Haven't seen Chad for a long time, I recognized him straight away as before the internet I was a regular MCN reader keeping an eye on prices for weeks before buying. Good rider
I became obsessed with bikes a good 16 or so years ago binge watching and reading his content. It's great to see him back! He also seems funnier these days as 44 Teeth endorses the borderline inappropriate silliness that we all love.
Never knew Chad had such a good sense of humour! Great to see that side of him when he doesn't have to be quite so corporate, dead funny. More please thank you
It still baffles me senseless how 44Teeth isn't the top two-wheel channel on the 'Toob'. No one creates content as engaging as the team at 44Teeth, how you've not been snapped up by one of the big production houses, I'll never understand.
Thankfully Husqvarna isn't as bad about it. The Norden 901 includes cruise and quickshifter. The Explorer Mods is DLC though. Can see the industry moving this way at some point though.
Ive tried one last weekend and its true, very nice bike, so nice that i plan to trade my 890R in for it. But it would be nice to have a SMTR of some sorts. Brembo breaks the 121HP, a Duke R but on high legs.
I can't remember where I first read this but truer words were never spoken: "If you don't ride like an idiot and never intend to, KTM probably don't make a bike for you." I have a 2007 950SM (pre-SMT), which I've done over 120,000kms on, and it still makes me giggle like a schoolgirl. I'm also 71years old and should know better but then I think of what my grandfather used to say, "Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional."
I got the 701SM. Power Commander, rottweiler intake, arrow exhaust and Dyno tune to 72HP at the rear. This is the most fun bike I have ridden and I have ridden heaps of bikes in my time.
How's the clutch on these 890 bikes? I only just realised KTM got rid of the hydraulic set up they've used for ages, that's a bit disappointing, especially since they're cutting corners on the brakes too.
What a lovely guest presenter! I remember his video of riding a ZZR1100, a Blackbird and a Hayabusa very fast around continental Europe... Anyone else?
As a KTM supermoto owner, I don't see anything supermoto in this bike. For touring and offroad the 890 Adv makes more sense, center of gravity is much lower than the SMT. For road hooliganry the 890 Duke is the correct answer with this engine.
I have had a 2012 990 V SMT since I bought it new, and it is my all time favorite bike. I also have a 2020 790 Adv R and it is a great bike too, but I’m 71 now and off road is not an option any longer. I think you just found my unicorn bike.
The original ktm supermoto hooligan bike was arguably the Duke 640 twin port single. 625cc of utter madness in a bike made impossible to kick start which you’ll have to do as the battery’s so underrated. Lighter than the smt of the day and the best fun I ever had on 2 wheels.
I have the KTM 660 it's like the 640 but on steroids and it has no electric start, piece of cake to start although there is a method to it just push her past tdc and kick 😉
Had a 13 plate SMT which was such great fun to ride. Absolutely awesome. But... it leaked oil that the KTM dealership couldn't fix and as an ownership prospect i gave up on its fickle workings. Internally pledged not to buy another KTM... now wondering how far their quality has come on. Damn you KTM!
Awesome review of a cool bike, love your work Chad and 44 teeth..But personally id still rather have a Tracer 9 GT..similar price or cheaper (also you get to keep all the bits it comes with at no extra cost)..just as much fun, more practical and comfortable..new GT plus has some amazing new and useful tech..and probably (definitely) more reliable, Also looks better in the black and gold john player colours.(in my opinion)..
I had the original SMT. Was not reliable, didn't hold oil, bits regularly fell off and would start to weave disconcertingly at 85mph. Took it to a suspension specialist whom improved the weave, but I was not unhappy when I sold it. I know things with KTM have moved on. Do like the look of this.
Nice to see Chad, growing up interested in bikes he was a staple on MCN but was frustrated at the quality of their videos. KTM seems great, I really like the Duke but am way too big for it so would like to give it a blast.
This SuperMotoTouring Motorcycle is that's we've waiting for to see! and the rival Japanese with 3 cylinder goes top speed 250Km/h and the consumption is 49/Mpg(4.7L/100Km) but the KTM 890 SMT has 61-60/Mpg(3.86-3.92L/100Km) and they the same in 0-402m drag!
I do remember those early day SMT's in magazines etc, and it was my aspirational buy for when I grew up based on how cool they looked compared to everything else at the time. Ended up with the Adventure, so close.
I’ve got a 790R and I love it. Great all-rounder. Does it all. Great for trips away and TET etc. put some Road tyres on & it’s a great road bike too. But this… hmmm makes me think.
Yeah, great bike! But, is it possible to ride this in Sardenia in the summertime? With no welder suit? Somebody has to speak to KTM about the engine heat treating.
