TRACK BIKES WE WANT
Your ultimate track bike just got a horn and lights!
You heard the whispers, you saw the spy shots, and now it’s official: KTM just dropped the 2025 KTM 990 RC R and holy smokes, it’s the road-legal Supersport we’ve been actually begging for. Well, maybe not begging – strong wanting.
KTM has basically looked at their entire RC lineup (from the little 125s all the way up to the limited-edition RC 8C) and decided to slot a MotoGP-bred, street-legal weapon right in the middle. This bike is all about taking their “READY TO RACE” DNA they learned from years in MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3, and somehow, somehow, making it something you won’t hate riding to the shops (OK, maybe you will, but you’ll do it anyway…).
The Heart of the KTM 990 RC R: the LC8c engine
Let’s get straight to the numbers that matter: the engine. It’s the LC8c platform, punched out to 947cc, and it delivers a spicy 130 PS at 9.500 rpm and 103Nm of torque at 6.750 rpm while still meeting that strict EURO5+ standard. Basically, they took the engine from the 990 DUKE, gave it a track-day mapping session, and fitted it with a new exhaust that helps centralize the mass—making it feel super light (for the motor!) and nimble.
Ready to race (and ride on the road)
Normally, riding a bike with an ‘R’ in the name on the road makes you feel like you’ve been riding a jackhammer in a phonebox after 20 minutes. But here’s where the 990 RC R gets clever.
- Chassis Magic: It’s built on a steel tube frame with a cool, lightweight aluminum subframe. The geometry is tilted towards Supersport, giving you that ‘planted’ front-end feel, but the ergonomics are intentionally designed to fit a wider range of riders without causing early-onset back pain.
- Suspension: It rocks fully adjustable WP APEX forks and shocks. You get all the clicks of adjustment on the forks and shock (plus separate high/low speed compression on the shock!). You can dial out the road buzz or firm it up for a fast lap in the Inters group.
The Best Part? Adjustable Footrests! Yep, the forged aluminum footrests can switch between a comfy ‘STREET’ position and a more aggressive, track-focused ‘TRACK’ stance. No need to compromise!
Specifications
Electronics: Safety and Shenanigans
This bike is loaded with tech, displayed on a huge touchscreen TFT—which is practically an iPad you can use with gloves.
The safety features are comprehensive, but let’s be honest, we’re here for the tomfoolery modes:
- STREET ABS: Keeps things tidy. Good.
- SPORT ABS: Lets the rear wheel kiss the sky a tiny bit under hard braking. Fun.
- SUPERMOTO ABS: Shuts off the rear wheel ABS entirely. Time to get sideways!
- SUPERMOTO+ ABS (New!): This is the party trick. It disables Cornering ABS and rear ABS, but it acts like a polite friend who keeps an eye on you: it lets you slide the rear wheel, but electronically stops the drift angle at a safe degree(s). Controlled sliding? Yes, please! Are you going to try it? Possibly not…
And if you want to get seriously geeky, you can grab the optional TRACK PACK (hello, Launch Control and Lap Timer) or the all-in TECH PACK (which adds Cruise Control for motorway cruising and the Quickshifter+).
Looks, Stops, and The Devil in the Details
So, we know the KTM 990 RC R has the engine and the street-friendly smarts, but what about the parts that make you go “whoa” and the details that make life easier?
Stopping Power: Brembo Goes HyPure
When you’re flying at speed, you need anchors that can handle the heat, and KTM didn’t skimp. They called in their MotoGP pals at Brembo to kit this thing out with the latest, greatest HyPure (or should it be hyper?) calipers.
- The intent: They promise “fierce” stopping power with a lighter touch at the lever, less friction, and max resistance, even when the heat is on. Basically, you get consistent, powerful braking without that mushy feeling.
- The Goods: Up front, you get two 320mm floating Brembo discs squeezed by those beautiful 4-piston HyPure calipers (all in a classy black anodized finish). You can even adjust the lever ratio of the radial hand master cylinder to dial in your perfect feel.
Rubber, Wheels, and Flight Control
To make sure all that power and braking hits the ground right, KTM wrapped the wheels in Michelin Power Cup 2 tyres. They’re the ones that won KTM’s in-house R&D tests for both track grip and road durability. And yeah, they strongly recommend sticking with them because all the fancy electronics were calibrated to work best with this rubber.
The rims themselves are borrowed from the big daddy, the KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R (3.5×17” front, 5.5×17” rear)—so you know they’re tough and light.
The MotoGP aesthetic (and the downforce with it)
This bike looks like it rode straight out of a MotoGP paddock.
- Factory Look: It’s got that aggressive, ‘FACTORY EDITION’ vibe with the orange frame, sharp trim, and a high-quality finish everywhere you look.
- Aero is King: The fairing is all business. It has vents and cutaways for cooling, and those wings aren’t just for show. They’re legit performance parts, providing 13kg of downforce at 149mph (or over 14.4kg at 157mph). That means serious stability when you’re pushing the limits and braking hard.
- Practicality: The LED headlight is a redevelopment (not a full redesign, but still super bright, with 200 metre spread on high beam), the mirrors have the smallest indicators in the KTM range, and yes, you can take a pillion (with an elevated seat for your passenger).
Tech you can actually feel
Remember that big TFT screen? You control it with a totally redesigned handlebar switchcube. KTM added haptic feedback (it buzzes gently!) so you know for sure that your gloved thumb just changed the Ride Mode or activated Cruise Control. They also threw in a new 5-way ‘joystick’ for easier menu navigation.
KTM Four year warranty!
You get all this race-tech and road-ready goodness, and KTM sweetens the deal with a full 4-year premium manufacturer’s warranty as standard! That’s double the usual, as long as you keep up with your service schedule at an authorized dealer.
And because it’s a KTM, there’s a mountain of KTM PowerParts (nearly 100 items) available, from titanium Akrapovic pipes to tyre warmers. So you can get modding.
When can you buy a KTM 990 RC R?
The good news is the street-legal KTM 990 RC R is scheduled to start production in October 2025. Europe gets first dibs, but you’ll be able to pre-order worldwide.
And for the pure track fiends among us, the minimalist, non-homologated KTM 990 RC R TRACK model is set to tear up the track starting in February 2026.
It’s a tough choice now between this and the Yamaha R9…
Can You Insure an Unregistered Track Bike?
Yes. At Trackday Addicts we offer fire & theft insurance for track and dirt bikes,whether they have a V5 or not. If they are not registered, and do not have a logbook, you can use the VIN / Chassis number.
Find out more about track bike theft insurance.
Can You Insure A Bike For Track Day Damage?
Yes. Trackday Addicts insurance can be purchased to cover your bike for damage or total loss following an accident on a UK or European circuit, whether it's your fault or someone else's.
Find out more about track day bike damage insurance.
