The development of a smaller 490cc version of the parallel twin used in the 790 has been an open secret for at least a couple of years. 490cc is a sweet spot for me as it allows a reasonable amount of power one-up and a parallel twin should be shorter in height allowing a lower seat height.

This article from Adventure Rider is based on an interview in 'Le Repaire des Motards' and includes information on 490/501 and 890/901 plans.

Pierer confirms new KTM 500cc bikes and more/

Original 'Le Repaire des Motards' article

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Tell you what would be really nice, if they would build an option without all the farkles and electronic whizzbangs, but I guess that's too much to hope for. Otherwise, yes, it certainly does fill a gap in the market

Er, which ones would that be? A brand-new 390 Adventure is 6250 EUR out the door here, which is actually less than a CB500X (probably more reliable and better distance-travel bike, if not as good on unsealed roads). Which whizzbangs and farkles would you like them to take out of it?

A KTM more reliable than a Honda?

ABS and traction control primarily, as well as all the emissions stuff that makes them run lean and use FBW throttle. Basically all the non user maintainable electronics that governments insist on and travellers don't need.

When was the last time someone was stuck on the side of the road due to a malfunctioning ABS sensor?

If you want a bike without ABS, traction control, EFI, then you can already buy it: it's called a 30-year-old used bike. If you care about "user maintainable", you don't also get to ask for a factory warranty.

Dunno, do you? Ewan and Charley had to abandon a bike for that, but that was back in 2004. I've certainly heard of plenty stranded with burned out fuel pumps.

And you're missing the point on simple bikes. I don't want a 30 year old used bike, again I've seen too many cases of people thinking they'll be fine on one, right until it blows the bottom out of the engine halfway across Mongolia.

I want a relatively new, simple, low tech bike. And yeah, I know such things don't exist. Well, I suppose the Enfield exists but I don't particularly want a dinosaur either.

I think it's important to realize that the factories CANNOT build a super simple bike anymore - Emissions regulations preclude that. They MUST have electronics to control fueling and thereby emissions, and ABS is now being mandated. THEN, they have all this electronics there, and it's CHEAP and EASY now for them to add something that will help SELL the bikes to MOST people - remember it's always a feature comparison when people buy a bike - that one has more whizbangery therefore it's the better buy.

That is NOT GOING TO CHANGE. So, there is a choice - an old bike that's simple, and a ground up rebuild to ensure it's good, OR buy a new bike you more or less like, accept it for what it is, and learn to love it. Modern bikes are so much nicer to ride, get better fuel mileage by far, and are more reliable OVERALL than old bikes, it's not really a hard choice for average non-mechanic person.

Thousands of people have ridden RTW with a new bike and had NO issues - we only hear about the bad ones. And even if you do have an issue, MOST of the time it can be dragged to a dealer. Sure, sometimes it's a big deal - so what's new about that? Remember Ted rebuilding his Triumph 500 for the ?? time? NOT easy.

Buy what you like the most, live with it, and accept that NO bike is perfect.

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

"Developed, announced and scrapped" reports motorradonline.de

The twin-cylinder 490/501 models that KTM/Husqvarna spoke about being delivered in 2022, are being eliminated and to fill the gap between the 373cc and 799cc models, a new two-cylinder is being developed probably marketed as a 690.

More from AdvRider, https://www.advrider.com/report-ktm-490-project-is-canceled-new-chinese-700-twin-incoming-instead/

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

As I understand KTM have struck a deal to have some bikes produced in China which would concern me if I was planning to buy one. They make great bikes and each time I ride one I have a big smile on my face but I'm not sure I'd buy one because of reliability issues.
There's a big difference in build quality between the Austrian built bikes and the 125's, 200's and 390's that are built in India but sadly they all have issues.
I'm assuming any new models will now be built in China.

Why do people automatically have this huge downer on things Made in China? We're not in the 20th century any more and China has been building high quality goods for export for decades now. They have a space programme. The phone you're using to slate them was probably made there. When western (and Japanese) manufacturers build in China they do so to take advantage of very low labour costs, not so they can churn out some shite that falls apart in a year. Are KTM or Honda going to do that and ruin their brand reputation? No, they are not. At the very least, major brands manufacturing in China will have rigorous quality control and supply line management in place to ensure the product meets build and reliability standards as good as one built "at home". Because it's all the same brand, which they have spent a lot on to make it favourable.

I'll grant you there are no such guarantees for Chinese brands, but even they are fast improving. Anyone remember the old 70s taunts of "Jap Crap"? Well look at them now. A byword for quality, and the Chinese realise that - they are building their own brands and want to build a reputation to go behind them. Products exported to the west are profitable for them, not like the mass-produced dross churned out for the developing world. Chinese goods are better than most people think, and getting better.

BTW Grant, re your last comment I'm aware they can't build such a "simple travel bike", and no doubt the market would be small if they did. My comment was what I'd like to see, and that's a personal view. Dunno why people get so aerated about that.