KTM 890 SMT (2023) | BikeSocial Review

[@cocky_potato]

I think I must be the only person on the planet excited for this bike... it's getting so much flack from keyboard warriors I don't even... anyway, dying to try one! Would love to see a direct comparison with the Hypermotard; in my opinion this is a "niche" in the market that not enough manufacturers are exploring. There's gotta be more people out there who would want a comfy bike to do some highway miles and get to a beautiful destination in the mountains and then, once there, have loads of fun in the twisties! Right??

[@JelloThatsMellow]

Honestly I just want an 890 adventure with 17" wheels. This leans too far into sporty territory. Good for innovation and day trippers, but not for me.

[@johnnyblue4799]

They don't know what they're talking about. It's one of the few new bikes that actually makes sense to me. Good for city and add the luggage and you're good for vacation too. I wonder how much range it has, but it can't be worse than my 03 CBR954RR.

[@benkelly2190]

Agreed mate.. the sheep don’t like, they start bleating..quite loudly. Personally I bloody love it , something to bark at the mid weight Adventure bikes..

[@MotoGoato]

Agreed ... I see it as slotting right in between the Duke 890 and Adventure 890 - it's essentially a midweight sports tourer with what seems to be a good balance between the two. It looks great with the beak removed and a Duke front mudguard fitted. I only really have 2 issues with it ... seat height is a touch on the tall side and the price is more than I'd hoped it would be, lol. OK, maybe 3 issues - in the not too distant future KTM are likely to release an R version, which will be even more expensive 🤣😂

[@MrMandown46]

Would love to see Ducati remake the Hyperstrada. The motard is just too uncomfortable for any really long range riding, the half faired SMT would be much better at that task.

[@ahppa]

Do the side bags have scrapes from leaning?

[@Nigriff]

Such a great engineered bike

[@monzadh]

Im holding out for a Husky 990 SMT....😊

[@garethmayfield4014]

I would love one, as I'm on my 2nd super duke GT and 7th new ktm. But just run that one by me again?? I take it in for its first service and you switch everything off unless I give you £800??? Thought I heard you right?? I'll give that one a miss thanks. If I don't take it anywhere near ktm, will it auto switch off??

[@signore-solomonare1818]

This is the best looking SMT from KTM again! They could cut short the rear tail to make it even sexier like the Duke ,

[@steveearnshaw720]

Yeah, just a shame about that ugly headlight.

[@sealcuddl3r]

This bike seems to be perfect bike for the type of riding I do. I love my Street Triple 675 and I love taking it on 1000+ mile road trips across America, but the lack of good luggage options and the riding ergonomics are not ideal for road tripping. I've rode both a Ninja 1000 SX and a Tracer 9 GT and those bikes just feel a bit too refined and even 'boring' by comparison. I really hope the 890 SMT sells well, but I am slightly concerned about how expensive it is.

[@digger8180]

had the old DRZ400SM back in the day, got the KTM 990 SMT when it first came out...years later, this year got myself the Husky 701, same as the 690 SM from KTM, running it in, so far it's a hoot. If you want to go any distance on it put a bit of sheepskin fleece on the seat!

[@steveearnshaw720]

I have a 2019 DRZ with a FCR39 flatslide carby and when i recently test rode the 690 i found the throttle response on takeoff dead in comparison. Sure, it was slightly better in supermoto mode and it has more top end power but for the small city stop start riding i do, it was a deal breaker. It irked me that much, i wouldn't even consider a straight trade.

[@stickvortex]

I’m not dure who is doing your editing but the audio mixing is absolutely terrible. The content is good but the details in the execution is awful. Random cuts and bad audio mixing. Otherwise it’s good.

[@AlexandreSantos-mn4sk]

The fuel gauge it’s like the adventure? The adv show full the first 200km then start showing the real level of fuel.

[@Geshmaal]

Wow, I don't get wanting a quickshifter over cruise control. Changing gears and blipping the throttle to rev match is fun, holding the throttle open constantly whilst riding down the motorway etc is the opposite of fun, on a touring bike cruise control is a huge boon!

[@johnnyblue4799]

Maybe he doesn't go on long rides. Constant shifting in the city traffic is not so fun though... I'd want both. What annoys me is the new shift in paradigm. Bikes are now having features enabled on a subscription basis. I hate that. It feels like one doesn't own the bike.

[@Geshmaal]

@@johnnyblue4799 but when reviewing a touring bike surely you should be considering what works best for touring? I agree though the subscription thing is total BS, I hope people manage to open up access for all riders. Installing parts on a bike but not letting the owner use them is insanity.

[@johnnyblue4799]

@@Geshmaal I don't think this is your typical touring bike... It can do that, but it can also be a daily commuter, or you can take it to the track once in a while. So the choice of options each makes should suit the intended use of the bike. I wouldn't be so sure it's going to be easy to enable those features. If, like in the car world, reprogramming a module requires an internet connection and a subscription to KTM, then it's going to be difficult.

