Motorcycle specifications KTM690 SMC R 2019 Shaking up the dance

The ladies lead the way, the princesses take care of their toilet.... While outside, the party's in full swing with a flock of break-dancers. It's up, it's up, it's up.... The party's going strong, while the well-ranked are falling apart. The KTM 690 SMC-R could be at the head of the procession. Revitalized this year with an abundance of technological updates, this supermotard has a real sense of fun.

it's all about belonging to the single-cylinder culture. Eager for adrenalin, the machine upgrades its own by taking the mechanicals from the 690 Duke and 701 Husqvarna. A bonus on every level, making up for its brief absence from the catalog. It had gone into hiding with the memory of 67 horsepower; now it's back with 74 horsepower. Exceptional performance for a mass-produced mono. This dose of watts + the impulse of its 7.5 mkg + the punch inherent in this mechanical architecture are enough to make you impatient and impertinent with every turn of the right-hand throttle.
An anti-dribble clutch between the housings calms the torque feedback. But as SMC makes its comeback in the midst of a boom in riding aids, it grabs a few along the way.

somewhere between sporty, toy-like and cheeky, the Katoche needs to shift gears with the flick of a boot. A two-way shifter helps it achieve this relentless goal. The manual throttle is still credited to a ride-by-wire system - giving the mill a little more flexibility and finer response.
A few more sensors, data injection, brain juice, and it causes in silicon. So you can:
/ or captivate the moment with the SMC-R in rough-and-ready style, and take full control by deactivating everything on board
/ or opt for a dose of assistance. These include traction control, influenced by the angle of inclination and the chosen driving mode, ABS, and two driving modes (one less than the old model). The 'Street' gives a fairly straightforward, but safety-oriented rendering; the 'Sport' responds more energetically, slackening the traction-control and allowing skids.
The ABS deserves a fuller explanation: now cornering, it is sensitive to the angle of the bike. In its 'Supermoto' mode, it cuts in at the rear and limits its action on the front wheel, to encourage all kinds of tricks. That is, of course, if you "work" it for that.

74 horsepower on a single-cylinder bike is a real blast. All the more so when you're a plus-weight like her. Although it has gained 7 kilos in its evolution, the SMC-R remains surprisingly light at 147 kilos on the scales. Almost as light as a Kawasaki Z 125...
As usual, the R is paired with orange for the frame. The visual effect is immediate. Too bad we've lost this color on the rims. At the end of the spokes enclosed in these 17-inch circles, the rubber comes from Bridgestone, with S21 that likes to grip the road as much as the circuit.
Once you're on the handlebars, the minimalist instrumentation, at the level of an enduro bike, won't distract you from the essential: riding in a hurry, mudguards up. With plenty of opportunities to twist the corners, the throttle and the neighbor's smile, but not the chassis. The chromium-molybdenum tubular trellis frame looks strong. It's efficiently supported by a 48 mm WP Apex inverted fork, fully adjustable, and a shock absorber of the same design. Suspension travel is generous, with 215 mm at the front and 240 mm at the rear. Generous... but less so than the previous generation, where each suspension had 240 mm of travel. Seat height remains mountainous, perched at 890 mm from the plain.

hidden away in the rear structure, the fuel tank has increased in capacity by 1.5 liters. This is a discreet change for the tank, as is the trim, which has been modernized a little, without upheaval, but with enough incisiveness to recall the brand's off-road machines. Braking is entrusted to Brembo, confident in its strength with a single 320 mm front disc clamped by a 4-piston caliper; given the weight to be stopped, there's no need for GP gear. The rear wheel is fitted with a 240 mm disc and single-piston caliper.

the KTM 690 SMC R retains the very essence of the civilian supermotard at the extreme end of the spectrum, with an infusion of the latest technology. A toy that doesn't care about practicality, versatility or other prerogatives allocated to all machines. A virile, expressive and expensive machine. But with an incomparable dose of fun.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos