KTM 390 SMC R 2026 — Specifications

The SM can start gently, but you can quickly want to go further, to give the road a few playful slaps, then let the rear wheel take control of the drift. It will take some skill and a suitable tool for that. That’s the wish of the 390 SMC R – a supermotard on the A2 straightaways, with a dose of accessible power that isn’t shy at all.

KTM is finally making its SMs more accessible. A 125 and a 400 arrive simultaneously on the scene. Like the smaller Duke models (close cousins), our two acrobats share the same sporty and impactful physique. The 390 exudes a more assertive feel, due to its slightly more vibrant graphics and spoked wheels. It only lacks a pair of handguards and it would be perfect.

The motorcycle seems impatient. You’d almost believe its single-cylinder engine is churning in its belly before it even starts. It takes the 398 cm3 block from the RC 390, Duke, and Adventure, recently improved in anticipation of the Euro5+ transition. With it, this SMC R sends 45 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and can produce a little more than 4 Nm of torque. That’s when the fun can begin, and you can do zigzags without restraint as long as you maintain trajectory and lean angle (and civic responsibility).

While the 125 leaves virtually no room for electronics, the 390 has a more spirited heart. It wakes up with 2 Riding Modes, including Street, which is engaged by default. But switch to Sport to see, in order to tease the beast a little and deactivate traction control. This will also allow you to play with the ABS, which can act normally in Road mode or switch to the fun with the Supermoto and Supermoto+ functions. Preventing the anti-lock on the rear wheel allows for much more skids and slides.

The new SMC R models have a 4.2-inch TFT instrument panel, in a slim format. Readable and austere, it looks simplistic; but start fiddling with the control pad and you’re sure to discover that it will readily pilot your calls, your music, and your turn-by-turn routes, provided you pair it with your smartphone. Via Bluetooth. And if the thing needs recharging, a USB port is located on the left side.

As a true Supermotard, the 390 SMC R is equipped with long-travel suspension. The 43 mm WP inverted fork and the mono-shock both announce 230 mm of travel. A substantial value, the disadvantage of which is found in the high seat height of 860 mm. Pilots will have available compression and rebound settings on the front, with small wheels turning on 30 adjustment clicks. For the rear, it will be 20 clicks but only on rebound. Compression adjustment is absent but preload adjustment is available.

The suspension is mounted on a steel tubular trellis frame, borrowed from the Duke and reworked at the steering column and rigidity levels. The aluminum swingarm and rear subframe are completely different from those of the roadster. As for the wheels, they feel sporty with a 17-inch size where Michelin Power 6 tires are wrapped. Regarding braking, the large 320 mm disc will take care of braking the 154 kg of the SMC R with a 2-piston radial Bybre caliper. Not very glamorous, but By Brembo calipers have proven their effectiveness on many models of the group.

The Supermotard has existed for many years at KTM, with models that are not really democratic. The 690 SMC R attempts to play versatility but is still of limited use, bordering on exclusivity. For the 450 SMR, it’s simpler: exclusivity and radicalism. So why not open the experience to more people with softer yet still typical machines? The 125 can open the ball, the 390 SMC R leads the dance. The Suzuki DR-Z4SM has just found someone to talk to.

M.B - Photos constructeur