Everyone seems to be missing out the 950SM when reviewing the original idea from KTM. Ok, it’s missing the ‘T’ bit but it did kick it off in good style…
looks to be an amazing bike, but I just can't get my head around pay more to keep features at the first service. On my 7th new ktm with a GT. They are brilliant amazing bikes. Probably my last as the pay extra to unlock stuff already fitted, doesn't sit with me, sorry ktm.
If it's already fitted to the bike and it works...I think it's absolute BS that you have to pay more after 1500km. Subscription services my arse. Sorry, but that's a major turn off! Maybe someone has a torrent that you can download to activate it for good. Same as the BMW heated seat subscription service. That's just a blatant rip off. Makes me angry, but I do want one! I'd maybe say to the dealer/salesman...."I ain't buying this without the extras turned on free of charge"...
Yeah this is some of the worst crap that manufactures may start pulling on mass. Worst offender I've heard of so far is Zero motorcycles where it has heated grips fitted as standard but you need to pay to unlock.
Is it subscription based or one off payment? One of payment seems reasonable. It streamlines the manufacturing, shipping and ordering process and means dealers don’t need 2 or 3 versions of every single bike in every colour to keep people happy. I personally don’t mind it. It also means you can buy a base spec bike and not have to trade in or do any serious work to have the kit fitted later. Gotta look past the surface level and understand what the benefits are. In any case, if they didn’t fit it on your bike they still spent money developing it and testing it, and you better believe you paid for part of that in your base spec bike that doesn’t have it fitted 👍
@@Caseyjames91 one-off payment. The first 1500 km it's in "demo mode" as it is called. It's also possible to add the various features separately at a later time. So do 2 years without cruise control and then enable it.
Good review and bike looks good - Chad looked small on it ! WHY oh why do they price it with the QS and cruise etc as an ETC (Tech Pack ) cos we all want it !!
It's why I love my old ugly but fun Ducati MS 1000 DS, 17" wheels 916 single sided swing arm, Showa forks n shock fully adjustable and super smooth with longer travel, old school Air cooled 1000 L twin with newer injection, and a ride position that can be high up over the bars or push back and have room, super comfy easy bike to ride on and have fun on, plus no one wants to nick it 😂
450+ pounds for a supermoto, I don’t see why they didn’t just add some more options to the 690 enduro. Yeah it doesn’t have the power of the 890, but it has 100 less pounds, is narrower, and is just as fun. I don’t get it.
All the equipment is there, all the capabilities for those features are there, you've already paid for it (unless you believe that KTM will lose money on models where the extra £800 is not paid 😂😂) so this is just extra money for the same old rope.
I want to like it, but it seems like they took too many parts from the Adventure and not enough from the Duke. How can they call it a kind of Supermoto but not put the hotter engine in it?
When you see people like this ride, it makes me realise how rubbish I really am ! I would get off immediately and walk if I made the tyre make that noise 😂
Your the reason I bought my dream bike from when I was a little boy. I still have it, my ‘11 990SMT. Lovely bike, did 30k Miles on it in just 4 summers. Still love it!! But I am in doupt this will be as fun. Less agressive and pure. (But realy good for these days). Maby a good bike for my wife🤔 same but more easy to ride..
The annoying thing about this new model of showroom extras, is that all the equipment is already on the bike that you’ve paid for and is sitting in your garage, but if you don’t pay they just remotely ‘unsubscribe’you from it and switch it all off even though it’s still on your bike. I will never buy a vehicle from a company that uses this practice. If it’s installed on the bike then it’s mine, if any part of a bike can be remotely deactivated, then I’ll never buy one.
It is difficult to ride ANY KTM legally! Try the Super Duke? (Even the 390 Adventure I used to own was like, how fast can I get off each stop light by giving it full throttle and pulling a wheelin on a 390! THe question, is, THis? or 890 Adventure R? I'm liking this. (My first bike as a KTM supermoto, the original first gen duke 620. Loved that thing, and I got in so much trouble with that bike!. I was looking or a second bike to compliment my CB1000R, and I was looking at the Hypermoard 950, which is a pretty bike, but this bike... I love KTMs. Had the 890 DUke R and thats a similar engine. also owned Super DUke Rs and 390 Adventure, and loved every one of them.
TBH KTMs are really bad choices for touring...whether it's the tiny 390s or 1290s. You will be pinning that throttle wide open at all the time, so what's the whole point of "touring"..😄😄
I always thought you a bit of a numpty having to put your preferred name in brackets etc. How wrong was I , really good review and summary more of the same please