After 10 years, KTM’s SMT (Supermoto Touring) is back. However, judging by the fact that KTM has positioned the 890 SMT as the ultimate assault weapon for any Hillclimb, and even used Pikes Peak winner Chris Fillmore for it, the name 890 SMR would have been a better name.
Touring and Racing are two completely different things, but apparently none of those involved in the development process took the trouble to raise that. As a result, the new 890 SMT has nothing to do with Touring and is just an aggressive Supermoto racer underneath the skin.
Not that we have any objections to that, with the previous SMT we had already come to the conclusion in a comparison with the Multistrada 1200 and Tiger 1050 in the Ardennes and at Mettet that the SMT was the most aggressive and sporty rip-rod of that trio.
However, where the previous SMT still had some touristic capabilities thanks to its higher windshield, the new 890 SMT has not yet the slightest hint of Touring to be discovered. In fact, the Touring story is not mentioned in the press releases, but KTM speaks of a relaunch of the SMT “with fanfare and pulsating ‘Hill Climb’ concept in the hands of former AMA Superbike and Supermoto rider Chris Fillmore.”
To underline this once again, Fillmore was put to work in Sardinia to subject the 890 SMT to a Hill Climb. In addition, to make it real, to provide the mountain pass with KTM and Motorex flags and a finish arch. To show motorcycle industry petrolheads what they’ve been missing – and what they’ve been waiting for. Under the motto “The only way is up.”
But what exactly are we talking about? In a nutshell you can say that the 890 SMT is a mix of the 890 Adventure R and the 890 Duke R. The 889cc LC8c parallel twin delivers 105 hp at 8,000 rpm and is equipped with a comprehensive electronics package that consists of 3 standard riding modes (RAIN, STREET and SPORT), optionally supplemented with the TRACK driving mode. The latter mode allows you to set the throttle response and lean angle dependent traction control in 10 positions.
KTM claims a fantastic consumption of 4.6 liters per 100 km (converted 1 to 21.7), but then you should not want to participate in a Hill Climb. Anyway, at a tourist pace you will theoretically have to travel 343 kilometers with the 15.8 liter petrol tank. According to KTM, the tank has also played an important role in ergonomics, the narrow design is said to have been designed specifically for the SMT.
In terms of chassis, the differences between the 890 SMT and 890 Adventure R are minimal. The wheelbase is only 7 mm shorter at 1,502 mm, the steering head is only slightly steeper at 25.79° (25.9° for the Adventure) and the trail is even larger at 111.6 mm than the 107.8 mm of the Adventure.
The WP APEX suspension has slightly shorter travel of now 180 mm (200 mm for the Adventure), but has slightly more adjustment options. The 43mm inverted fork is adjustable for compression damping and spring preload, while the rear monoshock offers adjustable rebound damping and spring preload. The “Adventure DNA” can also be found in the seat height, which at 860 mm is quite on the large side for Naked standards, but on the other hand is quite low for Supermoto standards.
In terms of braking, KTM equipped the 890 SMT with the same brakes as the 890 Adventure, featuring dual 320mm discs with 4-piston radial calipers at the front and a single 260mm disc with 2-piston caliper at the rear. Of course equipped with adjustable and switchable Bosch 9.3 MP cornering ASB.
In addition to the optional Track driving mode, the 890 SMT can be further expanded with SMR Motor Slip Regulation, an up/down quickshifter, cruise control and heated grips. And of course all parts that are included in the accessory package. The 890 SMT also offers the possibility of navigation in the 5″ TFT color display via the KTMconnect App.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.