Spy shots show KTM testing a V4 road bike!
Our spy photographer has been nestling in the Spanish bushes once again and this time he’s caught KTM testing a heavily disguised Aprilia Tuono leading to suggestions that the Austrian manufacturer are planning a V4-powered road bike of their own.
The 2015 Aprilia Tuono RR retails at £13,000 and is powered by a new 1100cc, 65° V4 engine producing a claimed 175bhp. KTM have been testing the bike extensively for a few weeks and our shots show only minor modifications of the fly screen and mirrors other than the complete camouflage.
It’s common for manufacturers to test competitor’s bikes to learn more about the characteristics of how the chassis handles the engine, for example. Our source reported the removal of the silencer and even added camouflaging of the clutch cover once the photographer had been spotted. The test team even went on to cover the pillion seat but there’s no hiding the fact that the test mule is an Aprilia Tuono.
No further comparison bikes were used during this round of testing but the specific roads were the bike was spotted is renowned for handling tests.
KTM are no strangers with the idea of a V4-powered motorcycle although the only version to have been discussed thus far is the power plant to be used in the MotoGP race bike due to line-up alongside the likes of Marquez, Lorenzo and Redding in 2017.
Last September, KTM’s Head of Motorsport, Pit Beirer, confirmed that the Austrian manufacturer intends to enter the MotoGP World Championship in 2017 and that the bike will be entirely built in Austria.
He said: "It will be a real KTM, with the engine concept we are pretty sure it’s going to be a V4, but in the end this will still be in a tubular frame, it will be with WP Suspension, and it will be 100% built and made in Austria with KTM, so we are not looking for external suppliers to build the bike for us.
Testing of the race bike is due to commence this summer.
What do you think of KTM’s brazen camouflage attempts?
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