CTS488
BARF Racing
Hi everyone! Been a while since I have written anything of value here on barf but I really wanted to share an experience I had earlier this week. As some may or may not know, I am service managing at Ace Motorsports in Concord which sells Ducati-KTM-Triumph. I have been their almost a year now and have become very acquainted with these brands and what they have to offer.
This past week KTM had their dealer meeting at Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City. They had the release of the new RC8 superbike. The owner of the shop knows of my background in racing and thought I would be suited for the job of riding the thing and seeing if it is as good as the Ducati (and for that fact the other Japanese bikes).
I got to the track on Tuesday and immediately went to inspect the bike. The bike itself is stunning, the lines, the style; this bike is a very sexy bike. They offer a standard orange/black combo, white/black, and the “R” model that is carbon fiber with all kind of goodies. My personal favorite was the white one, it just seems so clean and classy looking.
A very cool thing about these bikes is the adjustability of certain components on these bikes. The rear sets are fully adjustable, the rear shock linkage is adjustable in height, and the sub frame is adjustable in height as well. The bike has WP suspension all around with a very nice steering dampener to match. The exhaust is on the belly of the bike to keep the weight down low to let the bike transition well.
I was extremely excited to get on this bike and see what it could do. I don’t have a whole lot of time on twins but I have ridden my fair share since I started working at Ace Motorsports. The main competitor for the KTM is supposed to be the 1098/1098s. The S being the well equipped model with Ohlins suspension and carbon bits and pieces. The 1098R is a completely different bike in its own right and does not even compare to the standard 1098/1098s so I really didn’t expect the KTM to come close to an “R” model Ducati.
After the riders meeting, it was time to jump on the bikes and start circulating around the beautiful Miller racetrack. We were riding the east track which was new for me, as I’ve only ridden the perimeter track at the AMA rounds. I jumped on the bike and fired up the motor. The bike has a very mellow exhaust note compared to a stock Ducati 1098 but it revved really smooth and quick and gave a nice bark once revved up high. Unfortunately, we had to follow an instructor around the track because KTM didn’t want people going out on these brand new bikes and throwing them down the track trying to see what they could do, so I was stuck behind the instructor running a fast “C” group pace which was very frustrating but I understood necessity of it. My impressions from that first session were that the bike was very light feeling and it turned like a 600. The way the bike transitions from side to side was amazing for a stock bike. The RC8 seemed to be quite stable but I wouldn’t be able to tell for sure until I could wick it up a bit. Brakes on the RC8 don’t get much better, Brembo calipers and master cylinder made sure the bike would stop and do it in a hurry. The RC8 is a torque monster, even though we were at altitude at Miller I was surprised how the bike came off a corner. On the front straight is where I saw the RC8 struggle a bit, It just couldn’t stretch its legs enough and really flattened out at top speed. I would think this is in part due to the altitude and the air being so hot and thin. I remember racing my 600’s out there and feeling like the bike was down big time on horsepower so I’m sure at sea level this bike would get with the program really well.
The day went on I was able to get a few more sessions in on the RC8 and finally got the lead instructor to pick up the pace a bit so I could push the bike a bit. The instructor did his best to keep the pace spirited, but when it came down to it I was just getting frustrated because I would let him get a half lap in front of me and then I would drop the hammer and run him down, it was the only way I could push the bike few a few corners to see what it had. Once I got up to speed and got through a few corners pushing it I was amazed once again by how stable the bike was mid corner, it held its line and the front end felt extremely planted. The WP suspension is very well balance on this bike. The rear was a bit soft because as I got on the gas coming off the corners the bike would buck every so slightly and start fighting back. Entry was awesome on the bike too, the RC8 has no slipper clutch and I noticed it, entering the corners the way I do makes not having a slipper clutch exciting. Dropping gears and hitting the brakes and the bike goes side ways, I don’t mind it as I’ve developed a feel for this type of riding over the past few years but it makes it a hand full if you’re not smooth. Once I smoothed out my entry in term of applying brakes and my back shifts the bike seemed to be better and wouldn’t go side ways on me. Those Brembo are really good and grab hard so I just need to adjust my application of brakes and everything was good.
So overall I thought the bike has a tremendous amount of potential. I got to talk to the designer a bit and he told a few of us that the motor and a lot left in it, KTM is being very conservative with the motor because they want to make sure nothing goes south on them as a street bike. In race trim with some engine tuning, we could expect some serious ponies from this bike. So a bit more horsepower with the way this thing carries corner speed, you’ve got yourself a serious weapon for the track. I’m really interested to see what these bikes will do up against Suzuki/Honda/Yamaha /Kawi/Ducati. In the right hands I’m sure this bike will be winning a few races.
Ace Motorsports will be getting their first RC8 in about a month; it will be our demo model that we will be using to show off at the shop and bike nights in the east bay. I’m told that I might even get to take this thing to a track day or two and really give it a run through.
I’ve been out of the racing seen this past year trying to get some things together in life but I think next year is going to be the year that Siggy returns and I might be running either this new RC8 or a 1098……I’d absolutely love to run a 1098R but don’t think that’ll happen, our shop just doesn’t have the resources for that, but if any bike could win a championship that bike could do it for sure. As for the RC8 and the Standard 1098/1098s, I think they are capable bikes as well, but just need to be fine tuned a bit and put into the right hands then they’ll be right up there. Its been a while since we’ve seen a Ducati on the FP podium…..I think GoGo was the last one so it about time we see something different up on the top step!
