KTM RC 490 Spied Testing, First Look At The 490 Fully Faired Bike
Something interesting is brewing at KTM. The Austrian bikemaker has recently been testing a new line of motorcycles. Last week, we saw a new adventure motorcycle being tested. Many reports suggested that it could be an update of the 790 lineup. In our story, however, we explained why it could be a smaller twin-cylinder engine. Now, what looks like the fully-faired RC has been spotted on test in Europe.
In a previous investor presentation, KTM had confirmed that several bikes will be made as part of the 490 project. It was, however, shelved in the months that followed. The latest spy shots confirm that the project has been restarted and several models including the new RC490, are under development. When launched, this will replace the current RC390. We expect the global premiere to happen in late 2026. The actual market entry (globally) may take place in early 2027.
RC 490: What Do The Spy Pictures Reveal?
The latest set of spy shots show a motorcycle that’s finished in Black (it is likely the camo) being tested rigorously. Look closely and you will see winglets at the front. These will help in providing improved stability. The overall styling seems to be a departure from that of the current 390.
The fairing looks sharper and cleaner than before. The LED DRLs are similar to those seen on the outgoing 390. The headlamp has an LED projector setup. KTM seems to have kept things minimal and clean in the tail design.
Another interesting detail is the chassis design. It gets a single-sided swingarm- an uncommon find in the sub-500cc performance segment. The chassis, in fact, resembles the one seen on the CF Moto 450 SR.
This makes us assume that KTM will likely use a heavily modified (and rebadged) CF Moto 450 SR platform for the RC 490. The suspension, styling, and aerodynamics have all been designed and engineered by KTM in-house. The spy shots also show a single disc brake at the front.
In terms of equipment, the upcoming RC490 will get a TFT instrument console, selectable riding modes, traction control, cornering ABS and even quickshifters. The prototype shown here seems to be in early stages of its development. It will be interesting to see how this product evolves into a production-ready form.
More About The New RC 490’s Engine
The new RC will get a 490cc, twin-cylinder engine. This has been confirmed by the spy shots. You can see twin pipes entering the engine head. The outgoing RC 390 is known for its peppy engine and meaty performance. It generates 44hp from a single-cylinder setup. The new twin is expected to produce around 50-55 hp- definitely not a huge leap up. But what will improve on the new engine is the refinement.
If you’ve ridden the RC 390, you’d know how stressed the engine feels. KTMs are known for their raw power and high compression engines! The twin-cylinder engine will bring more refinement and better reliability to the table. It will also be a perfect fit for relaxed touring.
KTM, CF Moto, And The RC490 Project
KTM used to distribute CF Motos in many global markets since 2013. In June this year, KTM announced that it will soon stop doing so in markets like Austria, Germany, UK, Spain, and Switzerland. The manufacturing agreement between the two would remain unaffected by the development. The RC490's development will likely remain unbothered as well.
Image Source: Motorrad-Magazin