Some photographs taken near Mattighofen and published by the German magazine Motorrad reveal the prototype of a KTM with 17-inch wheels that could be a new model developed based on the mechanics of the 1390. KTM does not confirm, but also does not deny, the possibility that it could be a new SMT. On the other hand, 2023 was the year that saw the return of this acronym, which stands for Super Moto Touring, thanks to the new 890 SMT, which is now included in the Sports Tourer family to emphasize its touring character.
However, the concept of a large motorcycle suitable for touring had debuted with the legendary 990 LC8 in 2008 and remained a very interesting model for a long time, with a large group of admirers, despite not becoming the best-selling model of the Austrian brand. The fame of this first SMT certainly boosted interest in the new 890 SMT and, why not, could also do it for this new top model in terms of displacement and power.
Today, after the fever of the 21″ wheels, the interest in 17″ wheels seems to be reborn in motorcycles with an adventure structure, and KTM leaves nothing to chance. If there is a brand that can move in this “ready to race” direction, it is KTM, but it would be entering a territory already occupied by Ducati, with the Multistrada V4 RS, and by BMW, with the M 1000 XR. We are, therefore, talking about crossovers with top-level performance.
Just a few weeks ago, we saw the debut of the 1390 engine in the new Super Duke R. This is the largest and most powerful engine currently in the range. The shape of the exhaust lines suggests that it is indeed the same 75° bicylinder engine with variable valve timing and 190 hp at 10,000 rpm and 145 Nm at 8,000 rpm. Again, from the photographs, we can assume that the frame is derived from the Super Adventure S, although the suspension may be lower.
According to colleagues at Motorrad, the fork could be a semi-active WP, recognizable by the blue oil seals. This suggests that, as with the Super Duke R, there may be two versions, a standard one and an Evo with electronic suspension. It is also worth noting the solid swingarm, a design that we already know from the new 990 Duke.
