2023 KTM 890 SMT RELEASED

The rst road bike that really made us sit up and take notice of KTM was the original 2005 950 SM supermoto. The wacky Austrian dirtbike maker was a niche operator on the tarmac up until then, but this pile of orange nonsense was a cracker. It had a lovely carburetted 942cc 75° V-twin engine – the rst KTM engine that wasn’t a thumping single – borrowed from the KTM 950 Adventure released a couple of years earlier, steel trellis frame, long-travel suspension, and sporty wheels, tyres and brakes. A few years later they bumped up the engine to a 999cc and called it the 990 SM, before adding pannier ttings to make the hilarious 990 SMT. Bonkers, barmy, brilliant for bringing beer home from the shops... it could do it all.

And now KTM has resurrected this legendary moniker with a new SMT for the 2020s. The 2023 890 SMT uses the 889cc

105bhp parallel-twin motor from the 890 Adventure, adding a tweaked supermoto-style chassis to match, together with lower seat, sportier brakes and sticky 17-inch Michelin PowerGP tyres. Just like its ancestor, then. There are detail mods everywhere on the new SMT compared with the 890 Adventure. The aluminium swingarm is longer and the shock mount has been repositioned to suit that lower seat. The steel tube trellis frame has tighter geometry. And the WP suspension is premium APEX track-ready kit, with 43mm open cartridge USD forks and rear monoshock, both with 180mm of travel.

KTM’s also subtly crafted the new bodywork, with the seat cutting into the fuel tank area to let the rider sit more forward and into the bike. This was one of the characteristics of the 950 and 990 SM models, and it made for a ride that was both relaxing and exhilarating when you needed it.

The engine is unchanged from the 890 Adventure install, which sounds top to us; 105bhp sounds a bit mean in these days of 215bhp superbikes, but the 2005 bike only had 98bhp, so we’re up already. Add in peak torque of 74 ft-lb and a more modern fuelling set-up and it should be a cracker on the road. There are no standard pannier ttings like on the original SMT, though luggage will be available as an option. What the new bike does have that the old machine could only dream of is the latest in electronic rider aids. There’s three standard rider modes – rain, street and sport – which ne-tune throttle and slide settings, plus standard cornering ABS and 10-way adjustable cornering traction control. There are software add-ons to provide engine brake control, quickshifter and cruise control – though you’ll have to pay extra for those goodies, like the bags.

The ve-inch TFT colour LCD dash connects to your phone for navigation and other functions, and there’s full LED lighting too. No word on price for the new 890 SMT as yet, but it will be in shops by the end of May this year.

Island Life

Heading to the TT this year? Not heading to the TT this year? Don’t know what a TT is? Doesn’t matter: you should still buy this superb piece of magazine craft – Island Racer 2023. Put together by the very best writers here at Mortons Media, with photos from the legendary snappers who learned their trade on manual box Brownies, laid out by our Picasso-spec graphic designers and, nally, printed on organic, gluten-free paper made from free-range single-origin trees*, it’s BY FAR the nest magazine you’ll get previewing the Irish Sea magic for 2023. There’s 148 pages of goodness (which might actually be too much for some) and is packed with gems from the likes of Peter Hickman, Michael Rutter and John McGuinness, as well as some deep dives into TT history... Steve Hislop’s rides, Mike Hailwood’s Suzuki RG500, and the history of BMW at the TT in the German rm’s centenary year.

On sale now, at a completely bargain £8.99 cover price, it’s one to keep on the archive shelf for sure. More details at www.classicmagazines.co.uk *probably

Bike Trainers Skill Up On Mental Health

Top UK bike training rm Phoenix Motorcycle Training is expanding its skill set, providing mental health rst-aiders at each of its sites. As with conventional rst-aiders, these people are trained to give initial support in a crisis while professional healthcare staff arrive.

Mark Jaffe, the CEO of Phoenix Motorcycle Training, said: “As the UK’s largest motorcycle training school, we can see the massive bene t to new and current riders of having access to mental health rst-aiders in all of our locations.

“As instructors and bikers, we know that riding motorcycles helps promote good mental health, and through this additional training enabling us to do even more, we can make a difference to riders old and new.”

Triumph Celebrates 10 Years Of The Dgr With Special Bonnie

Yeah, yeah, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride doesn’t really t into the classic ‘Fast Bikes ethos’... and we look askance at brown seats as much as the next trackday fan.

But the aim of the DGR is laudable – raising funds for men’s health charities worldwide. Triumph has been a big part of that since 2014, and is marking its 10th DGR event with this special limited edition Bonneville T120. Fancy paint, only 250 being made, and one will go to the best charity fundraiser this year. Not bad.gentlemansride.com

AVON TYRES RELAUNCHED BY GOODYEAR/DUNLOP

The Avon tyre factory at Melksham might be closing down, but the British brand’s new owner, Goodyear, has outlined how the brand will t into its portfolio alongside Dunlop tyres. Avon rubber will be made in France from next year, at the same Montlucon factory where Dunlop makes its premium road and race bike tyres.

The Avon range is being rationalised to focus on what it does best: sport-touring rubber, cruiser tments and classic sporting tyres.

The plan seems to be for the famed British brand to t below Dunlop in terms of price, while still providing a premium product, and with even better distribution and availability.

The New Avon Bike Tyre Fitment Range

Hypersport: 3D Supersport

Sport touring radial: Spirit ST

Sport touring bias belt; Roadrider MKII/Streetrunner

Custom: Cobra Chrome

Trail/adventure: Trailrider/

Trekrider

Classic: Safety Mileage

MKII/Speedmaster MKII

Scooter: Viper Stryke