KTM 890 SMT 2500k honest owners review.

[@paulie550]

Thanks for all of the info. And great review. I just picked up the SMT as well. Ordered a tall screen and lower seat. Debating on heated grips or GPS mount next. :-) Again thanks so much. I really enjoyed the review!

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

If you want me to do a video on tge heated grips. Let me know pal 👍 ( did you see my video on the seat?kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGqqkHRterNonpIsi=mPWHE_KfoEWuVW-k )

[@paulie550]

A video on the heated grips would be great. I’m looking at buying a set.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@paulie550 I am planning to do one with in the next 2 weeks pal. But highly recommend the KTM ones. You can use the switch gear to operate, and you see the icon on the dash too. Fully integrated... and very warm as well.

[@Skil2low]

Hi , i'm interested on buying this bike , but i'm a bit short 163 cm . how it feels with the lower seat ? TY mate

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@Skil2low go for it. You will be fine. The power parts seat was a massive difference for me. Totally changed the bike for the better.

[@Victic005]

It's a great bike. I have the 890 Duke R 2021 model. I heard about the cam wearing prematurely with these engine. Mine have about 6,000 miles on it. Hopefully, I don't have that problem.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

The 890 engine has been altered a bunch of times since its conception. The engine that is in the SMT is not the same as the ones with the cam issues. ( although I actually believe that the cam issue is more of an oil starvation issue, and that cam wear is a result of the lack of oil passing through and around the engine properly) I have done over 12,000 kilometres on my SMT and she is running as she should. I love my SMT, quite possible the best bike on the market imo. Although it does have room for improvement, so I have my fingers crossed for a 990 SMT

[@mikehudson868]

Get the powerpart phds handlebar mounts completely transforms the bike I get zero vibes through the bars now. I've had my smt since July last year and love it . Good revue

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

I have them in the shed... just waiting for a moment to make a video about installing them 😉

[@petersaunders8642]

Hi. Where did you get the fork guard decals from ?

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Moto pro works. They are a part of a kit, but I didn't like the kit, and had them customized for me.

[@davektm89]

Thanks for the review, also got one and like you think its a great fun bike. Taking it to the Picos in 3 weeks. Got the same screen and also a sat nav mount and replaced the small black front guard with a Duke 790 one to stop spray .

[@grummmmel]

thanks for the review. just a question: where did you order the number sticker from? has it a special form fitting the 890 smt, or did you just cut is from adhesive film?

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

I will post a video up for you. (I will try and do that later this evening, so subscribe and you won't miss it ) 👍

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/noHdmJSsp7Kap9Esi=JUynW8PHRHUxhVh7 here you go bud 👍

[@Vanity7k]

Hi, thanks for this vid! I’m considering this bike but i’m a short guy and wondering how you manage with the low seat and what your inside leg measurement is

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

I take a 30 inch leg for jeans. I would say that the balls of my feet are on the ground with the power parts seat.kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGqqkHRterNonpIsi=YNaVJ5Ba0gZ5-dGp.

[@kevinfarmer7896]

I own one, I am 5'7". I have the standard seat, can get both tip toes down. I ride dirt bikes, so am used to a taller bike, not an issue for me.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@kevinfarmer7896 well, the SMT is basically the 890 adventure with a different front wheel and fork legs. It rides a lot like a dirt bike too imo. Super moto... 👌

[@aperlia6603]

Do you have a link to the windscreen?

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

All the parts are from KTM. You can find them on www.ktm.com. choose the 890 smt and then select the power parts, and fo to screens. 👍

[@befreetoride979]

Dean have you taken a pillion? Does the bike cope? And did you need to retune the engine when you did the decat?

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@befreetoride979 I have ridden with my daughter last week to england from the Netherlands. The bike was perfect for it. Although with just 1 box, we couldn't carry that much with us. As far as I know, there isn't any one offering tuning on the smt at the moment.

[@befreetoride979]

@@Dean-does-Stuff-81thx, was the bike sluggish two up? And does the bike pop and bang on the overrun?

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@befreetoride979 sluggish 😆. I take it you don't have one your self then... please check out my other videos for sound of the bike. There are some with a mic set up to the exhaust. It does pop and braap quite nicely. Sounds cool....

[@befreetoride979]

I’m just making a decision on getting one. I tour occasionally, but ride the backroads a lot..seems like a bike that does both so could be a great option

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@befreetoride979 I can highly advise one.... back roads, there isn't much that is better...

[@mcbrite]

2:26 Talking price: At least over here in DE you should be getting AMAZING deals on these new and demo-bikes! I think the bike is a big success, but it's styling held back sales... I have a 701 and a Super Duke 3.0. Considering switching the Beast for SMT, since I love the 701's riding style so much... Can I ask: How do the gears feel? As crispy as they do on the sportier Bikes like the Super Duke? Or a little more doughy/vague? Thanks for the vid, much appreciated!

