KTM 500cc Twin-Cylinder Bike Launch In 2022

KTM Duke 790 Video Review — The new middle-weight bike could be called KTM Duke 490

Earlier this year the speculations of a KTM 500cc twin-cylinder engine emerged. Now, KTM boss Stefan Pierer has revealed the timeline of the launch.

The first motorcycle powered by the new 500cc, parallel-twin engine will be launched in 2022. The engine is currently under development at Bajaj Auto’s R&D centre in Pune, India. The 500cc motorcycles will be manufactured in India and thus aggressive pricing can be expected.

Upon being asked if the COVID-19 situation has delayed the development of the new middle-weight motorcycles, he claims it’s the opposite. Learning a lesson from the crisis, the bike maker is accelerating the project.

He says the 500cc category is very important for the emerging markets as well as the developed markets with the A2 motorcycles.

For emerging markets like India, it is a crucial segment for 125/200 and 390 Duke buyers who want to move up the ladder and get a bigger capacity motorcycle.

Stefan claims it is a similar parallel twin-cylinder format that they use on the Duke 790 and 890 but in a smaller 500cc capacity. This engine will be offered in both Duke and Adventure series of motorcycles. We can expect an RC 490 too from this engine with performance oriented dynamics.

We can expect a power output of around 60 BHP from the new parallel twin-cylinder engine. More details will be revealed closer to the debut of the middle-weight motorcycle. However, road testing might begin by next year and we might be lucky enough to spot test mules ahead of the 2022 debut in India.