Key highlights
- KTM is working on a new RC 490 twin-cylinder motorcycle
- The new 490 platform is being developed by Bajaj in India
- The RC 490 could arrive after the 490 Duke and 490 Adventure
The KTM RC 490 is finally looking like more than just an internet rumour. KTM and Bajaj are working on a new sub-500 cc twin-cylinder motorcycle family, and the fully-faired RC is expected to be one of the models spawned by this platform.
However, there is an important catch. The RC 490 isn’t coming tomorrow. The new engine is still under development, with the 490 range expected to make its global debut around EICMA 2027. A market launch could follow in 2028.
A new twin-cylinder heart
The upcoming KTM 490 range will move away from the single-cylinder formula used by the current 390 family. The new engine is being developed by Bajaj Auto in India, with production expected to take place at the company’s Chakan facility near Pune.
Power is expected to stay below 48 hp, allowing the motorcycle to comply with Europe’s A2 licence regulations. That should still be plenty for a lightweight KTM sports bike.
The RC 490 is expected to share this engine and platform with the 490 Duke and 490 Adventure. The Duke is expected to be the first model to arrive, followed by the Adventure. The RC could join the family later.
It is not the RC 450
This is where things get slightly confusing. KTM has already shown an RC 450 based on CFMoto’s 450 cc twin-cylinder platform. That motorcycle is not related to the new Bajaj-developed 490 project and is unlikely to come to India.
The RC 490, on the other hand, is expected to be a more important global product, with India playing a major role in its development and manufacturing.
A new generation of KTM sports bikes
The upcoming RC 490 could eventually replace the current RC 390 as KTM’s middleweight fully-faired motorcycle. It would also put KTM directly into the growing twin-cylinder performance-bike space, alongside motorcycles such as the Aprilia RS 457, Kawasaki Ninja 500 and Honda NX500.
For Indian enthusiasts, the interesting part is that this time Bajaj isn’t merely manufacturing the KTM. It is developing the engine here too.
That makes the RC 490 a rather important motorcycle for both companies. Sadly, though, KTM fans will have to wait a little longer before they get to hear that twin-cylinder engine scream.
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