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KTM SMR 450 FIRST RIDE REVIEW
KTM 450 SMR
VERSATILITY IS THE NAME OF THE SUPERMOTO GAME, AND THE 2021 KTM 450 SMR WILL ALLOW YOU TO RIDE MOTO STYLE OR ROAD RACE STYLE, AND STILL GET THE SAME LAP TIMES.
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WORDS: PETER JACKSON IMAGES: KTM
SUPERMOTO RIDING IS about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. I’m yet to meet a rider who isn’t completely smitten the first time they try it. Some fall so in love they sell everything and go all-in on the only all-aspect form of motorcycle sport. The last few years have been the most beneficial for the sport of supermoto since the glory days of the early 2000s. Husqvarna can be largely thanked for this resurgence with the splendid FS450 (I own one. Love it). And now KTM has decided to get back into the game proper with the KTM SMR 450.
To be fair, KTM owns Husqvarna, so in reality,
they always kept a toe in the water. But now the orange brigade is back in full force. The 2021 KTM 450 SMR is essentially a KTM 450 SX-F motocross weapon in fancy dress. It runs the same 450cc motor with the identical cylinder head, titanium inlet and exhaust valves, cams, piston, conrod, crank and gearbox. However, the SMR is fitted with a Suter slipper clutch to stop you from locking the rear wheel under when downshifting into corners. Trust me. You want this slipper clutch. It makes downshifts even more fun than upshifts.
You also get the same base chromium molybdenum steel frame, aluminum subframe and swingarm.
The majority of the bodywork is also the same on the SMR, except for the shorter front guard than the 450 SX-F.
Where the two bikes differ is in the suspension, brakes and wheels. WP still supplies the suspension in the 48mm inverted fork, but the sit-in triple-clamps with a steeper offset. The forks have been lowered, giving you 11.2 inches of wheel travel compared to the SX-F’s 12.2 inches. And at the back, the WP shock will give you 10.4 inches of travel compared to 11.8 inches for the SX-F.
As for the brakes, you get one half of a superbike
set-up in the Brembo radial master-cylinder and Brembo M50 radially-mounted four-piston caliper squeezing a Galfter 310 mm disc up front. While at the rear you get a 220 mm rotor and singlepiston caliper.
The orange show rolls on 16.5-inch front and 17-inch rear Alpina tubeless spokes wheels shod with Bridgestone racing slicks (V02). Oh, and you get switchable traction control and two-variable engine maps. One for lower and one for higher rpm performance.
Horny is a gross understatement when describing the SMR 450. In practice, the SMR is the kind of motorcycle that will make heroes out of the ordinary rider and a god out of the professional. Being a long, tall dirtbike on slicks, it’s extremely forgiving and encourages you to brake later and later, while the power delivery is fast and furious, yet at the same time, not abrupt. A large part of what makes it so good under brakes is the Suter slipper clutch. Which keeps the rear wheel from locking and allows the rider to explore backing the rear in on the rear brake. Just like Pol Espargaro does so well.
In the dirt, the suspension is plush but not overly soft. If anything, a rider of my 190 lb frame will need at least two springs heavier on the rear to help corner exit stability. But for an out-of-the-box motorcycle, the KTM 450 SMR is as close to race-ready as you can get.
You’ve got a machine underneath you that will allow you to ride moto style, or road race style, and still get the same lap times. Versatility is the name of the supermoto game, which makes it such an integral training tool for the world’s best riders.
If you’re like me and want to just put gas in and go rip, this is probably the best bike on the market today.
THE PRESS ROOM GRID NEWS
AMERICAS MOTOGP POSTPONED – UPDATED MOTOGP CALENDAR 2021
Dorna’s updated MotoGP calendar includes two races in Qatar and one in Portimao. The Americas MotoGP is postponed. The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports’ updated MotoGP calendar still sees the 2021 season opener commencing in Qatar, March 26 through March 28. However, the Americas MotoGP round is postponed. The revised schedule now adds a second race event, the Grand Prix of Doha. Same circuit. One week later. April 2 through April 4. GP then moves on to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, April 16 through April 18.
