KTM Duke 490 Launch To Take Place In 2022, Adventure 490 To Follow

KTM will launch the Duke 490 by 2022 and an Adventure model will also follow suit, Chief Executive Officer of Pierer Mobility AG, Stefan Pierer has revealed.

Developed at the Bajaj R&D centre in Pune with support from KTM, the new 490cc twin-cylinder models are essential to the Austrian firm, for they will offer buyers of Duke 250 or 390 to upgrade to a bigger model and stay within its fold.

While the products are still under development, Pierer says he has not yet decided where the new 490cc range will be manufactured.

It could take place in India, or production could be taken care of by CFMoto, KTM’s Chinese partner, as the brand has setup a new manufacturing facility, in its home country, that will be operational at the beginning of 2021.

What Stefan is sure about is that the first 490cc product, (most likely) the KTM Duke 490 launch will take place in 2022. As a bonus, KTM will also make an Adventure variant, while Husqvarna too will be utilising the platform.

Stefan also mentioned that there will be a Duke 750 coming in the future. KTM has handed over the Duke 790 platform to CFMoto for the brand to produce its future models. However, there will be a KTM derivative, which will be called the 750, a stark departure in the brand’s naming strategy.

It will be made by CFMoto and will be the Austrian brand’s entry-level bike for its premium middleweight class and will be sold globally. Meanwhile, KTM will be focusing on its 890 models.

Of course, the 890 too will go to China, as CKD units, as the most populous country on earth is increasingly becoming an important market for the Austrian brand.