i appreciate the main premise of this series being, how is it to ride this bike every day, week after week. i ride every day. rain or shine. blazing hot or below freezing. so that perspective is very important to me. the people asking for all the other types of riding must not understand what this show is about. i guess it shouldn't surprise me... i know that people absolutely hate to read, and "daily rider" is always at the end of the title. so it makes sense they wouldn't get the point. there aren't many other channels that focus on it either, i don't think. they talk about road riding versus track riding, and they never really hit on the fact that road riding is an extraordinarily broad subject. so thanks Zack. keep up the good work.
I agree with this wholeheartedly! I wish Zack would mention headlights. A lot of us daily riders ride at night and headlight quality really varies across models/brands.
I've got a 2020 790 adventure, looks like the same headlight as the SMT. I ride all year round in all weather and a t night too. The headlight on my bike is crap and that's with auxiliary lighting too. Very bright to be seen, but not to see with.
it is still very very subjective. Zack is tall and has long legs, so naturally all these tall bikes are always at the top of the leaderboards. If someone small with short legs would do these tests, this list would be upside down in a lot of cases. Almost any chopper or sport bike would be a better bike for me in town, constantly tippy toeing at traffic lights and in stop and go traffic.
that throttle "gap" issue is a 5 minutes fix with a tiny plastic spacer you can get online for less than a dollar - a must do for every 890 duke/adv/smt owner
Throttle free play is for automatic idle. If you remove it you'll remove automatic idle from your vehicle and you start burning through spark plugs faster.
@@JMyers6T4 well i dont how how much more there is to elaborate. Ride by wire throttles all have free play, some more than others. It is there by design and if you want your vehicle to work to way it was designed you should leave it alone. They would add a 1$/€ plastic spacer from the factory if it wasnt designed as it is.
The tiny parts pre-installed are a small portion of the software development costs. And the KTM software development team is good,IMO top tier. . So how would you do it? Develop the software for free? Lose money as well an inferior product. Or charge another $750 for the software and increase the MSRP? And give no one an option to test it out to see if they like it before they buy…KTM has done nothing out of the ordinary but offer their proprietary tech for a free trial period…anyone who owns their own business understands and has zero issues with a company charging for a product at a profit. All this bull came from a couple bitch ass youtubers initially relating it to the pay for play BMW heated seat situation on the Electric cars. But at the end of the day, humans gonna human. ✌️
I agree, Triumph do the same, give it to us and include it in the price or atleast let us buy an upgrade, don`t give it to us and ask for more money to lock it up, seem`s like a scam.
Sold my 2022 S1000RR for an SMT. The SMT is more fun on the road by far and uses half the amount of fuel whilst being 10 times more comfortable. Also on the tight roads we have in Norway the SMT is faster due to the road conditions (they suck😂). I get over 200 miles / 300km range out of each tank with mixed riding. You should also adjust the suspension to the sport settings + add some rear preload. It transforms the bike. In race mode you can adjust the throttle mode and TC/wheelie control (tc/ wheelie on the fly). Honestly cant imagine a better road bike. Comfortable with insanely good handling and more than enough punch . Also my GF sits super comfortable on the back and there's a lot of luggage options :) The perfect do it all bike for me, even more so because I'm 105kgs with riding gear and 191cm tall.
But do u have to pay extra when u hit 5000km, I've heard that KTM has something called a demo mode and after that u have to pay extra for all the electronic stuff right
@@30nguyenhoangphuc5 you have to pay for it after 1600km or something, but I got it for free as I got a good deal. It costs the same as if you want that equipment on any other bike. You always have to pay for it as extra or it will be baked in to the price of a bike. The S1000RR had 5500$ in equipment on it compared to stock price, quickshifter, electronic dampers, race modes, exhaust and so on..(Norwegian price, would be less elsewhere). The KTM has equipment for 2000$ (exhaust, tech pack and heated grips).
@@inked-96 looks is subjective. It costs the same as the Norden, BMW 900XR and BMW 900GS and 850GS, Triumph speed triple, MT09 and so on. How is the SMT bad value? Because it has 105hp? No other bike is even close to delivering what the SMT does at that price. Maybe the BMW 900XR. However the SMT has far superior ON ROAD handling. Different League to the others on tight twisty Norwegian mountain roads with shit asphalt . So where i live, Norway, the SMT gets far better handling, higher level components all around, better dampers, better brakes and all the electric bells and whistles for the same or less than all of the bikes above, whilst arguably beating them in every category apart from reliability (still to be determined) and horse power (it wins in torque). It also feels way more premium than any Japanese bike, not even close. It also can carry two people comfortably for long journeys with luggage. I'll add that KTM service is excellent and only rivaled by Honda and BMW where i live. There's tons of aftermarket stuff available if you want to customize it. So I ask, how is it a bad value proposition?
Speaking of the road conditions, is it because of the weather or the quality of the pavement? I assume it's the former. I've been thinking about moving to Norway but I ride an RSV4 and I can see how different the climate is compared to the Czech Republic. 😄
I live about 4 hours from family...who live next to the tail of the dragon. That ride is starting to tear up my old body on a street triple rs. I've been eyeing this thing as the perfect fit....and in 3-5 years, once it's in my play money range and the previous owners have farkled it for me, I'm going to grab one!
I don't suppose you also live in Cincinnati with family near Knoxville. I make that ride on a Street Triple a couple times per summer. Thankfully the only parts of my body that gets killed by it are my eardrums and throttle hand. Just wish Triumph didn't charge an insulting amount for cruise control.
I put 100k on each of 3 yam tdm 850!!....and 27 track days! They were a blast....quick...dominant on the brakes...capable of extremely quick pace on mountain roads...with relaxed attitude! This is an up muscle ..up price version of my beloved yam TDMs...
As an owner, you did a great job explaining this bike. It's good to great at everything. A few of my observations for those looking at this: The throttle response on sport setting is wicked! Buffeting from windscreen impacts noise inside helmet more than anything else. You'll need earplugs above 65 mph. J. Juan brakes are actually good (I'm a full brembo setup snob). 5'9, 30" inseam and height is not a problem. Handlebar position feels a little off- still trying to figure this out. TFT is very clear and menu easy to understand. Very agile. Motor is pretty strong- great torque throughout gears but hit redline quick in 1, 2, 3 and it just seems to be out of breath after 8000 rpm (note i have a panigale v4 so that clouds my judgement). Aftermarket pretty poor right now but with this sharing much of the 890 adventure platform parts may be interchangeable. I contacted Rottweiler and they may be doing some R&D to help with performance parts.
19:55 Im lucky enough to own the Yamaha CP3 triple in a Tracer 900 GT and also a 890 Duke R.. I ride both bikes for their own merit. The CP3 is great for smooth riding but has no bottom end in comparison to the 890. The 890 engine, in my opinion is better all around. Its hilarious fun. My buggest gripe with the SMT and the reason i haven't sold both my bikes for one is the engine choice. Why would they use the Adventure engine 😢 and also the panniers look awfull and like an after thought. Im holding out for an SMTR which hopefully comes with the new 990 engine.
So I watched this and found this bike intriguing. I’m a Harley guy (I own 3 older HD’s) but I’d like to consider myself open minded and I really love anything with 2 wheels. I had a chance to take one of these KTM 890 SMT for a test ride…..WOW!! I’ve ridden many Harley demo bikes including the Pan Am several times and with 35 yrs of riding under my belt I always felt comfortable even while testing its wide open performance. But this KTM is next level!! It left me feeling like my skills are way behind this bikes ability and I feel without the computer helping me keep this bike under control I would not have enjoyed the ride as well as I did. What an awesome bike this KTM is!! I got back on my 2013 Street glide and felt I got back on a Vespa. lol! I love your videos. Very inspiring and makes me get out and see 2 wheel life outside of Harley Davidson. Nice job KTM!!!!
Really, really awesome bike. Practical and comfy enough but a hooligan at heart. I don't know how come this is not a niche more manufacturers are willing to explore. I hope the bike does well in terms of numbers.
