KTM RC8 review

[slowpoke]

Hmmmm, this was a bike I really, I mean REALLY wanted to like.

I've had a bit of a twin thing goin' on for a while having owned an HRC kitted VTR1000F and a 916SP. I loved the ol' Duc' and tolerated all it's "charming" eccentricities for those few glorious km's on the right bit of road. My only complaint was the comparative lack of outright grunt compared to the IL4 litre bikes.

The RC8 was going to answer my prayers for a twin that could compete on an equal footing with the IL4's. Not to mention it looks fuggin' HAWT!

So with the words of the bike-monger at TSS ringing in my ears "adjustable everything" and "take it easy,it's derestricted and goes hard!", I was in orange heaven.....for about 1km.

First up the fuelling sucked. Ridng through Lower Hutt the thing was just an embarassment: nothing...nothing...woa, we're away!

Then I actually stopped to check the steering damper, as even on minimum the front wheel felt like it was mired in treacle. Maybe KTM's are actually made in Oz 'cos every corner ended up looking like an Aussie 50c piece. Maybe the steering head bearings were overtightened but either way it just wasn't right.

Forgetting all that I couldn't wait to get to the motorway and stretch it's legs. So over the Melling bridge and give it some welly.....and wait...and wait....talk about underwhelming. The thing must be geared for some stoopid top end but it's absolutely neutered the poor thing. The "power" is linear but there's just not a lot of it. I was actually sitting in 4th to cruise at 100kph just to get some reasonable progress happening if a gap in the traffic opened up. Gawd, every one of the cheapo Jappa thou's would kill it in a roll on test.

I went up over Haywards and part way along the Pie-cock Hill road but just got the shits with the shitty vague steering and waiting for a power hit that would never come. I turned around in quite a despondent mood only to find that my knuckles hit on the mirrors at full lock. Great.

Gawd I wanted to like this thing but found myself hating it.

The dash was another annoyance, being rectangular and mounted on it's end rather than it's side, meaning the tacho is compressed and takes some serious inspection to figure out what it's telling you. Lots of other information displayed though....not that I could read much of it, certainly not at a glance.

Another minor annoyance was the finish on the inside of the fairing. The dash is nestled in amongst a blaze of orange plastic that hovers at the bottom edge of your vision. This brightness was a constant distraction in the short time I rode it, but maybe you'd learn to ignore it.

On the plus side the brakes were good but nothing hugely improved over the EBC pads and braided lines I run on my old blue spot R1 conventional brakes. And despite an angular looking seat it's actually reasonably comfortable.

All in all it was good to ride the RC8 as it reminded me that the latest is not necessarily the greatest. If the RC8 is supposedly a legitimate competitior to the current big bore blasters then in my opinion it's fallen well short of the mark...but they'll still love it down at the cafe.

[NZsarge]

Pity it did'nt live up to your expectations mate but now you know eh..
The only KTM i've ridden was a SuperDuke and I though it was an absolute blast to ride, for a short while anyway.

[James Deuce]

Ring Pete at Wellington Motorcycles and spend some time on a Buell 1125R.

[NZsarge]

Get an '09 R1 and save yaself shit loads of money. :niceone:

[White trash]

Spud my man, I've got to say, you need to start a bike magazine.

At last, someone who rides a bike and doesn't think "oooh, the dealer let me ride it, I better sing its praises".

Like you, I want to love the RC8. A number of good mates who just happen to be accomplished riders also, have echoed your thoughts. For this reason, I wont ride it and be forced to comment. I'd rather look at it and imagine how good it COULD be.

Of course, let's face it, riding what you ride now, everything's going to fall a little short.

[gammaguy]

one was being ridden at the Sound of Thunder.and not by a noob either.:shutup:

it was reportedly way overgeared,and produced slower lap times than a Triumph Daytona 675.

i think KTM will have to work harder......especially if they want to justify the price

[pritch]

Nice write up, bling sent.

Your write up is very much at variance with BIKE magazine, they raved, but then they compared it to other twins. Good to get another "real world" point of view,

[Quasievil]

Good write up spud, I dont like em much either and I Would buy the first attempt of any maker entering a new class, ie BMW etc.
Mate if youre in the market check out a RSV4 Aprilia...........now that will be a special bike !

[TonyB]

A good honest write up.

one was being ridden at the Sound of Thunder.and not by a noob either.:shutup:

it was reportedly way overgeared,and produced slower lap times than a Triumph Daytona 675. Even so, the KTM was clearly much MUCH faster in a straight line, but yeah I was surprised it didn't dominate given who was on it and the go it had in a straight line. Dan Ornsby just rode the wheels off his 675 to take the A bracket wins- the first race was awesome to watch

[Crazy Steve]

Boomer and I rode the RC8 and a Super duke back to back..

The RC8 blew a clutch seal....And wouldn't go any faster than 240kph.....:argh:

Not impresed...

Crazy Steve.

[driftn]

And wouldn't go any faster than 240kph.....:argh:

Crazy Steve.

You got a dud. I sat behind the TSS demo RC8 on my K3 thou with my speedo hovering in between 260/280 for quite a while then decided that I would go.

