For three-phase induction machines supplied by sinusoidal current, it is usual to model the n-bar squirrel-cage by an equivalent two-phase circuit. For a multiphase induction machine which can be supplied with different harmonics of current, the reduced-order model of the rotor must be more carefully chosen in order to predict the pulsations of torque. The proposed analysis allows to avoid a wrong design with non-sinusoidal magnetomotive forces. An analytical approach is proposed and confirmed by Finite-Element modelling at first for a three-phase induction machine and secondly for a five-phase induction machine.