KTM Serious About Sportbikes

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KTM continues development of the bike that we believe will be called the RC 990. (BMH-Images/Bernhard M. Höhne/)

KTM has been one of the linchpins of the recent European revival in MotoGP, along with Ducati and Aprilia taking a leading role in a series that spent decades dominated by Japanese brands. But unlike its competitors, the Austrian firm doesn’t currently have a broad range of high-performance sportbikes to market on the back of its roadracing success.

That’s going to change, though, as KTM is planning an onslaught of fully faired sports models, and the three main components of that push have all been spied on test, with replacements for the RC 125 and RC 390 spotted along with more prototypes for the exciting-looking “RC 990″ (that name isn’t confirmed, yet seems likely).

RC 990

We saw the latest prototype of the RC 990 back in December, and as we pointed out then, the project, which has been running for a long time in the background, may have had a boost thanks to the remarkable success of the limited-edition RC-8C track bike, which sold out in minutes despite a sky-high $38,999 price tag. With wealthy customers looking for track toys and a whole new emerging market of riders in Asia who are MotoGP-obsessed and increasingly affluent, the stage is set for a sportbike revival, and KTM is in a good position to take advantage of that.

KTM’s track only RC-8C has proved that there is demand for KTM sportbikes. (KTM/)

The RC 990 seen in these new images is, unsurprisingly, in a similar state to when we saw the bike in December’s spy shots. This time it’s been spotted parked as well as in motion, giving a slightly clearer look at the bodywork, which is still in a half-finished state. Early prototypes of the machine used Moto2-style fairings, like the RC-8C, hacked up to accommodate a headlight. The current test models are closer to production, with styling that’s designed for aesthetics as well as aerodynamics, albeit marred by a makeshift headlight jutting uncomfortably through a hole that’s clearly designed for a sleeker, purpose-made lamp when the bike reaches showrooms.

This static shot produces plenty of clues as to what this bike will look like and be fitted with. (BMH-Images/Bernhard M. Höhne/)

The rear bodywork is still missing, as it was last time we saw the prototype, but without the rider and pillion we get a better look at the structure underneath it, which houses a bulky, black component between the seat rails. That’s either the fuel tank—KTM has a history of underseat tanks—or a large airbox (the current 890 Duke has its airbox under the seat).

The engine is the completely redesigned LC8c parallel twin that we brought images of earlier this year, believed to have a capacity of nearly 1,000cc to earn the “990″ name expected on the next generation of Duke and Adventure models, as well as the RC 990. With a taller deck pointing toward a longer stroke, the engine has a more compact cylinder head to ensure its overall dimensions are no bigger than the current 890 version. The oil pan has also been reworked to make space for a large catalytic converter under the engine, and that’s clearly visible through the hole in the lower fairing on the RC 990.

Due for a redesign is the RC 390, which will also produce naked Duke spinoffs. (BMH-Images/Bernhard M. Höhne/)

RC 390 & RC 125

Moving down the range, the RC 390 and RC 125 are also being completely renewed, as are the Duke models that share the same engines. Development on these bikes has been underway for several years, but production appears to be close now, probably for the 2024 model year. Like the big LC8c-powered bikes, the RC 390 and RC 125 are expected to get substantially redesigned engines, and these pictures show that the bikes they’ll be fitted to are completely new as well.

Maybe if we’re lucky, the redesigned RC 125 will come to the US. (BMH-Images/Bernhard M. Höhne/)

Like the current RC 125 and RC 390, the next-generation models are almost indistinguishable, sharing essentially the same chassis and a visually similar engine. In these images, the RC 390 is differentiated by a petal-style, floating front brake disc that appears to be a higher-spec part than the slim rotor of the RC 125. While the engines on both models are substantially redesigned, the RC 125′s power will remain at 15 hp to suit European learner laws, though the RC 390 may get an increase from the current 43 hp. Both bikes have a new chassis, to be shared with the next-gen single-cylinder Duke models, that features a banana-style swingarm and a direct-acting rear shock on the right-hand side. The chassis has actually been shown in public already, wrapped around the electric architecture of the Husqvarna E-Pilen concept bike, revealed in 2021. It’s also going to be the basis of KTM’s electric E-Duke in the near future.

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