The Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM is working on a number of new premium motorcycles for the Indian market. These bikes will cater to four different types of buyers. Now, if you are someone who likes KTM and its products and wants to know which new bikes the company is planning to launch in India, then you have come to the right spot. Here are the details of the four upcoming KTM motorcycles for India.
The first bike on this list is the KTM 390 SMC. Recently, a test mule of this motorcycle was spotted undergoing road tests in India. Most readers will be aware of the changes under GST 2.0. For those who may not know, motorcycles with engine capacities above 350cc attract a 40 per cent tax. This makes the 399cc engine used by the global-spec 390 SMC R less suitable for the Indian market.
As a result, it has been reported that KTM is currently working on a smaller engine that can stay below the 350cc threshold. The India-spec motorcycle is expected to use a 349cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine which is expected to make around 41 bhp and 33.5 Nm of torque. The international-spec 390 SMC R, in comparison, uses a 399cc engine which makes 44.38 bhp and 39 Nm.
The smaller engine could help KTM price the motorcycle more competitively and still keep its performance close to the existing 390 range. The India-spec motorcycle could also be called 390 SMC instead of 390 SMC R. The 390 SMC is derived from the 390 Enduro R but gets several changes to suit its supermoto character.
It uses 17-inch wheels at both ends instead of the Enduro R’s 21-inch front and 18-inch rear setup. The bike is also expected to use fully adjustable long-travel suspension with 200mm of travel at the front and 205mm at the rear. If launched, the 390 SMC would become India’s first purpose-built supermoto motorcycle.
The KTM 490 Duke has been under development for some time, and recent spy shots from Europe have revealed that it will be a noticeably larger motorcycle compared to the 390 Duke. The test mule was seen boasting KTM’s sharp styling. Meanwhile, the headlight cluster looked similar to the unit seen on the 390. At the rear, however, it will get a new tail-light design with integrated turn indicators.
The motorcycle is expected to use WP Apex front forks, a rear monoshock and a single front disc brake. It will also get a side-swept exhaust and a TFT instrument cluster similar to KTM’s newer motorcycles. The display is expected to support Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation and other connected features.
The biggest change will be the new parallel-twin engine being developed specifically for the 490 family. The 490 Duke is expected to produce around 60 bhp and could get a 6-speed gearbox with a bi-directional quickshifter.
Other expected electronic features will include launch control, cornering ABS, switchable traction control and riding modes. The motorcycle is expected to be manufactured in India by Bajaj and could rival the Aprilia Tuono 457 and Yamaha MT-03 if the latter returns to India.
The KTM RC 490 will be the fully-faired member of the upcoming 490 family. KTM has officially confirmed that the RC 490 is under development, along with the larger RC 790. It will sit between the existing RC range and the upcoming RC 790 in KTM’s international portfolio.
Earlier test mules have revealed LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs, USD front forks, alloy wheels, a rear monoshock and a large front disc brake. The final production motorcycle could look different, but KTM’s sharp RC-family styling is expected to remain similar.
The RC 490 is expected to use the same new parallel-twin engine as the 490 Duke and 490 Adventure. Power is expected to be in the 50 to 60 bhp range, with a 6-speed gearbox and bi-directional quickshifter. It could also get a TFT display, riding modes, traction control, cornering ABS and smartphone connectivity. The RC 490 is expected to rival the Aprilia RS 457 and Kawasaki Ninja 500.
It should also be noted that the upcoming RC 490 is not related to the RC 450 sold in China. The RC 450 is based on the CFMoto 450SR, and it is a separate project. Meanwhile, the RC 490 is being developed with Bajaj in India.
The fourth motorcycle in this upcoming family is the KTM 490 Adventure, which has already been spotted testing internationally on multiple occasions. The test mule has been noted to be in an advanced stage of development. It has been seen with an upright adventure-bike stance, a tall windscreen, a large fuel tank and aggressive body panels. Its styling appears to take inspiration from the current 390 Adventure, although the 490 is expected to be larger and more focused on long-distance touring and off-road riding.
The 490 Adventure is expected to get a 21-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel with dual-purpose tyres. It could also use WP Apex long-travel suspension with upside-down forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. Disc brakes at both ends and dual-channel ABS are also expected, with the rear ABS likely to be switchable for off-road riding.
The new parallel-twin engine will be the biggest change over the 390 Adventure. It is expected to produce around 50 to 60 bhp and should offer smoother power delivery and lower vibrations compared to the single-cylinder engine. Other expected features include a colour TFT display, smartphone connectivity, navigation, multiple riding modes, traction control, cornering ABS, cruise control and a bi-directional quickshifter.