KTM enthusiasts in India would have seen the RC8 superbike on display along with other ‘display only’ models in the KTM showrooms, and many of them, who can afford it, have been genuinely hoping for it to go on sale in India. Sadly, it seems that the RC8 may never be launched here as KTM’s CEO, Stefan Pierer, has confirmed that the model will be discontinued.
According to a report on autoevolution.com, Pierer did not give a date but the end of the road for the RC8 might be less than three years away. Pierer had officially declared earlier that KTM will be entering MotoGP in 2017 and it won’t be too far-fetched an idea to believe that the RC8’s successor would derive a lot from KTM’s MotoGP machine that the Austrian is busy developing these days.
Anyway, the good news is that a version of the MotoGP machine, the KTM RC16, will be available to the super-rich for around 1.2-1.6 crore rupees (after conversion)! It would be a track-only bike as both Pierer and KTM’s head of design, Gerald Kiska, believe that “any bike with more than 200 bhp has no place on public roads and should be limited to closed-track racing only.” We don’t agree…!
Anyway, the MotoGP bike will be powered by a V4 1,000 cc engine and its first public appearance is scheduled for the latter half of next year and the final development stages would be due in 2016.
Whatever happens, we are still much thankful to KTM for the 390 and 200 Dukes and the RC twins – 390 & 200 are not far away too. So, KTM can we now quickly have the 690 as well? Please?
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