Ktm Rc8 vs Kawasaki Ninja H2r
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Ktm Rc8 vs Kawasaki Ninja H2r. Ktm Rc8: 173 hp @ 10,000 rpm (RC8 R variant; base RC8 approx. 155 hp) hp, 189 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 270 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Kawasaki Ninja H2r: 310 hp @ 14,000 rpm (with ram-air effect; 300 hp without) hp, 216 kg (curb/wet weight) weight, top speed 400+ km/h (manufacturer-tested; electronically limited in some configurations), Motoryk rating 8.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Ktm Rc8
Kawasaki Ninja H2r
Horsepower (hp)
173 hp
310 hp
Torque (Nm)
117 Nm
165 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
270 km/h
400 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
189 kg
216 kg
Type
Supersport
Supersport
Horsepower
173 hp @ 10,000 rpm (RC8 R variant; base RC8 approx. 155 hp)
310 hp @ 14,000 rpm (with ram-air effect; 300 hp without)
Torque
117 Nm @ 8,000 rpm (RC8 R variant)
165 Nm @ 12,500 rpm
Top Speed
270 km/h
400+ km/h (manufacturer-tested; electronically limited in some configurations)
Weight
189 kg (wet/curb weight)
216 kg (curb/wet weight)
Fuel
7.5 L/100km (approx. 13.3 km/L, typical real-world average)
Estimated 8–12 L/100km under track conditions (no official real-world figure; track-only use)
Fairing
Yes
Yes
Individual Reviews
Ktm Rc8
7.5/10
"A flawed masterpiece that demands commitment, cash, and mechanical sympathy."
Pros
+Thunderous V-twin character
+Stunning KTM visual presence
+Razor-sharp chassis feedback
Cons
−Patchy early build quality
−Brutal commuting ergonomics
−Expensive suspension rebuilds
Kawasaki Ninja H2r
8.5/10
"Spectacular machine, but only for serious, wealthy track obsessives."
Pros
+Unmatched supercharged engineering showcase
+Chassis inspires genuine confidence
+Bulletproof Kawasaki build quality
Cons
−Crippling ongoing maintenance costs
−Track-only limits usability severely
−Previous abuse nearly guaranteed
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
