Reviews/ Ktm/ Sm 990
Ktm Sm 990
8.2/10 Supermoto

Ktm Sm 990 Review

"A brilliant, high-maintenance lunatic that rewards prepared, attentive owners."

Experienced riders wanting maximum urban and canyon excitement $6,500-$10,500 used 2008-2013
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Used Buyer Review

The SM 990 is the supermoto that rewired my brain about what a big single-cylinder machine could do. That LC8 V-twin pulls hard from nothing and screams past 9,000rpm like it's personally offended by speed limits. It's genuinely fast, absurdly flickable, and sounds absolutely mental. When it's working, nothing touches it for urban aggression or canyon-carving entertainment. Here's the honest part nobody tells you: these bikes eat money when neglected. Check the valve clearances obsessively — they go out of spec and previous owners routinely ignore it. The throttle bodies need syncing, the subframes crack, and KTM's orange paint chips if you breathe near it. Always pull the maintenance history and budget $500-800 immediately for a proper service regardless. Buy one that's been genuinely maintained, not just washed before sale. Find a bike from an enthusiast rather than someone who bought it impulsively and discovered 900cc supermoto wasn't their personality after all. They're out there, and when you find the right one, it's one of the most rewarding bikes you'll ever own.

Pros

+Savage LC8 V-twin character
+Genuinely telepathic handling
+Supermoto royalty status
+Lightweight for displacement
+Endlessly entertaining everywhere

Cons

-Expensive when neglected
-Subframes crack under stress
-Thirsty around 38mpg
-Thin parts availability now
warning
Avoid if

You want cheap reliable commuting without mechanical involvement

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