KTM 990 Supermoto R 2010 — Specifications

What drives KTM to take an already razor-sharp SM 990 and slap an "R" on its tail? The answer lies in a few details that change everything. The 2010 KTM 990 Supermoto R is the no-compromise version of a supermoto that was never known for being gentle. Perched 875 mm off the ground, dressed in an aggressive livery where white, orange, and black fight for attention, this machine makes its intentions clear at first glance. The chrome-molybdenum trellis frame, painted in bright orange, doesn't hide behind any bodywork. It proudly declares its purpose: to provide a rigid, precise chassis built to attack tight sequences of corners with a nimbleness the standard version simply can't match.

Beneath the 15-liter tank, the 999 cc LC8 V-twin produces 115 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 97 Nm of torque from just 7,000 rpm. Numbers that place the beast well above what a Ducati Hypermotard 1100 offers in terms of raw power, even if the Italian plays the style card more convincingly. The Austrian engine, with its oversized 101 mm bore and 11.5:1 compression ratio, favors hard-charging rev climbs and snappy drive out of corners. The six-speed gearbox and chain final drive do their job without fuss. What's the top speed of the KTM 990 Supermoto R? The speedometer stops at 200 km/h, an almost trivial figure on a machine that truly lives between 60 and 140 km/h, in the twisties, where it excels.

The chassis department received special attention on this R variant. The WP suspension, featuring a 48 mm inverted fork up front and a single shock at the rear, delivers travel calibrated for sporty road use. The compact 1,510 mm wheelbase and generous 195 mm ground clearance allow the bike to tip from one lean angle to the next without hesitation, even on the rough surfaces of mountain back roads. Braking hardware means business: twin front discs gripped by radially-mounted four-piston Brembo calipers, and a single rear disc with a floating two-piston caliper. Enough to plant late braking maneuvers with reassuring control, provided the rider has an educated right hand.

At 189 kg dry, the R sheds a few kilos compared to the standard SM thanks to lighter wheels and refinements to the seat and tank. The weight saving is immediately noticeable in direction changes. The bike pivots with an agility that would make an Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 feel like a touring bike. The flip side is a narrow, tall seat that won't do any favors to shorter riders, and a clearly sport-oriented ergonomic setup that will take its toll on long rides. The 15-liter tank demands frequent stops if you're wringing out the twin with enthusiasm. This is not a touring machine, and it doesn't pretend to be.

Priced at 13,170 euros in 2010, the KTM 990 Supermoto R was aimed at demanding riders — motorcyclists who already know the supermoto world and want a more radical tool to attack their favorite road networks. Against the Husqvarna SM 610, too modest in power, or the more bourgeois Ducati Hypermotard, the R occupied a unique niche: that of the overpowered, unfiltered supermoto. A machine of character, built for corners and nothing else.