CEO of KTM Gottfried Neumeister has officially confirmed that the Austrian manufacturer is developing two new fully faired KTM sportbikes to expand its low-to-mid-displacement lineup.
The announcement confirms that KTM is actively working on the 490 RC and the 790 RC, bringing sharp fairings back to categories where the brand previously scaled back.
The CEO’s Confirmation is Exciting
The smaller of the two newly confirmed models, the 490 RC, marks an interesting development for KTM’s small-capacity strategy.
Last year, KTM discontinued its single-cylinder RC 390 in the UK and European markets, leaving a gap in its lightweight supersport offerings.
The upcoming 490 RC is an entirely distinct platform and should not be confused with the twin-cylinder 450 RC that KTM currently sells in China. That Chinese-market 450 RC is developed in partnership with CFMoto and shares hardware with the CFMoto 450SR-S.
While specific technical details regarding the new 490 RC remain under wraps, KTM has clarified that it will not simply be a rebadged version of the 450 RC.
Bridging the gap between small-displacement models and the flagship 990 RC R, the new 790 RC will revive the 790 platform in a fully faired format.
It is expected to utilize a version of KTM’s proven 799cc LC8c parallel-twin engine, wrapped in track-focused bodywork designed to compete directly against middleweight rivals like the Yamaha YZF-R7 and Aprilia RS 660.
Neumeister’s confirmation highlights KTM’s renewed commitment to traditional supersport segments.
By filling the operational space between its lightweight entry-level bikes and high-end middleweights, KTM aims to provide a clear progression path for sportbike riders seeking aggressive ergonomics, aerodynamic fairings, and track-ready performance.
Source: RideApart
