If you’ve been paying attention, you might remember that we were supposed to see a new KTM 490 platform in 2022—and that didn’t happen. Now,Motorrad saysthat’s because the project is canceled, and we will see a made-in-China parallel twin 700-class engine (presumably wearing the 690 badge) replace the planned made-in-India 490.

The 490 project

We saw the new 490 platform in KTM’s internal documents way back in 2019. There had been rumors of the project for a while, and that December, an internal presentation (see the slide above) confirmed the plan to build a KTM 490 and Husqvarna 501 platform, both running the same liquid-cooled parallel twin engine. That engine would be built in India by KTM’s part-owner Bajaj. In the months after that presentation, we saw further internal paperwork talking about the project, and eventually we learnedit was supposed to be launched in 2022, probably on the fall show circuit. Production was supposed to take place in a new Bajaj factory.

That didn’t happen, obviously. At first, we wondered if it was just due to a COVID delay. But now, Motorrad says it’s confirmed reports from India about the 490 project’s cancellation.

A 700 twin?

Instead, Motorrad says KTM plans to build a 700-class parallel twin in conjunction with partner CFMoto. If it works out, we will see this engine powering a new adventure bike, supermoto, naked bike and possibly a sportbike, with the first of those machines launching on the market in 2024. Chances are KTM won’t introduce them all at the same time, but for now, we don’t know anything for sure.

The idea of a made-in-China KTM should come as no surprise, as we are already seeing such machinesavailable in North America for 2023. The talk of a new 700-class twin does make us wonder, though: Will that Chinese-built 790 now be axed? Or will the lineup carry 690, 790 and 890 twin options?

End of the 690 single?

And what about the existing 690 single? Currently, GasGas 700, Husqvarna 701 and KTM 690 models all use the hot-rodded single-cylinder engine that originally debuted in the KTM 690 Super Duke R, with 70+ horsepower on tap and a factory quickshifter. It’s the most powerful single ever available from any factory. Will the new twin mean the end of that incredibly fun engine, with its constant development since 1994’s Duke 620 model?

Let’s hope not. But with single-cylinder engines losing the battle against emissions regulations, and with rising MSRPs driving the cost of these Austrian-built machines out of the reach of some consumers, perhaps the 690 is on borrowed time.

Or maybe not. KTM has done an admirable job of keeping this engine in the lineup even as the Japanese basically stopped developing new thumpers. The 690/701 series is still incredibly popular with riders looking for a combination of power and light weight, and it seems unlikely that anyone wants it to go away until there is no other option.