KTM RC Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The KTM RC 125 was a faired lightweight motorcycle introduced by KTM in August 2014. The RC 125, like the RC 390 and RC 200, shared the same engine design as the Duke model and the same aggressive styling as the KTM RC 390.

All three RC motorcycles were similar, with only the engine department and weight differences. The RC 125's power output was 15 hp, and the wet weight was 135 kg (297 lbs). It also packed a stiffer trellis frame than its Duke sibling and a more aggressive chassis geometry with a steeper head, less trail, and shorter wheelbase.

In 2017, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer launched the KTM RC 125, an entry-level motorcycle for ambitious riders. The bike could also be driven with a class A1 driving license and was fitted with ABS as standard from the beginning.

The bike was built around a powder-coated tubular steel space frame with a WP upside-down telescopic fork on the front, providing 120 mm of travel and a WP shock on the rear with 150 mm of travel.

As for the power figures, the 2017 KTM RC 125 had installed a 125cc four-stroke liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine underneath its fuel tank, fed by an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system, delivering 15 hp at 9,500 rpm and 12 Nm (9 lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.

The KTM RC 390 was a sportier version of the 390 Duke, presented at the 2013 EICMA Show in Milan and manufactured from 2014 until the present (2023). The bike packed the same 373cc engine as the 390 Duke with a claimed 44 hp and a claimed weight of 147 kg (324 lbs).

In addition, the maker introduced a racing version of the RC 390 under the RC 390 Cup designation, designed for riders ages 13 to 21 in the ADAC Junior Cup, a MotoGP event.

The RC 390 Cup lacked lights, mirrors, and ABS for weight reduction purposes and was fitted with an upgraded WP with a fully adjustable front and rear suspension. The engine was detuned to 38 hp with a block-off plate and was equipped with an Akrapovic exhaust system.

In 2016, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer released the KTM RC 390, a sportier version of its predecessor powered by the same engine and fitted with a slipper clutch first introduced in the 390 Duke model.

The 2016 KTM RC 390 was powered by a 373cc four-stroke liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine fed by a fuel injection system, delivering 43 hp at 9,500 rpm and 35 Nm (26 lb-ft) torque at 7,250 rpm.

In the braking department, the motorcycle packed a 300 mm disc married to a four-piston caliper on the front wheel and a single 230 mm disc with a single-piston caliper on the rear wheel, delivering optimum stopping performance.

The KTM RC was a series of sport street motorcycles manufactured by KTM starting in 2008. The first member of the family was the KTM RC8, presented in 2007 and manufactured in 2008 with a 1.2-liter twin-cylinder engine.

The RC 200, alongside the RC 125, RC 250, and RC 390, was presented in November 2013 and manufactured in India by Bajaj Auto. The bikes were made for the Asian market and exported to numerous markets.

The differences between the 125cc, 200cc, and 390cc were limited to the engine, but in the case of the 390cc, other differences were represented by the color.

In 2016, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer launched the KTM RC 250, representing the first step into KTM's Ready-to-Race philosophy, delivering an outstanding style.

The bike was built around a powder-coated steel trellis frame coupled to a WP inverted telescopic fork on the front and a WP shock absorber on the rear, delivering optimum suspension performance and handling.

As for the braking performance, the bike's wheels were fitted with a 300 mm disc on the front tied to a four-piston caliper and a 230 mm disc on the rear, engaged by a single-piston caliper.

In the braking performance, the 2016 KTM RC 200 had its soul brought to life by a 199cc four-stroke liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine fed by a fuel injection system, delivering 26 hp at 10,000 rpm and 19 Nm (14-lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.

In 2016, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer launched the KTM RC 250, essentially a fully faired version of the 250 Duke streetfighter. Its engine was derived from its older sibling, RC390, which was tuned to provide a more reliable sportbike on Japan's streets.

Visually, the bike featured an aggressive styling with a full fairing, a small windscreen, a two-piece dual seat, a powder-coated orange frame, an under-belly exhaust system, a side stand, and 10-spoke orange-finished wheels.

The bike was built around a powder-coated tubular space steel frame, wearing a WP inverted telescopic fork on the front with 125 mm of travel and a WP monoshock on the rear with 150 mm wheel travel, offering excellent suspension performance and handling.

The bike came equipped from the factory with 17-inch front and rear wheels. The wheels were fitted with a 300 mm disc with a four-piston caliper and a 230 mm floating disc tied to a single-piston caliper, offering excellent stopping power.

In the performance department, the 2016 KTM RC 250 had installed a 249cc four-stroke liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine underneath its fuel tank, managed by a fuel injection system. As for the power figures, the engine delivered 31 hp with a peak force at 9,000 rpm and 24 Nm (18 lb-ft) torque at 7,250 rpm.

The power produced by the engine was transferred to a six-speed transmission with a manual wet multi-plate clutch and redirected to the rear end via a chain drive.

The KTM 1190 RC8 was a supersport motorcycle made by KTM starting in 2008, replacing the RC8 model and continuing production until 2015, when it was replaced by the RC8 R. It was KTM's first superbike design.

In 2009, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer released the KTM 1190 RC8 R, a supersport machine with a larger displacement than the base RC8 model. The bike was delivered into the American market in 2010 as a 2011 model year, wearing more-track-oriented features.

Compared to the base model, the RC8 R gained a displacement increase from 1,148cc to 1,195 with a higher compression ratio. In addition, the engine featured titanium intake valves and a low-friction diamond-like carbon (DLC) treatment on its camshaft's finger followers.

Unlike other superbikes, the RC8 R offered many chassis adjustments, including suspension, front brake lever, clutch lever, rear brake pedal, shifter, handlebar, footpegs, and seat/subframe height, accommodating riders of various sizes.

As for the power figures, the 2009 KTM 1190 RC8 R had its heartbeat set by a 1,195cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin engine managed by an electronically controlled fuel injection system, boasting 170 hp at 10,250 rpm and 123 Nm (91 lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.

All the power was kept on the safe side by two 320 mm discs on the front wheel engaged by four-piston Brembo calipers and a 220 mm disc on the rear wheel squeezed by a two-piston Brembo caliper.

The KTM 1190 RC8 was a supersport machine manufactured by KTM from 2008 as a replacement for the RC8 model and continued production until 2015 when it was replaced by the RC8 R. It was KTM's first superbike design.

In 2009, the RC8 was supplemented with RC8 R models, and its last production year was in 2010. The first released model packed a 1,148cc V-twin engine, while models manufactured between 2009 and 2013 used a 1,195cc V-twin powerplant with twin-spark per cylinder technology introduced in the 2011 model year.

The concept of the RC8 machine first appeared in 2005, wearing a Super Duke 999cc V-twin engine, while the bike that went into production had a displacement increase to 1,148cc. The engine was installed in a steel trellis frame with a cast-aluminum seat subframe.

In 2008, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer launched the KTM 1190 RC8, a supersport motorcycle dressed in a full fairing with a small windscreen, a single seat, an under-belly-mounted exhaust system, and lightweight 10-spoke wheels.

In the power department, the 2008 KTM 1190 RC8 had installed a 1,148cc four-stroke V-twin liquid-cooled with a fuel injection system feeding he pistons, delivering 152 hp at 10,000 rpm and 120 Nm (89 lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.

The bike's wheels were handled by two 320 mm discs on the front with four-piston Brembo calipers and a 220 mm disc on the rear with a dual-piston Brembo caliper, acting as braking power.