KTM’s Upcoming RC450 Exposed in China

KTM’s upcoming middleweight supersport borrows heavily from the CFMoto 450SR-S platform, but packs enough changes to stand as a uniquely aggressive KTM offering.

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KTM’s next supersport machine has been unintentionally revealed after Chinese type-approval documents surfaced online, confirming the existence of what appears to be the KTM RC450. The documents originate from KTM’s joint-venture manufacturing project with CFMoto, offering the clearest look yet at the long-rumored model.

The RC450 had previously been speculated as the “RC490,” but the leaked images show the bike sporting classic KTM orange fairings, a large “RC” logo, and 450 badging, putting the naming mystery to rest. Although it looks like a fresh KTM from the outside, the bike rides on the same platform as the CFMoto 450SR S, allowing KTM to rapidly push the model from development to production.

Sources suggest the RC450 project was approved even before KTM’s recent financial turbulence. However, the supersport is expected to be exclusive to the Chinese market, where buyers will get a choice between the CFMoto 450SR S and this sharper, more race-focused KTM variant. With Bajaj now playing a bigger role in KTM’s global strategy, it appears highly unlikely that the RC450 will reach India, Europe, or the US.

Under the fairings, the RC450 uses the same 449cc parallel-twin, 270-degree crank engine found in the CFMoto 450 lineup. It also shares the trellis frame from the standard 450SR and the single-sided swingarm from the SR-S variant. According to the approval documents, the KTM is slightly lighter at 168kg (compared to 171kg on the SR-S) and produces a marginally higher output at 41.3 kW, up from CFMoto’s 38 kW.

KTM has made several meaningful hardware changes, giving the bike a more extreme supersport personality. The RC450 replaces the SR-S’s KYB suspension with WP suspension components, gets clip-on handlebars positioned below the top yoke, and adds a WP steering damper for extra stability. A quickshifter load sensor is visible in the linkage, while the footpegs appear to be mounted higher for a more committed riding stance.

Visually, the RC450 follows KTM’s sharp, angular design DNA, resembling a downsized KTM 990 RC R. The aggressive bodywork, front winglets, and a dramatically high pillion perch reinforce its track-oriented nature. The wheels are different from the split-spoke design on the 450SR S, though the mirrors and turn indicators are unmistakably borrowed from CFMoto’s parts bin.

More details from the homologation file reveal a shorter 1360mm wheelbase, which is 10mm less than the 450SR, hinting at a nose-down geometry and sharper cornering characteristics. The bike’s listed top speed is 195 km/h, and it runs Bosch 10.3MB ABS with the same tire sizes as the 450SR-S: 110/70R17 at the front and 150/60R17 at the rear.

The RC450 was previously spotted testing in Europe under heavy camouflage. Compared to those prototypes, the homologated model now features cleaner bodywork with turn signals mounted on the mirrors, emphasizing its race-ready look.

KTM is expected to launch the RC450 in China next year, where it will likely be priced higher than the CFMoto 450SR S due to its premium branding and upgraded components. Meanwhile, KTM’s global supersport strategy will continue to rely on an upcoming Gen 3 RC series powered by the new 390 Duke engine, until Bajaj’s in-development parallel-twin platform is ready for wider markets.

For now, the RC450 stands as an exciting, China-exclusive glimpse into what KTM can still do in the lightweight and middleweight supersport segment, even during a turbulent period for the brand.