2023-on KTM 890 SMT Review: A potent hooligan tool! Power, torque, ride dynamics and more

Highlights

  • Adventure bike comfort meets naked bike attitude
  • 105bhp and a wide spread of torque
  • Comfortable enough for a day in the saddle

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 5 out of 5 (5/5)
Annual servicing cost: £250
Power: 105 bhp
Seat height: Tall (33.9 in / 860 mm)
Weight: Medium (454 lbs / 206 kg)

Prices

New £12,499
Used £8,000 - £10,500

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The KTM 890 SMT is a sports tourer that is based on a supermoto motorbike with added touches of comfort and practicality like its tall screen.

KTM’s original 990 SMT earned a cult following thanks a seemingly-odd mix of touring bike practicality with supermoto attitude and agility, that made for a great all-rounder with bags of character from the daftest bike ever to be mounted with panniers…

KTM has repeated the formula with the new 890 SMT, applying something of a supermoto transformation to the basic chassis and engine of the KTM 890 Adventure R.

There’s a little more work involved than just a set of 17” cast-alloy wheels: suspension at both ends is built specifically for the SMT, losing 50mm of travel fore and aft but gaining extra fork length to keep the bike’s geometry correct when losing four-inches of front rim size.

KTM 890 SMT knee down turning right

There are small changes to the front end geometry, but the 890 SMT does share its KTM-branded J.Juan radial four-piston calipers with the Adventure R. Discs are the same diameter but a different offset.

Styling is different, with a stubby high front fender as standard (a low-mount mudguard is available as an option too), and a 4.8-litre smaller fuel tank that loses some of the low-slung ‘saddlebag’ portions, in order to move the centre of gravity slightly higher and improve agility.

The result is very reminiscent of the original 990 SMT – it has decent comfort from the lofty riding position, and is well-suited to knocking out miles on motorways as well as taking advantage of the slim, agile build in traffic. The 890 SMT would make a decent everyday commuter. That’s the ‘T’ in SMT covered pretty well.

KTM 890 SMT wheelie performed on a closed road

The other side – and, in fairness, the dominant part of its character – is the bit justifying the ‘SM’. True supermotos may be derived from motocross bikes, but the ’motard treatment on an adventure bike creates a similarly potent hooligan tool that’ll blat along any backroad, no matter the surface, at a decent rate and put a goofy grin on your face while it’s doing it.

Watch Chris's KTM 890 SMT video review here:

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The fully-adjustable WP suspension has 180mm of travel at both ends, and with standard settings it delivers decent comfort whilst maintaining support for brisk rides, and delivering good feedback from the grippy Michelin Power GP tyres, which are definitely more sports than touring.

There’s likely to be a wear and wet-grip penalty with this rubber compared to the sensible, all-round tyres fitted to most of its rivals, but the 890 SMT is the best equipped when it comes to hooning. You’d expect no less from a company that declares itself ‘Ready to Race’ at every opportunity.

The suspension is not electronic, so you don’t have the option of simply pushing buttons to adapt the bike to your mood and the road, as you can on the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+, or BMW F900XR optioned with semi-active springy bits.

KTM 890 SMT rear on the road

The KTM has a remote rear preload adjuster you can turn by hand though, and the fork’s damping adjusters have finger-turn adjusters too: one leg takes care of compression, the other rebound, so everything is in front of you and the work of moments to adjust.

There are three suggested settings printed under the seat – Comfort, Standard and Sport – so you don’t necessarily need to be a set-up ace to tweak the bike for different loads and riding.

We found that an extra half-turn of preload and three clicks on both fork damping adjusters was enough to tune out some of the underdamped feel it has when you ride harder on stock settings, instil it with more feel and reduce pitching, as well as springing back when you release the brakes, still maintaining a satisfactory level of shock absorption over rough, torn roads.

KTM 890 SMT suspension adjustment

Set as such, the SMT offers the kind of forgiving ride on unfamiliar and variable-quality roads you’d get with an adventure bike, but with the extra grip and willingness to be treated with a bit of aggression of a good naked bike.

KTM’s guide rider on our first ride was an ex-supermoto champ, pushing the bike down and sticking a foot out on the winding roads of Sardinia, while I alternated between simply sitting still, sitting high and taking advantage of the vision to thread through faster curves, and hanging off in a sportier style where the road was better-surfaced and the radius of tighter corners clear to see. It feels comfortable and natural whatever your style and level of riding commitment.

J.Juan’s four-pot calipers have progressive response, underpinned by strong outright power and good feel that allows you to moderate braking input. Some might gripe that it isn’t equipped with fancier Brembos, and it’s true, the calipers do look lower-rent, as does the conventional, non-radial master cylinder.