Yes they are a tad slow every where as my 750 SRAD smashed it of the line and sat side by side from 100 kph roll on all the way to 240 then the rc8 started to pull away.

I say FANTASIC effort for a first attempt and every body I know that has ridden one say they are a bit slow but get them to a corner and watch out Jappa's.

[2_SL0]

The bike at Thunder was out for its first outing, apart from a couple of track day test runs.
I would recommend you all wait for the new one (RC8 R).
All the magazines I have read say the Rc8 isn't bad for a first attempt.

[johan]

Thanks for that review!

I'm surprised the gearing wasn't sorted on a demo machine.

As other said, the rc8 down a SoundOfThunder was quick at the front straight. I think I saw the 1098 chasing it during the Conti race...

[slowpoke]

Yes they are a tad slow every where as my 750 SRAD smashed it of the line and sat side by side from 100 kph roll on all the way to 240 then the rc8 started to pull away.

I say FANTASIC effort for a first attempt and every body I know that has ridden one say they are a bit slow but get them to a corner and watch out Jappa's.

Yep, my pants-o-meter reckoned my ol' '94 916 would be at least as quick in a straight line which probably ties in quite well with your SRAD. For an extra near on 300cc and 14 years of technology it's still got me shaking my head.

Dunno 'bout the handling bit either. Admittedly the "adjustable everything" was set for a touring style but it still felt ponderous and vague rather than the almost intuitive feedback I would have expected for a $30k bike fitted with top 'o the wazz White Power suspenders.


Thanks for that review!

I'm surprised the gearing wasn't sorted on a demo machine.



The TSS guy reckoned they were supposed to come with alternative gearing kits....but ya have to ask "why?" Surely it should have been sorted from the factory? It sounded like a strangled Sunday School fart (not a patch on your 998) too so it's not like noise restrictions have influenced the geraing.

I'd take your 998 in heartbeat over the RC8.

[Deano]

Like you, I want to love the RC8. A number of good mates who just happen to be accomplished riders also, have echoed your thoughts.

Cheers lol - I loved the power delivery, but the gear box was the weak link.

Quicker than a 1098 over the Taka's in the right hands.....lol

[ducatilover]

so who will test the rc8r?
its a shame they are getting bad reviews, they are sooo faaaaaarkin sexual:woohoo::gob:

[AllanB]

I struggle to understand anyone saying ' good first attempt' on a $30 k bike - Fucks sake do you all earn $300+k a year up north?

The paint did not even match between panels on the bike I saw. Maybe shit fuelling, bad paint etc is 'character?

For $30k I dam well expect something very special.

[2_SL0]

I struggle to understand anyone saying ' good first attempt' on a $30 k bike - Fucks sake do you all earn $300+k a year up north?

The paint did not even match between panels on the bike I saw. Maybe shit fuelling, bad paint etc is 'character?

For $30k I dam well expect something very special.

The statement is not doller related. Its to do with the performance of the bike in relation to other bikes and as a first attempt to enter that market. I completly agree for 30k I would want something pretty special.

[Grizzo]

:drool:mmmm...RC8

[vtec]

The price... is for looks and exclusivity, like most European vehicles. You pay a premium for having one of a few. But the KTM is also stunning in person. It's a work of art. Pity it doesn't come together all that well. Saw a 9 minute review by a racer on youtube, Jeremy McWilliams, he was saying that it was "good" in a very cagey way. I saw the one at Paeroa, and was wondering why it wasn't being raced. Now we know why.

[boomer]

yeah, as Steve says, we had a play and we both thought it was lacking..! i had a grin from ear to ear on the super duke.. unfortunately when i got on the RC8 i just wanted my gixxer back. My k7 was lighter, faster and had way more usable power.

Still..as everyone else says.. they look sexaaaaaaaaaaaay (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1671877&postcount=31)

[Gremlin]

I saw the one at Paeroa, and was wondering why it wasn't being raced. Now we know why.
Depends who's it was. I know that a certain one, if it was down there, could have just been for display, as the owners/racer weren't risking it right before sound of thunder...

[pritch]

At last, someone who rides a bike and doesn't think "oooh, the dealer let me ride it, I better sing its praises".

I was thinking about this comment on a longish ride and don't really think that's completely fair. There are very few bad bikes around these days so it's natural most comments will be favourable.

Every modern bike I've ridden has been brilliant. It just comes down to what each individual needs and what they can spend.

Until this thread I'd only read a rave review of the RC8, BIKE loved it. The OP provides a contrary if equally valid view.

Ummm perhaps the racers might comment, but if the gearing is wrong for a given track is that really the fault of the manufacturer?

Oh, and as of last week the price of an RC8 is apparently $34,000. If you check around there are quite a lot of increases coming through as our Pacific Peso goes down the gurgler...

[Scouse]

I liked the one that AMPS let me ride so much that its on my shopping list. Of course not being the super fast race experienced rider that some of you are I didn't notice that it have any handling deficiencies it just felt like it had lots of Torque and very planted.