In addition to the US round, the Argentina GP is also postponed. New dates for the two postponed rounds are yet to be announced. Both are slated for the fall of 2021, pending the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown precautions.
KING OF THE BAGGERS RACE SERIES RETURNS IN 2021
MotoAmerica's 2020 long shot and runaway success King of the Bagger race series is scheduled for five rounds in 2021. The King of the Baggers race event made its debut in November of 2020 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. S&S Indian’s Tyler O’Hara took first place over Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Gillim. Roland Sands Designs-backed Indian Motorcycle Frankie Garcia completed the podium in third place.
Highly competitive and extremely entertaining, the success of the, then one-off invitational event was undeniable. So much so that MotoAmerica announced its return with five rounds for the 2021 season as part of the MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Series.
The King Of The Baggers race series sees qualified AMA license holders racing modified Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle bagger style motorcycles, competing in a flag to flag sprint. Championships points will be counted and a Champion will be announced at the end of the season. The series will kick-off at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, April 30 through May 2. The series continues with rounds at Road America, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The 2021 series will then conclude September 17 through 19 with the MotoAmerica season finale at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
Every round of the 2021 King of the Baggers Race series will be broadcast on the FOX Sports channel King of the Baggers Race Series.
“Honestly, the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers debut race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca went better than we even dreamed of,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “The popularity of the event was crazy so how could we not do more? We know there are plenty of Bagger fans out there as our videos of the debut Laguna event were watched by millions. Having five races gives us the opportunity to bring King of the Baggers to fans in several different areas of the country. We’ve also opted to make the series open to any qualified racer, which should bring new teams and new bike builds to the series from the aftermarket and motorcycle dealers who specialize in baggers.”
SEPANG MOTOGP 2021 TEST CANCELLED
Covid continues to disrupt MotoGP causing the cancellation of the Sepang MotoGP 2021 test. The Covid-19 pandemic with its lockdowns and travel restrictions has thrown an early wrench into the MotoGP machine. The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports announced the cancellation of both the Shakedown test and the Official Sepang MotoGP 2021 test. Both tests were scheduled to occur at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia in February. Despite the cancellation of the Sepang MotoGP 2021 test, the Qatar test is still scheduled and confirmed for March 10 to 12, at the Losail International Circuit. Testing for Moto2 and Moto3 is scheduled for March 16 to 18 in Jerez. The 2021 MotoGP season is scheduled to kick off in March at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar before heading to Argentina and North America in April. The season will wrap up in Valencia on the 14th of November.
DUCATI IN MOTOGP FOR ANOTHER SIX SEASONS
Dorna and the Italian manufacturer lock in another six years, securing Ducati in MotoGP until 2026. Ducati and Dorna Sports signed an agreement keeping Ducati in MotoGP from 2022 to 2026. Since Ducati joined the MotoGP World Championship, the Borgo Panigale company has earned 160 podiums, including 51 victories, in eighteen years. In 2007, Ducati won the Constructors, Riders and Teams World Titles with Casey Stoner. Ducati, again in 2020, earned the Constructors World Title, with credit to Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci, Jack Miller, Francesco Bagnaia and Johann Zarco. LEON CAMIER HRC TEAM MANAGER
The former racer makes the switch from racer to the boss, making the transition to Leon Camier, Team Manager for HRC's WorldSBK team. Leon Camier made his WorldSBK debut in 2009, griding up for 223 races in the superbike class During his tenure, Camier earned nine podiums. He was signed to ride for the Barni Racing Team in 2020 but a shoulder injury and Covid-related event delays caused him to sit out the season.
Camier is stepping into a brand new position for the 2021 WorldSBK season. Leon Camier, Team Manager steps into the lead role for the Honda Racing Corporation's WorldSBK Team, replacing Jaume Colom.
