KTM 990 Supermoto R 2012 — Specifications

What drives KTM to release a R version of its big supermoto? The answer comes down to one word: radicalness. The 2012 KTM 990 Supermoto R pushes the envelope even further than the standard SM, with a sharpened chassis, revised WP suspension, and the temperament of a machine built for tight sequences of corners. On paper, it's a promise of thrills. On the road, it's a commitment.

Beneath the minimalist bodywork beats a 75°-offset 999 cc V-twin, fitted with four valves per cylinder and an 11.5:1 compression ratio. The numbers speak for themselves: 115 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 97 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. This twin doesn't aim for smoothness. It delivers its low-down torque with unapologetic brutality, ideal for powering out of hairpins. Against a Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP, the KTM 990 Supermoto R plays in the same league of raw power, but with a rougher, earthier engine character. The claimed top speed of 200 km/h confirms that this machine isn't built for the highway but for winding back roads.

The chrome-molybdenum steel trellis frame, powder-coated, houses an inverted WP 4860 ROMA PA fork up front and a WP 4618 monoshock with compression damping control at the rear. The short 1,505 mm wheelbase, combined with a generous 195 mm ground clearance, produces a nimble machine capable of diving into corners with an agility that few supermotards in this displacement class can claim. Brembo brakes with radial-mount four-piston calipers at the front and standard ABS provide a welcome safety net for a machine of this caliber. The 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 tires offer a fair compromise between grip and sporty profile. At 192 kg dry, the R stays contained for a twin of nearly one liter, even though the mid-2012 cost-cutting exercise added a few kilos: the forged wheels gave way to cast models, some carbon parts disappeared, and the calipers are no longer monoblock. The price dropped accordingly, coming in at 13,170 euros.

This 2012 version of the KTM 990 Supermoto R embodies a deliberate compromise by the Austrian manufacturer. By integrating ABS and reducing the bill, KTM makes its R more accessible without betraying its sporting DNA. The seat perched at 875 mm and the 15-liter tank are reminders that this machine is aimed at experienced riders, comfortable with a high riding position and an engine that doesn't forgive sloppy inputs. Beginners need not apply. Mountain road enthusiasts and supermoto session addicts, however, will find in this R a precise, lively tool, radical enough to justify the "R" on the side panel.

The question of positioning remains. By 2012, the competition had grown and the Husqvarna Nuda 900 R, a technical cousin, was treading on the Katoche's turf. The KTM retains the advantage of torque and displacement, but the big supermotard segment was already shrinking. This 990 Supermoto R may well be the swan song of an era when manufacturers dared to offer machines as excessive as they were exhilarating. What is the top speed of the KTM 990 Supermoto R? 200 km/h, sure, but that's not where it truly comes alive. Its playground is the corner, the chain of turns, the late braking point. And in that arena, few machines do it better.