Planning to deal with the Dakar Rally? The 2026 KTM 450 Rally Duplicate has you coated. If fashionable café racers are extra your factor, we’ve a Honda CB550 from The Netherlands and a Ducati SportClassic from Australia to sate that urge for food.
2026 KTM 450 Rally Duplicate The largest information from KTM’s camp not too long ago was the large money injection from its long-standing companion, Bajaj, that introduced it again from the brink of chapter. However regardless of the rollercoaster that the embattled Austrian marque has been on, it hasn’t skipped a beat with new product releases.
KTM’s latest launch is nice information for privateer rally racers; the 2026 KTM 450 Rally Duplicate is right here, and it’s as fascinating as ever.
For the uninitiated, the KTM 450 Rally Duplicate is the bodily embodiment of the model’s slogan, ‘Able to Race.’ It comes outfitted with the whole lot you want for skilled rally racing, tuned with knowledge gathered from the large hitters which have piloted KTM’s bikes to victory over time.
A 450 cc fuel-injected engine powers the KTM 450 Rally Duplicate, helped alongside by a hydraulic clutch and a six-speed transmission. Twin radiators are primed for desert use, whereas the bike’s three gasoline tanks maintain a mixed 34.5 liters (9.1 gallons) of petrol.
The Rally Duplicate’s body consists of laser-cut and hydroformed sections, that includes an aluminum swingarm on the rear. Professional-grade WP Suspension elements complement the chassis, providing excessive ranges of compliance and adjustability. There are additionally CNC-machined triple clamps and a Scotts steering damper.
You additionally get a fully-loaded cockpit, that includes a rally-specific fairing mounted to a carbon fiber navigation tower, KTM’s proprietary rally dashboard, and LED lighting. Tasty goodies abound—just like the titanium Akrapovi? exhaust system—and the bike is completed in a mostly-white paint scheme, leaving loads of house for sponsor logos.
KTM is simply producing 150 of those, together with 5 hyper-exclusive Sanders Version replicas. These 5 bikes have a good time KTM’s return to the highest step of the Dakar Rally podium this yr with rider Daniel Sanders.
Every is wrapped in a full Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit livery and comes with a smorgasbord of upgrades starting from look-fast elements to bona fide go-fast elements.
When you’re capable of pony up for one of many ultra-limited super-special version fashions, you’ll additionally get a VIP bundle for the KTM Europe Journey Rally—a three-day, brand-specific occasion, at which Sanders himself will hand over your bike. (Supply | Pictures by Marco Campelli)
Honda CB550 by Nius Moto Chiel Nipius exploded onto the {custom} motorbike scene a number of years in the past—going solo as Nius Moto after making his bones on the famed Dutch workshop, Ironwood Customized Bikes. The teenager wowed us with a pair of flawless Honda CB550 customs on his debut, and now he’s again with one other.
Chiel’s guideline on this Honda CB550 mission was minimalism. He began by lopping off the Honda’s subframe and welding in a custom-made loop. Subsequent, he cleaned up any uncovered bits of the body in order that nothing would look misplaced.
The CB550’s OEM gasoline tank remains to be in play, however the fenders are hand-rolled elements. Jowi Paulissen took care of the leatherwork on the bespoke saddle.
Chiel threw a handful of big-ticket gadgets on the CB550, together with Avon Roadrider tires, YSS shocks, and Delkevic exhaust headers that terminate in an SC-Undertaking muffler. A Motogadget speedo sits up high, with a Koso LED headlight mounted up entrance.
The entrance forks had been rebuilt and handled to a set of covers with built-in headlight mounts. A billet aluminum Nius Moto speedo spacer is connected to the entrance wheel, changing the unique speedometer pickup. “It’s excellent for operating a digital speedo to wash up the entrance,” explains Chiel.
Chiel sells the speedo spacer through his internet retailer, together with a few different machined items—like a plug to cowl the unique tacho drive and billet aluminum valve covers. “The aluminum elements had been impressed by Justin Webster,” Chiel tells us.
“I noticed his CB550 years in the past on Bike EXIF and it was actually the very best one I’d ever seen. He created some CNC-machined elements for it, however they’re nowhere to be discovered. So I can’t take all of the credit score.”
There’s a wholesome stability between fashionable and retro particulars on Chiel’s CB550. The billet elements are juxtaposed with the engine, which sports activities alternating brushed and polished finishes. Peak underneath the hood, and also you’ll discover a fashionable wiring harness, constructed round a Motogadget mo.unit field.
Tying the whole lot collectively is a timeless livery, based mostly on Jaguar’s Sherwood Inexperienced colour with brushed silver particulars. A textured matte black end adorns the body, whereas Nius Moto logos on the aspect covers ape the debossed model of the Honda tank badges.
From its compact proportions to its excellent stance and impeccable finishes, Nius Moto’s Honda CB550 is the definition of tasteful. (Nly moto | Pictures by Paul van Mondfrans Lindén)
Ducati SportClassic by Function Constructed Moto Given its cult following, customizing the legendary Ducati SportClassic is dangerous enterprise. However that hasn’t deterred Australia’s Function Constructed Moto. Store boss Tom Gilroy reckons that they’ve constructed extra Ducati SportClassics than another Ducati mannequin.
“I’ve at all times beloved the model and trip really feel of the two-valve, air-cooled Ducati 1000,” he explains. “I perceive how they function and know methods to model them—whether or not which means main modifications, or refined touches that improve the bike’s already iconic styling.”
The fee for this 2008-model Ducati SportClassic got here from a buyer who was conversant in PBM’s work—particularly their portfolio of SportClassics. So he knew instantly that his bike was in good fingers. The temporary was to retain a measure of the SportClassic’s DNA, whereas amplifying its efficiency and magnificence.
PBM targeted on the entrance finish first. The fairing had been modified beforehand and was exhibiting indicators of harm. So the crew changed it and braced it with an upgraded bracket. The consumer requested two trims for the bike—full- and half-faired—so PBM responded with fairing lowers that may be swapped out in 20 minutes.
Transferring to the tail finish of the SportClassic, PBM fabricated an aluminum rear hump that echoes the traces of the unique, however is slimmer general. The subframe was massaged to swimsuit the brand new design, whereas Jamason at Timeless Auto Trim coated the saddle in Alcantara and leather-based.
PBM additionally kitted the bike with gorgeous 17” wheels from Jonich in Italy, constructed to the store’s spec. Delivered in a placing gold end, they function polished stainless-steel spokes, a few of which had been coated in gold so as to add further element. They’re shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires.
Not desirous to neglect the Ducati’s engine, PBM added high-compression pistons, efficiency cams, and a DNA Filters airbox improve, with Dice Efficiency dyno-tuning the bike to the tune of 95 horsepower. A pair of asymmetrically mounted hydro-formed mufflers add an acceptable soundtrack.
Experience Dynamics sorted out the suspension, equipping the forks with Öhlins cartridges, a gold nitride coating on the stanchions, and a black anodized end on the uppers. Totally adjustable Öhlins TTX shocks had been fitted to the rear.
There are tons of particulars to soak up—just like the handmade entrance fender and laser-cut belt covers. However the true spotlight is that this Ducati’s slick crimson and black paint job. Dealt with by frequent PBM collaborator Popbang Classics, it additionally boasts beautiful gold leaf striping.
“The top result’s a bike that any Ducatisti will immediately acknowledge as a SportClassic, then be drawn in by the finely executed {custom} elements,” says Tom. “Whereas bikes like this typically upset the purists, they at all times strike intrigue in any rider who understands the extreme focus and endurance wanted to create a motorbike that’s each true to its type and utterly distinctive.” (Supply)
