2009–2013 · Supermoto · Buyer's Guide
Supermoto Soul, Touring Range
The 990 Supermoto T is a supermoto that got packed for a trip. It uses KTM's LC8 75-degree V-twin, 999 cc and liquid-cooled, making 116 hp at 9,000 rpm and 72 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm. It hangs in a steel trellis frame with fully adjustable suspension at both ends, 6.3 in (160 mm) of travel up front and 7.1 in (180 mm) out back. On 17-inch rubber and wide bars, it keeps the supermoto layout: you sit tall and upright with the front wheel right under you. Then KTM added a screen and a 5.0 gal (19 L) tank. That mix is what makes it unusual in its class.
It stays a supermoto on the road. It's light on its feet, happy to be flicked from one lean to the next, and it has more ground clearance in the bends than you'll realistically use. It fits the experienced rider who wants that orange aggression and still wants to cover real distance at around 40 mpg. The honest caveat is age. ABS is standard, and that's the whole electronics package: there's no traction control and no ride modes. The LC8 also has known weak spots: clutch slave cylinders, water pump bearings and fuel pumps. Buy one with service records and budget for preventive fixes.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 116 hp (85 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 72 lb-ft (97 Nm) @ 7,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 999 cc1000cc Motorcycles → |
| Engine | 75° V-twinMotorcycles With V-Twin Engines → |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 305 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 59.3 in (1505 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 7.7 in (195 mm) |
| Front travel | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
| Rear travel | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
| Seat height | 33.7 in (855 mm) |
| Dry weight | 474 lb (215 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (19 L) |
| Top speed | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 40 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Over the years I've heard a lot about the 990 SMT: in the paddock, at club nights, in long talks with owners, and in the messages riders send me directly. The pattern is consistent. Owners praise how it stops, how the chassis holds together when pushed and how the twin pulls. They're just as consistent about one low-speed annoyance and about its appetite for fuel.
Owners consistently bring up the brakes first, and the stopping power is what they talk about. The chassis backs that up with a composed feel through fast corners. Riders describe the suspension as supple over broken pavement and still controlled when they ride hard. On the engine, the praise that keeps coming back is how hard it pulls through the midrange before it rushes to the top end.
The most common complaint is throttle response at small openings. Riders call it snatchy in town and on wet roads, and many say smooth progress takes careful clutch work. Fuel use comes up often too. Ridden hard, owners report range dropping to about 150 miles. Some also say the engine uses oil between changes, so they check the level regularly.
Clutch slave cylinder failure
The original slave cylinder is prone to seal failure, causing clutch drag or loss of hydraulic pressure. Many owners upgrade to an aftermarket unit (Oberon, Evoluzione) as a preventative fix.
Water pump bearing wear
Bearing fatigue in the water pump can lead to coolant leaks or noise. Often caught during routine service on higher-mileage bikes.
Fuel pump failure
Premature fuel pump wear can cause hard starting or engine cut-outs, typically on well-used examples.
Main fuse relay corrosion
The main fuse relay, located on the right side of the frame, can corrode if exposed to road salt and moisture, causing electrical glitches or non-start.
Rear master cylinder seal leak
The rear brake master cylinder seal can weep fluid, reducing braking performance and requiring seal replacement.
Where this KTM 990 Supermoto T pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the 990 Supermoto T is actually built for.
This is your bike for the canyons. It turns in on command, gives you all the lean clearance you need, and the LC8's bark echoes off the rock. Just remember there's no electronic safety net.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail Scenic Byway · Big Sur Coast Highway
It suits the Hill Country well. It's playful on the twisty ranch roads, and with an upright seat, a screen and a 5.0 gal tank it's still comfortable on the ride home after a long day of barbecue.
Made for Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters
If you ride tight, technical bends over and over, the light steering and clear front-end feedback reward precise riding on every run. The long ride to get there won't wear you out either.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
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 990 Supermoto T. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