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@mcbrite hi, thanks for watching 👍. I recently rode the 990 duke, and I will admit that the gear box on the new duke is definitely an upgrade over the 890 smt. However, they are totally different beasts. I rode a couple of bikes back to back, then got back on my smt. I have ro say, I was happy to be back on the SMT. Sure it isn't as flickable as the duke, and doesn't have those amazingly sharp brakes and super slick gearbox... BUT, it has some thing all of it's own.... the way the bike rides is just so easy and fun. My advice is rode one for an afternoon.... you will want one too. Personally, I feel you could say that sales are low because of looks, but to be honest I don't believe that is the case. There is a stigma about ktm's, in the same way there was 25 years ago about BMW, and we all know how that story ended... the 890 adventure is possible the best off road bike in its class, and the smt is literally an adventure with longer forks and a smaller wheel, so it makes sense that it is a great bike too...

[@eMstar3003]

Hi Dean. I`m happy to find your channel especially you`re owner and not only few hours tester of the bike like in most of the yt videos. The main reason for me was to hear opinion about riding comfort and in above of all about a bumping effect on smooth road. Do you consider "bobbing" effect as kind of shaking or jumping of the front ? In my case its mainly perceptible on smooth road, in the range of 50 - 65 km/h when I feel this unpleasant effect. It`s very visible during the night when you see your light beam shaking. Above the mentionned speeds its dissepaering. I set the front for maximum confort and it`s better but still here and very uncomfortable. I also have other negative feelings on the engine vibration, when I push on above 5k rpms the vibration makes the view in the mirrors gets hazy, I hope its normal behaviour of this engine. Last not least is the front brakes: I`m a very sensitive person and during breaking with the first bites I feel something like oscillation on the breaking lever, it isn`t so smooth like I experienced on previousely owned duke 125 and 390. Generally I love this bike and I`m persuaded I`ll do dozens of thousands of kms but it looks It`s less perfect than I imagined or it`s presented in all those yt reviews.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Ah, i think i might know the answer to some of your issues. The front wheel bobbing has gone away on my bike now. I put this down to properly bedding in the tire. And i suspect that the brakes are the same. You need to get out and push the bike hard for a few hundred miles. It is a super moto after all. The bike is definitely happier when ridden harder. As for the vibes, i have them too, although it does seem to come and go a little bit. So that might also go away as the engine loosens up. I would wait until 6000 miles before i would really decide. And not just 6000 motor way miles, a good mixture of high revving and mile mumching riding.. I took the bike up to 120 K on the motor way for the first time last week (the speed limit here in the netherlands is just 100k during the day time hours, and only after 7 can you go faster. I experianced a lot of vibes. So i will keep you posted on that) I am heading over to england on friday with some dutch guys and we will be at donington on the sunday for the BSB race. So i will get a good run on it.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Ps. If the vibes are an issue after this weekend. I will buy the anti vibe bar risers, so a test and a video about this may be on my channel very soon mate 😉

[@eMstar3003]

@@Dean-does-Stuff-81 thanks a lot ! Your answer makes me a lot reassured. I’m now only at 1500km and I feel the engine loosens a bit already so I hope this trend continues. Most important for me is your opinion regarding bobinning. Last thing, could you point where you recive the wind blast with this windshield? At neck, nose of forehead ? Have a nice trip !!

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@eMstar3003 when i sit on the bike (properly, with out slouching) the wind is only on the helmet. When slouching the wind is only from the visor and over my head. Perfect for keeping air flow through the helmet vents. With out getting buffeted like on a bmw

[@MinguezBurton]

Nice review, glad to see some non proffesional opinion, i hope ill have mine soon

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Hey, I am a professional 😎 hahahaha

[@wako29]

Is that the Givi windscreen? That’s the only one I know of available. Puig has one listed as “currently under development” but no ETA available when I asked

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Ktm power parts have 2 screens listed. This is the lower one of the 2. I have the taller one ordered. Will be arriving this week, so will drop a video with in the next 10 days weather permitting. So please subscribe if you want to see how that goes. Thanks

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Also, i have done a little video on installing this screen. Check my other videos for it..

[@wako29]

@@Dean-does-Stuff-81 unfortunately, it looks like KTM doesn't offer the windscreen in the US. I did not expect this to be so difficult ha

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@wako29 That is annoying. The screens also fit the adventure bikes. So I am surprised that you can't get them in the US.

[@blyhenderson1724]

Great review! Thank you. Wasn't sure we were going to get to hear it for a second there!

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Its always windy in the Netherlands. And that was the first chance i had where we had some sun... it is a bit tricky finding some where to make the videos where i live. Always people every where, or wind, or some thing driving past etc..

[@marek19922209]

how tall are you ? is it possible to ride on this bike if you have around 172cm ? is this screen not generating more noise on helmet ?

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

How tall you are is less important than your leg measurements. I have a 32 inch inside leg. At 65 mph the screen works well, but are 75 there is some buffering. (This is at a steady speed on a motor way for example.) Also, helmet choice could also have an impact.

[@mloclam6917]

Great mpg for a powerful engine 👍

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

I have had amazing fuel economy on long runs... as you say.... what a bike...

