Ran in conjunction with the domestic Moto America series, the KTM RC Cup was designed to give young, up-and-coming riders a chance to race on factory-grade machines, with assistance from professional support (mechanics and the like). Every rider in the series campaigned aboard the same bike; factory-prepped RC390’s brimming with trick racing bits.
Separating the RC Cup variant from the stock, road-going model is a generous helping of components from KTM’s PowerParts catalogue (supposedly more than 30 pieces). This includes an RC8R-style throttle assembly, titanium Akrapovic exhaust, fully adjustable WP Racing suspension fore and aft, engine covers, front and rear track stands, fiberglass race bodywork and taller windscreen, 17” aluminum rims shod in Dunlop Alpha rubber, upgraded 320mm petal rotors, adjustable CNC-machined aluminum rear-sets, machined, folding levers, and of course a special RC Cup livery.
Further differentiating the Cup from the base model is a slip-and-assist clutch, disabling of the ABS module, and a detuning of the engine — down to around 38hp from 43. Each example is delivered with a sealed engine, which can only be serviced by HMC Racing (KTM’s trackside partner). The RC Cup 390 was supposedly the first turnkey racer made available to the public since Moriwaki’s MD250H.
These purpose-built racers were sold to the public for $10K a pop, though buyers had to provide an AMA Road Racing Superstock Limited license (or application). Purchasing a Cup-spec 390 also comes with a handful of added benefits for young racers such as significant discounts on products from Motorex, GiMoto, and Motion Pro.
This particular RC Cup example has been outfitted with an array of additional upgrades including a TYGA upper triple, full stainless undertail TYGA exhaust, Vortex clip-ons (the Cup-spec uses the 390’s stock bars), lithium battery, quick-shifter, and multiple race ECU’s. The suspension was also setup for a 180lb pilot. The sale also includes a few extra parts; another set of clip-ons, spare brake rotor, new quick-throttle kit, and a new set of engine covers.
With this low-mile specimen already having come setup straight from the factory, it’s been taken to the next level with this upgraded example. . To get a sense of how these upgraded racers compare to the base model, Ari Henning did a write up contrasting the two.
You can find this upgraded “2015” KTM RC390 RC Cup Racer for sale here on Craigslist in San Diego, California with a price of $5,495. If you’re more interested in a bone-stock RC Cup Racer, there’s also another example (albeit from 2016), also in San Diego, for sale here on Craigslist at GP Motors with a price of $6,499.