Motorcycle specifications KTMRC R 990 2026 A knife in the road

The RC R 990 road bike has been a long time coming, but it's finally here. After the phenomenon of the RC 8C 890, an authentic track bike dedicated solely to the enjoyment of the racetrack, KTM is making a strong comeback on the road with this racy, mean and uncompromising sports bike.

It's high time that Katoche came up with a sports bike worthy of the name that can be used off the track. It's been a long time since the RC8 hypersports were abandoned; and what a strange philosophy to propose 125s and 400s as representatives of speed when you're playing in MotoGP.

Less exacerbated than KTM

Since the 1390, Mattighofen has let its design drift towards an unprecedented insectivorous bestiality. The RC, on the other hand, is much wiser, more consensual, with little or no concern for its predecessor's kinship. The winglets are present and unmistakable, but less prominent than those on the 890 - they're supposed to provide over 14 kilos of support at 252 km/h. The head of the fork is incisive, the pace assured and the dynamism engaged. On the other hand, it's easy to guess that the turn signals and passenger were added 30 seconds before the backrest was buckled.

Wattage, but not too much

The RC R 990 takes its block from the 990 Duke, a 947 cm3 parallel twin that has been in the range since 2024. Extremely compact and light (57 kg), the LC8c benefits from an engine mapping better suited to the sporty character of its case. It produces 130 hp at 9500 rpm, 7 hp more than the Duke... but no more and no less than the Duke R. And if you look a little further, it's even less hairy than the mill of theold RC 8 C (much more designed for the track, it's true).

Well, 130 grunts and a chassis designed for hard trajectory, that's already very promising. But we would have liked to see more power, a more testosterone-ridden emphasis, a more potent force, just to make the difference. The Yamaha R9 has already done this to us, and some people were wringing their noses at a CP3 identical to that of the MT-09. Myself included.

To whip this twin into shape in a variety of ways, the electronics coach it through 4 riding modes (Standard / Rain / Street / Sport), cornering ABS and IMU-informed traction control. Shifter? It's optional (scandalous!).

To get the best out of it, you need (again and again) to go through the options section. There's the Track Pack with Custom Modes (1 and 2) and Track, offering even more possibilities.

Track unlocks Launch Control, a telemetry screen, anti-wheeling with 5 levels of adjustment, the same for throttle response, traction control customization, and 4 levels of ABS intervention:

• Road for standard use
• Sport for later intervention, with reduced cornering and limited rear-wheel lift
• Supermoto +, which removes the cornering function and locks the rear wheel for a limited time
• Supermoto, which deactivates the rear wheel completely.

Also available is the "Tech Pack", with Up&Down shifter, cruise control, intelligent brake lights and engine slip control.

Both packs are active from the moment of purchase, for 1500 km. After that, you either have to pay up or do without.

The electronics also include a very large 8.8-inch TFT screen, where the gear engaged is the priority information, several display themes, call or music control, GPS navigation and a whole host of riding-related readouts.

Settling in first

Riding is all about settling in and getting your machine into the best possible position. The RC R 990 features adjustable footrests (17 mm high and 25 mm back), fully adjustable APEX suspension and a reservoir that makes it easy for the rider to move around.

The reinforced, minimalist steel frame, where the engine contributes to rigidity, holds a new cast-aluminum rear frame, a 48 mm WP inverted fork, a WP shock absorber with all settings, including two for compression (high and low speed), an aluminum swingarm, and the very latest generation of Brembo Hypure brake calipers and Michelin Power Cup 2 - enough for a track session straight away. These gumshoes are mounted on rims taken from the 1390 SuperDuke R.

The RC's geometry favors front-end weight to enhance handling, while the 320 mm discs, aided by 4-piston radial jaws and a PR16/19-21 radial master cylinder, should deliver killer deceleration.

Weight-wise, the Austrian remains under 200 kgs, but we were hoping for more, especially those who have been around the RC 8 C and its 142 kg dry weight.

A sister soon for the track, and only for that

From February 2026, KTM will be offering the 990 RC R TRACK, a 100% on-track machine designed to deliver raw performance straight from the factory. Available to order from KTM distributors, this version is not a simple conversion: it is stripped of all superfluous elements and equipped with components dedicated to the track (simplified dashboard, specific electronics, removal of the ABS module, direct hoses, gearbox optimized for the track, etc.). Full technical details will be revealed in February 2026.

Finally, in spring 2026, KTM will launch the KTM 990 RC R CUP in Europe. This championship is designed for riders wishing to go beyond track days, with an accessible formula and without the pressure of racing against seasoned professionals. KTM riders will be present at each round to share their advice and support participants as they progress. This brand cup will be open to road-approved versions and to the 990 RC R TRACK, with a maximum of 35 riders and 6 rounds on the program.

M.B. - Manufacturer's photos