[@bertietrust9755]

Can someone answer me what happens if you dont take it back to the dealer for its first service? Say you paid it out right and did the service yourself (yes i know itll have a EML) will you still keep all the software?

[@Cmyttv]

I believe it turns off at 1500km automatically

[@ludovicosestilli6654]

I love that bike........ All the best from Tenerife Chad....

[@spazda_mx5]

I think like this are more inspired by supermoto than being an actual supermoto 🤔 That isn't a critism, the amount of kicking-yourself-in-the-nuts required to run a 'real' SM (i.e. a converted motocross bike) on the road isn't for everyone, so bikes like this give you a taste of it, without the 60 mile range, plank of wood seat, kickstart, constant maintenance, etc....

[@Geshmaal]

It's almost like they made a Super Moto Tourer, perhaps SMT for short?

[@spazda_mx5]

@@Geshmaal My point is that a Supermoto Tourer is an oxymoron.

[@nobbystyles4807]

those brake lines on the front look like were added as an after thought by someone unqualified.

[@tomquimby8669]

So If I have this correct in order to keep the extras and not pay again you have to service the bike yourself and never take it back to the dealer.

[@Steve-qw2el]

No extras automatically switch off after 1500Km nothing to do with service. If you want the extras go into your local dealer to purchase and enable them for ever.

[@johnnyblue4799]

Been thinking the same... unless the software is made to cancel those features after 1000kms.

[@Steve-qw2el]

@@johnnyblue4799 cancels after 1500km

[@spudflap]

Sounds like a ripoff, if you want to keep the extras, you pay for them twice, because you can bet the cost of them has already been factored into the purchase price to start with. Isn't that a trick used by Tesla and BMW?

[@johnnyblue4799]

@@spudflap It doesn't only sound like it. It actually is a ripoff.

[@nobbystyles4807]

also this edit of the video is all over the place. if feels like its just not finished. especially the audio / levels and quality.

[@MrMandown46]

Like the video, and am really interested in the bike. the only downside to the vid was the music playing over Adam talking, made it hard to pick out everything he was saying (for me at least)

[@nikos-giorgos]

Shitty loud music is a common thing amongst these "badass" bike reviews...

[@JohnSaxton-x3d]

At the 1:57 mark in the video the bike is shown with a low front fender rather than the dirt bike style high fender. Wonder if this will be an option?

[@kenjikenjikenj]

If you're still wondering after a year, that's the carbon fender option you can order from your dealer

[@Nigriff]

Very easy to change

[@rodneyharwood5428]

what brand is your riding suit please

[@simonbadcock8011]

Knox from the UK

[@jongreen9113]

Sadly the seat height is a big no no for me (5ft 10in) my old SMT at 835mm and wide was a b*&$£ that stopped me loving it. Also this one has a tiny fuel tank- why? . Plus the worry about the well known 790/890 cam wear issue. So this is a poor offering despite the lovely engine feel. :(

[@Mark-RD350]

That video has me a bit confused one minute it has a little front mudgard an the next minute its got a big front mudgard. If i was going to buy one id won't the small one an for that money I'd won't a screen.

[@johnnyblue4799]

Ha. ha... I didn't pay attention. Good catch. The fender close to the wheel is a must on a touring bike... My dual sport converted to a supermoto splashes me wet knee high in the rain. I call the bike "Piggy".

[@barryjohn7765]

Definitely looks better with the low front mudguard.

[@yorkshireR9T]

Why do bike manufacturers think everyone is 6'4".

[@udaysingh9_11]

Fr

[@russelldavis7108]

There used to be a time when bike manufacturers thought everyone was 5’ 4”, there’s now a good range of bikes for all sizes

[@HeyAddieImTojo]

What. Have you tried being over 180cm/6 feet and ridning ANY bike except adv bikes for the last 20 years?

[@magaudion]

Oh dear. You’re 5’6", aren’t you ? 😊

[@Labaht]

@@HeyAddieImTojo I’m with you. At 6’2” and a long inseam, I’ve rarely found myself comfy on anything but the bigger ADV bikes, Goldwings, and 800lb Harleys/Indians. However, from a similar complaint as the guy above, I wish more bikes had 2-3 height options on the seat.

[@DorKonforty]

Why would this be more fun than the 890 Duke/R?

[@toxicabiss6642]

What are the chances of a 790 variant?

[@blackmore6468]

What's the point in that?

[@babyjackism]

​@@blackmore6468 790 can be made A2 compliant

[@yumyumbaboon]

So if I don’t take it in for the service and do it myself…….. 🤔 Do I get to keep all the toys Santa?!

[@ryanpatrick4813]

Great bike to customize

[@DS1150]

Interesting, but I'll not be selling my 990 SMT for one.

[@awanbiru-ride]

Without the beak it would be perfect

[@Mr450pro]

I have always loved the look of KTM, but that one is ugly asf!

[@MH-xd2nd]

Expensive, fugly parts bin special. But relax, it’s KTM so it’ll be discontinued in 2 years’ time.