The popularity of KTM motorcycles in India has been growing strongly for the past few years
The KTM RC450 has been leaked online ahead of the official debut. We know that KTM bikes have done a great job on the sales charts in our market. Riders looking for performance-focused products at relatively affordable prices generally opt for these. The 390 series has many fans in India. In fact, it is one of the highest-selling motorcycles in this space. While nothing has been officially announced yet, some reports mention that the RC450 might be the updated version of the 390. Let us take a look at the details here.
KTM RC450 Leaked Ahead of Debut
The visuals stem from amcn_mag on Instagram. One thing which stands out from the images is that this doesn’t look like a concept, but a production-ready model. The bike carries over a trellis-style frame (derived from the CFMoto 450 SR-S platform). This will ensure agility in terms of handling and riding dynamics. Other bits include a race-inspired aerodynamic fairing, a compact windscreen, an aggressively sculpted tank, bodywork, a minimalist tail section, an angular headlamp cluster with an LED setup, a single-sided swingarm, etc. The bike certainly retains the sporty and aggressive demeanour associated with KTM bikes.
In terms of specifications, there is little reason to believe that it won’t share the powertrain with the likes of 450 SX-F (motocross), 450 SMR (supermoto), and 450 EXC-F (enduro). This means a 449.5-cc parallel twin engine for hardcore performance. It will most likely be equipped with a fully adjustable USD fork up front. More details will emerge closer to the launch.
Editor’s Note
Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor
As someone who has tracked KTM’s India strategy closely for over a decade, I can say the RC450 leak is a strong indicator of the brand’s next big shift in the sub-500cc performance segment. With KTM globalising its new 450 platform, it’s entirely plausible that this motorcycle will eventually take over from the ageing RC390 in our market. However, KTM rarely rushes India launches without local assembly readiness, so a direct replacement isn’t guaranteed just yet. What’s clear is that the RC450’s design and hardware signal a significant step-up, something Indian enthusiasts have been waiting for.
Also Read: New KTM 160 Duke vs Bajaj Pulsar NS160 – Which One To Buy?
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