In 2024, KTM is set to introduce a true flagship to its supersport lineup with the new RC990. To ensure that even the smaller RC390 and RC125 benefit from this image boost, everything is being redesigned for the next generation!

With KTM likely returning to the market of twin-cylinder supersport bikes for the first time since 2015 with the RC990 (or RC950) by the end of 2024 or early 2025, the sporty RC series will have a new flagship. Additionally, the smaller siblings, RC390 and RC125 (and possibly the RC200 in certain markets), will receive a significant image upgrade. To carry the prestige of their larger sister, KTM will unveil the successors to the current smaller RC models around the same time. These new models, the RC390 and RC125, will continue to share technology with the latest 390 Duke and 125 Duke.

The design of the new RC390 and RC125 will draw inspiration from the MotoGP RC16!

This means that the upcoming generation of entry-level sports bikes will have little in common with the current models. Unlike the current RCs, which heavily rely on the technology of their predecessors, the next-generation RCs will be completely renewed. The futuristic styling of the current models will give way to a more purposeful sportbike look, and elements from the twin-cylinder big sister, RC990, and even the MotoGP machine RC16, will be incorporated.

Not only the design but also the technology of the RC125 and RC390 will be overhauled.

The most profound changes will take place in the technology department. Like the entire family of entry-level models, including the 125 and 390 Duke, 390 Adventure, and the new 390 Enduro, the RC125 and RC390 will be based on a platform centered around the newly developed LC4c single-cylinder engine with displacement ranging from 125 to just under 400cc. This will also entail a completely redesigned frame and a new exhaust system, with a new swingarm wrapped around it. The front forks and brakes will also be new. The rear frame, as before, will be specific to the RC models and reserved for them. RC125 and RC390 can be distinguished mainly by different front brakes and the volume of the collector.

Will GasGas also introduce its own versions of the small RC models?

In addition to the familiar KTM variants, it is likely that the sister brand GasGas will also introduce an adapted version of the small RC to the market. However, the timing and extent of the changes compared to the KTM models are still purely speculative. One thing is clear, though: After a decade during which KTM primarily focused on adventure and naked bikes in its road models, sport motorcycles will play an even bigger role in the future!

Credit: 1000ps

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