The return of KTM’s SMT

If you like your bike with a sense of supermoto insanity, a touch of touring, and a serving of speed then KTM’s renewed SMT with the 890cc parallel twin engine may be right up your alley. Evidently it will only be available in limited numbers for both Australia and New Zealand this year, though stock numbers should be better in 2024.

KTM sees this as the ‘ultimate supermoto play weapon’ but also a bike with extended touring capabilities. “Put an end to boring sports touring” is KTM’s tagline for the bike.

Underpinning the SMT is a re-tuned KTM 890 LC8c platform with an optimised power- (and torque-) to-weight ratio. With a street-focused chassis, fully adjustable suspension, and premium tyres and brakes, KTM reckons the SMT lives between and crosses into both Adventure and Street product ranges.

Its engine, the same as that in the 890 Adventure, creates 78kW (105hp) at 8000rpm and 100Nm of torque. It has a 20 per cent increase in rotating mass over the KTM 790 mill, enhancing stability through corners. Fuel consumption from the 15.8L tank is a claimed 4.6L/100km overall. The KTM 890 SMT is evidently just as happy being rowed along at low revs as having the throttle pinned.

The tank is designed specifically for the KTM 890 SMT, being slim and sliding the rider further forward ‘into’ the bike. A single-piece Supermoto seat is set at 860mm off the ground. There’s an aero optimised smoked windshield for weather protection and a double front fender design.

Underpinning the bike is a CroMo steel frame like that of the KTM Adventure. The result is a light agile feeling on the move but with extra stability as the rider forges on. The shock absorber is angled to reduce seat height and accommodate a longer swingarm, contributing to straightline stability.

Supporting the front end is fully adjustable WP Apex suspension (43mm USD forks with 180mm of travel) while wheels are 17-inch items. The Michelin PowerGP tyres are optimised for tarmac. A 5” TFT dashboard is said to be scratch and glare resistant and fully customizable.

The SMT has Rain, Street and Sport settings with an optional track mode. Cornering Traction Control and Cornering ABS are standard. There are also six possible handlebar positions, adjustable over a 30mm range. LED lights add penetration for night work.

Radial-mount four-piston calipers slow a pair of 320mm front discs while a double-piston 260mm disc chimes in at the rear. There’s a supermoto ABS setting (for locking the rear into a corner).