Motorcycle specifications KTM690 SMC R 2021 Guidon d'Or

The early 90s were undoubtedly the golden age of Super Mot'! JMB was on fire at Bercy stadiums, and everyone dreamed of mounting a 17" rim on their trail bike to ape the acrobatics of the stadium gods.

If there's one manufacturer that best perpetuates the spirit of a time when having fun didn't have to be the biggest, it's KTM. This year, 2021, is a happy one, for the Austrian brand has made the effort to make its super-single-cylinder LC4 compliant with the Euro5 standard. The 690 SMC R therefore still has a very bright future ahead of it, and all the better for it.

A supermotard needs to glide!

It's not for nothing that MotoGP riders train on super bikes. These machines are real schools for becoming a good rider. Braking hard, entering curves sideways, keeping the glide going on the way out - that's sport! The first trump card for the 690 SMC R is of course its 692.7 cm3 single-cylinder engine, which develops a whopping 74 hp and a maximum torque of 73.5 Nm. Suffice it to say that, given its panther-like weight (150 kg), many big multi-cylinder cubes could have a hard time keeping up with you if the chosen route is just right for the katoche.

The big thrill will no doubt be a little quieter (as long as you keep the original exhaust), since the bike is equipped with a new type of catalytic converter mounted on the muffler. The aim is to reduce emissions to the levels required by the Euro 5 standard. A quickshifter (up/down) is still available for shifting gears. It's a welcome assistance when you're attacking curvy roads like a pig. Introduced in 2019, two driving modes are still available to the owner. On this 2021 version, they evolve by integrating ABS sensitivity. STREET mode offers smoother throttle response and maximum traction control intervention. SUPERMOTO mode offers a sharper grip response and reduced traction control intervention level. In Street mode, ABS manages both wheels, while in Supermoto mode, the rear is freed from assistance, allowing the bike to be placed crosswise. Cornering ABS is also active on the corner.

Note that the SMC R can be specified with a 35 kW throttle for A2 license holders.

The rest of the chassis features a chrome-molybdenum steel frame and WP APEX suspension. The 48 mm front fork offers 215 mm of travel, while the rear has 240 mm. Ground clearance is generous, as is seat height, which peaks at 890 mm. Short-legged riders will have to wear big heels in their boots...
filling the 17-inch spoked wheels, braking is generous. The KTM 690 SMC R 2021 uses a Brembo system with a latest-generation M 4.32 monobloc caliper, coupled to a 320 mm disc at the front and 240 mm at the rear. Combined with its low weight, this braking system will allow you to push back your limits and brake much later than your friends.

There are few aesthetic changes on this 2021 version, apart from new deco kits. Behind the headlamp plate, however, the rider gets a new instrument panel, also found on the KTM 690 ENDURO R. The display now shows engine speed and the gear engaged.

The 690 SMC R is a magnificent machine that couldn't care less about practicality. Its aim is to turn every moment in the saddle into unforgettable memories. In fact, it too is imperishable. Since the appearance of the Duke 620 in 1994, KTM's single-cylinder supermotard hasn't seemed to want to sell its soul, and remains a true little devil of the road. A demanding and elitist machine, too, with a price tag in excess of 11,000 euros.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos