KTM 1190 RC8: KTM’s first superbike

The KTM 1190 RC8 is a supersport motorcycle introduced by KTM in 2008. It was the Austrian manufacturer’s first-ever Superbike design, built around a V-twin engine in a steel trellis frame, and it was joined a year later by the more track-focused RC8 R.

KTM 1190 RC8 at a glance

based on one source

History of the KTM 1190 RC8

From concept to production

The first concept of the bike appeared in 2005, powered by the 999 cc V-twin of the Super Duke. For the production version the displacement was increased to 1,148 cc (70.1 cu in). The chassis was a steel trellis frame with a cast aluminium seat subframe, and the suspension used high-end inverted forks and an alloy double-sided swingarm made by WP, a KTM subsidiary. The 2008 model is now highly collectable as the firm’s first Superbike.

RC8 R

The RC8 was supplemented by RC8 R models one year later, in 2009, and the plain RC8 designation had its last year of production in 2010. Models from 2009 through to 2013 use a 1,195 cc (72.9 cu in) V-twin with two spark plugs per cylinder head and a 2 mm oversize piston. The RC8 R was delivered to the United States in 2010 as a 2011 model with more track-oriented features: compression raised to 13.5:1, titanium intake valves and a low-friction diamond-like carbon treatment on the camshaft finger followers.

Chassis adjustment

The RC8 R’s WP suspension includes a 43 mm inverted fork with a titanium-aluminium-nitride low-stiction coating on its sliders, offering three modes of adjustment: compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload. The rear shock separates compression damping into high and low speed circuits and has ride-height adjustability, and an adjustable steering damper completes the package. Beyond the suspension, the rider can adjust the front brake lever, rear brake pedal, clutch lever, handlebars, shifter, footpegs and seat subframe height, so the bike can be set up for riders of very different sizes.

2011 and 2012

Internal improvements followed rider reviews and in-house testing, and 250 models were made for North America for 2011 and 2012. KTM fitted a heavier crankshaft and flywheel to reduce the buzzy nature of the earlier RC8 R and to emphasise low-end torque, and remapped the throttle butterflies to smooth small throttle openings. The new cylinder head uses two spark plugs in each cylinder: below 7,000 rpm only one fires, above it both are used for better burning and reduced detonation, which also allowed a re-tuned ECU with revised cam timing and 52 mm throttle bodies. Cast aluminium Marchesini wheels and suspension updates completed the package.

Racing

At the launch KTM announced it would race the RC8 in the FIM Superstock championship in 2008, with a two-year plan to reach the podium regularly before moving up to the Superbike World Championship. For 2009 a KTM RC8 Super Cup ran as a one-make support class at selected rounds of the British Superbike Championship, and in 2010 Redline KTM competed in the newly formed BSB Evo class. In 2012 a KTM Factory Racing rider took his career-best finish at the AMA Pro SuperBike final round at NOLA Motorsports Park in October, finishing fourth and fifth over the weekend.

Design and features

• First KTM Superbike: the RC8 was the firm’s first road-going superbike design.
• WP chassis: inverted forks and a WP swingarm, with the rear shock adjustable for high and low speed compression.
• Rider fit: levers, bars, pegs and subframe height can all be adjusted.
• Twin-spark head: from 2011 one plug fires below 7,000 rpm, both above.

KTM 1190 RC8 versions

• RC8 (2008): the original 1,148 cc model, now collectable.
• RC8 R (2009-2013): 1,195 cc, higher compression, titanium intake valves, uprated WP suspension.
• 2011-2012 RC8 R: heavier crank and flywheel, remapped throttles, Marchesini wheels.

Other off-road and road KTMs are in the KTM collection, among them the 690 and the Duke.

Sources

• KTM 1190 RC8, English Wikipedia: engine sizes, RC8 R specification, racing