The “KTM 490” project is one of the biggest “will-they-won’t-they” discussions happening among riders recently. After being officially shelved back in 2023 due to high development costs, the dream of a sub-500cc parallel-twin is back on, but with a few twists.
Here is the latest intel on the 490 (and potentially 500) project as of early 2026:
The Project is Officially Revived
Spy shots from late 2025 and early 2026 have confirmed that KTM is once again testing a parallel-twin supersport (RC 490) in Europe. Unlike the previous attempt, which was scrapped because it was too expensive to build in-house, this new version is being developed as a global collaboration. (CF Moto involvement?)
The “CFMoto Connection”
To keep costs down, KTM is reportedly leveraging its partnership with CFMoto.
- The Engine: The prototype spotted testing appears to use a variant of the 450cc parallel-twin (with a 270-degree crank) found in the CFMoto 450SR and 450MT.
- Performance: Expect this motor to churn out between 47-50 HP, acceleration would be close to the 390 single, but will have a higher top speed, better cooling and higher comfortable cruising speeds.
- Refinement: The biggest win here is smoothness. The “thumper” vibrations of the 390 are replaced by a more refined, twin-cylinder growl that’s better for long-distance touring.
Made in India for the World
While the prototypes may be designed in Europe, the final production will happen at Bajaj’s Chakan plant near Pune.
- Price Parity: Local manufacturing means KTM can price these bikes aggressively against rivals like the Aprilia RS 457, Kawasaki Ninja 500, and Yamaha R3.
- Launch Timeline: Rumors suggest a global premiere at EICMA 2026 (late this year), with a market launch in India by mid-2027.
The Upcoming Lineup
KTM isn’t just building one bike; they’re building a family. Expect the parallel-twin platform to spawn:
- RC 490: The supersport (currently the furthest along in testing).
- 490 Duke: The naked streetfighter, likely featuring even more aggressive “predator” styling.
- 490 Adventure: This is the one fans are most excited for—a lightweight ADV that can actually cruise at 120 km/h without feeling stressed.
Why Now?
The market has changed. With BMW/TVS working on a 450cc twin (F 450 GS) and Aprilia already seeing huge success with the RS 457, KTM realized they couldn’t just rely on the 390 single-cylinder forever. The 490 project is their answer to the “middleweight gap” between their beginner bikes and the heavy-hitting 790/890/990 range. Also, with KTM India having to power down the 390s to 350s to take advantage of government GST rules, it opens a perfect space to insert the 490 twins.
Are you planning to wait for the twin-cylinder 490, or does the newly updated 390 Adventure R (which just launched in Jan 2026) still look like the better bet for you?
