Is the KTM 490 Adventure a dead duck?

Question

With a claimed 50 hp on tap, the KTM 490 Adventure was one of the series' most anticipated middleweight adventure bikes, filling the gap between the 390 and 790. But the latest news is that KTM may have canceled the 490 platform entirely. This has left many adventure riders wondering what happened to this promising bike and what it says about KTM’s future lineup. The rumors have started debates about whether KTM's strategy is right, what market demands are, and whether a 500cc adventure bike makes sense in today's market. There is a case to be made for the 390 being powerful enough for A2 license holders, and there is a case to be made for a more capable middleweight option. This discussion also takes a look at KTM's partnerships with Bajaj and CF Moto and what these will mean for the brand's forthcoming offerings.

@priyanka-k · Accepted Answer

I was hoping the 490 would be the perfect bike for riders that want to step up from the 390. I don’t know what to recommend to my friends who are looking to upgrade now.

@ashish-kum · Answer

An unpopular opinion perhaps, but I’d rather see a 700cc twin from their partnership with CF Moto than the 490 anyway.

@sourabh-ja · Answer

I'm actually relieved. Rather than launching a new model every year, KTM should improve on their existing bikes and make them reliable.

@kalika-dub · Answer

It's a shame, but I get it. Emissions regulations are becoming stricter, and perhaps they thought it wasn’t worth the effort to develop a new engine that could become obsolete quickly.

@agha-saqui · Answer

I feel KTM made the right call. Because they are probably focusing on improving the 390 and 790 platforms rather than introducing a whole new size of engine.

@abhishek-r · Answer

Honestly, I'm not surprised. The 790 is not much more expensive, and the 390 Adventure is already a capable bike. Otherwise, the 490 would have been caught in this strange no man's land.

@angad-kuma · Answer

Man, I'm bummed if it's true. I was really hoping for something more powerful than the 390 without going straight to the 790.

Is the KTM 490 Adventure a dead duck?

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