KTM has officially confirmed the development of two new low mid-size supersport motorcycles—the RC 490 and RC 790. The announcement was made by the company’s CEO during a recent interview. Both motorcycles will be based on a new twin-cylinder platform that is being co-developed by Bajaj-KTM in India.
KTM already offers a twin-cylinder KTM RC 450 in China. However, the upcoming RC 490 mentioned by the company is not the same motorcycle. While KTM has not revealed any technical specifications yet, the RC 490 is expected to be positioned between the existing RC 390 and the upcoming KTM RC 790 in the brand’s supersport lineup.
The company is also expected to gradually replace the existing RC 390 lineup globally with the new 490 range, as selling motorcycles with two different engine capacities but largely similar performance figures in the same segment may not make long-term sense.
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However, KTM is likely to continue offering the 350cc-powered RC 390 in India as a more affordable option, while positioning the upcoming RC 490 as a more premium, refined, and performance-oriented upgrade for existing RC 390 owners.
KTM also stated that its expanding supersport lineup will draw heavily from the company’s MotoGP experience, building on the recently unveiled 990 RC R and 990 RC R Track. The KTM RC 490 is expected to launch globally by the end of 2027.