition run of “Moto2” track bikes, for a select number of riders worldwide.
As such, Only 100 units will be made worldwide, according to the video, which is certainly an exclusive number.
There is something brewing between KTM and Kramer Motorcycles, and the internet seems to be in agreement with that notion.
The smoke to this fire comes from a story first published on German-language Speedweek, where it was reported that KTM was working on a smaller-displacement track bike, after scrapping its RC16 customer program.
The Speedweek story showed an alleged spy photo (shown below) of the bike that KTM was working on for this project, though the site failed to recognize the motorcycle in question as being a Kramer 890 GP2.
Continuing our live chat video series on YouTube with members of the motorcycle industry, on Monday, June 15th at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT, Asphalt & Rubber will be sitting down with Joe Karvonen, of Kramer Motorcycles USA
As usual for our live chats, I will of course have some questions of my own for Joe, but we want to make the show interactive, so we will be taking questions from the audience as well.
Kramer Motorcycles is ready to make its sequel to the potent single-cylinder Kramer HKR EVO2 track bike, and again the German manufacturer has tapped a unique KTM engine to power this next edition race-focused motorcycle.
Debuting today at the Barber Vintage Festival, the Kramer GP2 prototype has broken cover, and it features the 790cc parallel-twin engine from the KTM 790 Duke. The Germans plan to develop the bike over the next 12 months, with an eye on providing a potent twin for those who are racing inclined.