Motorcycle specifications KTMRC 125 2023 The first angles

Nothing shocks you? Well, I am.
It's a 125 with nothing extravagant about it. In fact, it looks quite nice and well laid out. That's where the problem lies: a KTM that doesn't inspire the unusual, the quirky and the provocative isn't really Matighoffen's policy. Could it be that the design studio has put milk in the café-gnole?

The RC 125 takes advantage of its regeneration to come back into line a little. This makes it a more consensual machine, not yet sensual, but less strange in certain respects than the first version. For example, the one-piece seat and rear fairing have been replaced by a classic structure. The look is no longer that double-globular scowling in the eyebrows, but a more natural optical block with the look of a 1290 Super Adventure. The bubble no longer extends as far as the sides of the fairing, while the bodywork has been modernized. The result is a different personality, accompanied by an appreciable slenderness. The virtual disappearance of the hoof has a lot to do with it.

Slenderness only in appearance, because on paper, the RC 125 has put on a lot of weight. KTM claims a weight of 147 kilos. That's not obesity, but it's 12 units more than the previous model. Modifications for Euro5, including the exhaust system, must account for a good proportion of this.
Yet KTM has spared no effort to contain the increase. The new wheels alone weigh 3.4 kilos less. This gain in unsprung mass should compensate for the weight increase in overall liveliness.
The braking system also benefits. Although the disc has been enlarged to 320 mm (+20 mm), the whole system has been lightened by 960 grams. Note the disappearance of the shrink disc at the front, as on BMWs. The caliper comes from ByBre, with 4 pistons and radial mounting. The rear is more modest, with a single-piston caliper pinching a 230 mm track.

The trellis frame also receives its share of improvements, especially in terms of mass, with a weight reduction of 1.5 kilos. That's a lot of work.......... but how much would the little RC weigh if the designers hadn't nibbled away at the weight everywhere? The rear loop is no longer welded but bolted to the main frame. On the suspension side, the WP elements benefit from new, more sport-oriented adjustments. The 43 mm APEX inverted fork has no adjustments, while the rear shock absorber is new, with dual-piston technology.

the engine still produces 15 horsepower to take its rider to the first sensations of riding. No gain in power (legally impossible anyway) but a little more tone thanks to a 40% larger airbox and new engine mapping.
Brake-assist electronics offer a more offbeat potential for fun than the engine's proposals. With its level of power, the RC 125 will need to keep revs up and trajectories tight to maintain speed... While the ABS can be mischievous when switched to Supermoto mode. In this case, the system is deactivated on the rear wheel, allowing the stern to slide and lift.

Small sports bikes mean small electronics... compared to the monsters on the market. Nevertheless, the electronics are very much present, with a TFT instrument panel. Self-adapting in terms of brightness, it informs you of the essentials for driving, keeping an eye on life on board... or chatting with your smartphone thanks to the My Ride app - so you can listen to music or make phone calls while you're on the road.
"- Hello, what are you doing?
- I'm on the corner. Call back on WhatsApp once I've posted on Insta."
But you can also just enjoy the bike and pair nothing at all.

On board, the micro-RC16 offers a little more user-friendliness with 10 mm height-adjustable half handlebars, more padded saddles covered with a new material offering more grip. It also allows for longer stages/sessions, with a fuel tank offering 25% more capacity (13.7 liters).
The mirrors, footpegs and indicators have also been refreshed. A new feature of the RC 125 is that it is available in two colors; all previous vintages had to make do with just one.

The KTM RC 125 enters its second generation, with some prestigious bits under the badge. It's been 8 years since the original. In that time, Katoche has been scoring points and winning MotoGP races. Enough to keep fans of the sporty little displacement on their toes. This bike has no intention of taking on the aspi of the RC16, but intends to take advantage of its aura to flirt with budding riders.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos