The 2026 KTM 990 RC R is an all-new platform designed from the ground up for Next-Generation Supersport racing. Well, it’s actually an accessible and fun sportbike for the street that happens to line up great with current supersport regulations. Next-Gen racing filled the void left by 600cc supersports that became spectacularly expensive and hard to insure for street riders. Sales of these hot 600s declined, and a new style of middleweight was born to fill the void in the market with more affordable sporty bikes, many pushing 900cc or more. Various racing sanctioning bodies saw the writing on the wall and responded with the Next-Gen formula.

We’re all the better for it. Supersport racing in MotoAmerica and on the world stage has been great, and the bikes in the class make for superb streetbikes and fun racebikes. Think Yamaha YZF-R9, Ducati Panigale V2, Suzuki GSX-R750, Triumph and MV Agusta triples, and now this 990 RC R. In-line fours from 400-600cc can still be raced, so if your old YZF-R6 racer is poised and ready, get with it. If you’re wondering about the four-cylinder GSX-R750, there is a balancing formula executed through mapping, weight limits, restrictors, and more. This allowed the classic GSX-R to take its noble place on the racetrack again (just bring your homologated ride-by-wire intake).Engine and ElectronicsThe upper displacement limit for twins in Next-Gen is 955cc, and the 990 RC R slides in under this at 947cc. The liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve-per-cylinder LC8c parallel-twin engine is based on that of the 990 Duke but has its own ride-by-wire Bosch engine-management mapping, updated airbox, and new exhaust system with three lambda sensors. KTM adds that the updated ride-by-wire opens the throttle bodies 100%; the Duke 990 only opens to 75%. Claimed output is 128.2 hp at 9500 rpm and 78 lb.-ft. of torque at 6750 rpm.

The best word for describing the KTM 990 RC R’s electronics package is vast. The 8.8-inch-wide touchscreen TFT dash provides all the information you need and is presented to you in an easy-to-read manner. Through that dash you can adjust the base riding modes: Street, Sport, and Custom. KTM offers optional electronics packages that add more ride modes and additional rider aids. Those two packages would tack on either $499 or $899 to your out-the-door price. Equipment is as follows:Track Pack ($499.99)Tech Pack ($899.99)Our test units were fully loaded with the Tech Pack.

Tech Pack is available for a trial period of 932 miles, after that you’ll have to get your dealer to unlock. A very nice feature is offline GPS navigation. When connected, the system can download and store user-selected maps and data points, which then allow navigation even in the absence of internet connection.Related: 2026 KTM 990 RC R Production AnnouncedChassis The powder-coated orange chrome-moly steel frame remains a close partner of the 990 Duke, and similarly, the engine is a stressed member. But the 990 RC R features a 33mm fork offset (1mm more than the Duke) and a slightly lowered riding stance, thanks in part to an all-new die-cast aluminum subframe with integrated airbox that shaves near a pound from the Duke unit. Rake is 24.2 degrees and trail is 3.9 inches. Wheelbase is 58.3 inches—right in the ballpark with most 2026 sportbikes. A 48mm WP Apex open cartridge fork is fully adjustable for compression and rebound damping, plus spring preload, and has 5.8 inches of travel.

At the rear, the 990 RC R gets an all new swingarm and linkage assembly (the standard Duke had no shock linkage). The arm provides more flex and combines with the linkage for improved grip and feedback. This linkage will also allow advanced users tuning ability through different ratios. “Advanced users” could also include racing teams that may fabricate their own linkage as long as it’s run by the sanctioning body and put on the approved parts list.Dual Brembo Hypure radial-mounted four-piston brake calipers are paired with 320mm discs at the front, a twin-piston rear caliper clamps down on a 240mm rear disc. A six-axis IMU informs the adjustable cornering ABS system with Road, Sport, Supermoto, and Supermoto+ modes. Road is the standard option while Sport intervenes later with a small amount of rear wheel lift possible. Supermoto allows a full-time off setting for the rear ABS, but Supermoto+ turns off the cornering ABS function and rear wheel lift protection while allowing the rear end to yaw 8 degrees before the system works to correct the slide.

KTM took a minimalistic approach to bodywork and the result is less aerodynamic drag and a weight savings over its naked Duke brethren.KTM claims a dry weight of 406 pounds and 430 pounds with its 4.2-gallon fuel tank full.ErgonomicsOne of the big talking points by KTM is the RC R’s fuel tank design. The hype is justified. With an all new 4.1-gallon, six-point-of-contact shape, the fuel tank itself offers much more usable leverage than any other sportbike. Aside from the tank, the OEM rear sets come with an adjustable two-position stance, one for street and one for track.

