A touring bike that feels relaxed, refined and surprisingly fun

The touring bicycle segment has become super-large these days. You can have traditional touring bikes based on a cruiser with a big engine. Or there are the sport tourers which used to be sports bikes that have been modified to have an easier, more comfortable riding position, along with a less aggressive engine tuning to meet the demands of pillion touring. Next, the crossover is a new type of sports tourer, with a driving position derived from the ADV in combination with sports tourer engines and wheels.

With all that choice, it can be quite confusing to select the right touring bike for your needs. But if you can boil down non-negotiables to relaxed, refined and surprisingly fun, we’ve found a touring motorcycle that does this exceptionally well. It’s derived from the kind of motorcycle that, if he tried, couldn’t be more different from a touring bike, but somehow it all works fantastically.

The KTM 890 SMT is a touring bike that feels relaxed, refined and surprisingly fun

There can hardly be a motorcycle style more unsuitable for touring than a supermotard, and yet somehow the KTM 890 SMT promises to be a ‘Super Moto Touring’ bike. He’s relaxed and refined when you need him to be, and he still retains that Jack Russell terrier-like character when you encourage him to be naughty. The seat is comfortable, the fuel range is good enough and it has enough composure to get you through a long drive without tiring you out.

KTM 890 SMT price: $13,949

KTMs tend to be premium products, and that is reflected in their prices. The 890 SMT is no different. The price is just under $14,000, which puts it at the extremely premium end of the middleweight touring bike segment. You should also know that KTM has a ‘subscription’ model on the 890 SMT, meaning features like the two-way quickshifter and cruise control require the extra $900 for the Tech Pack and Bluetooth connectivity, bringing the price to a shade under $15,000. However, the price becomes more palatable when you consider that there is nothing like it in the sports touring world today.

KTM 890 SMT engine

The 890 SMT has a 270-degree parallel twin engine with a displacement of 889 cc. It has a very high compression ratio of 13.5:1 and generates 103 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 74 pound-feet at 6,500 rpm. This is an engine that likes to rev, but can also hum along in the mid-range at highway speeds. A six-speed manual gearbox and a chain transmit engine power to the rear wheel.

A by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU are standard, so you have the full range of KTM electronics, including riding modes, cornering traction control and wheelie control. As mentioned, it should be noted that cruise control and a two-way quickshifter are available for the first 1,000 miles of use, but KTM requires an additional $1,000 to install the Tech Pack, which then permanently unlocks these two features.

KTM 890 SMT chassis

Under the skin, the 890 SMT is essentially a mix of the 890 Duke and 890 Adventure. A chrome-moly steel trellis frame serves as the centerpiece, with the engine used as the stressed member. The subframe is made of aluminum. 43mm inverted forks suspend the front wheel, while the rear wheel has a single shock. Both come from WP and are fully adjustable with 7.1 inches of travel at each end.

17-inch alloy wheels and tubeless tires are also included. These include dual 320mm brake discs at the front, paired with radial J.Juan calipers, while the rear features a 260mm disc with a two-piston floating caliper. Cornering ABS that can be switched off at the rear wheel (as on a supermoto) is standard.

The weight is less than 430 pounds

The 890 SMT is not a very large motorcycle and its agility is aided by the short 59.1-inch wheelbase. It’s definitely a tall bike, with a seat height of 33.9 inches and a ground clearance of 8.9 inches. But the height disadvantage is somewhat offset by the fact that it is extremely light, at 428 pounds.

KTM 890 SMT features

There is a 5-inch TFT screen on the 890 SMT, but this seems a bit small compared to the competition. You’ll also need to upgrade it with a ‘connectivity unit’ if you want to enable Bluetooth, navigation, music controls and phone controls. In case you’re wondering, the Tech Pack costs $693, while the Connectivity Kit costs $168. Since this is a premium KTM, there is an endless list of PowerParts that can be added to it.

KTM 890 SMT Competition

The 890 SMT has some very interesting competition. Sticking with Europe, the Ducati Multistrada V2 ($16,995) can be a good option if you want to move up to a traditional touring bike, but thanks to its 19-inch front wheel and 439-pound curb weight, it will never be as agile as the KTM. The BMW F 900 The KTM and BMW have similar engine configurations, displacements and power ratings, but the BMW is significantly heavier.

That leaves us with an unlikely foe: the Yamaha Tracer 9. It’s almost as heavy as the BMW, but it claws its way back into the conversation with more power, an extremely fun chassis, a powerful electronics package and strong reliability. It also has 17-inch wheels on it. It also helps that it costs almost $1,500 less than the KTM, and that’s before you remember that the KTM requires you to pay an extra $900 to unlock features like the two-way quickshifter and cruise control. There are no such hidden costs with the Yamaha.

KTM 890 SMT vs Yamaha Tracer 9

Source: KTM USA