Engine: 398.7 cc, 45 hp, Happy to Rev to 9,000 rpm—with an Underfloor Exhaust That Saves Two Kilograms

The 390 SMC R is powered by a liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder engine displacing 398.7 cc—more than the model designation suggests. It produces 45 hp at 9,000 rpm and 39 Nm at 7,000 rpm, spins willingly, and delivers linear, easily controlled thrust. Engine management comes from Bosch, while throttle control is electronic through Ride-by-Wire. Shifting is manual through six gears, with the slipper clutch reducing excessive engine-braking torque during downshifts. An optional quickshifter allows clutchless upshifts and downshifts.

The exhaust does not run along the side of the motorcycle but disappears compactly beneath the engine—hence underbelly. According to KTM, that saves two kilograms compared with a conventional side-mounted system, keeps the center of gravity low, and leaves the tail clean without a visible muffler. The styling is polarizing; the physics make sense. The service interval is 10,000 km, remarkable for a supermoto when traditional rivals often require service every 7,500 km or less. With 45 hp, the SMC R remains A2-compliant. The power is enough for real fun without trying to pull your arms out of their sockets. If you want more, buy a 690.

Suspension: WP APEX USD Fork, 30-Click Adjustment, 230 mm Travel—Standard, No Extra Charge

The suspension is the strongest argument for the 390 SMC R. The 43 mm WP APEX Open Cartridge fork offers 230 mm of travel. Rebound and compression damping can each be adjusted individually through 30 clicks. That is standard equipment—no surcharge, no option package. Comparable A2 motorcycles often offer little more than rear spring-preload adjustment. At the back, a directly mounted WP shock is also adjustable for spring preload and damping, with the same 230 mm of travel as the fork. Both ends can therefore be tailored to the rider, body weight, and intended use, whether that means a lively backroad setup or greater stability on a kart track.

Braking is handled by a 320 mm front disc and a radially mounted ByBre four-piston fixed caliper. ByBre is Brembo’s Indian subsidiary, and the stopping power here is well above average for the class. A 240 mm disc works at the rear. Bosch supplies the ABS, configured as Supermoto ABS. In Sport mode, rear-wheel ABS is automatically disabled, allowing deliberate slides—an essential part of the supermoto concept—while front ABS remains active. Lean-angle sensing through an IMU supports traction control and cornering ABS. The wheels are 17-inch wire-spoke units with aluminum rims, not a cheap cast-wheel compromise.

Cockpit and Ergonomics: 4.2-Inch TFT With Navigation, Street and Sport Modes, 860 mm Seat Height—161 kg

The 4.2-inch color TFT supports KTM Connect with turn-by-turn navigation, music control, and phone-call functions, while a USB-C port is standard at the cockpit. Operation is through illuminated switchgear and is regarded as intuitive. Two riding modes are available: Street for everyday use and wet roads, with full cornering ABS and softer traction-control intervention, and Sport with Supermoto ABS, sharper MTC settings, and a sportier engine response. In Sport mode, the rear can therefore be deliberately slid out—something no conventional A2 motorcycle is designed to encourage.

Seat height is 860 mm on a narrow, one-piece enduro-style seat. That is tall, but the motorcycle’s slim profile makes it manageable. KTM quotes 161 kg fully fueled. The steel fuel tank holds 9 liters. Depending on riding style, range is around 180 to 230 km. The 390 SMC R is not a long-distance motorcycle. It is a machine for a favorite loop, an evening ride, the kart track, or urban traffic.

Handling: Razor-Sharp Through Corners, Easy to Control—No Other A2 Motorcycle Rides Quite Like This

A 161 kg curb weight and 45 hp is the right formula for a supermoto. The weight is close to 125-class territory, while the engine provides enough performance for genuine riding dynamics. When the pace rises, the limiting factor is not the motor but the rider. On backroads, the SMC R feels lively, easy to meter, and full of character. It cuts through corners with razor-sharp accuracy and remains agile even uphill with a three-digit-kilogram rider aboard. In its Sport setup, the WP suspension builds confidence at the front without becoming nervous. The balance between stability and agility is very well judged.

One small reservation concerns the fork response over transverse ridges, where it can feel slightly blunt. At this price, that is acceptable. The Yamaha MT-03 costs similar money but has no adjustable suspension, no Supermoto ABS, and is not a supermoto. The Honda CB500 Hornet rides differently and serves a different purpose. In the pure supermoto segment below EUR 7,000, nothing else offers a comparable equipment package.

