KTM RC4 - what do we know so far?

No problem

The thing with the RC4 is it'll be something new.. So who knows what other companies will do to cash in on the niche? Assuming it sells, which I think it will. Like Northwind says, maybe a nice mid sized aprillia

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

if you follow that line of thought to the extreme you end up with a 560SMR

I'm very much looking at the 450SMR to be quite honest. I'd keep the SV though.

Originally Posted by northwind

Yeah, I would be. Why would you expect it to be cheap, if it comes (as expected) with higher quality parts than the average SS600? Not everyone aspires to a GSXR or whatever, if I wanted one I'd have bought one. What I really want, I suppose, is a modern RVF400, small and light and capable. This is the closest thing for years, other than what I've made myself I suppose

Since you ask. It's a personal thing of course, but I guess because I don't feel that stock SS600s particularly need to handle better than they do, nor do I feel like they come with low quality parts.
I'd have a Daytona or 848 if spending a bit more is not an issue and IL4 is not my thing. Again, not poor bikes in any way, obviously.

What you have is a nice shape, an existing engine retuned, and high spec suspension and instrumentation stuff. All adding up to a relatively slow but excellent handling bike which is bound to be thought of as massively underpowered by modern standards if the suspension actually is a cut above SS600 standards, because it is. I wouldn't demand higher quality suspension, or higher quality brakes, it has 71bhp - standard quality will be more than sufficient, and I could live without race track derived instrumentation too, if I wanted race-track derived I'd buy a bike with some kind of history in racing.

I know, power isn't everything, but it's a sports bike in a world of sports bikes where ability is defined by how well you can manage power, not by how little power you can get away with before people say "that's not enough". I just have an issue with that, I wouldn't pay SS600 money for an RS250 with 70bhp either.

I'm afraid it only makes sense (to me) if it's a cheap, slow, road biased "sports bike", but I'm sure it might develop a bit of a cult following.

Anyway, that's just my rambled tired take on it.

I suspect the SV will feel like a barge after riding the RC4. Then it feels like a barge after riding a ss600.. And dare I say it, a blade.

What if you actually ride a 'slower' bike better than a faster bike? Maybe that's the limit of your capability. Would you buy the smaller bike or would your ego stop you? I for one am not that much faster on a blade than on a ss but have more fun on a 400cc. So I'm sure I'd love a good handling single. I admit it but how many of us actually do?

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by sinbad

...if I wanted race-track derived I'd buy a bike with some kind of history in racing...

yes, if only KTM had a history of producing 250 motogp bikes or something...

[Paul the 6th]

Originally Posted by northwind

And who knows, if they built it and it sells, maybe Aprilia will finally make that RS450 or 550 that everyone wants them to make (instead of butt-ugly 750cc twins)

praise the lord! RS450

Originally Posted by zunkus

What if you actually ride a 'slower' bike better than a faster bike? Maybe that's the limit of your capability. Would you buy the smaller bike or would your ego stop you? I for one am not that much faster on a blade than on a ss but have more fun on a 400cc. So I'm sure I'd love a good handling single. I admit it but how many of us actually do?

My issue is not with the ideology behind the bike, I agree with you in every way, but with the idea that it should cost as much or more than faster stuff which is immensely capable.

Originally Posted by zunkus

What if you actually ride a 'slower' bike better than a faster bike? Maybe that's the limit of your capability. Would you buy the smaller bike or would your ego stop you? I for one am not that much faster on a blade than on a ss but have more fun on a 400cc. So I'm sure I'd love a good handling single. I admit it but how many of us actually do?

Excellent point. I found the limits of 33bhp pretty quickly, but there's always more to learn.. And because of the type of person I am (want to be the best I can be at what I do) I ride hard.. I'd rather ride hard and get the most out of something with ~80bhp than never reach the full potential of a bike that is, simply put, better than I probably ever will be.

[Paul the 6th]

i want an rc4 now.