SMT is back! Meet KTM 890 SMT 2023

KTM 890 SMT 2023

After many ‘spy shots’ of top-notch stealth shots in many states of wearing or taking off clothes, KTM has finally officially revealed the new generation 890 SMT.

The SMT moniker is a bit fitting for KTM. The 990 SMT between 2009 and circa 2013 is an epic one-minute laugh-out motorcycle but still a pretty practical sports touring machine, with a bit of supermoto DNA thrown into that mix.

The early ’90s generation 75-degree v-twin LC8 comes in a lot of style. It doesn’t like running at low speeds below 4000 rpm and can be a bit jerky, but once above that you don’t care.

I know I didn’t, because I spent my own money buying both a KTM 990 Adventure R and a 990 SMT, the latter of which I really wish I still had. It triggers car alarms with exploding Akra cans and is extremely playful on a tight and twisty rear track.

I don’t think anything since the 990 SMT has laughed like that on a tight stretch of runway. The bike is fun but still relatively comfortable on long rides, it even comes with soft, factory-made mini-clamp baskets that add a small amount of everyday practicality.

The latest generation KTMs are, of course, more technically proficient and more powerful, but no doubt, with the polish appearing in the later 1090/1190/1290 iterations of the dynamic muscle. The latter has 50 hp more power than the 990, however, they have lost a bit of the animalistic attitude that sets the 990 apart from the competition.

Don’t get me wrong, the newer bikes are significantly faster and technically superior, but a bit of their playful nature has been lost in the making, they become too fast to cause damage. laugh.

So for people like me, a new SMT, like I said, has a lot to offer. This time, we don’t have the epic V-Twin but an 889 cc version of the compact LC8c tandem engine that produces 105 hp at 8000 rpm and 100 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm. minute. That’s a lot more torque than the original V-Twin SMT but about ten ponies less.

The original SMT liked drinks and luckily it had a 19-liter fuel tank to meet that need. The new tandem SMT has a 15.8-liter fuel tank but it’s a pretty safe bet that despite the smaller tank, the new bike will have a longer range than its older sibling.

And sport touring is something the SMT has always been quite well equipped to do thanks to its fairly upright and commanding seating position combined with its rather long-travel suspension.

The form of the fuel tank slides the rider even more ‘into’ the bike on a monolithic Supermoto saddle 860 mm from the terracotta.

That’s pretty good for a bike with a generous 227 mm of ground clearance.

A smoky windscreen is positioned just above the twin fender concept with a low beam shield on the fork legs.

The new 890 SMT has 20mm longer front travel than the original and matches the rear travel. The new bike’s WP APEX suspension has 180mm of travel at both ends, a 43mm open-box fork with adjustable compression and rebound, while the rear offers preload and rebound adjustments. .

The shock absorbers are tilted to reduce saddle height and accommodate long swingarms, contributing to a forward-leaning stance and improved stability.

The 5-inch TFT display is made from optically bonded mineral glass, is scratch and glare resistant, and is fully customizable while revealing an easy-to-use infographic menu system for options establish. Turn-by-turn navigation is controlled by your smartphone running the KTMconnect App.

The three standard driving modes (RAT, STREET, SPORT) can be expanded with an optional TRACK setting that allows the driver to switch a different number of throttle and traction control modes across ten levels. Both the traction control system and the ABS have various modes and can also be turned off.

Options include heated grips, while cruise control and two-way quick-shifters are available and can be activated by the dealer for a price.

The SMT stop is a pair of 320 mm disc rotors clamped by a radial four-piston caliper with a 260 mm rotor at the rear clamped by a two-piston caliper.

I used to use my old SMT with the little factory soft bags clipped to the muffler cap, but the launch photos confirm that the new bike has been designed to last a long time. longer lines with baskets with recesses and top boxes. option list.

I love the Super Duke GT but like everything post-COVID, prices have gone up and now you can expect to shell out over $33k to drive a 1290 Super Duke GT out the door of a KTM dealership.

The 1290 is an insanely fast machine with 70 hp more power than the 890 SMT, but I’m not sure how much I’d miss the damn thing if I could buy an 890 SMT for 10 less. thousand dollars… The actual price is yet to be confirmed, the fingers crossed it in the low 20s.

Available in Australia from July 2023 onward in limited quantities, before deliveries are planned to ramp up further as we head into 2024. Stay tuned for a step up next time. !

Specifications KTM 890 SMT 2023