BREAKING: KTM RC450 Showcased At EICMA 2026: Exclusive Details About The 490 Duke

KTM has showcased the new RC450 at EICMA 2026, giving us a glimpse of its upcoming middleweight sportbike. However, those waiting for the brand’s new 490 cc parallel-twin engine platform will have to wait a little longer. The Austrian manufacturer has confirmed that its upcoming 490 cc motorcycles are still in development, with the first production-spec model expected to arrive next year.

KTM RC450 Is A Separate Project

The newly showcased RC450 is based on CFMoto’s existing platform and will be manufactured in China. KTM plans to export the motorcycle to Europe in early 2027, although its launch timeline and detailed specifications are yet to be announced. However, the RC450 has no direct connection with KTM’s upcoming 490 cc range. The latter will be based on an entirely new platform and is expected to be manufactured in India.

KTM 490 Duke To Debut At EICMA 2027

According to KTM officials, the new 490 cc parallel-twin platform is now in its final stages of development and production. The first motorcycle to use this engine will be the 490 Duke, which is expected to make its production-spec debut at EICMA 2027. The 490 Adventure will follow later, with its unveiling likely to take place at EICMA 2028. Both motorcycles will be manufactured in India, making this an important platform for KTM’s future lineup. Interestingly, KTM has also clarified that the new 490cc motorcycles will not be derivatives of the existing CFMoto-based architecture. Both platforms are entirely different and have been developed as separate motorcycle families.

BikeDekho Says

While the RC450 gives us an idea of what KTM has planned for its middleweight lineup, it isn’t the 490 cc motorcycle many enthusiasts were waiting for. The good news is that the 490 Duke and Adventure are still on track, although their arrival is now a little further away.