KTM 390 SMC R Official Specs Revealed, Launch Likely In India

After much anticipation, the official details of the KTM 390 SMC R have finally been unveiled. The newest member of KTM’s supermoto family made its first appearance at EICMA 2024, and it instantly grabbed our fancy. Not just because it will be built in India, or that it will be powered by the same 399 cc engine from the 390 Duke but simply for the sheer potential that it reserves as a package that will allow us to indulge in some serious hooliganism. And one look at the spec sheet barely leaves any doubt in the mind.

Right from the frame to its underpinnings, the KTM 390 SMC R shares a lot with the naked sport KTM 390 Duke. It is also built around the same Gen 3 platform, with the new steel trellis frame. However, the wheelbase is 96 mm longer on the supermoto, thanks to the longer swingarm and longer-travel suspension that are likely to be shared with some version of the upcoming 390 Adventure family. Similarly, the steering head angle, triple clamps, subframe mounts, and the frame’s rigidity have also been upgraded to suit the supermoto’s characters. 

While the suspension components retain the same levels of adjustability as the Duke, there is 230 mm of travel at both ends, almost 80 mm more than the naked. And given this change, the seat height has also gone up to a daunting 860 mm, 60 mm more than the India-spec 390 Duke. We did hop on the bike at EICMA 2024, and you can get a small glimpse of the same in this video. 

The brakes are the same though as the 390 Duke with 320 mm disc at the front, and 240 mm disc for the rear. The bike rolls on 17-inch wheels which are shod with 110/70- and 150/60- sticky Michelin Power 6 tyres. These will likely be replaced with either the Metzeler Sportec M5s or India-made options (like Reise TraceRad, Ceat SportRad or more) for the India-spec bike. Lastly, the fuel tank has also decreased in size to 9-litres, which in turn has helped the 390 SMC R’s case to be 11 kilos lighter than the 390 Duke, tipping the scales at 154 kg.

On the features front, besides the usual all-LED lighting, the KTM 390 SMC R gets an all-new slim 4.2-inch TFT display. KTM says that the graphics and UI of this screen are unique to the 390 SMC R. It will get the connectivity features, like turn-by-turn navigation, call/SMS alert, and music control as usual. 

The KTM 390 SMC R is powered by the latest LC4C, 399 cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine producing the same 45.3 bhp and 39 Nm. Street and Sport riding modes should alter the throttle response and the electronic aid intervention levels. While the former keeps matters slightly reserved, in the latter mode, the traction control is completely turned off, allowing you to slide in style into the bends. 

While initially the SMC R was not intended for our market, recent developments have given us hope that KTM India is considering selling a few units out of limited dealerships. The bike might not make an instant appearance, like the 390 Adventure variants are expected in February but sometime later in the year. Bookings for the 390 Adventure series have already commenced in the country, however, its official asking price is yet to be disclosed.