[johan]

I found this movie where they race a rc8 back home in Sweden:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7P2T_x9Ddk

It's from Karlskoga, which also happens to be one of Öhlins test tracks.

http://www.vesakallio.com/gallery_2008_botnia.php

[Dazza]

I test rode AMPS one back in May last year & had a blast. I must've been used to the fuelling hopping off my 05 Super Duke & onto this. The power was rather disappointing (not the big thump you'd expect) but when looking @ the speedo it was going alot faster than what I was expecting. I thought it went around corners like it was on rails, very nice indeed.I thought the riding position was very comfortable considering it was the first sports bike I'd ridden for approximately 3yrs, you get used to the position of a naked bike quite nicely thank-you very much.Ended up trading the 05 for a runout 07 Super Duke, just could'nt justify the 31k plus 8.5k for the full Akrapovic,oh if you buy it we'll do you the full exhaust for 5.5k, gee thanks.Hopefully get to go for anther blast in April now that it's got the exhaust fitted & a few more k's on it. Now the RC8R, that really appeals to me :love:

[Coyote]

Of course, let's face it, riding what you ride now, everything's going to fall a little short.
Are the early R1's that good? I've seen a couple of cheap but decent condition ones around and I'm rather tempted.

I rode a VTR SP1 the other day. That wasn't disappointing for me :D

[slowpoke]

Are the early R1's that good? I've seen a couple of cheap but decent condition ones around and I'm rather tempted.

I rode a VTR SP1 the other day. That wasn't disappointing for me :D

Haha, I think Trashie's talking about the 'blade I try and use on the track rather than the R....or if he could just be having a lend, it's hard to tell what's going on behind that pornstar 'tache.

Having said that the R1 has had a few engine an suspension upgrades compared to the average early bike so it's not really representative. But with an Ohlins rear shock, damper and Race Tech kitted front end (thanks Dr Bob) it handles more intuitively than my 7 year newer 'blade which has much later generation Ohlins fitted all around, not that it's got the same horsepower to tame though. After a day at the track on the 'blade I jump on the R1 and find myself constantly picking the bike up mid-corner as it settles into a corner much quicker and is more agile than the Honda. Then again I've had 4 years to set up the R1 but only a few months with the CBR and a blown fork seal to confuse things. Performance Bikes magazine recommend the '00/01 R1's as having the look and character of the original '98/99 R1 but have had some effective handling/chassis improvements that make it the pick of the carb'd bikes. They are still a lot of bike for the money and are on the flat part of the depreciation curve. Ride one and see what you think.

I like the SP1's too and from memory (5 years ago) it has a similar power delivery to the RC8. Solid if not spectacular power, and also a lil' snatchy on the fuelling but not as bad as the RC8. The SP1, while far from perfect, seemed a lot more focussed than the RC8 which doesn't seem to quite know what it wants to be. The SP1 digital dash was also much easier to read, but the RC8 is definitely more comfortable. I nearly bought an SP1 but went with a 954 'blade instead which felt much more lively even though the SP1 already had a power commander and Akra's fitted.

Maybe the more upright/touring riding position that the RC8 was set up for contributed to my feelings of unease as you wouldn't be weighting the front end as with a more sporting riding position. I also found the bar position to be angled too far back meaning it felt like you moved your hands from side to side to turn rather than pushing/pulling. That's a bit of an exaggeration but you get what I mean. It would be an interesting exercise to get the spanners out and have a fiddle with one.

[mashman]

The fuel delivery, out of the box, has to be that way as EU emissions laws are getting tighter and tighter by the minute. The Prila had the same problem, so I upgraded to Map 2 and fookin hell where did that shunt come from. While the Aprilia RSV isn't gonna throw down as much power as you want, you'll get the handling (some say one of the best handling bikes ever), and the journo world has voted it to be the master bike winner on several occasions, even in the company of "bigger, better bikes"... Go try one... ya might like it!!!

Always stunned why noone tries the Aprilia... hmmmm

[Coyote]

Haha, I think Trashie's talking about the 'blade I try and use on the track rather than the R....or if he could just be having a lend, it's hard to tell what's going on behind that pornstar 'tache.

etc.
I think I'd be happy on an early R1. Anything will be better than my 400 with dodgey brakes and suspension. However they're at the age now that seals might be getting old after sitting around so long.

The CBR954RR was the first dream bike of mine. Back when Dad had his midlife crisis and got my brother and I into bikes with him, that was the latest machine and I thought it was beautiful. Still do. Might have to keep an eye out. Once I have the money... or enough for a deposit...

The SP1 wasn't nearly as quick as the GSXR1000k5 that I rode the other day. However, I did enjoy it very much. It was my first go on a big, liquid cooled V Twin which was probably why I enjoyed it so much. Possibly with more experience on V Twins I would find points to criticise it on. But I'm glad I liked it. It's been one of those dream bikes in the top 3 in my mind since I got into bikes. They look awesome, so much so that I based the paintwork on my VFR off an SP1. Usually dreams don't match with reality (like when I rode a Buell) but not this time.

Luckily I'm young enough for seating positions to not be a huge deal. Though I do like a more arse up position. I was surprised that the GSXR and SP1 were more like my VFR, a lower seat and a more upright back.