Having to pay for enabling features that are already installed on the machine would guarantee that I would walk away from it and ensure that I never looked at their machines again. Sharp practice.
@@CurtisBrandt Any machine I can own outright rather than hire. I refuse to subscribe to manufacturers who refuse to grant their customers the right of ownership.
Great video as usual. KTM does make fun bikes. I had a 1090 Adventure R for a while that I often find myself wishing I’d kept. It was a brilliant bike, really well thought out, rode great, made good power, had great brakes and excellent suspension, and even got shockingly good gas mileage (frequently over 50mpg). Its biggest drawback was that it was so tall that even I, at 6’4”, could not flat foot it. But it was a terrific touring bike, and really fun for long day rides too. And a fantastic dirt road bike. I had every intention of keeping it long term, but then I rode a friend’s Tiger 900 Rally Pro, which had just come out, and I liked that even better. The explanation of KTM combining German practicality and Italian personality is spot on.
Yeah this bike seems like it’s a little taller than it needs to be, too. I can’t see an inch less suspension travel really taking away a lot of performance.
I love this bike, but I’m gonna wait for the 990 version which has already been photographed with the new duke 990 motor. Also, an R model with brembos would be nice.
17:30 Nice ‘50s Pickup there. Feel free to point out the SoCal automotive scenery ha. But guys if you have REVER you can see some of the mountain/canyon tracks Zack rides for testing.
Been waiting for this review. Want. Want. Want. 890 ADV-R owner here. I'm slowly coming to the-and I can't say I wasn't warned here-conclusion that this 890 is just too bloody big for me to ride in any real "off road". I had a DL650 that I rode the wheels off and kept throwing Pilot Roads (a premium sport touring tire) at over and over again. Somehow I lost sight of that and have spent a fortune outfitting the 890 to wear knobbies and do real dual-sport/off-road stuff. .. Which is dumb. On a whim I threw the most aggressive sport leaning tires I could find at it and took it on a tour to WV with friends on sport-touring bikes last year. Yes. Yes. Yes. This is arguably what most of us should be riding. I'm now trying to fit a set of 19/17 wheels off a 1290 to give access to even more road oriented rubber. KTM should sell the plain 890 ADV with 19/17 wheels. With that and this SMT they'd have a very nice slice of the middleweight market.
I considered the 19/17 combo too as a 2nd wheelset. Should fit. I just wonder whether abs etc will get messed up due to different diameter/wheelspeeds…
Got time for an old timers story. My first modern bike, a KZ750E, has amazing brakes. The way you got max braking was to keep the front tire skidding and chirping just a bit. Which is actually a tire story.
Cool bike! Ive got 21,000 miles on my 890R ADV, totally trouble free all the way. Not even a chain adj yet. Doesnt need valve adj. Great bike. With the addition of a 21 690 Enduro, the 890 is used even more on the street. For me its a really nice street bike. Wheelies are indeed a thing, I keep it anti wheelie mode a lot, it can get expensive. Better windscreen, smooth-ish tires, these are fun bikes! (690 is a BLAST on dirt!)
A well deserved Top place. Just wish they'd put the 890 duke r engine in there. Perhaps the new 990 block will make it there soon. Looking to upgrade my 990smt.
Firstly, love Daily Rider, secondly, love Zack Courts (and Ari), thirdly, love seeing Zack reviewing KTMs again. Curious to know what the little yellow message is that pops up in the middle of the dash at around 21:20 when you're changing gear?
Zack, next year can you leave the top bike or two from the previous year on the new board so we can see how this year's bikes stack up? I knew early on in this vid the KTM would take the top spot, but it would be great to see your thoughts against last year's top bikes too.
Regarding the "Unlocking already installed features" discussion, I think it really depends on the feature in question. Quickshifter, Riding Modes, Cruise Control all are mostly software driven regarding cost and installation effort. The hardware is either already on the bike anyway like the (ECU and wheel speed sensors for cruise control) or comparatively cheap (like the strain gauge for QS). So I see no problem there. Heated seating or site airbags (in cars) however are mostly hardware driven, with the software being either trivial or already installed (in case os airbags). In those cases the discussed payment model really does not make sense to me. If for the manufacturer in those cases the individualisation cost caused in the supply chain is larger than software and hardware cost, they should just include it in the base price. IMO
I bought this bike last summer, its such a fun bike! Regarding the tech pack, most dealers you can bargain to add the tech pack at no additional cost. 🤓
The reason ktm uses a 285deg cranck is because its better balanced than the 270deg counterpart. Theres a great video about it on youtube by I believe fortnine. Edit: nvm, took a little deeper dive into the whole firing interval thing and I was wrong! The difference between 270deg and 285deg intervals are minimal BUT 270deg cranck is actually just a bit better balanced. There is a LOT to it afterall.
I don't have a problem with tech pack sold separately. I like that you can try some features and then choose whether to keep them or not. I like that you can enable them programmatically and don't waste time waiting for parts and installing them. I think I get why people are upset with this choice, they might be thinking since parts are already installed you overpay for them even if you don't use them. But I don't feel the same way.
Love KTM both dirt and street. Great 2 strokes. So much suspension and engine tech. So many engines to choose from. I am on my second Super Duke 1290r, torque and horsepower all below 9500 rpm perfect for street. No issues with either bike after thousands of miles. Just required checkups and oil changes. The 890’s your more on top of the bike vs in the bike with the SD.
Thanks, I'm looking for new bike and SMT was a bit of wild card that is for now at the top. I already had 1 hour test ride on it and I agree with Zack's review. As someone who is 5'10" (177cm) I was little worried about high but I was able to tip toe it and it didn't feel bad or heavy. The throttle thing was weird at first and I feel like it improved with the sport mode. Vibey handlebars I didn't really noticed, but my previous bike was Vstrom so I'm might be more used to it. My 2c to the demo thing - I think it would be better if the price for it went down to like 20---50$ per feature. It is already on bike so paying hundreds feels wrong.
I really like what you are doing. This is the best motorcycle review on UA-cam for me. I stay around the city and I commute everyday. No more trips, no time and desire as well. That's why it's a great review. By the way I had so many bikes but my best bike was my 2006 KTM SM....love my GS right now but very different.Thanks Zack and keep up the good work.
If it follows the trend of BMW's automobiles it will be. Just another reason to hate the pricing model....They get you for "activation" then it becomes like Photoshop and is software as a service. Don't do it and maybe they will stop.
In terms of seat height I am 183cm height, and have exactly opposite problem: on most bikes relation seat height to foot pegs causes very bent knees, which is uncomfortable for long ride. I don't like cruiser or adventure bikes, because they are monstrously big. And bikes like KTM SMT might be something I could consider:). And generally thanks for the very cool series, "daily rider" is really awesome and helpful!
Triumph should make a similar bike with the Street Triple engine. They could call it a Tiger Sport 765 and it would be faster and better looking than the KTM.
@@Chambers36TheEnter I actually have a TS660 and I like it a lot it's really a great all rounder. It's more of a Tracer 7/Versys 650 competitor though. That's how I know that Triumph could make something similar with the 765 and higher end parts and it would be a phenomenal machine. I suspect they are going to release some sort of Tiger 660 "rally" version first though.
I'm not personally excited about a single bike this season so far. I usually feel a bit more in touch with the bikes and I haven't gotten that feeling yet.
I think the people talking about you taking the bikes in the twisties are interested in seeing videos of it; not that they were asking if you take the bikes or not. Strongly in favor of videos of you riding the twisties.
It is fun to watch these daily riders and realize that a bike is going at the top of the board before Zack puts it up there! I liked the Transalp episode for the same reason.
Something worth discussing maybe - I could immediately see you were comfortable on the SMT right off the bat. I don't know if that's because you had more seat time with it before filming the vid, but it was readily apparent you were already at the honeymoon phase at the start of your ride :) Being comfortable on a new bike right away is a huge factor for me whether I like the bike or not.
KTM has been using J Juan brakes on the 790/890 bikes since that platform launched in 2018 and they might have been using J Juan even before that...nothing new or related to CFMoto
Hey new rider here, just curious how the slide done around 16:40 works? I assume its braking with the front to transfer mass on the front wheel while also downshifting ? Or is it rear brake with no abs ?
