KTM 690SM
In traditional bright orange, the 690SM is a tall beast, and lively with it. It's a very well engineered package, but strictly for those who really want one. It's not easy to ride, it's not comfy and it's not the quickest machine out there by a long way. But what it does offer is fun. And oodles of it.
KTMs are always distinctive and the 690 is certainly no exception. The heavily angled silencers are a refreshing break from the norm while the huge orange 'beak' points the way ahead. The footpegs are small to allow additional ground clearance and the mirrors perform surprisingly well for a big single. That's largely because KTM have somehow managed to reduce the ludicrous levels of vibration that so often haunt bikes of this nature.
The fuel injected 63bhp lump spins up freely, and on a decent stretch of downhill not governed by UK speed limits it will propel the rider to speeds in excess of 110mph. You wouldn't want to do that for long as there is nothing in the way of wind protection, but it's a sign of how advanced this motor is -- and how it's a cut above your average mid-range supermoto.
The 690 proved handy through Bristol city centre during its busiest periods as the additional height allows great vision across not just car roofs but the roofs of MPVs and 4x4s too. But it's on winding back roads that this bike really excels. We're talking B- and C-roads rather than A-roads.
Feedback through the WP suspension is excellent and the steering is unbelievably light. Weighing a mere 152kg, and with great wide bars, the KTM flicks into the tightest of bends with not just precision, but a real fluidity of movement akin to slalom skiing. Go for the true supermoto style of sticking your boot out and you begin to see why the footpegs have been made shorter than average. It was either that or let you grind them down for yourself!
Charging up through the slick six-speed box as you rush from one blind bend to the next is a real pleasure, but slowing down is even more so. Not only have KTM furnished the 690 with Brembo brakes front and rear, they have also provided a slipper clutch so you can stamp down through the gears without fear of locking up the rear.
All the toys come at a premium though, and at nearly £6,000 some may decide to look elsewhere for cheaper thrills. But if you're happy to splash the cash, the 690 is definitely the one to have. You won't be disappointed.
Article written: September 24, 2007
The KTM 690SM was kindly loaned by Fowlers Motorcycles of Bath Road, Bristol. For more information about test rides, call Fowlers on 0117 977 0466.
OUR STEER ON THE KTM 690SM
Price: £5,895 (@ Jan 09)
Engine: 654cc, four stroke, single cylinder
Top speed: 115 mph (est)
Power: 63 bhp at rpm
Torque: 48 lb/ft at rpm
Weight: 152 kg
Seat Height: 875 mm
Fuel capacity: 13.5 litres
by Jon Bennett
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