KTM 990 SUPERMOTO TOURING (2009 - on) Review

Year: 2009

It’s light and it handles really well and i would recommend it to a friend

Buying experience: Dealer and i got saddle bags free

Year: 2009

Fantastic handling

Buying experience: Dealer 9,400 and got saddle bags free

Year: 2009

It’s all good just a bit snatchy on the throttle

Buying experience: i think it was £9,300 I’ve had it from new i didn’t get money off but i the panniers free

Year: 2011

Lightweight, nimble handling, manageable power, naughty streak

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer for £5k. Touring screen, heated grips, full hard luggage

Version: Abs version

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £300

What's not to like here seriously? complaints about petty and easily rectified issues are pathetic. This thing will blow your hair back and then some. It's a real motorbike with real presence BECAUSE of its character not despite it. With an engine that loves being reved and quality cycle components the bike is a revelation. Set suspension to sport and hang on! Or soften everything up and go touring abroad in perfect comfort. I've done both regularly and it WILL NOT disappoint.

Buying experience: Bought privately. Test rode for 15 minutes then pushed the button on the bank transfer.....simples!

Year: 2012

The quality of components is first class, from the fully adjustable WP suspension to the Akropovic exhaust, Marchesini wheels and Brembo brakes. The torque of the engine unit is exhilarating and the comparative lightness of the bike leads to flickable cornering and an overall “I want more” feeling every time I ride the bike. The slow speed slight unevenness of the engine, that disappears completely when you get above 3k revs, only adds character to the bike, as far as I’m concerned (something very few bikes have nowadays). I’d certainly recommend it to any friend. It’s comfortable and very capable, even on long journeys and European tours, with fully laden KTM luggage.

Buying experience: First class info and help from the KTM dealer.

Version: 2013

Year: 2013

Annual servicing cost: £250

Handling, light weight, comfort, May be a little tall for some & tank range max 150 miles

Buying experience: Part from quite expensive servicing no complaints over 20,000 miles, I keep looking at new bikes but still haven’t seen anything that offers the same combination of performance, light weight & all day comfort & looks

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £300

A do-it-all bike with character. The motor is flexible, punchy and will get you anywhere you want to go as slow or as fast as you want. The seat is comfortable for all day riding, the upright position is natural and with a screen and hand guards you have adequate wind protection. Excellent brakes and fully adjustable WP suspension mean you can fine tune the bike to your needs. Get a remap done to smooth out the snatchy throttle; soften up the suspension and you will have a bike that you feel totally connected with and confident in its handling. It really is a great 'do-it-all' bike.

Buying experience: I bought my bike used from an independent dealer that is local to me. I actually traded in a KTM 1090 Adventure for it as I wanted a smaller KTM V-Twin and a bit of cash my way. I got a great deal and so snapped the bike up.

Year: 2012

Comfortable, quick enough and great suspension. The V twin engine is very 'agricultural' and feels unrefined, especially if you are used to an inline 4. The main problem was the snatchy throttle response. It makes smooth riding very difficult, and it is very hard to get into a rhythm on the twisties. The engine braking is excessive and you get full torque as soon as you touch the throttle. I tried everything to sort it, removed all emissions controls, fitted decat exhausts, paid over £300.00 for a remap but the problem could not be solved. I did over 4000 miles in 9 months but try as I may I could not get on with it. A great bike ruined by ridiculously sensitive throttle response.

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £300

Great fun to ride if you are on a bit of a mission! Very playful and easy to hustle, always gives me a BIG grin on twisty A & B roads. Suspension is great and the Brembos are awesome! Negatives are fuelling on stock bike is not perfect (Akros, DNA Mk3 air filter & remap will sort most of it). When stock the throttle is a bit of a bugger to keep smooth in town in amidst traffic, seems a bit too on or off. Having said the above if you've never ridden one you are missing out. Whilst there are compromises it is one of the best bikes I've ever ridden.

Buying experience: Bought from Fowlers in Bristol. Seemed very good and welcoming. Bike was serviced at Colwyn Bay Motorcycles who are excellent!

