Hitcher
2nd April 2010, 16:29
From the first time I saw the KTM 990 SMT in the flesh it and sat on one in a showroom, it intrigued me. KTM claim that it is a “tourer” but it looks more like a motard. So how then could it be described as a tourer?
It certainly appeared to meet some of the criteria of a tourer with its great ergonomics, weather protection and comfy seat. But for somebody who had previously racked up over 100,000km on a Honda ST1300 and a Yamaha FJR1300, it seemed to be missing something in the “tourer” department that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
Yet the more I thought about it, why couldn't a semi-naked litre bike make a great tourer? Yamaha's FZ1 Fazer has been doing this successfully for about a decade. And as an owner of an Aprilia SL750 Shiver for more than a year, I knew well that that bike turned its hand to touring very well indeed.
Rather than speculate endlessly, there was only one thing to do: take one for a test ride. The inimitable Stu at TSS Red Baron generously let me have his demonstrator overnight, “overnight” in this case being Good Friday with an opportunity to test the 990 SMT in a range of conditions, mostly two-up with the splendidly discerning Mrs H on the rear.
“Watch out for the snatchy throttle,” at least two staff at TSS Red Baron remarked before I rode off.
Tosh. I have no idea what their fears were. The injected fuelling on the 990 SMT is impeccably well behaved. The engine is a bit vibey if asked to roll on hard under 4,000rpm, and again over 7,000rpm. But in the 3,000rpm band in between it is very smooth and willing. Indeed with its six-speed gearbox and the realities of real world open road riding, this is never going to be a major issue. Four thousand rpm in top gear is about 115kmh.
One omission on the multi-function display is a gear position indicator. While I sort of got used to not having that info available, I believe that that information is nice to have on any bike with a six-speed gearbox.
The multi-function display combines an analogue tach with a digital LCD display for everything else. The information is easy to read but an area where KTM didn't devote the same attention to detail as they did to the rest of this excellent bike.
For example, there's no fuel gauge. No big deal really, as a bright orange low fuel light bursts into life with three litres of the 18 litre tank left to go, and a low fuel trip meter fires up in the odometer display at the same time. This happens at about 250km, so the 990 SMT isn't a dainty sipper.
The ambient temperature indicator is on the same scroll function as the odometer and dual trip meters. In other words you can't observe temperature or distance at the same time. That is odd, as there's plenty of space on the display to have the temperature showing all of the time, as happens on many other bikes with this function.
Resetting the trip meters is straightforward but, in the absence of an owner's handbook, I am completely bemused as to how to set the clock.
Another “interesting” attribute is that stopping the bike with its kill switch also kills the display. I struggle to see the logic for that feature.
The switch gear is solid, easy to use and in all the “usual” places. There's no hazard light function though, again an odd omission from a European bike. There's also no warning light for the side stand.
This is a tall bike, and one that shorties may struggle to ride. Being tall and with a V-twin engine, it offers excellent leg room for the taller rider. The bars are set slightly higher than I'm used to on my Shiver, yet still in a very neutral position.
The riding position and accoutrements for the pillion were pronounced entire satisfactory by my extremely discerning and practiced pillion. Hand grips of good substance and size in a convenient location, well positioned pegs and a nice comfy squab met with her pleasure. Indeed she remarked that unlike other bikes on which she had been the rearmost pilot, she could easily stand up on the pegs if she wanted to. From the rider's perspective, the pillion doesn't sit in snuggly behind. This means that it's easy to forget that there is one there, such being the rideability of the 990 SMT.
Weather protection for the rider comes from a stubby screen on a bikini front fairing and by plastic motocross style hand guards.
Screens have been the bane of my life. I suspect this is why I much prefer riding naked bikes. The KTM 990 SMT's screen is, however, better than many, including some of the electrically variable jobs found on the likes of the FJR and the Kawasaki Concours. There was a bit of helmet buffet in some wind conditions (it was blowing a gale coming back over the Rimutakas and riding down the Hutt Valley) and more helmet wind noise than I'm used to on the naked Shiver.
Brakes? One word: Brembo. Front and rear. Nice. Most nice indeed.
KTM hasn't stinted itself on some areas of the 990SMT's fit out. I've just mentioned the Brembo brakes. Marchesini rims, and a fully adjustable rear monoshock with external reservoir are also included. The USD front shocks are also adjustable for preload and rebound.
The handling of this bike is effortlessly superb. Indeed it's probably the best bike I've ever ridden in that regard. It is agile, predictable, and almost plush in its ride qualities. There's no weaving or wallowing. It corners like it's on rails, and that's with two people aboard. This reinforces my view that suspension is probably one of the most important attributes of a bike's performance. Yet, sadly, one where many manufacturers look first to cut costs.
Engine and gearbox combine perfectly. The shifter is slick and confident. The shift lever was set a bit high for my preference, but I suspect that that is easily remedied. On the other side, the rear brake lever was in exactly the right spot for my riding style.
So is this bike a tourer? Oh yes. The 990 SMT consumes highway of any type effortlessly and confidently. Its ergonomics mean both rider and pillion could put in a lot of serious saddle time and be largely untroubled by the experience. KTM makes soft luggage panniers for this bike that clip onto lugs preattached to the exhaust pipe heat shields. Givi also makes a full hard luggage system for the 990 SMT, which would be my preference.
That said, this bike is also “true” to KTM's reputation for making sporty bikes. It would be an outstandingly good one-up weekend “scratcher” and a most accomplished track bike, should one feel so inclined.
