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KTM has confirmed that an RC 490 is in the works, with the new twin-cylinder motorcycle expected to sit above the 390 range in the brand’s global line-up
KTM has officially confirmed that an RC 490 is in development. The confirmation comes directly from KTM’s top management, with the Austrian manufacturer planning to strengthen its low- and mid-capacity supersport portfolio. The RC 490 is expected to arrive towards the end of 2027, although KTM has not announced a specific launch date yet.
The new motorcycle is expected to be based on the sub-500cc twin-cylinder platform being co-developed by Bajaj and KTM in India. This is important because the upcoming 490 engine is a completely different project from the KTM RC 450 sold in China. That motorcycle uses a CFMoto-derived 449cc twin-cylinder engine and is unlikely to make its way to India. The new 490 platform, on the other hand, is being developed with Bajaj playing a much bigger role.
KTM has not revealed the engine specifications yet, so there is no point putting a made-up power figure here. What we do know is that the new engine is being developed for the A2 licence category, which means its output is expected to stay below 48 bhp or 35 kW. The engine will be manufactured at Bajaj’s Chakan facility, further strengthening India’s role in KTM’s global product development.
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The RC 490 will likely sit between the RC 390 and the upcoming RC 790 in KTM’s supersport line-up. KTM has also indicated that its future supersport motorcycles will draw heavily from the company’s MotoGP experience, so expect the RC 490 to carry plenty of the sharp, aggressive design that has become synonymous with the RC family. It should also be considerably more performance-focused than the existing 350cc-powered KTM models.
Interestingly, the 490 could eventually replace the current 390 family in international markets. That makes sense if the two motorcycles eventually offer similar performance despite the difference in displacement. India could be a little different, though. KTM may continue selling the new 350 cc-powered 390 models as more affordable alternatives while positioning the 490 range as a more premium upgrade for riders looking for more performance and, importantly, the refinement of a twin-cylinder engine.
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The RC 490 will not be alone either. The same platform is expected to spawn the 490 Duke and 490 Adventure, with the Duke expected to arrive before the Adventure. The RC version was previously considered a possibility, but we now know that KTM is indeed working on it. The new range is expected to make its global debut towards the end of 2027, with market launches following thereafter.
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