Yeah I like these, had a loaner while my Adv R was in for service, and had two days and had great time on the SMT. Great bike for fun urban commute and enjoy in the mountains while on tour..
I used to be irked by these "pay me more" software options. In computing software world though, this is super common, and it really just reflects the reality that so many of today's products are 'software defined' and the vendor needs to make money on software, not just hardware.
@@asraf9 Sure, you can steal these features. Like with any theft, you could just steal a motorcycle off of a lot or someone's driveway. I'm not sure your point.
@@jw6825 what is so hard to understand? Im just saying in any software there are people who will hack it. Im not asking you to do it and if somebody does it im not here to judge them. Some will feel that they’ve bought and own the bike and its criminal for motorcycle companies to charge them for what is already built in the bike. Some, like yourself will feel like a thief. To each their own.
The 990 SMT still reigns supreme. More power, proven reliability, and forged wheels. For $13K you're knocking on the door of lightly used 1290SDGT territory.
The 990 SMT has more power but also more weight so performance is about equal. The 990 also has more character but it's a lot less civilized - the lowdown fueling is awful. I own and really like the 890. If you really want more power there is a 1390 SMT coming.
@@glennpuckeridge6244 Crazy thing is they weigh almost exactly the same, by some accounts the 890 is slightly heavier with gas in it.... and that's before you take 20+ pounds off the 990 by losing the heavy af stock dual exhaust and heat shields. Between easy weight savings and easy tuning gains ( corked up airbox, lean tuning and the ECU is fully unlocked :D) the 990 is gonna slap this thing. Spot on about the fueling though. Thankfully you can replace the map with your phone lol.
I'm a 990 SMT owner. I've been considering buying this bike, but in no way would I ever sell my 990. It is the king of the road. Light, powerful, simple, top components.
My thoughts on the KTM Demo Mode stuff: The mistake KTM made was giving the motorcycle consumer market a choice. Just charge full price for the bike with everything unlocked. The reality is, maintaining two different supply chains and inventory and distribution streams for different specs cost more money than it's worth. I dealt with this at my old job. We made more money by killing off our low-cost option and losing those sales than compromising the efficiency of our business by maintaining the lower-spec option. I'm sure this is the same for the COGS delta between a bike with the bi-directional quickshifter hardware versus a "base" bike without that hardware. In fact, the operating efficiencies by having one spec might be greater per-bike than the COGS of just putting the stupid sensor on the shift linkage. So having a low-spec doesn't make sense. The mistake was offering a choice about the software. But that's complicated to explain and requires a patience and nuance to understand. And we, the motorcycle enthusiast market, are irrational. We are, let's face it. We have to be to spend thousands or tens of thousands of dollars on something inherently impractical and dangerous. KTM shouldn't have bothered. Their bikes are already expensive. Just lean into it, and KTM riders will pay for it anyway. They're irrational.
Hey there! Can u guys please help me im out of solutions.. I'm a guy who help people to drive safe in my cotents; i really need to know whats Zack's motovlogging setup. Which camera more importantly which mic with which settings he is using? His sound coming amazing thgourh that setup please help me or guide me to some links please 😔
Reviewing on separate years, do you like this for commuting (no offloading) better than the Transalpine (if money doesn't matter)? Worried 'bout the KTM reliability since Honda's are usually solid.
Zach, great review but I'm left with a question. Why was the Spurgeon spec. KTM Adventure 890 Rally placed so low on the leaderboard, but this gets highest position 2024 leaderboard? (Below BMW 1300 GS) Is it mainly how tall the Spurgeon spec. is compared to the SMT and the other Spurgeon mods or is it something else?
Love the KTM middleweight bikes. Very happy owner of a 890 adv (not r). If I was in the market, I’d be looking hard at the SMT. If I could just afford one of each… SMT ADV and Duke.
Great review as usual Zack. Very interested in this bike but I worry about the parallel twin being dull as a replacement to my gsxs 1000. Is it" fast" on the highway, or just competent?
It is tall but i don't think that should put anyone off, I'm 5'5 and I sat on the SMT and the 890 Adventure in the showroom and found the SMT fully manageable and easy to pick up and move forward and back ect. Granted thats showroom but the adventure i did not like one bit due to height. I will be test riding the SMT when it stops raining (England) and will consider getting one as it fit so nice and felt so good. For reference I ride a 2015 S1000RR as my daily.. I am also interested in the the new 990 but am waiting to see what the R is like. I did not like the 890 GP but the engine was nice. Needs a full system and a map
instead of, would you trade this bike for yours, i think a better question would be; if you owned both bikes and they're both sitting in the garage staring at you... would you ever ride your old bike? (disregarding maintenance riding, or as my grandad would say, riding it just to keep it "limbered up".) personally, i LOVE my sv650. but when i got a new bike, the only time i ever ride it is just once every few weeks to keep the juices flowing. doesn't mean i love it less, and i would never trade it in because it's just too damn rock solid of a bike. but would i rather ride my z900 or my tuono 660 or my street triple? one hundred percent yes.
Alright Interwebs...I need your help! I'm looking for a bike to travel on and this one is peeking my interest. I'm 5'7" tall and want something I can do state to state trips on. How would this bike do if I loaded up some luggage and tried to drive 300-400 miles a day for a few weeks? What other suggestions, Afirca Twin and such, at the $15k or less price range should I be looking at?
I would hope that honest bike reviewers would bring up the fact that these 790 and 890 KTM engines are prematurely eating their camshafts. KTM has not addressed this.
I did a valve job on my 2021 890 Adv R @ 17,400 miles and noticed one of my intake valves was zero gap. The others were 0.05-0.07mm out and the lobes looked fine. The zero gap valve lobe looked a little worn compared to the others, but in my opinion it didn't look too bad. I buttoned it up and put it back together. It's been running fine for another 800 miles now. I'm curious what you think of this. I'm not an expert on cam lob damage, but I'm wondering how long I have before I'll need to replace that cam. I've also been wondering since I valve job if I should have just replaced the cam instead of sticking with the worn one.
Love the spiced up spaghetti or toned down enchilada question. I also love this bike! The software question is tricky. Software is expensive to develop, so I understand wanting to charge for it, but it still feels bad that the software is already on the bike and they just charge you more to activate it the features.
Same as apps on your devices. They are there but you pay to get the content. Same principle, yes the mechanical quick shifter is there I know, just like the chip and processors are already installed on smart tv’s appleTv, firestick etc. Somebody has to pay for RD on all this tech.
When paid for the tech pack for my KTM, got an invoice from a different legal entity, not the dealer. I would not be surprised tech packs are developed and sold by a subsidiary in Ireland or similar place, then giving some extra cash to company…
Paying to use installed equipment is my biggest gripe with KTM. This one is nice but way too expensive and that add on front fender is strange looking to my eye.
@@thomasneedham1512 I just added to the total price and never looked back. What definitely does for me is not to want to renew the bike more often, I would like KTM to make the license transferable to a new bike.
I really need more motorcycles like this... but not as tall, on the market. I got short stubby little legs but I want comfort for touring AND sporty in my ride.
I've had mine since July last year love the bike. I also had a problem with the handlebar vibes. Until i fitted the ktm Powerpart PHDS bar mounts which Completely transformed the bike. Love it more every time I ride it. I've been waiting so long to find out what you thought of it. I'm in the UK the mounts are £180.00 GBP so I'm guessing 200 bux over there
When guys start setting up T7’s in supermoto trim that’s gonna be a good fit. Me and a couple buddies have them, pretty well sorted out. Way cheaper and they rip.
I think the biggest con of KTMs in general is their reliability (and I write that as an Austrian, who lives a few hundred kms away from the factory, where they are built). I know a lot of people who ride KTMs here but not a single one had a trouble free bike. They all are super happy, when it lasts ~ 6000 miles without an issue (what is super rare). I'm sure these bikes are great fun but you can't expect a reliable motorcycle.
