KTM Plans Mid-Size V-Twin Engines For Upcoming Motorcycles

Austrian motorcycle manufacturer, KTM has planned to launch its upcoming motorcycles with mid-size V-Twin engines, revealed by Stefan Pierer, CEO, KTM Sport motorcycle AG. This step is taken by KTM to bridge the gap between the small capacity and large capacity engines.

In a V-Twin engine, two cylinders are arranged in a V shape. The capacity of these engines will lie between 600-800 cc which sets the highest capacity range as 800 cc. “We will have a new KTM mid-class of bikes within around three years. We are looking at the way this will happen, but we are working on 600 to 800cc V-twins,” said Pierer to motorcycle news.

KTM 390-3

Image- KTM Duke 390

The KTM motorcycles with mid-sized twin cylinder engine will compete with Yamaha R6 and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R in the 600 cc to 800 cc displacement segment. Yamaha R6 is equipped with 600 cc liquid-cooled inline 4-cylinder, DOHC, 16 titanium valves engine. The compression ratio of this bike is 13.1:1. It also features domed pistons with valve cutouts to produce a compact combustion chamber.It churns out 122 BHP of maximum power at 14500 rpm and 65.7 Nm of peak torque at 10500 rpm. It is mated to a 6 speed transmission.

Kawasaki 6R on the other hand is equipped with 600 cc 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4 valves inline-four engine with a compression ratio of 12.9:1. It churns out 131 PS of maximum power at 13,500 rpm and 71 Nm of peak torque at 11,500 rpm. It is also mated to a 6-speed transmission.

KTM engine KTM engine-2

Images- For Illustration Purpose Only

KTM already has a vast line up of small and large displacement bikes like Duke 390 and Super Duke 1290. Duke 390 features a 375cc, 4-stroke, liquid cooled, single-cylinder, engine with twin overhead camshafts, four valves and electronic fuel injection, which delivers an outstanding performance with 44 HP power. While Super Duke 1290 on the other hand feautures DOHC 4-valve cylinder with twin plug ignition. It produces 180 HP of maximum power and 144 Nm of peak torque. The mid sized engine will lie somewhere between these two engines and bridge the gap between them.

The upcoming motorcycles of KTM with mid sized twin cylinder are expected to be manufactured at the Chakan facility near Pune where KTM already manufactures other bike models. Husqvarna model range will also feature the same engines. Rest of the details about these mid-size V-Twin engine remains sketchy. We expect the launch of KTM motorcycles equipped with this engine soon at a competitive price tag.

Source- Motorcycle News

Also Read- Tourer version of KTM 1290 Super Duke, 125 And 390 Spied

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