The roots trace back to the early '80s, but it was only somewhere in the '90s that it happened - the Supermoto story exploded! The idea of fitting road tires and brakes on an off-road motorcycle and riding it like you ride neither an off-road bike nor a road bike gained momentum and became a European and local hit, with almost every manufacturer offering such a vehicle. But over the years, that generation that led the revolution has aged and settled down, and didn't really produce a dynasty that passed the torch. And along with the reduction in customer base, the range of offerings shrank.
But here and there, there are manufacturers that continue to offer this exceptional combination, in the case of KTM, it is the Austrian manufacturer that finds in these vehicles a dual-wheeled pressure relief valve for riders who want a real amusement vehicle, but one that can also serve them daily.
And after the debut appearance of the SMT model in 2008 with a 990 cc engine and 115 horsepower, now the new generation of KTM's Supermoto motorcycle arrives in Israel. It uses the 890 Adventure as a base. From this base, it takes the frame and engine, why from it and not from the more race-oriented "Duke"? According to KTM, this is intended to allow it to demonstrate better durability for riding that includes, among other things, jumping landings (competitive Supermoto riding sometimes includes small jumps and dirt sections). The engine, as mentioned, comes from the Adventure R, meaning a parallel twin that provides 105 horsepower, here too, the choice of its engine and not the Duke's engine (121 horsepower) stemmed from the flexibility in power delivery of the Adventure engine in the mid-range RPM. The WP-manufactured shocks, on the other hand, are shortened in stroke and stiffened in comparison to those of the Adventure in order to support the higher loads.
The transition to a smaller engine and a modern frame shaves off a few kilograms from the weight of the previous generation, with it now standing at 194 kg, while the outgoing model weighed in over the 200 mark. The fuel tank has a capacity of 15.8 liters, and it is fitted with Michelin Power GT tires, sized 120 at the front and 180 at the rear on a 17-inch rim.
In terms of systems and technology, it offers 3 riding modes and a dedicated track mode with the option to choose between 10 levels of traction control intervention. The ABS system includes a cornering mode and the option to disconnect rear wheel operation in supermoto mode to allow sliding into turns with a locked rear wheel. The list of add-ons includes air filters, exhausts, a flat seat, a quick-shift system for clutchless gear changes, cruise control, and more.
Priced at 100,000 shekels, it is positioned between the Adventure and the Duke in terms of KTM's model price range, which also aligns with the perception of it as a tool that sits between worlds.
As of today, given the thinning supply of these tools directly from the manufacturers, the 890SMT finds itself without direct competitors. The closest models to it are the Yamaha Tracer 9 and the BMW F900XR. However, both of these are more oriented towards touring riding with an upright position and are less about aggressive cornering machines. Does this place it in an excellent starting position, or does it leave it searching for customers who aren't really in the market? We will know much better after riding it.