2024 KTM RC 8C
Miles: 448
Listed Price: $29,875
#22 of 200 Built
In spite of their CEO publicly decrying the development of high-powered sportbikes for the street, KTM has continued to create and market grin-inducing, sometimes overpowered motorcycles for both on-and-off road use. After the RC8R was discontinued, the company introduced a very limited run of KTM RC 8Cs to demonstrate their intent to produce sportbikes that catered to the trackday crowd. Just 100 were produced in 2021/2022, with an additional 200 built for this example’s 2024 run. The new bike was an evolution of the Krämer GP2, and powered by the company’s lightweight, compact 890cc LC8 parallel-twin, instead of the RC8R’s massive v-twin, slotted into a stiff, lightweight trellis frame. The LC8 engine’s 135hp [up from the 2021/2022 model’s 126hp] might not sound like much, until you consider the claimed 313lb weight… This 2024 version also added a new dash with a suite of rider aids, including lean-sensitive traction control, a quickshifter/autoblipper, and heavily revised engine internals to allow higher revs and achieve the previously mentioned horsepower increase.
The 2024 KTM RC is engineered for riders who demand precision, aggression, and a true connection to the road. Built around a potent 889 cc parallel-twin engine, this machine delivers a hard-hitting 98 Nm of torque that comes alive in the midrange, making it equally thrilling on tight canyon roads and fast, flowing straights. The power delivery is smooth yet explosive when pushed, thanks to the Bosch EMS with ride-by-wire, giving riders a refined throttle response that feels both controlled and race-ready.
What sets the KTM RC apart is how effortlessly it translates engine performance into real-world riding confidence. The lightweight chrome-moly tubular space frame provides exceptional rigidity while maintaining a responsive, agile feel. Combined with a compact 1400 mm wheelbase and sharp steering geometry, the bike reacts instantly to rider input—perfect for carving through San Diego’s twisty backroads or attacking apexes on a closed course.
Suspension is where this bike truly elevates itself into a premium category. Up front, the WP XACT PRO 7543 forks deliver precise feedback and confidence under heavy braking, while the WP APEX PRO 7746 rear shock keeps the chassis planted under acceleration. With 120 mm of travel front and rear, the setup balances track-level stiffness with real-world usability, absorbing imperfections without sacrificing performance.
There’s more from the seller of this KTM RC 8C over at the original listing, but it’s basically the spec sheet with a whole bunch of added hyperbole. Someone should reach out to them though, and let them know that any new owner won’t be “carving through San Diego’s twisty backroads” or “exploring Southern California roads” unless they’re also prepared to run from the cops, as this particular ready-to-race sportbike has no lights, signals, bracket for a license plate, or any sort of road-legal status. What it does have is enough performance to keep the most jaded trackday junkie entertained and humble much more powerful sportbikes when ridden properly, along with enough exclusivity to ensure values remain high in the long run.
-tad
