KTM 450 RC Sportbike Shown at EICMA 2026 (Nov 2026)

KTM showed the 2028 KTM 450 RC, a new twin-cylinder supersport motorcycle, at EICMA in Milan in early November 2026. KTM's press release calls it an "unexpected appearance". Production is planned for late 2027, and the bike will arrive as a model-year 2028 motorcycle. KTM says full technical specifications and market availability will be announced closer to the start of production. This article is written as of 6 November 2026.

What KTM says about the bike

KTM describes the 450 RC as a KTM-engineered motorcycle with its own chassis setup, calibration and specifications, aimed at the entry and mid-displacement sportbike segment. The release does not give an engine output, weight or price.

Published equipment

• Front suspension: 43 mm WP APEX upside-down fork, adjustable for compression and rebound
• Rear suspension: WP APEX shock on a single-sided swingarm, adjustable for preload and rebound
• Front brake: single 320 mm disc with a four-piston radial WP caliper
• Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 as standard
• Electronics: cornering ABS, MTC dual-channel ABS with Road and Supermoto modes, and multiple ride modes
• Display and ports: 5-inch TFT dashboard, USB-A and USB-C charging

KTM says the single-disc front brake reduces unsprung weight, which is the weight of parts that are not carried by the suspension.

What other outlets report

Several outlets add details that are not in KTM's press release, so treat them as reports and not as KTM's own figures. BikeWale says the bike is based largely on the CFMoto 450SR-S, shares its frame and engine with it, and quotes 56 bhp and 48 Nm, adding that it expects a restriction to 48 bhp for Europe's A2 licence. SpeedWeek reports that the frame, engine and swingarm are identical to the CFMoto model, and that the 450 RC was unveiled for the Chinese market in April 2026. BikeWale also reports that the bike is not planned for India and will go on sale in Europe in 2028.

KTM's own release, as read for this article, does not name CFMoto or state the engine details. The company has not published a price.

Why it matters to Indian readers

BikeWale reports that KTM is not planning the 450 RC for India and points to a separate parallel-twin platform it has seen testing in Europe. KTM has not confirmed that in the release read here, so the India position is an outlet report only.

Terms explained

A supersport motorcycle is a road bike built around track-style handling and a forward-leaning riding position. Cornering ABS adjusts the brake limit for the lean angle. MTC is KTM's motorcycle traction control; the dual-channel ABS system works on both wheels, and the Supermoto mode, per KTM, is one of the settings on the brake system. The A2 licence mentioned by BikeWale is a European licence class that limits a rider's first bike to 35 kW (about 47.5 hp), so makers often offer bikes in that class.

How to read the figures

KTM has deliberately left out power, torque and weight, so any number seen elsewhere is not a KTM figure at this stage. The suspension, brake and electronics details above are the ones KTM itself lists. A reader comparing it with other small sportbikes should wait for the full specification, because the figures that decide a comparison, such as weight and output, are exactly the ones still missing.

Timeline in the reports

• April 2026: SpeedWeek says the 450 RC was unveiled for the Chinese market
• Early November 2026: KTM shows the bike at EICMA, Milan
• Late 2027: KTM's planned start of production
• Model year 2028: arrival as a 2028 motorcycle, per KTM

What is still unknown

• Official power, torque and weight figures for the European bike
• Price in any market
• On-sale date by market
• Which markets besides Europe will get it

Sources

• KTM brings supersport performance to EICMA26 with the 2028 KTM 450 RC, KTM Press Center
• EICMA 2026: 2027 KTM 450 RC launched; not India-bound, BikeWale
• European premiere at EICMA: KTM 450 RC sports bike for the A2 category, SPEEDWEEK.com

Image credits: Cover photo: 2015 KTM RC390 right by Dennis Bratland, CC BY-SA 4.0. Pictures from Wikimedia Commons.