2011 KTM RC8R Superbike First Look

Cylinder head changes to the KTM RC8R Twin churn out more horsepower and torque, for a claimed 175 ponies and 93.7 lb-ft of torque.
KTM brings more power to the table with its 2011 RC8R Superbike. The Austrian marque had previously announced a race-ready version of its Twin-powered superbike, dubbed the 1190 RC8R Track, at the earlier INTERMOT show in Cologne. For Milan, the Orange and Black announces changes to the base RC8R with  horsepower up to a claimed 175.

The structural architecture of the 1195cc 75-degree Twin is unchanged, including the 105mm bore and 69mm stroke. Internal modifications to the four-valve heads feature a “newly developed dual-plug ignition.” Other changes includes a new crankshaft spinning in the crankcase. The mods add up to an impressive 10 horsepower leap over the previous generation RC8R, with 175 horsepower and 93.7 lb-ft of torque (previous version claimed 165 horsepower and 90.7 lb-ft torque).

The chassis features “a completely new suspension and damping set-up” for the suspension. A revision to the rear shock linkage is also touted, along with a wider array of suspension adjustment settings. Other tweaks include a new gear shift linkage and LED running lights.

Visually the RC8R benefits from a stunning new paint scheme. Stay tuned for more technical details as they are made available.

Article Source: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com 

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