KTM: CEO Stefan Pierer stated that KTM was creating a new 490 series of motorcycles with a parallel-twin cylinder engine a few years ago. At one point, there was even talk of Bajaj producing the bike, which was shown in the company’s investor presentation. Naturally, this excited Indian devotees looking to replace their 390s, but then nothing happened. Pierer has now confirmed that the 490 platforms have been permanently shelved.
Why has KTM shelved the 490cc platform?
The 490 platform project was abandoned due to the massive costs associated with creating a brand-new parallel-twin engine with such a small capacity. KTM wasn’t confident that investing all the money and effort was worthwhile for this market sector, from engine design and development to the price of testing and validating a new platform. though, is working on something else.
KTM has chosen to downsize the 799cc parallel twin from the 790 Duke to a unit built on a 690 platform, according to Pierer (the exact capacity is unknown). He added that it will undoubtedly produce more than 70 horsepower, and we could anticipate it to be somewhere around the 80 horsepower level, putting it in the same league as this bike’s immediate competitors, the Yamaha MT-07 and the Triumph Trident 660. Similar to the 790 Duke, this bike may not have the highest power output in its class, but KTM is aiming for a segment-leading power-to-weight ratio, so you can anticipate a low kerb weight of under 190 kg.
Given that the 600-700cc market is flourishing in places like Europe and that bikes like the Yamaha MT-07 are popular, KTM’s choice to create a bike in this range makes logical. The single-cylinder 690 Duke, a very niche motorbike, is the only product KTM has produced in that area to date. However, the 690 might help KTM break into the market and gain a sizable market share.
When will the 690c platform enter the market?
The new 690 platform will be released by the manufacturer in 2024, and KTM’s Chinese partner CF Moto will produce bikes on it. The fact that the bikes built on the 690 platform will cost more since they are being imported may be terrible news for Indian fans.
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