[visordown.com] - Is KTM working on a V4 road bike

[Ninjette Newsbot]

An Aprilia Tuono V4R just like the one KTM has been testing, but with camouflage stripped away


KTM test riders have been spotted on a heavily camouflaged Aprilia Tuono V4R, sparking speculation the firm is developing its own V4 road bike.

Road tests have been carried out over several weeks near a KTM facility in Spain, using a bike covered in black and white camouflage tape. A slightly bigger screen has been added but that may be part of the thorough disguise attempt. Otherwise there is nothing to suggest it’s not a standard Aprilia Tuono V4R.

The intention is really anyone’s guess – manufacturers frequently test each others' bikes. But it’s been suggested the tests could be the early stages of a KTM V4 road bike project.

The firm is developing a V4 MotoGP bike called the RC16 to race in 2017, as well as a track-only limited-production derivative. A road bike using some of the same technology may recover part of the cost of the RC16 project.

It's also speculated the firm may want to use a V4 engine in a new high-performance road-biased adventure bike, to compete with BMW's forthcoming S1000XR.

Spy shots of the Aprilia test bike are circulating but show only a disguised Tuono – proof all it takes to get a bike picture published is some black and white camouflage.

Our picture reveals the same machine with camouflage stripped away.

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