Got this 990 SM KTM a while back, and let me tell you, it’s been a ride, literally. This thing’s got the LC8 engine, 999 ccs of pure oomph. When I first hopped on, I thought, “Okay, this is gonna be interesting.” And boy, was it.
First off, getting it started was a bit of a rough start. The 990 LC8 is known to be a little grumpy in the low end, and mine was no exception. But once you get past that, it smooths out. I took it out on the highway for a spin, and man, this bike can eat up the miles. The tank’s got 19 liters, so you can go for a good long while before needing a refill. I managed to squeeze out close to 300km on one tank, which is not too shabby. Of course, if you’re feeling a bit heavy on the throttle, you might see that number drop to around 250km, but hey, who’s counting when you’re having fun, right?
Now, I heard some folks talking about the differences between the SM, SMR, and SMT. From what I gathered, the SM is basically an SMT without the side fairing and screen, but it’s got a high fender like the SMR. And the SMR, well, it’s got a smaller 15l tank. I just went with the regular SM, seemed like a good all-around choice.
After a few rides, I started tinkering a bit. I switched the suspension to sport settings, which made a noticeable difference in handling. Then, I got rid of the stock airbox and put in a foam one. That made a bit of a change to the engine’s breathing. Also ditched the SAS system, and remapped it, which is like giving the bike a new brain. It sounds like a complicated process but mapping changes are super easy on the SM-T with a laptop. All these little tweaks really woke the bike up. It’s become so good. It felt like a whole new machine.
On long journeys it is very comfortable. These changes have really improved the bike’s performance. I heard this one’s an evolution of the Supermoto 950, and it’s got the Super Duke R’s engine and those Brembo brakes with monoblock radial-mount calipers. Fancy stuff.
- Engine: LC8, 999cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC
- Fuel Tank: 19 liters
- Range: 300km (normal), 250km (aggressive)
- Top Speed: Around 123 mph (198 km/h)
- Modifications:
- Sport suspension settings
- Foam airbox
- Removed SAS system
- Remapped ECU
So, there you have it. My journey with the 990 SM KTM. It’s been a blast, and I’m looking forward to many more miles with this beast. This thing is a keeper. And you know what? I’m already eyeing some of those Powerparts for it. Gonna be a slow process, but definitely worth it.
