It's not every day that KTM stumps up with a revised V-twin sports bike, but at the 2010 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, the new 2011 KTM RC8 R was unveiled.
Presented alongside the "Track" RC8 R, the street-legal 2011 KTM sports bike carries over a similar chassis to the 2010 model with a few tweaks here and there, but the main changes include a new colour scheme and several juicy engine upgrades.
Modified powertrain components such as a heavier flywheel, new crankshaft and dual-plug ignition has seen power rise from 168hp to 175hp (130kW) and the 1195cc engine now produces slightly more torque, to the tune of 127Nm. "Launching the RC8 R onto the straight like a catapult, that torque gain makes for the most significant change," enthuses the KTM hyperbole.
Improvements have been made to the gear shift linkage and together with the new colour schemes, LED daytime running lights help differentiate the new 2011 KTM RC8 R models from its predecessor.
And how about the black and orange colour scheme... Forget exotic Italian motorcycles, this is one Austrian machine that is guaranteed to turn heads.
KTM's 185kg super bike sees a handful of chassis changes designed to make it more comfortable. A comfortable super bike - surely a fantasy?! Nevertheless, KTM claims a "completely new suspension and damping set-up" that "...makes for significantly more comfortable ride but also for an improved race track performance."
On top of that KTM has added a new eccentric bracket in the shock linkage, which is designed to give the 2011 RC8 R more precision while cornering under acceleration, and standard running gear are Dunlop SportSmart tyres.
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