KTM 690 SMC Motorcycles, page #16

Moto blog

The Power Of Sound Video Reveals Why Two Strokes Are Revered

Pre-mix. Reed valves. Expansion chambers.

KTM Announces RC390 Cup Racing Series, Production Model to Follow

KTM pulled the wraps off a new racebike to be used in a new spec racing series in 2014. The RC390 Cup will be used in the 2014 ADAC Junior Cup Powered by KTM, with a production version going to market in 2014. The RC390 Cup racebike was revealed during the MotoGP round at Germany’s Sachsenring circuit.

Talk About A Log Jam

The Red Bull Romaniacs enduro rallye in Sibiu, Romania is one of the most challenging events on the calendar. It must be, if this Enduro-Cross-style prologue to the four-day race is any indication. Here, we ride along with KTM Factory rider Johnny Walker (definitely one of the coolest names in motorsports) as he makes riding through balance beams, wall rides and a brutal tree stump pit look like child’s play, while the rest of the field wonders why they even bothered getting out of bed that morning.

Demo the new 1190 Adventure Model at KTM’s 2013 Adventure Rider Rally

Everyone’s excited to see, hear, sit on and, especially, ride KTM’s forthcoming 1190 Adventure and 1190 R Adventure models. Those attending KTM’s 2013 Adventure Rider Rally in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, will get a chance to do all four! The KTM Adventure Rider Rally is designed for riders of all skill levels from around the world and open to all brands of street-legal motorcycles.

2014 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Patriot Edition Revealed

We’re still a couple of days away from the Fourth of July but KTM is already in the patriotic spirit. KTM invited several hundred American dealers to its factory in Austria to discuss its upcoming products. One of the new models discussed was the upcoming KTM 1290 Super Duke R, and KTM surprised dealers with a special Stars and Stripes livery.

KTM 1290 Super Duke R Prototype to be Ridden at Goodwood Festival

When KTM revealed its 1290 Super Duke R at EICMA, it made it very clear the show bike was a prototype. An actual production version is on its way, as recent spy photos indicate, but the actual prototype displayed at Milan still maintains an aura of mystique. The specs sheet, for example, was intentionally vague.

2014 HRC Dakar Team Announced

Today at Mugello, ahead of this weekend’s MotoGP race at the famous Italian racetrack, Team HRC unveiled its 2014 Dakar team and motorcycle. Interestingly, one person many thought could be a Red Rider this year after leaving KTM, Cyril Despres, will not be riding a Honda next year, instead joining Yamaha’s Dakar effort.   However, HRC’s team still features five accomplished riders: Helder Rodrigues (Portugal), Sam Sunderland (UK), Javier Pizzolito (Argentina),  Joan Barreda (Spain) and Paulo Goncalves (Portugal), all of whom will be competing on the CRF450 Rally.

US-Spec 2014 KTM Off-Road Models Revealed

A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about KTM‘s 2014 off-road lineup for Europe highlighted by an updated 250 EXC-F and other updates across the model lineup. KTM has now released information about its U.S.-spec models which include the same updates while keeping some differences from the European versions. For off-road riders in the U.S., KTM is offering the street-legal four-stroke 350 EXC-F and 500 EXC and their solely off-road XCF-W and XC-W, the four-stroke 250 XCF-W and the two-stroke 200, 250, 300 and 450 XC-W models.

Under the Skin of a KTM RC8 R-Powered Sidecar Racer

If you’ve never seen a sidecar race, you’d be amazed at how different it is from motorcycle racing. Not only do you have some entirely different physics at work with the third wheel, you also have a passenger sprawled over the chassis behind the rider, sticking his body out to either side at lean angles that would make Marc Marquez break a sweat. Check out the video after the jump to see for yourself.

Buying countless tatty bikes. And that Marquez fella

A South African friend of mine called Trevor Binder told me last weekend I’m quite obviously in the advanced stages of a terrible disease. He recognises the affliction because he admits to suffering from the same condition for many years and so far hasn’t found a cure.  He says he can’t stop collecting bikes and while I didn’t think I had a problem, last weekend he pointed out I should be careful as I’m starting to acquire bikes at an alarming rate. I wasn’t really worried about spending a modest amount of cash an old KTM 125 race bike, a 350 LC and a Fizzy over the past six months but Trevor says I’m on a slippery slope.  He says it always starts with bikes that have some sentimental value but then swiftly moves on to buying any old tat.  Trevor is a wealthy man with dozens of nice bikes in his collection but more recently has been on Gumtree bidding for £150 Solex front wheel drive step - thrus, and doesn’t know why.  Closer to home, James Whitham has recently confirmed he may also have these symptoms and is actively seeking therapy.  I’ll be monitoring the situation from now on but in the meantime if anyone hears of a reasonably priced Raleigh Wisp for sale please let me know.