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £230

Best: Engine response, engineering quality, ease of maintenance, comfort, pillion comfort, SMT community Worst: Boring and bad handling compared to the Superduke, Fuel range, lack of excitement, rough low speed running, fuel consumption, prices of parts (some!)

Buying experience: From a dealer so expensive but convenient

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £100

This bike defined a whole new category for me - the blend of supermoto handling and weight combined with reasonable comfort, luggage and wind protection is better than the sum of its parts. Makes an Adventure 990/1290 or a GS1200 feel like an old couch - big and soft. If you like sharp edges and aren't still believing in the 500lb "enduro" concept pick one of these up

Year: 2010

I bought one of these with full luggage, sat nav, heated grips, leo vince exhausts, scottoiler and only 2500 miles. Soon realised if you want to chuck it around you need to put the suspension on sport setting which makes it VERY good. Takes the dive out of the forks and everything is that bit sharper. I was over the moon with my purchase until fuel started spewing from the airbox drain, which I had to fix due to the fuel feed to the injectors coming loose. I then installed a Rottweiler intake system, blocked off the sas system disabled the o2 sensors and remapped it. Now although it makes better power and noise it is still snatchy on the throttle. And I find it uncomfortable. I wanted a bike with supermoto fun but the ability to do distance. This bike ticks the first box but so far comfort is disappointing to say the least. 100 miles and I am shifting all over the seat like I have piles. And the fuel filler cap broke. 50/50 at the moment wether to get rid or persevere.

Well,what a bike...! Truely a great allrounder. Good fun for a weekend blast. Been touring on it 2 up and solo, round northern Europe and northern England,very comfy position also got 43-53mpg... I'm impressed,definitly a keeper...

Had mine almost a year and inquired with the KTM dealer about trading in...no problem he says and then Bammmmmmmmm...£6200 with all its extras or £5500 stock.... £4500 drop in under a year...great bike but once you buy one your stuck with it or be prepared to loose a fortune. Won't buy a new KTM ever again...whoever sets the used values is biased towards some Jap bikes and living in the past with regards quality etc. The SMT is a great bike but when depreciation is so steep its seriously putting buyers of new bikes off....non KTM dealers don't even want to touch one. So i'll keep this one til it falls apart etc and fat chance of looking after it properly with dealer servicing which is already expensive. They need to put ' BUYER BE WARE ' on KTM's with them loosing value soo quickly.

've been riding for 40 years and I think i have finally found a true "all-rounder" Had mine for two weeks now, a slightly higher screen, fuel gauge and self canceling indicators should be standard, engine can be a bit lumpy in the mid range. Great fun, easy wheelies, and handles like its on rails. Three bikes in the garage but I always end up taking this one out.

2 weeks now and I am still smiling every time I parked my SMT at the garage. More than enough power for highway and city riding. Brakes are awesome, cornering is firm and very comfortable. It does and have what I had in mind for a bike. It handles well at 180km/h considering it is a tall bike. Now I can concentrate on my journeys knowing I have a bike that does it all.

after riding all sort of motorbikes for the last 30 years the KTM 990 SMT surprised me in a way i could not understand. What a funbike to ride on. Yes in ain't sheap but when you want to have some great time even when your in a bad mood, try this bike.

I've only had mine 3 weeks but my previous bikes were the amazing 950 Adventure and then the RC8. This bike is a combination of the two. The comfort of the Adventure with the speed and handling of the RC8. Capable of going places the RC8 would never get to - the middle of Dartmoor through the lanes for instance - with less buffetting than the Adventure and a huge smile on my face. Yes, it doesn't come with a full load of extras but I didn't want that. I wanted a bike to play on but that would take me to the Alps 'at the drop of a hat'! One amazing motorbike. I honestly think the SM-T will be the bench mark by which all other bikes that are considered as long distance, fun, machines will be judged. My only gripe at the moment is the rain spoiling my fun. Well done to KTM!

Took a test ride of the SMT - made my R1200GS feel like a barge - very torquey engine but wind blast seemed to lighten the front end up above 100 mph - nimble, quick but poorly equipped. Never worth the 10k they want for it - will be keeping my BM.