KTM to stop building road-going superbikes?

[duke63]

Seems that is what the KTM CEO is inferring in his latest interview.

The V4 will be track only apparently.

http://therideadvice.com/no-more-superb ... gA.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[edd1e]

does he not want to make any money?

[C00kiemonster]

Very sad, they make great bikes too. I'm not surprised as the RC8 so nearly didn't get made a number of times.

Ktm didn't sell all its RC8s and I don't think it made any money for the company either. Sounds more like a money decision than a 'safety' decision tbh.

[Perkles]

They are going to moto GP with the new v4 and some spy shots have seen them testing an aprillia v4

[duke63]

Yes but there wont be a road legal version according to the CEO, Perkles.

[Kwacky]

KTM Birmingham say they can't hold onto the superdukes and adventure bikes.

[Blade]

I can see the logic as the RC8 has not been a bigger seller for them full stop and apparently sports bikes is a declining market. However saying that if were getting bikes like the new R1, S1000RR and Ducati 1299 long may it be in decline

[Perkles]

The RC8 is like the gsxr 1000 a great bike but needs all the bells and whistles adding to make it sell against the competition
Nobodys going to pay 15 grand when you can get a zx10r with traction control and all that stuff for 13 or less

[D6]

It is about time new big sports bikes were released, and I hope it revives the market, but I think it unlikely.

Certain manufacturers with more disposable money can create flagship sports bikes and not worry too much about not breaking even. But brands like Triumph and KTM are never going to be able to do that every few years. Every bike they sell has to make a profit.

Only Ducati breaks this trend, but then don't they have Audi behind them now? So I suppose they can get by.

I do hope there is a revival, as it would be a real shame for sports bikes to slowly dwindle out over the next 5-10 years.

[Blade]

I think sports bikes will continue D but become more of a niche market and be seen more as a premium high end product like sports cars are. The days of cheap sports bikes are long gone imo. They are high tech, exotic material, engineering marvels these days....but saying that they are and always will be ridden by muppets like us

[duke63]

Supersport championship is to finish in 2016 so that may well be the end of 600cc sportsbikes being sold, not that anyone other than Kawasaki or Triumph have developed anything in that sector for some years.

Sportsbike market is already the niche, high end product market i think.

[Blade]

The end of the supersport class might be a good thing. Hopefully freeing manufacturers from the shackles of racing classes. You never know pigs might fly and we mate see some 800 sportsbikes or supercharged 450/550 machines.

[Blade]

Supersport championship is to finish in 2016 so that may well be the end of 600cc sportsbikes being sold, not that anyone other than Kawasaki or Triumph have developed anything in that sector for some years.

Sportsbike market is already the niche, high end product market i think.

Are there plans to replace ss with anything Duke ?

[Kwacky]

With 1000cc sports bikes being so powerful I suspect people will still want something sporty but no so mental. There is always going to be a market for the middle weight supersports bike.

Kawasaki and Yamaha have been developing their 600s. The 675, GSXR and CBR are all pretty old now, although Triumph have updated the Daytona more than Suzuki and Honda have done with their bikes. Don't forget the 6675 is 10 years old now.

[Perkles]

the next crop of 600s are going to be very good considering whats happening in the 1000cc market

[duke63]

Supersport championship is to finish in 2016 so that may well be the end of 600cc sportsbikes being sold, not that anyone other than Kawasaki or Triumph have developed anything in that sector for some years.

Sportsbike market is already the niche, high end product market i think.

Are there plans to replace ss with anything Duke ?

300cc twins i think.

[Blade]

Kawasaki and triumph are the only people developing a 600 and ironically neither in road trim are an actual 600cc. Perhaps this gives us a clue to the future. More torquey middleweight sports bikes. I would love to see a supercharged 450/550 lightweight sports bikes with a gp inspired chassis.