Tbh at this point it’s been so bad for so long I think it almost doesn’t matter anymore - if you care about reliability just don’t buy a KTM. If you only plan to keep it for the warranty period and it’s not a commuter you need to not be in the shop that’s really their bread and butter I think. Charging you extra to use the hardware and software you already paid for is some premium bullshit though, but they do it because fanboys will pay.
I think reliability ( peace of mind ) and high power to weight ratio ( high compression engine , smiles per miles ) are inversely proportional in general . 😅😅😅
@@___SSS___Yeaaaah no… Any of the big 4 will prove you wrong. I have seen so many 600s from the big 4 running for 25k miles by terrible owners and they still dont give up. KTM is just bad at reliability.
@@Carlisho And 25k miles is nothing. With proper maintenance, the Japanese bikes will do as many miles as their nation's cars....100's of thousands of miles. My MT-09 has 31,000 trouble free miles. Reliability is something I never even think of.
@@04m6gto Nice bike man, I have a Z900. Im planning to upgrade to something more touring oriented because I moved places and now my commute includes a bit of highway and the 80mph winds are getting a little annoying ngl. A Suzuki GSX-S 1000 GT+ got traded in my dealership and the fucker is a 2024 with only 300 miles and the guy got 9.5k for it, to me as an employee will only cost me 10k to buy it, I am *this* close to pulling the trigger on it. You dont get a chance like this twice.
Having also owned a 950SM, 990SMT, an 1190 Adv, and a 1290 SDR I would be interested in Zack’s take on how this compares to his 950SM as per handling, performance, etc. Even after 35 or more motorcycles in 20 some years of street riding the 950SM is still my favorite. Handles like a dream. The 990SMT was a great bike but felt a little too locked in and somewhat more top heady than the 950. Plus, the 990’s fuel injection was more efficient than the, gasp, about 27 mpg I got on the 950, but it wasn’t nearly as smooth nor accurate on the throttle. The 1190 was just too much bike. The 1290 SDR was phenomenal but not nearly as comfortable as the 950. Just saying.
My previous bike was a 990 and the option for a quickshift is a aftermarket. Just like with my current 1290 (gen1) and the quickshifter i want cost 800 euro it is a quickshift with blipper. I just took a look at a local ktm dealer and if i buy a gen 2 or 3 and i want a quickshifter it is 400 euro, and it is the most official one you can get. Just like a tech pack if i would go for newer duke i wouldn't need a tech pack itself. So why should i pay for it. So in a older bike upgrade point of view i like this option to get a factory option on the roll. As a newer bike buyer i get the part it is there but it isn't.
This would potentially be my new bike. I got a 890 Duke, but I want a more touring oriënted bike with still plenty of power and good handling. Personally I like the looks. Different than the standard front ends.
The fact the quick shifter is installed but i need spend extra money for a package to have it activated is BS - I am guessing the future of motorcycle tuning (as performance tuning is starting to be squashed by the epa) will be getting into the computer and enabling all the previously installed but disabled bells and whistles like said quick shifter
Glad to see you mentioned the free play in the throttle. I dislike that and is one of the things I look out for when looking at a bike, and it seems all KTMs have that slop in the throttle action. 👎 Other than that it seems like a nice bike. Pity the tank is so small or else it would be more worthy of the “T” in the model name. Begs the question … is there enough daylight between it and the 890 Adventure Sport for road-biased touring?
Enjoy your leaky clutch/crankcase/front suspension or whatever else they still haven;t fixed despite the years this platform already has.And the parts ordering time and availability.
Great episode. I just feel like KTM made some odd choices with this thing. I really think it should have come with the Duke's engine state of tune to further differentiate it from the 890S.
I have a 2013 SMT,, love it. Way more analog than digital though cruise control and quick shifter would be good. I'm sure I'd like the 890 but the 990 v twin has a certain classic KTM character. Fun fact, when I bought it a comparison in Motorcyclist magazine between the the SMT and a Ducati Hypermotard was there. Zach and editor Marc Cook did the comparison. The Marc did a long term test of the KTM and bought it. Probably still has it. I'm not selling mine. I kind of thought of it as the last motorcycle I'd buy because after almost 50 years of riding an at least 50 bikes it really fit my needs and desires. A classic to me. I'm almost 74 now and we're both going strong.
Zach, will you ever be covering the Super Tenere? I have been considering that bike for a daily ryder. I am 602 and 245 lbs. Your reviews are the best on line, seriously!
If you are seriously considering an S10 after reading all the reviews about it being heavy, tall and underpowered and that doesn’t scare you, buy it. They’ve fantastic, cheap and bulletproof. 2x owner here. I’d look for 2014 or up for cruise control.
Read more about the 890 SMT on Common Tread: rvz.la/4avsTMJ
Check out all of the newest motorcycle gear available: rvz.la/49yfAJZ
Did I hear that right.KTM gave you thst bike to review? Does that mean the KTM embargo on RevZilla is officially over?
Get the 890 duke r on there!
What make and model are those gloves ?
How i the cooling at high rpm and in general
Will you do a review of the "Hero 125" retro scrambler.
Love the "Hi Zack" sign!! 😆
It is creepy though
i appreciate the main premise of this series being, how is it to ride this bike every day, week after week.
i ride every day. rain or shine. blazing hot or below freezing. so that perspective is very important to me.
the people asking for all the other types of riding must not understand what this show is about. i guess it shouldn't surprise me... i know that people absolutely hate to read, and "daily rider" is always at the end of the title. so it makes sense they wouldn't get the point.
there aren't many other channels that focus on it either, i don't think. they talk about road riding versus track riding, and they never really hit on the fact that road riding is an extraordinarily broad subject. so thanks Zack. keep up the good work.
I agree with this wholeheartedly! I wish Zack would mention headlights. A lot of us daily riders ride at night and headlight quality really varies across models/brands.
I've got a 2020 790 adventure, looks like the same headlight as the SMT.
I ride all year round in all weather and a t night too.
The headlight on my bike is crap and that's with auxiliary lighting too. Very bright to be seen, but not to see with.
it is still very very subjective. Zack is tall and has long legs, so naturally all these tall bikes are always at the top of the leaderboards. If someone small with short legs would do these tests, this list would be upside down in a lot of cases. Almost any chopper or sport bike would be a better bike for me in town, constantly tippy toeing at traffic lights and in stop and go traffic.
Zac: "I feel like im being watched"... Me: "You are Zac, thats why i subscribed"... lol
Yes, that’s is interesting that UA-camr that recording himself is feeling strange about being watched.🤪
@@fchanMSI ...consent
@@Mr0901 true, however, technically Zach is on a public roads & on that dirt part it is actually the railroad right of way
that throttle "gap" issue is a 5 minutes fix with a tiny plastic spacer you can get online for less than a dollar - a must do for every 890 duke/adv/smt owner
@lezarathustra who makes those?
Ducatispacers have a good reputation
Throttle free play is for automatic idle. If you remove it you'll remove automatic idle from your vehicle and you start burning through spark plugs faster.
@@getty6974 can you elaborate on this please
@@JMyers6T4 well i dont how how much more there is to elaborate. Ride by wire throttles all have free play, some more than others. It is there by design and if you want your vehicle to work to way it was designed you should leave it alone. They would add a 1$/€ plastic spacer from the factory if it wasnt designed as it is.
The fact that the bike already comes with the quickshifter but you'd have to pay to unlock it just seems wild to me..
The tiny parts pre-installed are a small portion of the software development costs. And the KTM software development team is good,IMO top tier. . So how would you do it?
Develop the software for free? Lose money as well an inferior product. Or charge another $750 for the software and increase the MSRP? And give no one an option to test it out to see if they like it before they buy…KTM has done nothing out of the ordinary but offer their proprietary tech for a free trial period…anyone who owns their own business understands and has zero issues with a company charging for a product at a profit. All this bull came from a couple bitch ass youtubers initially relating it to the pay for play BMW heated seat situation on the Electric cars. But at the end of the day, humans gonna human. ✌️
I agree, Triumph do the same, give it to us and include it in the price or atleast let us buy an upgrade, don`t give it to us and ask for more money to lock it up, seem`s like a scam.