KTM 890 SMT left side

Too strong a brake would be counter-productive with such long travel forks: you’d be blowing through the travel on a regular basis. They feel appropriate for the bike. The grip and suspension support on our test meant the ABS wasn’t troubled. It’s a switchable system with a ‘Supermoto’ mode, that disables intervention on the rear only.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
5 out of 5 (5/5)

The engine is in the same state of tune as the 890 Adventure, with 104bhp rather than the 115bhp in the 890 Duke. KTM chose this version for its torque advantage up to 7500rpm (compared to the naked), as well as better low-rev manners.

It’s great for flowing riding, short-shifting and living in the 4000-7000rpm range, but will spin out further or hang on to revs between turns when you want. Throttle response is sharp in Sport mode, and a touch more refined in Street, with no trace of ill manners despite its Euro5 compliance.

One criticism is the lack of engine braking – stringing together a sequence of turns, it would be handy to simply roll off to slow down a bit and load the front tyre, but the 890 SMT just runs on, so even small decreases in speed require a touch of brake.

KTM 890 SMT hill-climb start line

It’s relatively minor, and otherwise the engine is adaptable to most situations in the SMT’s span of abilities from sensible to stupid. It’ll cruise at high motorway speeds without strain, and the fuel consumption readout on the dash suggested 50mpg despite a day of riding not conducive to economy.

We feel that’s probably optimistic, but low-40s is about right. The LC8c engine is known to be efficient when ridden more sensibly in other KTM/Husqvarna models – expect to get into the 50s on a long run, or more if you’re very sparing with the throttle.

There is a noticeable buzzing vibration at certain points in the rev range, though not at speeds you’d expect to hold for a long period, so it’s rarely intrusive in normal use.

KTM 890 SMT right side

If you’re a fan of the old 990SM (or big V-twins in general), you might find the parallel-cylinder configuration a bit less characterful: partly due to the different characteristics of the layout, partly due to the levels of refinement demanded by modern homologation standards.

But then, the 990 SMT had poor low-rpm manners and dreadful fuel consumption, and made similar peak power, so it’s swings and roundabouts…

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Early iterations of LC8c-powered models (the Duke 790 and Adventure 790) suffered a number of issues: later revisions as the engine grew to the current 890 configuration have helped iron out the bugs present at launch, though quality control issues can still niggle KTMs.

Electronic gripes tend to be the most common, although that’s not uncommon with bikes in general with the multitude of digital components demanded these days. They’ve come a long way from the early 2000s when they their road models still felt (and were built) like dirt bikes however, and fit/finish is very good too.

Even the catalyser-stuffed exhaust looks neat enough, though you’ll note the bike in our images was fitted with the optional Akrapovic silencer (£996), which is road legal and makes minimal difference to engine output.

KTM 890 SMT right rear quarter

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Yamaha’s Tracer 9 is significantly cheaper, at £11,010, though its cycle parts are less sporty and not at high-quality as those found on the SMT. The Yamaha Tracer 9 GT (£13,110) comes with KYB semi-active suspension, panniers and heated grips as standard, and while it isn’t quite as potent as the KTM when the going gets twisty, it’s still a great deal of fun and highly competent whatever you ask of it.

BMW’s F900XR starts from £10,350, and while it needs some options to match the KTM’s stock spec, it’ll still come to over £1000 less – and that’s with niceties such as heated grips, which push the KTM’s price up even further. It’s worth noting if you don’t opt for the enhanced menus and electronic features, they are still available for the first 1500km (930 miles) in ‘Demo mode’, before they’re withdrawn.

The quickshifter, menus and connectivity are very good, so it’ll be a tough come-down for owners who’ve experienced them: fiscal fortitude will be required to avoid heading back to the dealer for the £859 all-encompassing ‘Tech Pack’ to be reenabled.

KTM 890 SMT ridden by Chris Newbigging

Its worth considering when looking at the second hand KTM bikes slowly trickling into the market. Grab yourself a bargain with a decent chunk off the new price by looking through MCN's classifieds. However, be sure to check that any recalls, niggles, or known issues have been corrected or be prepared to sort them yourself when taking on the bike. Additionally, try MCN Compare for a competitive insurance quote.

Equipment

3 out of 5 (3/5)

The 890 is well-specced in terms of engine and chassis parts, but as mentioned before the electronic functionality is mostly optional extras, and it doesn’t come with creature comforts like heated grips either.

USB and 12v sockets are fitted on the inner fairing trim as standard. Matching an SMT’s spec to a Tracer 9 GT brings the asking price to £14,605.

High-quality (though non-electronic) suspension and tyres count in its favour. Brand snobs may wish for Brembo calipers and a radial master cylinder too.

KTM 890 SMT TFT dash

The options catalogue is comprehensive – everything from orange-anodised alloy trinkets to an Akrapovic silencer. Fans of the KTM 990 SMT’s soft panniers will note that only hard plastic or aluminium boxes are currently offered (the boxes and racks are carried over from the 890 Adventure catalogue) – a more lightweight bolt-on luggage option similar to the old soft-shell cases is under development according to KTM.

