Over in Mattighofen, Austria, KTM just dropped the hammer on their latest beast—the production-ready 2026 990 RC R—bringing back some serious street-legal supersport vibes after what feels like forever without one.
We’re talking a starting price of $13,949 stateside, and it’s got this punchy LC8c parallel-twin heart pumping out 130 PS (that’s 128 hp for the imperial crowd) along with 103 Nm of twist. They’ll start delivering these out in November 2025 and will be taking on Ducati Panigale V2 or Yamaha’s YZF-R1.
This is based on the KTM’s old RC8 racing, It has got refined and more tuned 947cc DOHC liquid-cooled parallel-twin from the 990 Duke. It is paired with the six-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch to keep things smooth. Looks-wise, it’s got that aggressive edge with sleek fairings packing built-in winglets to keep it planted at warp speeds, plus a sharp projector LED headlight and a beefy tank that lets you grip on tight with six solid contact points.
Under the body, there’s a chromoly steel trellis frame using the engine as a load-bearer, hooked up to a powder-coated aluminum subframe, and a 58.3-inch wheelbase that makes cornering feel like a dream. It’s Apex suspensions handles the bumps with fully adjustable 48mm fork up front with 130mm of travel.
For braking, KTM has provided Brembo Stylema calipers biting into twin 320mm front rotors and a 240mm rear. They will feel amazing with ABS in modes like Street & Sport. Wrap it up with Michelin Power Cup 2 rubber on 17-inch alloys, dry weight around 184 kg, and curb at 195 kg.
Let’s talk about tech features, 2026 ktm 990 rc r offers smart features like traction control that works in corners, slip regulation, and anti-wheelie you can tweak across five steps. You will get different drive modes like Rain, Street, Sport, or Custom modes as per your needs. This model also has optimized ergonomics, with adjustable clip-ons, levers, and pegs.
