2025 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Supermoto Soul, Touring Legs
The 890 SMT is built around KTM's 889 cc LC8c parallel twin, tuned here for 105 hp and 74 lb-ft, and hung in a chassis that thinks like a back-road bike rather than a highway barge. Seventeen-inch wheels front and rear, fully adjustable WP APEX suspension, a steering damper, a slipper clutch, and a rider-aid package covering cornering ABS, KTM Motorcycle Traction Control, ride modes and wheelie control. In a class that usually chases mass and isolation, this one goes the other way. It keeps the range and the upright, commanding seating position, then hands you something that changes direction far quicker than the touring label suggests.
It suits the rider who wants real distance capability without giving up sharpness on a mountain road, and 4.1 gal at 51 mpg covers a 200-mile leg without arithmetic. The caveats are honest ones. Seat height is 33.9 in, so shorter inseams will be tiptoeing at every stop. Cruise control, heated grips and the quickshifter are options rather than standard kit, the screen doesn't adjust, and there's no center stand or factory luggage to build a touring setup around. On the ownership side, a limited number of early 890 engines in the LC8c family have shown premature camshaft wear.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 105 hp (77 kW) @ 8,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) @ 6,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 889 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 33.9 in (860 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.1 gal (15.5 L) |
| Fuel economy | 51 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
None of this is my own test ride. It's what I've picked up over years of listening: paddock conversations, owners talking at club nights, and the messages that land in my inbox. On the 890 SMT the chatter runs consistent. Praise lands on how it rides; the reservations land on how it's built.
Two things come up in nearly every conversation. Riders describe the handling as eager to the point of restlessness, and they mention the twin's spread of torque in the same breath: roll-on that needs no planning, then a top end worth chasing. The suspension earns credit for range. Owners run it soft for long days and firm for sharp ones, and the tool-free preload adjuster means they actually bother. Riders who ticked the electronics options say the aids stay out of the way until they're needed.
The reservations cluster in one place. Owners report cracked switchgear and electronic glitches often enough that some think twice before pointing the bike at a long trip. After that the list thins out. Mirrors get named for vibration, with many owners fitting something else, and shorter riders say the seat height makes stops and slow maneuvering work.
Premature camshaft wear
A known issue from the broader LC8c platform, some owners report abnormal cam lobe wear, potentially leading to performance loss and expensive repairs. Affected a limited number of early 890 engines.
Electronic gremlins and false error codes
Multiple reports of intermittent software bugs, false dashboard warnings, and glitches that often clear after a cold reboot. Can cause unnecessary anxiety but rarely leave the rider stranded.
Handlebar switchgear cracking
The plastic switchgear housing can develop cracks, especially on the left side, potentially leading to water ingress and switch malfunction. A known nuisance rather than a ride-stopper.
Cruise control malfunction after washing
Some owners experience intermittent cruise control failure (won't activate) after a wash or heavy rain. The issue often self-resolves after an hour of drying.
Where this KTM 890 SMT pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the 890 SMT is actually built for.
Your 200 to 400 mile days work here: the range is there, the seating position is upright and commanding, and the good roads stay genuinely fun. Budget for cruise control and heated grips, since neither is standard.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Repeat runs on the Dragon and Cherohala are exactly the diet this bike was shaped for. It rewards a clean line and gives you enough front-end feedback to keep sharpening technique instead of just chasing speed.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
On Angeles Crest it steers quicker than the touring badge suggests and leans further than most riders will ask. The tall seat and fixed screen are the trade for being able to take the long way home.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2023–2024
Supermoto Sharpness, Street Range
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this KTM 890 SMT. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