I think I'd rather not pay for it and not carry the little extra weight.
Need a jailbreak flash to unlock for free
Little extra weight 😂😂 yeah you'll definitely feel those 10 grams 🙄@@magellanicspaceclouds
Sold my 2022 S1000RR for an SMT. The SMT is more fun on the road by far and uses half the amount of fuel whilst being 10 times more comfortable. Also on the tight roads we have in Norway the SMT is faster due to the road conditions (they suck😂). I get over 200 miles / 300km range out of each tank with mixed riding.
You should also adjust the suspension to the sport settings + add some rear preload. It transforms the bike. In race mode you can adjust the throttle mode and TC/wheelie control (tc/ wheelie on the fly).
Honestly cant imagine a better road bike. Comfortable with insanely good handling and more than enough punch . Also my GF sits super comfortable on the back and there's a lot of luggage options :) The perfect do it all bike for me, even more so because I'm 105kgs with riding gear and 191cm tall.
But do u have to pay extra when u hit 5000km, I've heard that KTM has something called a demo mode and after that u have to pay extra for all the electronic stuff right
@@30nguyenhoangphuc5 you have to pay for it after 1600km or something, but I got it for free as I got a good deal. It costs the same as if you want that equipment on any other bike. You always have to pay for it as extra or it will be baked in to the price of a bike. The S1000RR had 5500$ in equipment on it compared to stock price, quickshifter, electronic dampers, race modes, exhaust and so on..(Norwegian price, would be less elsewhere). The KTM has equipment for 2000$ (exhaust, tech pack and heated grips).
It's also butt ugly, questionable reliability, shit aftercare, and is overpriced for what it is.
@@inked-96 looks is subjective. It costs the same as the Norden, BMW 900XR and BMW 900GS and 850GS, Triumph speed triple, MT09 and so on.
How is the SMT bad value? Because it has 105hp?
No other bike is even close to delivering what the SMT does at that price. Maybe the BMW 900XR. However the SMT has far superior ON ROAD handling. Different League to the others on tight twisty Norwegian mountain roads with shit asphalt .
So where i live, Norway, the SMT gets far better handling, higher level components all around, better dampers, better brakes and all the electric bells and whistles for the same or less than all of the bikes above, whilst arguably beating them in every category apart from reliability (still to be determined) and horse power (it wins in torque).
It also feels way more premium than any Japanese bike, not even close.
It also can carry two people comfortably for long journeys with luggage.
I'll add that KTM service is excellent and only rivaled by Honda and BMW where i live.
There's tons of aftermarket stuff available if you want to customize it.
So I ask, how is it a bad value proposition?
Speaking of the road conditions, is it because of the weather or the quality of the pavement? I assume it's the former. I've been thinking about moving to Norway but I ride an RSV4 and I can see how different the climate is compared to the Czech Republic. 😄
I live about 4 hours from family...who live next to the tail of the dragon. That ride is starting to tear up my old body on a street triple rs. I've been eyeing this thing as the perfect fit....and in 3-5 years, once it's in my play money range and the previous owners have farkled it for me, I'm going to grab one!
10 years ago KTM was making the 990 SMT which is briliant. Check it out as it might be worth to get it now that the new smt is out
Buying a used KT M is like buying a used BMW if you can afford the maintenance, you can also just afford to buy a new one.
Sounds like a great bike for your location!
I don't suppose you also live in Cincinnati with family near Knoxville. I make that ride on a Street Triple a couple times per summer. Thankfully the only parts of my body that gets killed by it are my eardrums and throttle hand. Just wish Triumph didn't charge an insulting amount for cruise control.
Oh man, it's gonna be a good one. Zach is color matching the bike.
I was just getting ready to say the same.😂
26:37 Hei it's me Gerconk ahaha I've got chosen again! Once again thanks Zack, cheers from Indonesia 🍻
I put 100k on each of 3 yam tdm 850!!....and 27 track days! They were a blast....quick...dominant on the brakes...capable of extremely quick pace on mountain roads...with relaxed attitude!
This is an up muscle ..up price version of my beloved yam TDMs...
And totally unreliable, trust me
What is "yam tdm 850" ?
Which bike are you referring to?
@@umakantgajjewar8898 Yamaha TDM 850....'92-'93 in the US and much longer run in the E.U......
As an owner, you did a great job explaining this bike. It's good to great at everything. A few of my observations for those looking at this: The throttle response on sport setting is wicked! Buffeting from windscreen impacts noise inside helmet more than anything else. You'll need earplugs above 65 mph. J. Juan brakes are actually good (I'm a full brembo setup snob). 5'9, 30" inseam and height is not a problem. Handlebar position feels a little off- still trying to figure this out. TFT is very clear and menu easy to understand. Very agile. Motor is pretty strong- great torque throughout gears but hit redline quick in 1, 2, 3 and it just seems to be out of breath after 8000 rpm (note i have a panigale v4 so that clouds my judgement). Aftermarket pretty poor right now but with this sharing much of the 890 adventure platform parts may be interchangeable. I contacted Rottweiler and they may be doing some R&D to help with performance parts.
68 years old, bought my first dirt bike. Honda CRF 250 F. will be buying all my gear RevZilla ( the crash stuff ). GREAT VIDEO"S all of them !!!!
19:55 Im lucky enough to own the Yamaha CP3 triple in a Tracer 900 GT and also a 890 Duke R.. I ride both bikes for their own merit. The CP3 is great for smooth riding but has no bottom end in comparison to the 890. The 890 engine, in my opinion is better all around. Its hilarious fun. My buggest gripe with the SMT and the reason i haven't sold both my bikes for one is the engine choice. Why would they use the Adventure engine 😢 and also the panniers look awfull and like an after thought. Im holding out for an SMTR which hopefully comes with the new 990 engine.
Living on the west coast. I'm glad I'm not the only one who misses Vermont. at least I have a nice ride for all seasons. big thumbs up Zack!🤠👍
Yeah, winter back here in the 802 has finally quit, now the rain has taken over, my bikes are sad.
So I watched this and found this bike intriguing. I’m a Harley guy (I own 3 older HD’s) but I’d like to consider myself open minded and I really love anything with 2 wheels. I had a chance to take one of these KTM 890 SMT for a test ride…..WOW!! I’ve ridden many Harley demo bikes including the Pan Am several times and with 35 yrs of riding under my belt I always felt comfortable even while testing its wide open performance. But this KTM is next level!! It left me feeling like my skills are way behind this bikes ability and I feel without the computer helping me keep this bike under control I would not have enjoyed the ride as well as I did. What an awesome bike this KTM is!! I got back on my 2013 Street glide and felt I got back on a Vespa. lol! I love your videos. Very inspiring and makes me get out and see 2 wheel life outside of Harley Davidson. Nice job KTM!!!!
Just bought one today right before the rebates expire tomorrow. Also, dealer tossed in the Tech Pack at the sale price, sweeet. 😊
Really, really awesome bike. Practical and comfy enough but a hooligan at heart. I don't know how come this is not a niche more manufacturers are willing to explore. I hope the bike does well in terms of numbers.
Having to pay for enabling features that are already installed on the machine would guarantee that I would walk away from it and ensure that I never looked at their machines again. Sharp practice.
Agreed. It’s like the opposite of marketing.
A 990 smt can be had gor a song
@@norompaslasguindas ?
I understand where you are coming from, though it doesn’t bother me as much. Would you mind sharing with us the bike you’d prefer?
@@CurtisBrandt Any machine I can own outright rather than hire. I refuse to subscribe to manufacturers who refuse to grant their customers the right of ownership.
Article is awesome, glad there is also a written platform with tons of specs.
Great video as usual. KTM does make fun bikes. I had a 1090 Adventure R for a while that I often find myself wishing I’d kept. It was a brilliant bike, really well thought out, rode great, made good power, had great brakes and excellent suspension, and even got shockingly good gas mileage (frequently over 50mpg). Its biggest drawback was that it was so tall that even I, at 6’4”, could not flat foot it. But it was a terrific touring bike, and really fun for long day rides too. And a fantastic dirt road bike. I had every intention of keeping it long term, but then I rode a friend’s Tiger 900 Rally Pro, which had just come out, and I liked that even better.
