KTM 990 Supermoto R 2011 — Specifications

Who remembers a time when supermotos were nothing more than enduros fitted with road tires, cobbled together in a garage on a Saturday night? KTM took the concept very seriously. With the 2011 KTM 990 Supermoto R, the Mattighofen firm pushes things a notch further than the already sharp standard SM. We're talking about a machine built to carve through corners with surgical precision, not a toy for a quick run to the bakery.

Beneath the aggressive stare of this uncompromising Austrian—fluorescent orange frame, white bodywork, and carbon accents—lies a 999 cc V-twin running a compression ratio of 11.5:1. The numbers speak for themselves: 115 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 97 Nm of torque available from 7,000 rpm. This four-valve-per-cylinder twin doesn't do things by halves. It hits hard, it hits fast, and throttle response stays direct across the entire rev range. For those wondering about the top speed of the KTM 990 Supermoto R, the speedometer tops out around 200 km/h. This isn't a faired sportbike—it's a supermoto—and frankly, at that speed on wide handlebars with the wind full in your face, there's already more than enough to keep you entertained.

The real masterstroke lies in the chassis. The chrome-molybdenum trellis frame, paired with an aluminum swingarm, delivers a level of rigidity the base SM simply can't match. The WP suspension—48 mm inverted fork up front and a monoshock at the rear—is retuned for sportier use. Braking duties fall to radially mounted Brembo four-piston calipers on twin front discs. This is top-shelf hardware, the kind of equipment found on far more expensive sportbikes. At 189 kg dry, the R sheds a few kilos compared to its standard sibling. On the scales, it doesn't seem like much. Through a tight series of turns, the difference is immediately felt in how quickly it changes direction.

Against the competition of the era, the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO played in the same league with a smoother-tempered Italian twin but a less sharp chassis. The Husqvarna SMR 511, lighter still, remained confined to a more radical and less versatile role on the road. The KTM sits right between the two: civilized enough to devour Alpine passes all day long thanks to its 15-liter tank, yet wild enough to put a grin on your face through every hairpin. The seat height of 875 mm and the short 1,510 mm wheelbase confirm the brief: this motorcycle is aimed at experienced riders who want a precise tool, not beginners looking for comfort.

The price tag of €13,170 is justified by the quality of the onboard equipment—WP suspension, Brembo brakes, six-speed chain-driven transmission—but it must be said the bill remains steep for a supermoto with zero electronic aids. No traction control, no ABS. In 2011, KTM stood by that choice: the R is for those who want to manage everything through wrist input and feel. A radical philosophy that gives this machine all its edge, and that explains why it holds strong residual value among riders who crave raw sensations.