Same goes for all of the controls, everything is adjustable to suit your individual needs as a rider: clutch lever, levers, and pedals. You can make this bike fit your individual needs with just a few turns of a knob or screw.The airbox/subframe has an integrated seat pad, allowing for a lower seating position that offers better rider feedback to an already balanced 52.5/47.5 front-to-rear weight distribution.

Street and Track PerformanceAs mentioned earlier, the purpose of the KTM 990 RC R isn’t to be an all-out race bike from the show room floor. KTM’s ideology with this project was to build a bike that’s tailored to a rider who can take the bike out on the roads without being overwhelmed, but then also be able to hit the track and have some fun with plenty of potential.

KTM has done a great job meeting that goal. On the street, the bike handles everything you can throw at it. The engine has a broad rev range, allowing you to use the low-end torque to leave a stop light easily but also giving you that pull at higher rpm to make a quick pass if you need to.The flexible chassis provides great feedback from the road, giving you lots of confidence. A standout feature was again the adaptability of the bike. Between the different riding modes, adjustable ABS settings, and even cruise control, the rider is able to “build” a bike for every scenario. Incredible adaptability and adjustability is one of the standout strengths of the 990 RC R.

Suspension settings on the road are fairly soft and the chassis is flexible which transmits plenty of feel and feedback to the rider from the asphalt. It’s all good for casual riding, but if you really push it, the softness of the out of the box settings moves from a highlight to an issue. Thankfully adjustment of compression and rebound is toolless making on-the-road changes easy. You will need tools to adjust preload at either end, however.The riding position is comfortable for a sportbike with clip-on bars set below the top triple clamps and the adjustable rearsets. Seat height is a claimed 33.3 inches with a narrow front and wide rear. The large TFT was easy to see all day and just a quick glance would provide all the data you need. The off-line GPS function was a beneficial feature on the Spanish backroads.Not all was wonderful on the street however, shifting was very notchy requiring more deliberate toeing of the lever, so much so that after an hour my left foot was actually sore. Surprisingly, engine heat was also an annoyance, especially at stop lights and low speeds as it radiated to your legs.On the track, the LC8c engine had a broad spread of power that made for an enjoyable and easy time. You don’t always have to spin the engine up in a narrow band to get the most out of the 990 RC R. The standard Track mode settings were perfect for everything that I could throw at the bike. Even when I created my own Custom mode with different throttle and TC settings, I reverted back to the baked-in Track mode. That being said, when attacking at full aggression the traction control is a little slow to react, making it tough to leverage for the ultimate lap time.

But the transmission is the biggest obstacle to pole position. It constantly slipped out of gear shifting from 4th to 3rd gear, requiring an earlier braking marker at corners requiring that shift to counter a possible false neutral and loss of engine braking. Even with extra care and slower more deliberate shifts, the issue persisted.The chassis is very compliant and confidence inspiring at an intermediate level pace. There is great feedback from the track, and a good understanding of what the bike was doing under hard braking. But, as mentioned earlier, the soft and flexible aspects of the chassis and swingarm are too soft for any type of aggressive and advanced-level riding on the track. On throttle, quick direction changes essentially “coil bind” the chassis, creating a very aggressive release of energy that upsets the bike’s composure. This is when it’s clearly street bike first, race bike second. Clearly KTM is targeting the street rider while providing a platform to build a race bike.

Is the Orange Juice Worth the Squeeze?Overall, the KTM 990RC R is a motorcycle that will put a huge smile on your face. It’s a wonderful combination of street comfort and beginner-level trackday fun. Right out of the box, the adaptability that’s available to fine tune what an individual rider wants is impressive and at one of the highest levels of any street-legal sportbike. Clearly, there are a few things that we are not a big fan of, like the gearbox, however for a stock bike that’s not designed solely for racing it meets expectations. It’s a very entertaining bike to ride, and for a base price of $13,949 (don’t forget the $899 for the Tech pack), it ranks highly for supersport satisfaction.

Jayson Uribe is a professional motorcycle racer competing in MotoAmerica for BMW Motorrad and Code 3 Consultations. He claimed third place in the 2025 Stock 1000 Championship. Outside of racing motorcycles he is an active firefighter and owner of Code 3 Electric, Inc.2026 KTM 990 RC R Specs