News regarding the latest KTM 490 range has been around for a number of years now. While we know for a fact that the Austrian manufacturer has plans to further expand its offerings in the entry/middleweight segment, COVID-19 definitely threw one heck of a spanner into the works.
Now in 2022, the rumours are back up and running and we will most likely see the new KTM 490 series by the end of the year. When we say series, we mean that the 490 range will be offered in the Duke, RC, and Adventure models. In other news, it is yet to confirm whether the 490 will be replacing the 390, judging by what experts are assuming regarding its powertrain.
All KTM models ranging from the smaller bikes up to the 690s have all been single-cylinder models, but that was changed when the Austrians introduced the 790 Duke, which came with a parallel-twin engine. For the 490, rumours circulating on the web have indicated that it too might run the parallel-twin powertrains.
This is solely due to the fact that its Chinese partner, CFMoto, launched its 450SR with a 450cc twin-cylinder engine that produces 50hp and 39Nm of torque. Expect those numbers to be slightly bumped up when the KTM 490 rolls into the picture.
