Comparison KTM 1290 Super Duke GT & 890 SMT Touring - Best Bang for the Buck?!

Comments · 31

• SO

  @sorecawk · 1 year ago

  just went over 11,000 miles on my 890 smt today.  love it

  7

• IM

  @Imotopilot · 1 year ago

  Coming from many V2 Ducati Multistradas, my 2023 1290 SDGT hits the perfect balance of brute hyper-sport performance and the ability to tour.   Cheers KTM!

  5

• FL

  @flyinryan7340 · 1 year ago

  Last year when you guy's did the 1290 SAS vs 890 SMT comparison I had both in my garage and faced alot of the same dilemmas. Ktm bought my 1290 SAS back after what is apparently an unfixable clutch issue so I decided to try a SDGT as I preferred the 890s playfulness over the SAS (but missed the engine). And ironically,, here we are again 😂 You guys are spot on with the SMTs approachable versatility,, yet I still find myself jumping on the SDGT every time I ride without a passenger. Everything about the bike just feels more quality and special, and capable. A BIG must is changing the front sprocket from the 17t to a 16t ($33 ktm part). On roads where I'd be in 5th-6th on my 1290 SAS I'm in 3rd-4th with the SDGTs factory gearing just to keep the engine in a responsive area of the rev range. With the 16t you can actually use 5th on the street (instead of only highway) and it eliminates the bogging feeling (or vibrations you mention below 3500rpm) and you can pull (hard!) from low rpms similar to the closer ratiod 1290 SAS. That one modification now has me contemplating selling the SMT although I fear I'd regret it. Suppose I'll enjoy both for now. Love your insightful reviews and not doing the cookie cutter comparisons of most other channels, keep it up 🍻 Cheers

  10

• MA

  @marcelreinhardt4884 · 1 year ago

  Great review of the bikes! Thanks!<br><br>I&apos;m owning a 1290 GT of year 2016. It got 124.000 km on its ODO-meter. All ridden with pure fun! Especially when traveling &nbsp;with my wife and having luggage for camping onboard the GT shows its real potential. This is exactly the point which I&apos;m missing in you test....<br>It&apos;s clear you can&apos;t consider each and every usecase, but with a Sports-TOURER I&apos;d expect at least some more than one senstence about paniers.

  4

• MA

  @martindonker5804 · 7 months ago

  Yes, just bought a new smt! Thanks for the fun reviews!

  1

• LU

  @lucaltidore92 · 1 year ago

  Good stuff guys

• DI

  @disekjoumoer · 1 year ago

  Excellent comparison! I&apos;m a big KTM fan. I just like the way the bikes are made to have power and feel light.

• MA

  @marcusgeorge1825 · 1 year ago

  The SMT would’ve benifited from the standard Duke 890 engine map as well as the Adventure screen, and additional fuel capacity for a bit more relief from the wind between and also increase distance between fuel stops. &nbsp;As it has the tyres to encourage more rider engagement. The longer travel suspension can be adjusted to minimise the travel and provide a more engaging ride. &nbsp;It just might come down to how deep your pockets are and which engine layout you prefer. Both are great bikes!

  1

• AB

  @abymathew295 · 1 year ago

  I own a KTM RC 390, never ridden any Big KTMs...but I got a chance to ride a 1290 SDR last month...ohhh my Gawd...what a machine...I was afraid of pushing it...but after a corner in 3rd gear I opened the throttle just above halft the RPM....it felt like someone&apos;s throwing you off from a cliff with a jet pack attached to you....I couldn&apos;t even breathe for a while...🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶<br>I have no idea how they are street legal.🤯🤯🤯🤯

  2

• ED

  @eddiemarsh6256 · 2 days ago

  I ve put 220,000 klm on my 1290 gt and its been a super reliable bike, the front brake fix &nbsp;is you get rid of the poverty master cylinder and fit the brembo RCS19 and it works very well

• MI

  @MinguezBurton · 1 year ago

  I own a 890 smt and im in love with it, i had a couple of electronical issues but nothing important, but I already knew what I was getting into when I bought a KTM, it is really worth it 😁

• BE

  @befreetoride979 · 1 month ago

  I had an SMT - handles great, comfortable, I didn&apos;t warm to the engine and with luggage it did go the distance, but you could feel it. I don&apos;t like the looks either, but get to the twisty roads, drop the luggage and its hard to beat! I now own a gen 1 superduke GT and that is a lovely bike, then engine is super-nice and propels you to speeds you didn&apos;t quite realise you were doing with ease. The handling is easily up to those speeds. its a sport bike with a big tank, screen and luggage after all. Finally, for.a KTM it is a good looking bike! but it doesn&apos;t feel big or difficult to handle like full on touring bikes. At second hand prices the two are roughly similar and I pick the GT