KTM 390 SMC R 2025
The A2 supermoto that rides like it costs twice as much.
68.3/ 100
Scored within supermoto, methodology here
€6,999
list price
- power
- 45 hp
- wet weight
- 161 kg
- tank range
- 250 km
The short version
KTM took the 390 Duke platform, gave it long-travel WP suspension, supermoto geometry and a cornering ABS with a proper supermoto mode, and priced it under seven grand. It is the most focused A2 supermoto on sale and the first one in years with real electronics.
Where it wins
- Genuine supermoto chassis with 230 mm of adjustable WP travel
- Cornering ABS with supermoto mode and lean-sensitive traction control
- 45 hp and 161 kg wet makes it the performance pick of the A2 class
Where it loses
- 9 litre tank limits range to well under 250 km
- 860 mm seat is still tall for shorter riders
- Pillion accommodation is a token gesture
Score breakdown
Engine and performance
18.8 / 25Handling and chassis
10.3 / 20Value
15.0 / 20Practicality
9.8 / 15Technology
8.3 / 10Reliability and ownership
6.1 / 10The full review
What the 390 SMC R actually is
Most small supermotos are naked bikes with a sticker pack, so I read the launch coverage prepared to call a bluff. There was no bluff to call. Every tester who rode the 390 SMC R came back describing a scaled-down 690, not a dressed-up Duke: real supermoto geometry, long-travel WP suspension that works, and a chassis that comfortably outruns the engine. That is the right way around for a bike people will learn on.
The word that appears in every single review is some variant of giggling. Testers on kart tracks found it flatters average riders and rewards good ones, and the consensus is that no bike near this price is anywhere near this much fun. When the entire press corps agrees on something, either the canapes were exceptional or the bike is. The spec sheet suggests the bike.
Engine and electronics
The 399 cc single is a rev-happy, responsive thing that leans toward flickability rather than outright speed, and reviewers found the fuelling finally clean after years of small KTM singles that stumbled at small throttle openings. It is quick enough to entertain and never enough to frighten, which for a first supermoto is the correct recipe.
The electronics are where the class gets embarrassed. Cornering ABS with a proper supermoto mode that unlocks the rear, lean-sensitive traction control and ride modes: road testers keep pointing out, with mild disbelief, that this is more than bikes at twice the money carry. The quickshifter still costs extra, a foul I will keep calling until KTM stops committing it.
Tank, seat and the fine print
The complaints across reviews are consistent and honest: the 9 litre tank is good for about 250 km ridden gently and rather less ridden the way the chassis begs, the 860 mm seat filters out shorter riders, and the pillion pad is for the brochure, not for people. Nobody found a deal-breaker. Several looked hard.
At 6,999 EUR it undercuts the big supermotos by nearly half while carrying better electronics than any of them. The press verdict and mine land in the same place: this is the bike the A2 supermoto class now gets measured against.
Full specs
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Engine | Single cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC |
| Displacement | 398.7 cc |
| Power | 45 hp at 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 39 Nm at 7,000 rpm |
| Power to weight | 0.28 hp/kg |
| Chassis | |
| Wet weight | 161 kg |
| Front suspension | WP APEX 43 mm open cartridge, 230 mm |
| Front adjustability | Compression and rebound |
| Rear suspension | WP APEX monoshock, 230 mm |
| Rear adjustability | Preload and rebound |
| Front brake | 320 mm, radial 4-piston |
| ABS | Cornering ABS |
| Dimensions | |
| Seat height | 860 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1453 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 9 L |
| Claimed consumption | 3.6 L/100 km |
| Fuel range | 250 km |
| Ownership | |
| Price | €6,999 |
| Service interval | 10,000 km |
| Valve check | 20,000 km |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Equipment | |
| Dash | TFT |
| Ride modes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Optional |
| Cruise control | Not available |
| Connectivity | Yes |
Compare the 390 SMC R
KTM 390 SMC R vs Suzuki DR-Z4SM
45 hp vs 38 hp / 161 kg vs 154 kg
Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono vs KTM 390 SMC R
77.5 hp vs 45 hp / 161 kg vs 161 kg
KTM 125 SMC R vs KTM 390 SMC R
15 hp vs 45 hp / 152 kg vs 161 kg
Fantic XMF 125 Performance vs KTM 390 SMC R
15 hp vs 45 hp / 127 kg vs 161 kg
Aprilia SX 125 vs KTM 390 SMC R
15 hp vs 45 hp / 136 kg vs 161 kg
Frequently asked
- Is the KTM 390 SMC R A2 licence legal?
- Yes. The KTM 390 SMC R makes 45 hp (33.1 kW), inside the 35 kW A2 ceiling, so it is sold A2 compliant with no restriction kit required.
- How fast is the KTM 390 SMC R?
- Our power-to-weight model estimates 0 to 100 km/h in about 5.4 seconds, from 45 hp moving 161 kg wet. That is an estimate for comparison, not a measured time, and it is labelled that way everywhere on this site.
- What is the fuel range of the KTM 390 SMC R?
- About 250 km on paper: a 9 litre tank against a claimed 3.6 L/100 km. Ride it with enthusiasm and the maths gets worse, never better.
- How tall is the seat on the KTM 390 SMC R?
- The KTM 390 SMC R seat sits at 860 mm, which is on the tall side, so shorter riders should sit on one before signing anything. At 161 kg wet, weight does the rest of the talking at a standstill.
- How much does the KTM 390 SMC R cost?
- €6,999 list price in the EU market this site scores. It earns 15 of 20 value points on our formula, which weighs price against equipment and running costs.
The workshop
Build your 390 SMC R
The upgrades owners actually fit, at typical retail prices. Tap a part to bolt it on and I re-run the full 100-point scorecard on your build, same math as the official score above. Shop links are affiliate links: they support the site and cost you nothing extra.