Track enthusiasts waiting for KTM to step beyond single-cylinder sportbikes finally have their answer. At EICMA 2026, the Austrian motorcycle maker pulled the wraps off the 450 RC, confirming a parallel shift toward twin-cylinder supersport machinery. It looks sharp. But patience will be mandatory. KTM scheduled production for late 2027, positioning the motorcycle strictly as a 2028 model.
Full output numbers remain behind closed doors. KTM confirmed the twin-cylinder architecture alongside dedicated chassis calibration, yet held back displacement metrics, horsepower ratings, and peak torque curves. The visible cycle parts, however, reveal an uncompromising focus on corner speed and unsprung mass reduction. Up front, a 43mm WP APEX upside-down fork offers full compression and rebound damping adjustment. Out back, a WP APEX rear shock—tunable for preload and rebound—bolts directly to a lightweight single-sided swingarm.
Stopping power comes via a 320mm front rotor clamped by a four-piston radial WP caliper. Instead of hanging twin rotors on the front wheel, KTM deliberately stayed with a single-disc setup to pare down steering inertia and unsprung heft. Sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 rubber wraps the alloy wheels right off the factory floor.
A suite of lean-sensitive electronic rider aids anchors the package. The 450 RC packs Cornering ABS, lean-angle-aware Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), and dual-channel ABS featuring switchable Road and Supermoto profiles. Riders cycle through multiple power modes using switchgear linked to a crisp 5-inch TFT color screen. Dedicated USB-A and USB-C power ports come fitted as standard equipment, though KTM deferred software feature breakdowns and smartphone pairing protocols for later updates.
Buyers eyeing an immediate upgrade over the single-cylinder RC 390 must sit tight. KTM gave no commitment regarding an Indian launch, leaving local availability and showroom pricing undecided. With mass manufacturing locked for late 2027, detailed performance benchmarks and territorial allocations will roll out only as assembly lines begin spinning closer to launch.