KTM seems to be on the move again, developing an all-new 500cc twin-cylinder platform for an adventure and naked bike. Now, a faired RC has also been spotted out on test, which shouldn’t be a surprise; however, Autocar magazine has detailed how the new twin-cylinder RC could be using a power mill from CF Moto.
Is KTM Developing An All-New RC 490 Soon?
The Duke 500, as well as the adventure bike with a twin-cylinder engine, seemed like raw prototypes, but the all-new RC appears quite close to production. A slew of new images released by Motorrad magazine showcase the bike as nearly finished.
The engine of the KTM RC 490 seems to originate from CFMoto, as does the primary chassis as per Autocar.
Due to the fully faired bodywork of this bike, much of the engine remains concealed, yet the visible exhaust downpipes closely resemble those on the CFMoto model. Notably, when comparing the parallel-twin design from CFMoto to the two previously spotted KTM prototypes, the engine layout differs entirely, including the exhaust downpipes. Therefore, there’s a strong likelihood that this model could be called the KTM RC 490.
Considering this, we think the motorcycle is actually built on the CFMoto platform and has no connection to the other two KTM bikes that were spied earlier. Since the current KTM RC 390 continues to use the outdated 373cc engine without an update to the newer 399cc unit, it’s possible that KTM might be on the lookout for a new power mill that can power the next-gen RC. KTM has not confirmed any details about the change these are mere speculations based on the Sports bike that was spotted earlier.
KTM RC 490 India Launch
It’s currently uncertain if this bike will be introduced in India.
This uncertainty prompts questions about its future in the Indian market, given that it’s probably manufactured by CFMoto. We don’t know yet if it will be assembled locally in India, which also affects its potential availability here and possible price point.
Also Read: Supreme Court To Hear PIL On E20 Petrol Policy As Ethanol Blending Concerns Rise