Apart from some finickety features, the KTM 990 SMT is a very sorted, albeit expensive, package.
Would I buy one? Yes.
It certainly appeared to meet some of the criteria of a tourer with its great ergonomics, weather protection and comfy seat. But for somebody who had previously racked up over 100,000km on a Honda ST1300 and a Yamaha FJR1300, it seemed to be missing something in the “tourer” department that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
Yet the more I thought about it, why couldn't a semi-naked litre bike make a great tourer? Yamaha's FZ1 Fazer has been doing this successfully for about a decade. And as an owner of an Aprilia SL750 Shiver for more than a year, I knew well that that bike turned its hand to touring very well indeed.
Rather than speculate endlessly, there was only one thing to do: take one for a test ride. The inimitable Stu at TSS Red Baron generously let me have his demonstrator overnight, “overnight” in this case being Good Friday with an opportunity to test the 990 SMT in a range of conditions, mostly two-up with the splendidly discerning Mrs H on the rear.
“Watch out for the snatchy throttle,” at least two staff at TSS Red Baron remarked before I rode off.
Tosh. I have no idea what their fears were. The injected fuelling on the 990 SMT is impeccably well behaved. The engine is a bit vibey if asked to roll on hard under 4,000rpm, and again over 7,000rpm. But in the 3,000rpm band in between it is very smooth and willing. Indeed with its six-speed gearbox and the realities of real world open road riding, this is never going to be a major issue. Four thousand rpm in top gear is about 115kmh.
One omission on the multi-function display is a gear position indicator. While I sort of got used to not having that info available, I believe that that information is nice to have on any bike with a six-speed gearbox.
The multi-function display combines an analogue tach with a digital LCD display for everything else. The information is easy to read but an area where KTM didn't devote the same attention to detail as they did to the rest of this excellent bike.
For example, there's no fuel gauge. No big deal really, as a bright orange low fuel light bursts into life with three litres of the 18 litre tank left to go, and a low fuel trip meter fires up in the odometer display at the same time. This happens at about 250km, so the 990 SMT isn't a dainty sipper.
The ambient temperature indicator is on the same scroll function as the odometer and dual trip meters. In other words you can't observe temperature or distance at the same time. That is odd, as there's plenty of space on the display to have the temperature showing all of the time, as happens on many other bikes with this function.
Resetting the trip meters is straightforward but, in the absence of an owner's handbook, I am completely bemused as to how to set the clock.
Another “interesting” attribute is that stopping the bike with its kill switch also kills the display. I struggle to see the logic for that feature.
The switch gear is solid, easy to use and in all the “usual” places. There's no hazard light function though, again an odd omission from a European bike. There's also no warning light for the side stand.
This is a tall bike, and one that shorties may struggle to ride. Being tall and with a V-twin engine, it offers excellent leg room for the taller rider. The bars are set slightly higher than I'm used to on my Shiver, yet still in a very neutral position.
The riding position and accoutrements for the pillion were pronounced entire satisfactory by my extremely discerning and practiced pillion. Hand grips of good substance and size in a convenient location, well positioned pegs and a nice comfy squab met with her pleasure. Indeed she remarked that unlike other bikes on which she had been the rearmost pilot, she could easily stand up on the pegs if she wanted to. From the rider's perspective, the pillion doesn't sit in snuggly behind. This means that it's easy to forget that there is one there, such being the rideability of the 990 SMT.
Weather protection for the rider comes from a stubby screen on a bikini front fairing and by plastic motocross style hand guards.
Screens have been the bane of my life. I suspect this is why I much prefer riding naked bikes. The KTM 990 SMT's screen is, however, better than many, including some of the electrically variable jobs found on the likes of the FJR and the Kawasaki Concours. There was a bit of helmet buffet in some wind conditions (it was blowing a gale coming back over the Rimutakas and riding down the Hutt Valley) and more helmet wind noise than I'm used to on the naked Shiver.
Brakes? One word: Brembo. Front and rear. Nice. Most nice indeed.
KTM hasn't stinted itself on some areas of the 990SMT's fit out. I've just mentioned the Brembo brakes. Marchesini rims, and a fully adjustable rear monoshock with external reservoir are also included. The USD front shocks are also adjustable for preload and rebound.
The handling of this bike is effortlessly superb. Indeed it's probably the best bike I've ever ridden in that regard. It is agile, predictable, and almost plush in its ride qualities. There's no weaving or wallowing. It corners like it's on rails, and that's with two people aboard. This reinforces my view that suspension is probably one of the most important attributes of a bike's performance. Yet, sadly, one where many manufacturers look first to cut costs.
Engine and gearbox combine perfectly. The shifter is slick and confident. The shift lever was set a bit high for my preference, but I suspect that that is easily remedied. On the other side, the rear brake lever was in exactly the right spot for my riding style.
So is this bike a tourer? Oh yes. The 990 SMT consumes highway of any type effortlessly and confidently. Its ergonomics mean both rider and pillion could put in a lot of serious saddle time and be largely untroubled by the experience. KTM makes soft luggage panniers for this bike that clip onto lugs preattached to the exhaust pipe heat shields. Givi also makes a full hard luggage system for the 990 SMT, which would be my preference.
That said, this bike is also “true” to KTM's reputation for making sporty bikes. It would be an outstandingly good one-up weekend “scratcher” and a most accomplished track bike, should one feel so inclined.
Apart from some finickety features, the KTM 990 SMT is a very sorted, albeit expensive, package.
Would I buy one? Yes.