Thanks everyone for reading this review, hope you enjoy!
Chris Siglin
This past week KTM had their dealer meeting at Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City. They had the release of the new RC8 superbike. The owner of the shop knows of my background in racing and thought I would be suited for the job of riding the thing and seeing if it is as good as the Ducati (and for that fact the other Japanese bikes).
I got to the track on Tuesday and immediately went to inspect the bike. The bike itself is stunning, the lines, the style; this bike is a very sexy bike. They offer a standard orange/black combo, white/black, and the “R” model that is carbon fiber with all kind of goodies. My personal favorite was the white one, it just seems so clean and classy looking.
A very cool thing about these bikes is the adjustability of certain components on these bikes. The rear sets are fully adjustable, the rear shock linkage is adjustable in height, and the sub frame is adjustable in height as well. The bike has WP suspension all around with a very nice steering dampener to match. The exhaust is on the belly of the bike to keep the weight down low to let the bike transition well.
I was extremely excited to get on this bike and see what it could do. I don’t have a whole lot of time on twins but I have ridden my fair share since I started working at Ace Motorsports. The main competitor for the KTM is supposed to be the 1098/1098s. The S being the well equipped model with Ohlins suspension and carbon bits and pieces. The 1098R is a completely different bike in its own right and does not even compare to the standard 1098/1098s so I really didn’t expect the KTM to come close to an “R” model Ducati.
After the riders meeting, it was time to jump on the bikes and start circulating around the beautiful Miller racetrack. We were riding the east track which was new for me, as I’ve only ridden the perimeter track at the AMA rounds. I jumped on the bike and fired up the motor. The bike has a very mellow exhaust note compared to a stock Ducati 1098 but it revved really smooth and quick and gave a nice bark once revved up high. Unfortunately, we had to follow an instructor around the track because KTM didn’t want people going out on these brand new bikes and throwing them down the track trying to see what they could do, so I was stuck behind the instructor running a fast “C” group pace which was very frustrating but I understood necessity of it. My impressions from that first session were that the bike was very light feeling and it turned like a 600. The way the bike transitions from side to side was amazing for a stock bike. The RC8 seemed to be quite stable but I wouldn’t be able to tell for sure until I could wick it up a bit. Brakes on the RC8 don’t get much better, Brembo calipers and master cylinder made sure the bike would stop and do it in a hurry. The RC8 is a torque monster, even though we were at altitude at Miller I was surprised how the bike came off a corner. On the front straight is where I saw the RC8 struggle a bit, It just couldn’t stretch its legs enough and really flattened out at top speed. I would think this is in part due to the altitude and the air being so hot and thin. I remember racing my 600’s out there and feeling like the bike was down big time on horsepower so I’m sure at sea level this bike would get with the program really well.
The day went on I was able to get a few more sessions in on the RC8 and finally got the lead instructor to pick up the pace a bit so I could push the bike a bit. The instructor did his best to keep the pace spirited, but when it came down to it I was just getting frustrated because I would let him get a half lap in front of me and then I would drop the hammer and run him down, it was the only way I could push the bike few a few corners to see what it had. Once I got up to speed and got through a few corners pushing it I was amazed once again by how stable the bike was mid corner, it held its line and the front end felt extremely planted. The WP suspension is very well balance on this bike. The rear was a bit soft because as I got on the gas coming off the corners the bike would buck every so slightly and start fighting back. Entry was awesome on the bike too, the RC8 has no slipper clutch and I noticed it, entering the corners the way I do makes not having a slipper clutch exciting. Dropping gears and hitting the brakes and the bike goes side ways, I don’t mind it as I’ve developed a feel for this type of riding over the past few years but it makes it a hand full if you’re not smooth. Once I smoothed out my entry in term of applying brakes and my back shifts the bike seemed to be better and wouldn’t go side ways on me. Those Brembo are really good and grab hard so I just need to adjust my application of brakes and everything was good.
So overall I thought the bike has a tremendous amount of potential. I got to talk to the designer a bit and he told a few of us that the motor and a lot left in it, KTM is being very conservative with the motor because they want to make sure nothing goes south on them as a street bike. In race trim with some engine tuning, we could expect some serious ponies from this bike. So a bit more horsepower with the way this thing carries corner speed, you’ve got yourself a serious weapon for the track. I’m really interested to see what these bikes will do up against Suzuki/Honda/Yamaha /Kawi/Ducati. In the right hands I’m sure this bike will be winning a few races.
Ace Motorsports will be getting their first RC8 in about a month; it will be our demo model that we will be using to show off at the shop and bike nights in the east bay. I’m told that I might even get to take this thing to a track day or two and really give it a run through.
I’ve been out of the racing seen this past year trying to get some things together in life but I think next year is going to be the year that Siggy returns and I might be running either this new RC8 or a 1098……I’d absolutely love to run a 1098R but don’t think that’ll happen, our shop just doesn’t have the resources for that, but if any bike could win a championship that bike could do it for sure. As for the RC8 and the Standard 1098/1098s, I think they are capable bikes as well, but just need to be fine tuned a bit and put into the right hands then they’ll be right up there. Its been a while since we’ve seen a Ducati on the FP podium…..I think GoGo was the last one so it about time we see something different up on the top step!
Thanks everyone for reading this review, hope you enjoy!
Chris Siglin
Just kidding!!
