Now, with all that said. What’s up with those cheap zinc plated pinch bolts on the forks. Some clubs require you to wire at least one of them pinch bolts, preferably to the axle (either side is fine, but the nut is better). I see the trick axle, so why did they drop the ball on the pinch bolts?

The water pump is not safety wired and neither is anything else holding liquid for that matter. I bet it brings antifreeze too. If anyone in NorCal gets one of these, it is imperative that you bring it to me so I can finish your safety wiring. I’m serious, this is not a race bike yet. It still needs prepping even for a proper track day. Typical KTM.

Here’s a dirty example. =)

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3da9e31666015236ee82ebd5854bbd41d7dbb38c65ef00e7c2bc8c73a5f47231.jpg

I’m currently building a custom Ducati S2R track bike for someone and the grand total is going to be really close to $35k and that’s just because the parts are expensive as hell and there’s tons of labor. I personally believe this KTM is a bargain. Race bikes can be very pricey. Luckily you can still scavenge a track bike for $3k and have fun. That’s all thanks to a strong used bike market. You’ll see all sorts of crazy toys at track days recently. People are racing less nowadays so they have more money to go crazy on the bikes, parts and gear.

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/af351e12d052e91d7d52adc945b9bae3fff052c931d8b4830a78ae2bfc239362.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ab6ae8ec3d1dcfd37a6e45329060efa7e5518cf0d8ea24c44ca920f0847e163c.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0375b0c45d818fa78aba2ee89aa004f67c352e2141fe8aeb7ea3c44e40e8915e.jpg

Hadn’t thought about this. The smaller rotors would make it easier without using a more exotic caliper.

I recall Jeremy McWilliams suggesting that the 890 Duke might be “over-braked”. I’m not fast enough to know what too much brakes feels like, but I suspect they figured the 290 was enough while in development.

I suspect, it’s probably not necessary to have bigger rotors
Also, it might be the difference between getting wheels on/off without caliper removal?

There are definitely some inefficiencies in the supply chain here that cause the price to be as high as it is, but it would cost a good chuck of change to make a KTM 890 Duke into as good of a race bike.

300 lbs, but also good for probably 160-170 mph top speed.

Yeah, it really doesn’t need larger discs.

I’ve got a single 330mm on my Kramer, which is lighter and slower, but it’s more than enough. I’m not sure you could get away with a single disc on the GP2 – I mean KTM RC 8C – but I often hear how the dual 290mm is overkill from riders with the dual-disc setup.

But my, what a tasty track weapon. Daddy like.

I thought the same thing. A 300 pound wet weight may not need the bigger diameter, especially with those beefy calipers.

I wish I had $40k lying around – it would make a great complement to the 890 Duke R already in the garage.

That said, I want one!!! :) Beautiful and to do it all like this might cost you about the same in parts / dollars and hours to build.