New KTM 890 SMT launched, set to arrive in May

After a decent period of anticipation, KTM has finally launched the new KTM 890 SMT, bringing together once again supermoto and touring.

This is not the first KTM SMT model; there was a 990 version back in the early-2010s, but at the same time this does not necessarily feel like a revival, perhaps because of the relatively limited reach of the previous ‘Supermoto Touring’.

The new motorcycle has a slightly smaller motor than the previous one. The 2023 KTM 890 SMT utilises the same LC8c 889cc parallel-twin engine as that found in the KTM 890 Duke and KTM 890 Adventure, for example.

In SMT form, the LC8c produces its peak power of 105 horsepower at 8,000rpm, while 100Nm of torque are available at 6,500rpm. How long does this performance last? Well, a 15.8-litre main fuel tank is complemented by a 3-litre reserve tank, and with fuel consumption quoted by KTM at 4.6 litres per 100km, the total 18.8 litres will be drained in 343.5km, or 213.4 miles. Certainly enough to satisfy the ‘touring’ element of the bike’s name.

As for the ‘supermoto’ piece, that is fulfilled by 17-inch wheels front and rear; WP APEX suspension front (compression- and rebound-adjustable) and rear (preload- and rebound-adjustable) providing 180mm of wheel travel; dual 320mm brake discs at the front, and 260mm discs at the back; an Akrapovic stainless steel silencer; and Michelin PowerGP tyres.

Additionally, there are a number of electronic aids aimed at boosting the ‘supermoto’ side of the bike, such as lean-sensitive traction control, and an ABS system combining both cornering ABS and supermoto ABS. There are also four riding modes: Rain, Street, and Sport are all standard, and there is an optional Track setting allowing for 10-level adjustability of the traction control. Other optional features include heated grips and Motor Slip Regulation (MSR) to the software package. Quickshifter+ and cruise control are also optional, and “ready to go with a simple activation process,” KTM says in a press release.

Ergonomically speaking, KTM has fitted the 890 SMT with adjustable handlebars that can be adjusted within a 30mm range.

Holding the whole thing together is of course a steel trellis frame, made, specifically, from Chromium-Molybdenum-Steel. The frame is also powder-coated, and utilises the engine as a stressed element.

The 2023 KTM 890 SMT will be available from mid-May 2023, at the price of £12,499. Find your nearest KTM dealer on the KTM website.

Images in this article show AMA Superbike and AMA Flat Track rider Chris Fillmore riding the 2023 KTM 890 SMT on a hillclimb event in Sardinia.

2023 KTM 890 SMT Tech Specs

Husqvarna Norden 901 vs KTM 890 Adventure | The Ultimate Adventurer?