KTM 490 Adventure Spied: Twin-cylinder ADV Between 390 and 890 Adventure Nears Launch

KTM's 490 Adventure has been spotted testing overseas with its body panels stripped away, and the prototype has revealed enough to confirm this is not a minor update but an entirely new motorcycle. The undisguised test mule shows a tall, upright adventure silhouette with long-travel suspension and dual-purpose rubber, signalling a bike built for real-world touring rather than just weekend rides.

The gap this machine fills is real and long-overdue. The KTM 390 Adventure remains a brilliant city-and-trail tool, but its single-cylinder character becomes a limitation on sustained triple-digit highway speeds. The KTM 890 Adventure R solves that problem but at a price point (Rs 15.8 lakh) well beyond most Indian buyers. The 490 is KTM's answer to that specific frustration.

What's new?

At the heart of the 490 Adventure is a new parallel-twin engine co-developed by KTM and Bajaj. It is expected to produce 60–70 PS. That's a significant jump in outright output, but the bigger story is refinement. A twin-cylinder layout inherently irons out the vibes that make single-cylinder bikes tiring on long highway stints.

The prototype's hardware list reads like a proper middleweight ADV. Key confirmed details from the test mule include:

• 21-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear, both with tubeless spoke wheels

• Dual-purpose Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres (expected fitment)

• WP suspension components — staying true to the go-anywhere capability

• Single disc brakes at both ends, with a radial WP caliper at the front

A 21-inch front is the standard for bikes that are genuinely expected to leave tarmac, not a styling choice. Combined with what is expected to be long-travel WP suspension, the 490 Adventure appears engineered for the kind of broken-road punishment that Indian touring routes routinely dish out. Specific suspension travel figures and ground clearance are yet to be confirmed.

Vs KTM 390 Adventure

If you currently own or are considering a 390 Adventure, here is the honest trade-off summary:

The single-cylinder 390 Adventure is not a bad motorcycle by any means. But if your rides regularly involve 300-plus-km days on national highways, the 490's expected twin-cylinder refinement is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade, not just a spec-sheet boast. The caveat: pricing and kerb weight are both to be confirmed, and a heavier bike could offset some of the 390's nimble appeal.

The Bajaj Angle

This is not just a KTM story. The new 490 platform is a joint KTM-Bajaj development, and that partnership has direct implications for Indian buyers. Local production under the Bajaj tie-up has historically kept KTM prices more competitive in India compared to fully imported ones. We expect the same to continue with the 490 as well.

The 490 engine platform is expected to underpin Duke and RC models alongside the Adventure. Hence, Bajaj is essentially investing in a multi-model architecture. The KTM 490 Duke has already been spotted with the same parallel-twin engine.

Launch and Price Expectations

KTM is expected to make the global debut of the 490 Adventure sometime next year. India launch will likely follow, contingent on Bajaj's local production ramp-up. Its two closest rivals — the Honda NX500 and the BMW F 450 GS, give a rough market bracket to watch. Both are parallel-twin middleweights priced close to Rs 7.5 lakh on-road. The 490 Adventure will need to undercut them meaningfully to justify its made-in-India relevance. With Bajaj's local manufacturing advantage, that outcome is plausible.

Zig Says…

If you are currently shopping for a middleweight adventure tourer and want something bigger than the 390 Adventure without having to spend big-bike levels of money, the 490 Adventure can be the one for you. Its global reveal is expected next year, and India pricing could follow relatively quickly given local production plans. Sitting out one purchase cycle may well land you a significantly better machine for a fair premium over the 390 Adventure.