KTM's 490 Duke Just Got Caught Testing, and It's Wearing the 390's Headlight Like a Bad Disguise
KTM's finally building the naked bike that fits between the 390 and 790 Duke -- a new parallel-twin, spied wearing someone else's headlight.
KTM’s just given me a new bike to lose sleep over, and the one I actually own hasn’t left the garage in three weeks.
Spy shots from Europe show a KTM 490 Duke prototype testing with a parallel-twin engine — a first for the small-capacity Duke line, which has run a single-cylinder engine all the way from the 125 up to the 390. Estimated output sits at 55 to 60 hp, which would slot the new 490 Duke neatly between the single-cylinder 390 Duke and the twin-cylinder 790 Duke in KTM’s naked-bike range.
What the spy shots actually show
The KTM 490 Duke test mule is running temporary components lifted straight from the current 390 Duke, including its headlight, so read the styling with a grain of salt. What’s harder to disguise is the engine bay: the parallel-twin layout is visibly bulkier than a single-cylinder unit, and the frame borrows visual cues from the 790 series rather than the 390’s chassis — a bigger structural change than a new engine bolted into an old frame would need.
Hardware spotted on the prototype includes a WP suspension setup with upside-down front forks, a large front disc with a radial-mount caliper, and exposed trellis-frame sections consistent with KTM’s usual naked-bike construction.
What we know / What’s still unclear
What we know: - The engine is a new parallel-twin, not a bored-out single — confirmed by the visible bulk of the unit in spy photos. - KTM and Bajaj Auto plan to build it in India, at Bajaj’s plant near Pune, for both the domestic market and export. - The bike is expected to compete with middleweight twins from Aprilia, BMW and TVS.
What’s still unclear: - Exact power and torque figures — 55-60 hp is press estimate, not a KTM-confirmed number. - Pricing, though KTM/Bajaj’s usual playbook for this segment is aggressive pricing relative to European rivals. - Whether the global reveal happens at EICMA 2026 or slips to early 2027 alongside the India launch.
Where it sits in KTM’s Duke lineup
| Duke model | Engine | Power (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 390 Duke | 399cc single | ~45 PS |
| 490 Duke (new) | Parallel-twin | ~55-60 hp (est.) |
| 790 Duke | 799cc parallel-twin | ~95 PS |
That gap between the 390 and 790 has been sitting there for years, the same gap KTM’s CEO already confirmed KTM is filling on the RC sportbike side with an RC 490 — so a naked 490 Duke sharing that engine isn’t exactly a stretch of the imagination, it’s KTM finishing a sentence it already started.
Why this one actually matters to me
A parallel-twin at this size, in a chassis this close to the 790’s, is the kind of bike that talks me into the “just one more” motorcycle I keep promising my wife I’m not buying. The current 390 Duke platform is a fantastic first bike but runs out of highway legs past 130 km/h; a genuine twin with real midrange fixes exactly that complaint, and every complaint about that complaint I’ve made on every group ride this year.
FAQ
When will the KTM 490 Duke launch?
No date is confirmed. Reports point to a possible global reveal at EICMA 2026, with an India launch expected in 2027.
What engine will the KTM 490 Duke use?
Spy shots show a new parallel-twin engine, KTM’s first in this Duke displacement class, estimated at 55 to 60 hp — up from the 390 Duke’s single-cylinder unit.
Where will the KTM 490 Duke be built?
KTM and Bajaj Auto plan to build it at Bajaj’s plant near Pune, India, supplying both the domestic market and export destinations including Europe.
How does the 490 Duke fit into KTM’s naked bike range?
It fills the gap between the single-cylinder 390 Duke and the twin-cylinder 790 Duke, giving KTM a mid-tier naked bike between roughly 45 PS and 95 PS.