[@ozyrob1]

Any concerns re soft cams and wear? It's a bloody shame this European made motor didn't go into the Husky Svartpilen/Vitpilen.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Zero concern. I have had a conversation with the large dealer near me. He says that over all the ktms have been as reliable as any of the top brands over the past 3 years or so. Roughly 2 in every 100 ktms they sell have some issues. And mostly nothing to do with the engines... so I don't really have any concern. The bike has a warranty in any case. And I also know that ktm are aware of some issues and thus far have been very accommodating to any customers that have had issues. The reason I stopped buying bmw's was because all the issues I had over the years... so it some times is what it is...

[@ozyrob1]

@@Dean-does-Stuff-81 Hey mate, thanks for the detailed answer. I'll be holding out for a better rendition of the Husky that's all European made. I'm a sixties kid and although the KTM appeal from an engineering standpoint I just can't get along with the transformer styling. Glad you love it though, it seems like a hell of a machine.

[@axellness]

would be cool if you redid this video with better audio quality. cant really hear with the wind

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Thanks for the feed back. I am going to be doing a 6000 kilometre review this week. I have new cameras and mic now. This was recorded on a mobile phone... So please subscribe and let me know what you think of the new vid. Thanks for watching.

[@12985ify]

nice video mate thanks! bit hard to understand you sometimes with the windnoise other than that great review 🤝🏼

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

I try to talk as loud as I can. One day I might get a proper camera and a mic.. I have to see how things go

[@Antmanmoto]

Imagine a KTM SMT owner not liking wheelies… And I was really liking the video until that point lol

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

If you can keep with me on the back lanes where I am from, then you have my respect mate 😉😜

[@ehiggins7476]

⁠@@Dean-does-Stuff-81 I don’t do wheelies either but do twisties well

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@ehiggins7476 I am looking forward to getting back over to the UK, where the roads are more suited to the SMT... so far, the weather has been so crap, I haven't bothered...

[@geecee4746]

I prefer the front wheel on the ground 2bh,really intrested in this bike, think im gonna bag me a test ride

[@filippopiloto8682]

@@geecee4746just did a test ride on it, the bike is simply amazing. I was on the fence between the 890smt and the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+. Unfortunately where I live they don’t have the Tracer for test ride, so I think I’ll go for the KTM. Cheers

[@subzero-ku2wx]

The camshafts are made of cheese. Inspect them after about 10,000km.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

Yeah, we have all heard the stories. It's just a toy mate... toys break...

[@Ukmongoose3]

You don’t need much more……… how about another 30hp then? Thats not much.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@Ukmongoose3 my bike feels like it's around 110 bhp with the cat delete and the hi flow air filter. To be honest, the 990 smt should be with us in 2025... so I am sure it will get a power up grade with the 990 engine. ( the 990 duke is an awesome bit of kit. I rode it last week)

[@Ukmongoose3]

@@Dean-does-Stuff-81 Hello! I have a 2010 Multistrada which I have had from new, amongst other bikes, including a 2014 SMCR 690. The multi is decatted and PcV’d with a Mivv slip on, down a tooth at the front and has Marchesini forged ali wheels amongst other things, so its considerably lighter than standard, say, around…. I’m guessing…. 210 kilos, maybe a little more. I really fancy the SMT, but I think it might actually do the same as my multi, which helps me do stable wheelies, can help me drag my knee and is faaaaast with super stable handling at big lean on Corsa 4’s which stick like glue and are blessed with stable handling. It’s a measured 147hp on a reliable dyno (but who knows eh?!) hence I reckon the SMT would be ace with 140/150 horses and circa 95tflb of torque. What do you think? Would you trade to a 990?

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@Ukmongoose3 when the 990 smt comes out l, I expect it to be 115 to 120 bhp max... but they are light bikes. Around 195 kg. Also, they ride like a super moto. The big multistrada is a different beast. It isn't all about bhp numbers for example. Peak bhp is basically just bragging rights. The smt really is just an off road bike on sticky tires and hopped up suspension. I think that the 990 smt will benefit from the newer gearbox, slicker electronics and slightly punchier engine.... I would also suspect that my smt is more flickable than a 2010 multi. As one is basically a big touring bike and the other is a super moto. Best thing is to grab a test ride... my 890 smt is one of the best bikes I have owned, I had around 50 bikes to date...

[@Ukmongoose3]

@@Dean-does-Stuff-81 I live in Scotland, so I’m looking for an additional bike to use in conditions that threaten rain. The SMT fits my parameters for this purpose. Pilot 6’s, flickable in the dry, good enough to be comfy through the showers. I think you’d be surprised at my multi. Most people are and as a sportsbike nut, I find it very easy indeed to chuck about and have some fun. I’d love another sportsbike at some point, I just love the supermoto riding position. My SXV 550 got me into that.

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@Ukmongoose3 try the 990 duke mate.... wow, what a bit of kit... no need for a full sports bike when nakeds are that good...