KTM Superbike

[mbelectric]

Anyone got one of these in their sights?

 

http://ktm.com/Superbike.100203.0.html

 

What say you? You think KTM can compete in World SuperBike in '09? (and

BMW ?)

 

Anyone know about cost and availabilty? I'm hearing March, but no firm

price yet?

 

MB>

[russell_bynum]

It's heavy. 414lbs dry. For comparison, Last year's Fireblade was 388lbs dry. The '08 Gixxer is 379. The 1098 S is 377.

 

That's a pretty substantial disadvantage right off the bat before you've even started the engine.

 

I'd love to see another competitor in WSBK, and KTM has impressed the hell out of me with their other bikes, but I don't see how they expect to compete with a bike that's so overweight.

[mbelectric]

Russell,

 

You always piss on my cornflakes

 

What about a jockey rider to make up the weight difference?

 

MB>

[russell_bynum]

Russell,

 

You always piss on my cornflakes

 

Sorry about that. I really do like KTM's bikes (If I were in the market for a bike like the R1200GS, I'd buy a 990 Adventure. If money were no object, my DRZ would be out the door and a 450EXC would replace it. The only bike I'd seriously consider as a replacement for my Tuono is a SuperDuke, and don't get me started about the SuperMotos) and I hope that's a misprint, or maybe they're using lead wheels for the production version instead of carbon fiber on the race bike...but just on the numbers, they're gonna get their ass kicked.

 

What about a jockey rider to make up the weight difference?

 

Most of those guys are built like jockeys anyway.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

Yeah, they'll get their ass kicked for awhile. Nobody plays in that league as a first timer and doesn't have it handed to them. However, they have been doing really well in 250 GP and do not how to make a bike that handles and makes power right up there with the others. I doubt they will be a complete underdog. Hell, Kawasaki isn't exactly setting the world on fire either.