Cost: EUR 6,299 Plus EUR 495 Ancillary Charges—and Almost No Extra-Cost Options

In Germany, the 390 SMC R costs EUR 6,299 plus EUR 495 in delivery and ancillary charges, bringing the total to around EUR 6,794. What comes standard is remarkable: genuinely adjustable WP APEX suspension, Supermoto ABS, lean-sensitive MTC, Ride-by-Wire, a TFT display with navigation, USB-C, a radial four-piston ByBre front brake, slipper clutch, and 17-inch wire-spoke wheels. The only significant extra-cost option is the quickshifter. That is it. Configuring a comparable package from Yamaha or Honda costs more—if the same features are available at all.

Production takes place at Bajaj in India. Earlier 390 generations had quality issues, while the current third generation is regarded within the community as considerably more mature. The 10,000 km service interval keeps running costs under control, which matters on a motorcycle that can also serve as everyday transportation.

Verdict

The KTM 390 SMC R is not a cut-price 690 and not a disguised Duke derivative. It is a properly conceived standalone supermoto for A2 riders—and the most complete motorcycle in its price class. Genuinely adjustable WP suspension, Supermoto ABS, a 10,000 km service interval, and a 161 kg curb weight make the package work. If you want a supermoto and need to stay A2-compliant, this is the one to buy.

 

Quick Check

+ 43 mm WP APEX USD fork standard: 230 mm travel, rebound and compression each adjustable through 30 clicks—no surcharge.

+ Supermoto ABS: rear-wheel ABS automatically disabled in Sport mode, designed for deliberate sliding.

+ 161 kg fully fueled: lightest production A2 supermoto in the segment with genuinely adjustable suspension.

+ 45 hp, 39 Nm, Ride-by-Wire, Bosch EMS—A2-compliant and fully electronic.

+ MTC traction control with lean-angle sensing standard.

+ Radial-mount ByBre four-piston front brake with 320 mm disc: stopping power well above class expectations.

+ 17-inch wire-spoke wheels with aluminum rims standard, not cast wheels.

+ 10,000 km service interval: roughly twice as long as traditional supermoto schedules.

+ Underfloor exhaust: two kilograms lighter, lower center of gravity, clean tail section.

+ 4.2-inch TFT with KTM Connect: navigation, music, phone; USB-C standard.

+ Slipper clutch standard; quickshifter optional.

+ EUR 6,299 + EUR 495 ancillary charges: most complete A2 supermoto package in the segment.

+ + Warranty: 4 years.

 

– 9-liter tank: range around 180–230 km—not a long-distance motorcycle.

– 860 mm seat height: shorter riders may be on tiptoe.

– Fork response over transverse ridges is slightly blunt.

– Underbelly exhaust: lacks the classic supermoto exhaust sound.

– Manufactured by Bajaj in India: earlier 390 generations had quality issues; the current generation is regarded as mature.

 

Technical Specifications: KTM 390 SMC R (2026)

Country of Manufacture: India, Bajaj plant; third-generation KTM platform; developed by KTM in Mattighofen, Austria

Engine: Liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke, DOHC, Euro 5+; Bosch EMS; Ride-by-Wire

Displacement: 398.7 cc

Power: 33 kW / 45 hp at 9,000 rpm—A2-compliant

Torque: 39 Nm at 7,000 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed, slipper clutch, 520 X-Ring chain drive, optional quickshifter

Riding Modes / Electronics: Two riding modes: Street and Sport; MTC traction control with lean-angle sensor, IMU; cornering ABS standard; Supermoto ABS disables rear-wheel ABS in Sport mode; engine-brake control

Frame: Powder-coated steel trellis main frame + bolt-on steel trellis subframe, two-piece bolted construction

Swingarm: Gravity-cast aluminum swingarm specific to SMC R; laterally offset rear shock

Fork: WP APEX Open Cartridge USD, 43 mm; 230 mm travel; rebound and compression adjustable through 30 clicks each

Rear Shock: WP, direct-mounted; adjustable spring preload and damping; 230 mm travel

Front Brake: 320 mm disc; radial-mount ByBre four-piston fixed caliper; cornering ABS

Rear Brake: 240 mm disc; Supermoto ABS, rear ABS disabled in Sport mode

Wheels: Wire-spoke wheels with aluminum rims; 17-inch front and rear

Tires: 110/70 R17 front; 150/60 R17 rear

Exhaust: Underfloor; no visible side-mounted muffler; approx. 2 kg lighter than side exhaust

Display: 4.2-inch TFT; KTM Connect with navigation, music, phone; USB-C standard; illuminated switchgear

Lighting: Full LED

Weight: 161 kg fully fueled

Seat Height: 860 mm

Fuel Tank: 9 liters

Service Interval: 10,000 km

CO2 / Emissions: 79 g/km; Euro 5+

License: A2, 33 kW / 45 hp

Colors: Orange; additional colors available through dealers

Price in Germany: EUR 6,299 plus EUR 495 ancillary charges, approx. EUR 6,794 total

Warranty: 4 years