FZRSupport: the FZROnline Archive

KTM's new RC8, what do you guys think. I'm not much on the orange, (sorry 95fzr600) they have a version in black with a little orange which is nice.

While at the washington DC MCS I sat on one.

The picture is me with a stupid mesmerized look on my face. Anyhow it is a really nice bike, I was never a big fan of the v-twin engines exhaust note, but after listening to some Duc's I'm onboard.
I asked the regional sales rep/northwest about there racing attempt, or lack of. He said that due to the economy they would be holding off for awhile. I told him, when a bike wins races, folk go down to the show room and start buying. He gave me a dirty look.

I'm sure they have some money in the bike. I'm not totally into the hard lines and corners though....

Was that tank comfortable?

darrin

I think the bike looks intriguing, but I've heard they have some major issues. It would be nice to see it be competitive in racing.

Read an article on it a few months back. Loved the mechanicals but appearances do not tickle my fancy.

I have had 3 different KTM motocross 2 strokers and they are sweet. The company sets their stakes high on im the mx industry (ie ohlins suspension stock etc)
I dont particularly care for the lines either but another competitor in the sport bike industry can do nothing but good. I'd like to check one of those out myself

Oh gosh kinda 95fzr600,

rageditial the tank was interesting, they have put tank sliders on the sides to protect the tank, little black pucks on the leading edge. So depending on were your elbows fall while riding they might be a bother. And the msrp is 19000.00 ouch.

r3tard I have a local guy here on the eastern shore that sells only KTM, along with his mechanical shop. I talked with him about KTM's and yes you are correct the put the best of everything on them, instead of making some sacrfices to sell to the masses.

before hopping on the 1190 at the show, i noticed the sign by it reading -- subframe lifted, pegs lowered.

i'm not sure why they did this, as it made me feel like i was sitting on a sv. trying to lock my knee into the tank to hang for a turn proved to be very difficult which was due to the pegs being so low. the top of the tank was a nice ledge to hold a knee in place, but it was just too far to reach. as far as looks go, i like everything except the front fairing and headlight. the totally upgraded 1190 with the carbon body was really sick. i believe it had some upgrade which gave it another 20 hp.

ktm's have never been cheap. but you are definitely getting nice shocks/forks out the door as compared to stock set up of other manufacturers. i look forward to seeing the 1190 in races.

shift wrote:before hopping on the 1190 at the show, i noticed the sign by it reading -- subframe lifted, pegs lowered.

i'm not sure why they did this, as it made me feel like i was sitting on a sv. trying to lock my knee into the tank to hang for a turn proved to be very difficult which was due to the pegs being so low. the top of the tank was a nice ledge to hold a knee in place, but it was just too far to reach. as far as looks go, i like everything except the front fairing and headlight. the totally upgraded 1190 with the carbon body was really sick. i believe it had some upgrade which gave it another 20 hp.

ktm's have never been cheap. but you are definitely getting nice shocks/forks out the door as compared to stock set up of other manufacturers. i look forward to seeing the 1190 in races.

Hi,
The last KTm I rode acouple of years back looked nice in photos but the actual build quality was very poor, looked like very early japanese model when they first appeared.

yamaha_george wrote:

shift wrote:before hopping on the 1190 at the show, i noticed the sign by it reading -- subframe lifted, pegs lowered.

i'm not sure why they did this, as it made me feel like i was sitting on a sv. trying to lock my knee into the tank to hang for a turn proved to be very difficult which was due to the pegs being so low. the top of the tank was a nice ledge to hold a knee in place, but it was just too far to reach. as far as looks go, i like everything except the front fairing and headlight. the totally upgraded 1190 with the carbon body was really sick. i believe it had some upgrade which gave it another 20 hp.

ktm's have never been cheap. but you are definitely getting nice shocks/forks out the door as compared to stock set up of other manufacturers. i look forward to seeing the 1190 in races.

Hi,
The last KTm I rode acouple of years back looked nice in photos but the actual build quality was very poor, looked like very early japanese model when they first appeared.

Geo,
What model KTM was it you rode because I have always liked KTM and I couldnt think of one bike that doesnt come stock with either Ohlins suspension, WP suspension, and Brembo brakes, so I investigated and found that all of KTM's bikes come with the above mentioned susp and brakes.

ALMOST wrote:

There should be a caption that reads "Ok, I can die now". The look on your face in that pic is priceless.

ALMOST wrote:
The picture is me with a stupid mesmerized look on my face.

you weren't the only one. i think KTM has a way of doing that to people who love bikes. maybe unholy thoughts of what it would take to get this bike were going through our brains?

R3TARD wrote:

yamaha_george wrote:

shift wrote:before hopping on the 1190 at the show, i noticed the sign by it reading -- subframe lifted, pegs lowered.

i'm not sure why they did this, as it made me feel like i was sitting on a sv. trying to lock my knee into the tank to hang for a turn proved to be very difficult which was due to the pegs being so low. the top of the tank was a nice ledge to hold a knee in place, but it was just too far to reach. as far as looks go, i like everything except the front fairing and headlight. the totally upgraded 1190 with the carbon body was really sick. i believe it had some upgrade which gave it another 20 hp.

ktm's have never been cheap. but you are definitely getting nice shocks/forks out the door as compared to stock set up of other manufacturers. i look forward to seeing the 1190 in races.

Hi,
The last KTm I rode acouple of years back looked nice in photos but the actual build quality was very poor, looked like very early japanese model when they first appeared.

Geo,
What model KTM was it you rode because I have always liked KTM and I couldnt think of one bike that doesnt come stock with either Ohlins suspension, WP suspension, and Brembo brakes, so I investigated and found that all of KTM's bikes come with the above mentioned susp and brakes.

so true. i bought a 99 ktm 640 enduro back in 02 and couldn't believe how it out performed other bikes in the single cylinder 650 class. my bike was completely stock and it walked away from my friends' honda, suzuki and kawasaki 650's. mikuni carb, brembo brakes and WP suspension sere stock as i believe stainless steel lines were too. my only complaint is that they are kinda like austrian ducatis -- somewhat maintenance heavy and parts were not cheap and took a long time to get -- at least for my 640, they were. it's a very uncommon bike over here, so maybe that's why.

sweekster wrote:

ALMOST wrote:

There should be a caption that reads "Ok, I can die now". The look on your face in that pic is priceless.

Boy I wanna fart but on this bike OMG.

wrong thread george.

Yeah I read about that bike when it was still a concept and again right before production. It's got some great tech in it, and personally I love the look. I saw one when I was out riding with a buddy of mine in nashua a couple months ago, and nearly wet myself. I love that bike!

i dident know ktm made a street bike never saw one till now. i dont like the upper either