The explanation of KTM combining German practicality and Italian personality is spot on.
Yeah this bike seems like it’s a little taller than it needs to be, too. I can’t see an inch less suspension travel really taking away a lot of performance.
I love this bike, but I’m gonna wait for the 990 version which has already been photographed with the new duke 990 motor. Also, an R model with brembos would be nice.
Thank you for the real world test of this bike!! So great to get everyday perspective vs the OMG, THIS NEW BIKE IS AWESOME launch videos.
Please review the ZH2!
17:30 Nice ‘50s Pickup there. Feel free to point out the SoCal automotive scenery ha.
But guys if you have REVER you can see some of the mountain/canyon tracks Zack rides for testing.
Been waiting for this review. Want. Want. Want.
890 ADV-R owner here. I'm slowly coming to the-and I can't say I wasn't warned here-conclusion that this 890 is just too bloody big for me to ride in any real "off road". I had a DL650 that I rode the wheels off and kept throwing Pilot Roads (a premium sport touring tire) at over and over again. Somehow I lost sight of that and have spent a fortune outfitting the 890 to wear knobbies and do real dual-sport/off-road stuff. .. Which is dumb. On a whim I threw the most aggressive sport leaning tires I could find at it and took it on a tour to WV with friends on sport-touring bikes last year. Yes. Yes. Yes. This is arguably what most of us should be riding. I'm now trying to fit a set of 19/17 wheels off a 1290 to give access to even more road oriented rubber.
KTM should sell the plain 890 ADV with 19/17 wheels. With that and this SMT they'd have a very nice slice of the middleweight market.
Meh, we get into some pretty rough off road with our 890s. They're a hoot, and crazy capable. Yeah it's heavy but still very very capable.
I considered the 19/17 combo too as a 2nd wheelset. Should fit. I just wonder whether abs etc will get messed up due to different diameter/wheelspeeds…
@@timsalabimbombassa it won't. A buddy of mine has a 19/17 wheelset on his 890R with some sporty tires and it's a blast.
Love how your facial expression on the thumbnail matches your opinion of the tested bike.
You don't really need it. KTM/BMW/Ducati = instant praise without any consideration for the price because testers don't pay to ride and are biased
Got time for an old timers story. My first modern bike, a KZ750E, has amazing brakes. The way you got max braking was to keep the front tire skidding and chirping just a bit. Which is actually a tire story.
Cool bike! Ive got 21,000 miles on my 890R ADV, totally trouble free all the way. Not even a chain adj yet.
Doesnt need valve adj. Great bike. With the addition of a 21 690 Enduro, the 890 is used even more on the street.
For me its a really nice street bike. Wheelies are indeed a thing, I keep it anti wheelie mode a lot, it can get expensive.
Better windscreen, smooth-ish tires, these are fun bikes! (690 is a BLAST on dirt!)
A well deserved Top place.
Just wish they'd put the 890 duke r engine in there.
Perhaps the new 990 block will make it there soon. Looking to upgrade my 990smt.
Firstly, love Daily Rider, secondly, love Zack Courts (and Ari), thirdly, love seeing Zack reviewing KTMs again.
Curious to know what the little yellow message is that pops up in the middle of the dash at around 21:20 when you're changing gear?
Zack, next year can you leave the top bike or two from the previous year on the new board so we can see how this year's bikes stack up? I knew early on in this vid the KTM would take the top spot, but it would be great to see your thoughts against last year's top bikes too.
Regarding the "Unlocking already installed features" discussion, I think it really depends on the feature in question. Quickshifter, Riding Modes, Cruise Control all are mostly software driven regarding cost and installation effort. The hardware is either already on the bike anyway like the (ECU and wheel speed sensors for cruise control) or comparatively cheap (like the strain gauge for QS). So I see no problem there.
Heated seating or site airbags (in cars) however are mostly hardware driven, with the software being either trivial or already installed (in case os airbags). In those cases the discussed payment model really does not make sense to me. If for the manufacturer in those cases the individualisation cost caused in the supply chain is larger than software and hardware cost, they should just include it in the base price.
IMO
I bought this bike last summer, its such a fun bike! Regarding the tech pack, most dealers you can bargain to add the tech pack at no additional cost. 🤓
The reason ktm uses a 285deg cranck is because its better balanced than the 270deg counterpart. Theres a great video about it on youtube by I believe fortnine.
Edit: nvm, took a little deeper dive into the whole firing interval thing and I was wrong! The difference between 270deg and 285deg intervals are minimal BUT 270deg cranck is actually just a bit better balanced. There is a LOT to it afterall.
And he's wrong. Driving for answers made a video about this correcting him.
I don't have a problem with tech pack sold separately. I like that you can try some features and then choose whether to keep them or not. I like that you can enable them programmatically and don't waste time waiting for parts and installing them.
I think I get why people are upset with this choice, they might be thinking since parts are already installed you overpay for them even if you don't use them. But I don't feel the same way.
Love KTM both dirt and street. Great 2 strokes. So much suspension and engine tech. So many engines to choose from. I am on my second Super Duke 1290r, torque and horsepower all below 9500 rpm perfect for street. No issues with either bike after thousands of miles. Just required checkups and oil changes. The 890’s your more on top of the bike vs in the bike with the SD.
Thanks, I'm looking for new bike and SMT was a bit of wild card that is for now at the top. I already had 1 hour test ride on it and I agree with Zack's review. As someone who is 5'10" (177cm) I was little worried about high but I was able to tip toe it and it didn't feel bad or heavy. The throttle thing was weird at first and I feel like it improved with the sport mode. Vibey handlebars I didn't really noticed, but my previous bike was Vstrom so I'm might be more used to it.
My 2c to the demo thing - I think it would be better if the price for it went down to like 20---50$ per feature. It is already on bike so paying hundreds feels wrong.
I really like what you are doing. This is the best motorcycle review on UA-cam for me. I stay around the city and I commute everyday. No more trips, no time and desire as well. That's why it's a great review. By the way I had so many bikes but my best bike was my 2006 KTM SM....love my GS right now but very different.Thanks Zack and keep up the good work.
The spring feeling when closeing the throttle completely, is for turning cruise control off in a smooth way. Give it a try
Would a monthly subscription for cruise and quick shifter be next?
If it follows the trend of BMW's automobiles it will be. Just another reason to hate the pricing model....They get you for "activation" then it becomes like Photoshop and is software as a service. Don't do it and maybe they will stop.
of course. You will own nothing and be happy.
In terms of seat height I am 183cm height, and have exactly opposite problem: on most bikes relation seat height to foot pegs causes very bent knees, which is uncomfortable for long ride. I don't like cruiser or adventure bikes, because they are monstrously big. And bikes like KTM SMT might be something I could consider:).
And generally thanks for the very cool series, "daily rider" is really awesome and helpful!
Does a Kawasaki Versys blend supermoto with touring? Would a used Versys 650 would be a milder, much less expensive alternative to this KTM?
Yes
Triumph should make a similar bike with the Street Triple engine. They could call it a Tiger Sport 765 and it would be faster and better looking than the KTM.
Super Tiger Tard
@@Chambers36TheEnter I actually have a TS660 and I like it a lot it's really a great all rounder. It's more of a Tracer 7/Versys 650 competitor though. That's how I know that Triumph could make something similar with the 765 and higher end parts and it would be a phenomenal machine. I suspect they are going to release some sort of Tiger 660 "rally" version first though.
Isn't hard to better looking than a KTM...
I would think an 890 twin would serve this segment better than a 765 triple.
@@xorbe2 well Triumph just has to try and prove you wrong then 😉
I'm not personally excited about a single bike this season so far. I usually feel a bit more in touch with the bikes and I haven't gotten that feeling yet.
Was a KTM fan boy in the 90s, 2stroke dirt bikes.
I think the people talking about you taking the bikes in the twisties are interested in seeing videos of it; not that they were asking if you take the bikes or not. Strongly in favor of videos of you riding the twisties.
