KTM continues to expand the horizon of its mid-range and the latest spy images suggest that the Austrian firm is working on a completely new platform. After the appearance of an alleged 490 Duke in tests (which we told you about), now it is a trail that attracts attention: the future KTM 490 Adventurea model still without official confirmation but that is beginning to outline a very interesting strategy for the Mattighofen brand.
As can be seen, the photographs taken during the tests show a motorcycle clearly oriented towards the adventure touring segment and, although its development still seems to be in an early phase, it already allows us to draw some quite relevant conclusions.
Rumors have been circulating for some time about a new generation of medium-displacement twin-cylinder engines developed by KTM. And, as we see, everything indicates that the brand would be preparing a complete family of 5 members, around a parallel twin-cylinder engine of approximately 490 cc. Yes, the strategy would not be limited only to a trail. Along with the Adventure, the arrival of variants is expected Duke naked, RC supersport and even possible models Enduro and SMCsignificantly expanding the scope of this future platform.
Although the prototype appears heavily camouflaged and packed with test instrumentation, the visual kinship with the current 390 Adventure it is evident. The front seems to adopt a similar optical package, while the tank area and general lines are clearly reminiscent of the most recent Adventure design language of KTM. However, it is advisable to interpret these images with some caution.
Without a doubt, one of the most striking elements of this test mule is its cycle part. The future 490 Adventure seems to ride an inverted fork W.P. long travel accompanied by a rear shock absorber monocrossa recipe consistent with the adventurous approach of the motorcycle.
The set conveys the sensation of a motorcycle designed to combine road use and certain off-road capabilities, remaining within the accessible Adventure concept that is experiencing so much growth in the old continent.
What is the big news about the KTM 490 Adventure?
The big news, however, is under the fairing. The prototype is equipped with a completely new parallel twin-cylinder engine, also associated with a conventional side exhaust system and not the under-engine design that characterizes the current 390 platforms. For now there are no official figures, but speculation places its performance between 60 and 65 hpa power that would place this future Adventure in a very competitive position within the medium trail segment.
One thing is clear, the fact that the prototypes have been photographed outside India also fuels the hypothesis that this future platform has a primarily global focus, while other twin-cylinder engines of smaller displacement would be reserved for specific markets. But hey, time to time.
