- Gets 17-inch tubeless spoke wheels
- Adjustable suspension to be on offer
- Could be priced above Rs. 3 lakh, ex-showroom
KTM is prepping to launch the new 390 SMC R in India, perhaps within the next few months. Ahead of its official debut, the company has been actively testing the motorcycle on public roads, and we recently spotted a test mule of the same.
The 390 SMC R is based on the same platform as the new 390 Adventure and the upcoming 390 Enduro R. However, just like a quintessential supermoto, it runs on a pair of 17-inch spoke wheels, which, just like the 390 Adventure, seem to be of tubeless type. From what we know so far, the suspension travel of the bike is more than its ADV sibling and the same as the international-spec Enduro R. To be specific, it is a staggering 230mm at both ends. There are WP Apex USD forks up front, which are fully adjustable for compression and rebound. The rear WP monoshock, meanwhile, is adjustable for rebound and preload. Additionally, it gets dual-channel ABS along with Supermoto ABS mode.
Powering the KTM 390 SMC R will be the same 399cc, liquid-cooled engine from the Adventure and the Duke range. This engine makes 45.3bhp and 39Nm and is known for its strong and punchy acceleration along with decent tractability. Similar to the Enduro, it gets a small 4.3-inch TFT screen, which will presumably be Bluetooth-enabled.
Upon launch, the KTM 390 SMC R could mark the arrival of accessible, sub-500cc supermotos in India. It is expected to be priced slightly above the Rs. 3 lakh mark (ex-showroom).
