Reports from the German publisher, Speed Week suggests KTM is working on an all-new fully faired 890cc V-Twin sports bike. Speed Week recently tracked down a fully-faired KTM prototype which appears to be a high-performance sports bike. Could it be a MotoGP Replica? or the rumoured RC 890 R?
In 2014, KTM had plans to manufacture a replica of the KTM RC16 for its regular customers. At an interview in 2014, CEO Stefan Piere told Speed Week about this project. Back then the intention was to make a replica of the RC16 MotoGP race machine with all the race-derived goodies at an “affordable” price of 120,000 euros. The idea was sort of similar to Honda and its RC213V-S street-legal machine.
“We want to build at least 100 pieces and offer this product at a very affordable price. This motorcycle will not be street legal; it is only intended for closed racetracks. We want to be as close as possible to MotoGP bikes when it comes to engine performance. Of course, it won’t be 270 hp, but you have to reckon with 240 hp. I definitely want to get a much cheaper price for this production racer than what Honda is offering. I would like to see the bike going for 100,000 or 120,000 euros. Affordable racing is our philosophy. ”
2 years later, in 2016 the topic was brought up once again. This time, KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer told the press that the idea of a KTM MotoGP replica wouldn’t be an ideal fit for them because of the demand. This was the time we heard anything regarding the project.
The latest spy shots feature a fully-faired KTM prototype which reminds us of the discontinued KTM 1190 RC8. According to Speed Week, the machine boasts an 890cc V-Twin mill and apparently, the engine on the prototype is different from the engine found on the new 890 Duke R. Besides this, we have no other details of this bike. To be frank, we aren’t quite sure of KTM’s plan with this “mystery” model. This prototype could be a track-only bike, a MotoGP replica or even a road legal bike. Well, who knows, this could even be the earlier rumoured RC 890, only time would tell. Whatever it is, we are looking forward to seeing what KTM has up its sleeves.
Source: Speed Week, Greatbiker