We were the first to show you these images when we put them up a month ago, but it’s worth you seeing our gallery of spy shots once again – because this is going to be one of the bikes of next year to have a ride on.
The KTM roadster is going up in engine size for next year and from our spy shots we can see that the bike is also getting a new chassis, beefed up swingarm and new, lower-slung side exhaust.
The bike has just been caught out on road tests in all-black bodywork, but expect this latest version of the Austrian factory’s official supermoto to be shown at the big bike shows this winter and make up part of the KTM 2020 model year.
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From what we can see in the photos it looks like the bike’s been given a major makeover in terms of chassis strength and performance, using many parts from the company’s 790 Adventure motorcycle in a more pared-down roadster motorcycle. Gone is the previous 690 SMC’s single front brake caliper to be replaced with proper dual discs gripped by a Brembo radial caliper. Here’s the current bike, below, for you to compare with our spy shots and to show just how changed the upcoming model is from the outgoing bike:
Supension remains WP and the engine in the new bike has been changed from the old LC4 unit to the same LC8 powerplant as is used in the 790 Adventure, meaning a serious hike in power for the SMC. The outgoing 690 SMC makes 74bhp but the new bike will punt out 95bhp.
From the rear it’s possible to see how much KTM is flaring out the petrol tank and radiator-shrouds to give the rider’s knees some protection when on thenew bike, the 790’s bars look wider than the 690’s too and the new bike is clearly getting a TFT dash. The bike is also getting a bigger pillion seat with more substantial grab rails.
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