It is fun to watch these daily riders and realize that a bike is going at the top of the board before Zack puts it up there! I liked the Transalp episode for the same reason.
Yeah but he no longer discusses last year's board and where it would place.
Love your reviews Zack. No one has as much fun and stays positive like you
Something worth discussing maybe - I could immediately see you were comfortable on the SMT right off the bat. I don't know if that's because you had more seat time with it before filming the vid, but it was readily apparent you were already at the honeymoon phase at the start of your ride :) Being comfortable on a new bike right away is a huge factor for me whether I like the bike or not.
Kawi had this formula figured out a while ago. A Versys 650 could be mistaken for a supermoto touring bike, too!
J Juan brakes is what CF Moto has. Always interesting to see where these 2 brands cross.
hasn't CFMoto straight up MADE some ktm engines before? there's a lot of overlap from what I know
KTM has been using J Juan brakes on the 790/890 bikes since that platform launched in 2018 and they might have been using J Juan even before that...nothing new or related to CFMoto
Best way to wrap your head around the tech pac is that it doesn't raise your registration tax because it is done after purchase.
Hey new rider here, just curious how the slide done around 16:40 works?
I assume its braking with the front to transfer mass on the front wheel while also downshifting ? Or is it rear brake with no abs ?
only thing that worries me is their camshafts, i will buy one when they resolve the issue
Yeah I like these, had a loaner while my Adv R was in for service, and had two days and had great time on the SMT.
Great bike for fun urban commute and enjoy in the mountains while on tour..
I used to be irked by these "pay me more" software options. In computing software world though, this is super common, and it really just reflects the reality that so many of today's products are 'software defined' and the vendor needs to make money on software, not just hardware.
But with any software, you can just ‘hack’ your way around it
@@asraf9 Sure, you can steal these features. Like with any theft, you could just steal a motorcycle off of a lot or someone's driveway. I'm not sure your point.
@@jw6825 what is so hard to understand? Im just saying in any software there are people who will hack it. Im not asking you to do it and if somebody does it im not here to judge them. Some will feel that they’ve bought and own the bike and its criminal for motorcycle companies to charge them for what is already built in the bike. Some, like yourself will feel like a thief. To each their own.
The 990 SMT still reigns supreme. More power, proven reliability, and forged wheels.
For $13K you're knocking on the door of lightly used 1290SDGT territory.
I own one, it's great!.... but saying it's reliable is a bit much haha
@@kylewyrembek2176 Agreed - that's why l call them ATM instead of KTM 🤣
The 990 SMT has more power but also more weight so performance is about equal. The 990 also has more character but it's a lot less civilized - the lowdown fueling is awful. I own and really like the 890. If you really want more power there is a 1390 SMT coming.
@@glennpuckeridge6244 Crazy thing is they weigh almost exactly the same, by some accounts the 890 is slightly heavier with gas in it.... and that's before you take 20+ pounds off the 990 by losing the heavy af stock dual exhaust and heat shields. Between easy weight savings and easy tuning gains ( corked up airbox, lean tuning and the ECU is fully unlocked :D) the 990 is gonna slap this thing.
Spot on about the fueling though. Thankfully you can replace the map with your phone lol.
I'm a 990 SMT owner. I've been considering buying this bike, but in no way would I ever sell my 990. It is the king of the road. Light, powerful, simple, top components.
My thoughts on the KTM Demo Mode stuff: The mistake KTM made was giving the motorcycle consumer market a choice. Just charge full price for the bike with everything unlocked. The reality is, maintaining two different supply chains and inventory and distribution streams for different specs cost more money than it's worth. I dealt with this at my old job. We made more money by killing off our low-cost option and losing those sales than compromising the efficiency of our business by maintaining the lower-spec option. I'm sure this is the same for the COGS delta between a bike with the bi-directional quickshifter hardware versus a "base" bike without that hardware. In fact, the operating efficiencies by having one spec might be greater per-bike than the COGS of just putting the stupid sensor on the shift linkage. So having a low-spec doesn't make sense. The mistake was offering a choice about the software. But that's complicated to explain and requires a patience and nuance to understand. And we, the motorcycle enthusiast market, are irrational. We are, let's face it. We have to be to spend thousands or tens of thousands of dollars on something inherently impractical and dangerous. KTM shouldn't have bothered. Their bikes are already expensive. Just lean into it, and KTM riders will pay for it anyway. They're irrational.
Hey there! Can u guys please help me im out of solutions.. I'm a guy who help people to drive safe in my cotents; i really need to know whats Zack's motovlogging setup. Which camera more importantly which mic with which settings he is using? His sound coming amazing thgourh that setup please help me or guide me to some links please 😔
Reviewing on separate years, do you like this for commuting (no offloading) better than the Transalpine (if money doesn't matter)? Worried 'bout the KTM reliability since Honda's are usually solid.
Zach, great review but I'm left with a question.
Why was the Spurgeon spec. KTM Adventure 890 Rally placed so low on the leaderboard, but this gets highest position 2024 leaderboard? (Below BMW 1300 GS)
Is it mainly how tall the Spurgeon spec. is compared to the SMT and the other Spurgeon mods or is it something else?
Took one out on demo twice, second time I put it in Sport suspension settings, it’s a lot better for me at 210 pounds/95kg.
I've been so excited to see this bike on the RevZilla channel!
Love the KTM middleweight bikes. Very happy owner of a 890 adv (not r). If I was in the market, I’d be looking hard at the SMT. If I could just afford one of each… SMT ADV and Duke.
Great review as usual Zack. Very interested in this bike but I worry about the parallel twin being dull as a replacement to my gsxs 1000. Is it" fast" on the highway, or just competent?
It is tall but i don't think that should put anyone off, I'm 5'5 and I sat on the SMT and the 890 Adventure in the showroom and found the SMT fully manageable and easy to pick up and move forward and back ect. Granted thats showroom but the adventure i did not like one bit due to height. I will be test riding the SMT when it stops raining (England) and will consider getting one as it fit so nice and felt so good. For reference I ride a 2015 S1000RR as my daily.. I am also interested in the the new 990 but am waiting to see what the R is like. I did not like the 890 GP but the engine was nice. Needs a full system and a map
instead of, would you trade this bike for yours, i think a better question would be; if you owned both bikes and they're both sitting in the garage staring at you... would you ever ride your old bike? (disregarding maintenance riding, or as my grandad would say, riding it just to keep it "limbered up".)
personally, i LOVE my sv650. but when i got a new bike, the only time i ever ride it is just once every few weeks to keep the juices flowing. doesn't mean i love it less, and i would never trade it in because it's just too damn rock solid of a bike. but would i rather ride my z900 or my tuono 660 or my street triple? one hundred percent yes.
How’s the wind protection? Does it keep wind off your chest at least?
Props for the matching jacket and bike.
Alright Interwebs...I need your help!
I'm looking for a bike to travel on and this one is peeking my interest. I'm 5'7" tall and want something I can do state to state trips on. How would this bike do if I loaded up some luggage and tried to drive 300-400 miles a day for a few weeks?
What other suggestions, Afirca Twin and such, at the $15k or less price range should I be looking at?
I would hope that honest bike reviewers would bring up the fact that these 790 and 890 KTM engines are prematurely eating their camshafts. KTM has not addressed this.
I did a valve job on my 2021 890 Adv R @ 17,400 miles and noticed one of my intake valves was zero gap. The others were 0.05-0.07mm out and the lobes looked fine. The zero gap valve lobe looked a little worn compared to the others, but in my opinion it didn't look too bad. I buttoned it up and put it back together. It's been running fine for another 800 miles now. I'm curious what you think of this. I'm not an expert on cam lob damage, but I'm wondering how long I have before I'll need to replace that cam. I've also been wondering since I valve job if I should have just replaced the cam instead of sticking with the worn one.
@@yurgonman 18k miles is nothing. The simple fact these problems are arising with such low mileages speaks for itself.
Absolutely these popular reviewers are totally captured by KTM. The soft cams are the elephant in the room.
@@yurgoncam wear would increase valve clearance, not decrease it. Sounds like that is not the issue on your bike.
