Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1546650
P68 FIRST LOOK I 2027 KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA machined triple clamp is rally- specific, and a Scotts steer- ing damper is mounted under KTM's PHDS-damped handlebar mount. Powering the desert weapon is a 449cc four-valve SOHC four- stroke engine fed by a 44mm Keihin throttle body and Keihin engine-management system. The setup features rally-specific ECU mappings to match the air - box, engine and exhaust combi- nation, and routes power through a six-speed tr ansmission. Two independent radiators cool the powerplant, and an isolated oil cooler keeps temperatures fur - ther in check. Dedicated cylinder head porting and lightweight tita- nium valves, driven by DLC-coat- ed rocker arms, prioritize drive- train durability and performance. A r ally-spec titanium Akrapovic exhaust system is standard with a special hydroformed under- bike section to maximize ground clearance. Race-ready features include a carbon-fiber navigation tower with a digital roadbook mount and a narrower dashboard area to improve aerodynamics and reduce turbulence at full speed. In front, an LED head - light system anchors the front windscreen with a claimed 33 percent more light output than previous generations. The dash/ cockpit area features warning lights for low-fuel situations when fuel hits reserve. KTM says the 450 Rally Rep - lica holds approximately nine gal- lons of fuel total, and based on its specs, the split is about 4.75 gallons in the two front tanks and about 4.22 gallons in the rear (Above) Race-ready features comprise a carbon-fiber navigation tower equipped with a digital roadbook mount. (Below) The 450 Rally Replica has a fuel capacity of about nine gallons. tank. Two fuel pumps control delivery and can be accessed independently to supply fuel from either end of the bike, as desired. This also acts as a racing backup if a pump fails. The chassis includes tool storage. Brembo brakes use 300/240mm rotors front/rear, connected to cast aluminum wheel hubs laced to black Excel wheels via steel spokes and nipples. Michelin StarCross 6 Medium/Soft tires are mounted— a clue to the race-only mindset behind the bike built in-house by KTM Motorsports at the KTM factory in Mattighofen, Austria. The 2027 KTM 450 Rally Rep - lica should be in dealers this fall with an MSRP of $42,499. CN