KTM RC8

1200boxer · Post by **1200boxer** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 11:30 pm

I'm about to get a 2010 very low mileage RC8.Does anyone have an opinion on these bikes? One thing I'm already aware of, the seat is a plank....
Thanks

boxerscott · Post by **boxerscott** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 11:59 pm

1200boxer wrote:I'm about to get a 2010 very low mileage RC8.Does anyone have an opinion on these bikes? One thing I'm already aware of, the seat is a plank....
Thanks

I researched these bikes and found the original RC8 (orange ones) did not sell well and hung around in dealers for years after, being knocked down and pre registered. The Rc8r got more power and better paint schemes. The bikes are adjustable. I still like them but like all big twins you have to live with lumpy fuelling low down. Enjoy let`s have some piccies.

Chris

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 8:17 am

I've always fancied one of these, be interested to hear your views when you get it, oh and as Chris says ..... piccies

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 9:53 am

One of my favourite 'looks'

reckon it'd be a lot of fun - too.

Al

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 10:17 am

Blackal wrote:One of my favourite 'looks'

<snip>

reckon it'd be a lot of fun - too.

Al

They look awesome (to my eyes Al)... the only "sports style" bike to interest me apart from my 'cup (and maybe a 12S) .... and the newly announced NineT Racer of course

Britisherspy · Post by **Britisherspy** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 12:40 pm

My mates just had one, kept it a couple of weeks and its gone....

Hes a fast, pretty hard rider, it was incredibly hard suspension, light switch throttle response (even with 'the fix' applied), Unrideable was his answer why he chopped in it.

boxerscott · Post by **boxerscott** » Sat Oct 29, 2016 10:00 pm

All bikes are "unrideable" when they are taken out of their comfort zone. KTM`s philosophy is racing. It is a sport bike for the track, from reviews and not my experience it goes down well. If you like sports bike and big twins go for it. As good as a Duc. and arguably better value for money in costs in use. That is where it ends however.

andy griff · Post by **andy griff** » Sun Oct 30, 2016 5:21 pm

slparry wrote:
They look awesome (to my eyes Al)... the only "sports style" bike to interest me apart from my 'cup (and maybe a 12S) .... and the newly announced NineT Racer of course

Just the three 'only ones' then Steve

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Sun Oct 30, 2016 6:28 pm

andy griff wrote:
slparry wrote:
They look awesome (to my eyes Al)... the only "sports style" bike to interest me apart from my 'cup (and maybe a 12S) .... and the newly announced NineT Racer of course
Just the three 'only ones' then Steve

too many shiny things

Stanley · Post by **Stanley** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 9:24 am

I sold mine recently. I sold it because I fancied a Ducati for a change; I regretted selling the RC8 the second I agreed to letting it go.

Mine was a 2010 model; registered in 2012. I used it for hooning around the Peak District, Wales and Yorkshire areas. I loaded it with luggage (tricky!), and enjoyed trips to the Isle of Man. I did loads of track days on it at Cadwell and Oulton.

It was the most comfortable sportsbike that I have ever owned. The seat is actually well designed; bars, pegs and subframe are all adjustable. It looks like a racebike, but fits like a sports-tourer.
Handling was fantastic: pegs down, no tank-slappers, easy to find the limits of grip.
Fueling is very snatchy as standard, but is easily fixed at almost zero cost; Get a free copy of Tune ECU and a £25 lead of Ebay. Connect to bike and switch off the O2 sensors. The snatchiness disappears and it is better (smoother) than most high performance big twins.
I'm happy to do that for you.
Engine is easy to work on if needed (Valves rarely need adjusting).
They sound like a machine gun at high revs

Recommended!

Mine was bog standard apart from nice tyres.
2008 bikes had gearbox problems (sorted under warranty/recall)
2010 bikes are sorted
2009 RC8Rs have super light wheels and bigger engine
2012 RC8Rs have standard wheels but bigger engine with twin plug head (smoothest/most powerful)
There are a few specials, but the cost £££££s

I'd look for a 2010-2012 standard model: best value and plenty of performance.

roadburner · Post by **roadburner** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:20 am

I'd be interested to know how you get on, having just binned my 1198s I'm looking for something else too. Must be a twin and have that certain "something" Just cant fall in love with any of the jap sports bikes apart from maybe an SP1 in castrol colours.
I was talking to a guy who'd sold his 1198 and got an RC8 and he said it was night and day better than the ducati. he said the same as me about it in that it raelly didn't want to turn very well, whereas the KTM just falls into the corners but is stable at the same time

1200boxer · Post by **1200boxer** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 10:43 am

uhtmilk wrote:Hi guys,
I own a (yellow) R1200S and a 2012 KTM RC8R.
As much as I love both bikes, they are as different as chalk and cheese.
The BMW is a collection of carefully designed parts that work well together.
Arguably the KTM uses parts that are of a higher grade/specification but the sum of these parts produces a less rideable bike than does the BMW.
That said, I ride the KTM 5 days a week and the BMW only 2 days.
Why is this so?
Don't know but the KTM is louder, rougher, not as comfortable, and requires more rider input than does the BMW.
I refer to my 1200S as my "limousine" nowadays because it is so incredibly easy - and forgiving - to ride.
I've a lot more confidence in the tyres and general handing of the 1200S and yet I choose to ride the RC8R even as a daily commuter in Dubai.
I don't miss the lack of ABS on the RC8 and don't rely on it on the 1200S.
My riding style dffers according to what bike I'm on at the time.
The RC8R tends to be a little more aggressive whereas the 1200S is more laidback (in relative terms at least).

Throttle control is twitchy on the RC8R esp whilst lane splitting but not bad enough to justify making any adjustments.

The RC8R blasts hot air onto your right leg thus forcing boots and full leathers even on a winters day - in Dubai at least.
You always have to be careful where you place your right leg if stopping at a red light.
Sometimes, I forget and end up with a mighty hot leg.
It's worth taking it for a ride to determine if you can live with this design flaw.
On the other hand, the 1200S runs much cooler and quieter.

The plank seat on the RC8R is Ok even on long trips and I can happily ride from tank full to tank empty in one sitting.
Both bikes suit my 90kg 64 year old Aussie body in terms of ergonomics and general fit.
I've had the 1200S since new and the RC8 for 15 months and both appear to be 'keepers' albeit for very different reasons.
Both bikes are (over)serviced at local dealers and have had nothing more serious than dead batteries - always a problem in Dubais 50C summers. Both are utterly reliable.

Having got my 2009 RC8 I wholeheartedly agree with everything above. I was going to sell my R1200S but in the end I'll keep it. These two bikes are so different they cannot replace each other. Funnily enough I find that the R1200S may be quicker in the real world because of all that torque 2000 revs lower down and the much easier handling carachteristics.

www.boxertrix.com

KTM RC8

KTM RC8

Re: KTM RC8