Love the spiced up spaghetti or toned down enchilada question. I also love this bike! The software question is tricky. Software is expensive to develop, so I understand wanting to charge for it, but it still feels bad that the software is already on the bike and they just charge you more to activate it the features.
Same as apps on your devices. They are there but you pay to get the content. Same principle, yes the mechanical quick shifter is there I know, just like the chip and processors are already installed on smart tv’s appleTv, firestick etc. Somebody has to pay for RD on all this tech.
When paid for the tech pack for my KTM, got an invoice from a different legal entity, not the dealer. I would not be surprised tech packs are developed and sold by a subsidiary in Ireland or similar place, then giving some extra cash to company…
Paying to use installed equipment is my biggest gripe with KTM. This one is nice but way too expensive and that add on front fender is strange looking to my eye.
@@thomasneedham1512 I just added to the total price and never looked back. What definitely does for me is not to want to renew the bike more often, I would like KTM to make the license transferable to a new bike.
And that's a improvement over the 990 SMT? No saddle bags or rear rack
Really nice review. Got to say the SMT is currently on top of my list to replace my KTM Duke 690 R; another tall bike which handles like a dream.
He said "this tiny 5 inch TFT display" I happen to think that 5 inches is a MASSIVE TFT and perfectly capable to satisfy anyone!!
I've been waiting for this video for about a year!
I really need more motorcycles like this... but not as tall, on the market. I got short stubby little legs but I want comfort for touring AND sporty in my ride.
I've had mine since July last year love the bike. I also had a problem with the handlebar vibes. Until i fitted the ktm Powerpart PHDS bar mounts which Completely transformed the bike. Love it more every time I ride it. I've been waiting so long to find out what you thought of it. I'm in the UK the mounts are £180.00 GBP so I'm guessing 200 bux over there
When guys start setting up T7’s in supermoto trim that’s gonna be a good fit. Me and a couple buddies have them, pretty well sorted out. Way cheaper and they rip.
I think ktm should include spare camshafts and a wiring harness with every 790 or 890 machine they sell.
I think the biggest con of KTMs in general is their reliability (and I write that as an Austrian, who lives a few hundred kms away from the factory, where they are built).
I know a lot of people who ride KTMs here but not a single one had a trouble free bike.
They all are super happy, when it lasts ~ 6000 miles without an issue (what is super rare).
I'm sure these bikes are great fun but you can't expect a reliable motorcycle.
Tbh at this point it’s been so bad for so long I think it almost doesn’t matter anymore - if you care about reliability just don’t buy a KTM. If you only plan to keep it for the warranty period and it’s not a commuter you need to not be in the shop that’s really their bread and butter I think.
Charging you extra to use the hardware and software you already paid for is some premium bullshit though, but they do it because fanboys will pay.
I think reliability ( peace of mind ) and high power to weight ratio ( high compression engine , smiles per miles ) are inversely proportional in general . 😅😅😅
@@___SSS___Yeaaaah no… Any of the big 4 will prove you wrong. I have seen so many 600s from the big 4 running for 25k miles by terrible owners and they still dont give up. KTM is just bad at reliability.
@@Carlisho And 25k miles is nothing. With proper maintenance, the Japanese bikes will do as many miles as their nation's cars....100's of thousands of miles. My MT-09 has 31,000 trouble free miles. Reliability is something I never even think of.
@@04m6gto Nice bike man, I have a Z900. Im planning to upgrade to something more touring oriented because I moved places and now my commute includes a bit of highway and the 80mph winds are getting a little annoying ngl. A Suzuki GSX-S 1000 GT+ got traded in my dealership and the fucker is a 2024 with only 300 miles and the guy got 9.5k for it, to me as an employee will only cost me 10k to buy it, I am *this* close to pulling the trigger on it. You dont get a chance like this twice.
Great review as always. Thanks Zack
Having also owned a 950SM, 990SMT, an 1190 Adv, and a 1290 SDR I would be interested in Zack’s take on how this compares to his 950SM as per handling, performance, etc. Even after 35 or more motorcycles in 20 some years of street riding the 950SM is still my favorite. Handles like a dream. The 990SMT was a great bike but felt a little too locked in and somewhat more top heady than the 950. Plus, the 990’s fuel injection was more efficient than the, gasp, about 27 mpg I got on the 950, but it wasn’t nearly as smooth nor accurate on the throttle. The 1190 was just too much bike. The 1290 SDR was phenomenal but not nearly as comfortable as the 950. Just saying.
My previous bike was a 990 and the option for a quickshift is a aftermarket. Just like with my current 1290 (gen1) and the quickshifter i want cost 800 euro it is a quickshift with blipper.
I just took a look at a local ktm dealer and if i buy a gen 2 or 3 and i want a quickshifter it is 400 euro, and it is the most official one you can get.
Just like a tech pack if i would go for newer duke i wouldn't need a tech pack itself. So why should i pay for it.
So in a older bike upgrade point of view i like this option to get a factory option on the roll. As a newer bike buyer i get the part it is there but it isn't.
This would potentially be my new bike. I got a 890 Duke, but I want a more touring oriënted bike with still plenty of power and good handling. Personally I like the looks. Different than the standard front ends.
I also love my 2024 SMT
The fact the quick shifter is installed but i need spend extra money for a package to have it activated is BS - I am guessing the future of motorcycle tuning (as performance tuning is starting to be squashed by the epa) will be getting into the computer and enabling all the previously installed but disabled bells and whistles like said quick shifter
Btw this is old news, it was already like this on my 2017 superduke
Glad to see you mentioned the free play in the throttle. I dislike that and is one of the things I look out for when looking at a bike, and it seems all KTMs have that slop in the throttle action. 👎 Other than that it seems like a nice bike. Pity the tank is so small or else it would be more worthy of the “T” in the model name. Begs the question … is there enough daylight between it and the 890 Adventure Sport for road-biased touring?
The 890 platform is very solid. I love my 890 Adventure enough that I am selling my GSA.
Every ride it tempts you as a hooligan
IS IT ?? LOL (one word - Camshaft)
Enjoy your leaky clutch/crankcase/front suspension or whatever else they still haven;t fixed despite the years this platform already has.And the parts ordering time and availability.
Where is it manufactured? I've checked the article, but it's not listed there either. I don't think they make these at Mattighofen. Is it from China?
I really want to know if it is much better than daily riding the 890 adventure r.
I love love love the low-mount fender on SM and ADV bikes. I'm considering mounting a low fender on my XR650R!
Great episode. I just feel like KTM made some odd choices with this thing. I really think it should have come with the Duke's engine state of tune to further differentiate it from the 890S.
How does the 890 SMT compare to Tracer 9 and V-Strom 800?
Comparo to the old 990 SMT would be neato...
990 is better 🙈. But I'm biased 😅
I have a 2013 SMT,, love it. Way more analog than digital though cruise control and quick shifter would be good. I'm sure I'd like the 890 but the 990 v twin has a certain classic KTM character. Fun fact, when I bought it a comparison in Motorcyclist magazine between the the SMT and a Ducati Hypermotard was there. Zach and editor Marc Cook did the comparison. The Marc did a long term test of the KTM and bought it. Probably still has it. I'm not selling mine. I kind of thought of it as the last motorcycle I'd buy because after almost 50 years of riding an at least 50 bikes it really fit my needs and desires. A classic to me. I'm almost 74 now and we're both going strong.
Did you already do the Honda SCL / CL 500? Would love to see the bike getting tested.
Zach, will you ever be covering the Super Tenere? I have been considering that bike for a daily ryder. I am 602 and 245 lbs. Your reviews are the best on line, seriously!
I wouldn’t hold your breath. Perfectly fine bike, but it’s a bit of a dinosaur in the yam line up.
If you are seriously considering an S10 after reading all the reviews about it being heavy, tall and underpowered and that doesn’t scare you, buy it. They’ve fantastic, cheap and bulletproof. 2x owner here. I’d look for 2014 or up for cruise control.
How does the KTM 890 SMT compare to the KTM 950 Supermoto in your opinion? Which one do you like more?