Specs

Engine size 889cc
Engine type Liquid-cooled, 8v dohc parallel-twin
Frame type Chro-moly steel trellis
Fuel capacity 15.8 litres
Seat height 860mm
Bike weight 206kg
Front suspension WP Apex 43 forks, compression and rebound damping
Rear suspension WP Apex monoshock, preload, compression and rebound damping
Front brake 2 x 320mm discs, J.Juan radial four-piston calipers
Rear brake 260mm disc, two-piston sliding caliper
Front tyre size 120/70-17
Rear tyre size 180/55-17

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 45 mpg
Annual road tax £117
Annual service cost £250
New price £12,499
Used price £8,000 - £10,500
Insurance group -
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two years

Top speed & performance

Max power 105 bhp
Max torque 73 ft-lb
Top speed 135 mph
1/4 mile acceleration -
Tank range 156 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

Owners' reviews for the KTM 890 SMT (2023 - on)

2 owners have reviewed their KTM 890 SMT (2023 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your KTM 890 SMT (2023 - on)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 5 out of 5 (5/5)
Engine: 5 out of 5 (5/5)
Reliability & build quality: 5 out of 5 (5/5)
Value vs rivals: 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5)
Equipment: 5 out of 5 (5/5)
Annual servicing cost: £250
5 out of 5 KTM 890 SMT
11 November 2024 by Si

Year: 2023

Annual servicing cost: £300

I admit after I got the SMT I thought I'd made a mistake. Didn't really gel with it - I'd had Supernaked bikes before and the handling on this felt odd. I then took it out for a thrash around Dorset. What a blast! I think the issue was that it's taller than the naked bikes and requires a different style of riding. Once I got my head round this there was no issue. It's laugh out loud funny down bumpy back roads but it'll handle anything really. I know some forums were bemoaning the fact that it only has 105bhp but it feels like more, It barely feels any slower than my 990 Superduke - a really grunty engine. Grip is immense and you can hang off it or just sit in the middle of the seat and lean it right over (massive ground clearance), either is fun. Lots of space for rider and pillion and it's comfortable. More vibration through the handlebars than previous bikes but only becomes annoying above 70 mph. I see KTM have Powerparts damped handlebar clamps which I might investigate at a later date. I'm always excited about going out on the SMT which says a lot.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

It really is a great all round bike. It's laugh out loud funny when thrashing and you can cover ground v quickly. Taken the wife out on the pillion and she was happy. Big long seat and plenty of legroom.

Engine 5 out of 5

The big surprise for me. I'd ridden the BMW XR900 earlier in the year which on paper has the same power but the two feel entirely different. The XR felt flat while the 890 has a really exciting delivery - really grunty and it has a top end. Sounds good too if you take the baffle out of the exhaust. I did notice the extra weight of a pillion blunts it somewhat compared to a BMW R1200R I'd had before. To be expected really.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Seems well built. No reliability issues but only 2000 miles on it so far.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

One service per year but it seems extremely thorough. They even reprogram the quickshifter to take account of gearbox wear! Warranty auto extends and also free breakdown assistance if serviced at KTM which was a pleasant surprise.Fuel economy while commuting (motorway and some back roads) was 70 mpg both according to the display and manually calculated at fill up. Display indicated 30 miles remaining - there was just under half a gallon left so display seems pretty accurate. 207 miles range with that amount left.I haven't bothered measuring fuel economy while thrashing it, didn't see the point!

Equipment 5 out of 5

It was an ex demonstrator so had the electronics package already fitted and the Remus end can. I've barely touched the electronics over the ride settings - I intend to have a really good play next year. Turning off the rear ABS is good fun and I've tested the cornering ABS inadvertently and can report that it absolutely works! Street has a lovely throttle response. Sport noticeably more aggressive and so on. The std Michelin Powercup tyres were great through the summer, surprisingly good in the wet too. Now the temperatures have dropped I can definitely notice a loss of feedback and grip. I thought about getting Dunlop Mutants fitted but tbh I don't ride through the winter so will probably leave the Michelins

Buying experience: Bought in June 2024 from Destination KTM in Christchurch. Pleasant to deal with and know their stuff.

4 out of 5 SMT. Super Motorbike Time
25 September 2023 by Steve Wypler

Year: 2023

Annual servicing cost: £200

You have to purchase blue tooth at an additional cost. It’s a bit cheap skate on such a fun bike. Best bike I’ve owned. Sticks to the road going round bends like it is on rails. Just a fun, comfortable, quick bike.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Winding rural B roads.

Engine 5 out of 5

890 is enough on uk roads.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

No problems to date. Only just had first Service.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5

Buying experience: Dealer - part ex bike for £12499 plus £800 quid for tech pack.

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