Now you ‘C’ it, now you...
…don’t. Well that’s the idea behind KTM’S phenomenal and new RC 8C track bike. With help from Kramer…
‘Love trackdays? Got cash sloshing about? Here’s your next purchase’
Love trackdays? Got some cash sloshing about? If so, here’s your next purchase: KTM’S new RC 8C track bike.
Well, we say KTM, but although it’s powered by the 890cc parallel twin from the 890 Duke R, the rest of the machine is designed, developed and built by tiny German manufacturer Kramer. KTM have essentially just put a new fairing on Kramer’s 128bhp, 140kg GP2-R racer (see Bike, July 2020).
We can see why though: the GP2-R is a jewel of a bike that’s brimming with innovation and neat touches to either make it faster or more resistant to crashes. The fuel tank, for example, doubles as the rear subframe and is made of rotomoulded plastic which Dakar bikes use – it’s tough. And by moving the fuel back and down, the centre of gravity is lowered and there’s room for a massive airbox.
With the Kramer you specify your suspension, but KTM have naturally gone with their own high-end WP kit for the RC 8C. The forks are 43mm Apex Pro 7543s and the shock is a Apex Pro 7746, both developed by KTM’S race department and built by the same people who put together the suspension for KTM’S factory Motogp bikes. It’s a similar deal with the brakes: it’s all Brembo kit developed in conjunction with KTM’S race teams.
The 19RCS Corsa Corta radial master cylinder is particularly lush, allowing you to adjust the brakes’ bite, from Race
(ie instantaneously rabid), to sport (sharp) to normal (like a road bike’s).
The dash is pure race bike too, with an Aim MXS set-up incorporating a data logger and GPS. The info is displayed on a 5in TFT screen and can be downloaded later for post-session disappointment.
Only 100 RC 8Cs are being built, and cost £30,999 (Kramer GP2-RS are £5000 less).