The New KTM 690 SMC R has Landed at Triple D Motosport
And it's here to cause trouble!
The wait is over. The new KTM 690 SMC R has officially landed at Triple D Motosport, and if you like your bikes loud, light, and unapologetically unhinged, this one’s got your name written all over it.
Let’s get one thing straight: in the single-cylinder supermoto world, the 690 SMC R has always been the benchmark. Since 2015 it’s been the bike everyone else measures themselves against. Sure, it’s worn different clothes over the years – the Husqvarna 701 and the now-rumoured-to-be-discontinued GasGas SM 700 (all essentially the same bike with different plastics) – but KTM has always been the original and the reference point.
Until Ducati decided to have a go.
The Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono, which debuted last year, was very clearly built to challenge the KTM head-on. A serious attempt, no doubt. But KTM hasn’t just responded – they’ve come back swinging.
The 2026 model year is the most significant update the 690 SMC R has seen since 2021, and it’s a big one. KTM claims the engine is 50% new, and the numbers back that up. Power is now up to 79hp (previously 74hp), with a monster 73Nm of torque. That’s not just more than before – it’s significantly more torque than the Ducati too. And on a bike like this, torque is everything.
Twist the throttle and things happen immediately.
The 2026 KTM SMC R
The real headline, though, is the new Tech Pack. This is a £500 optional upgrade, available on top of the very reasonable £10,499 on-the-road price (£11k with Tech Pack), and honestly, it’s a no-brainer.
The Tech Pack includes:
Add to that the new TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity for sat nav and phone calls, and it’s a massive leap forward. Compared to the old SMC R – which had basic traction control (on or off), ABS, Quickshifter and a very minimal dash – this is night and day.
Simply put, KTM has seriously upped the game to make sure the Ducati doesn’t steal the crown.
Dobler TThe 690 SMC R is aimed squarely at the fun-loving rebel. The rider who enjoys skids, slides, wheelies, and the raw, punching character of a big single-cylinder engine. This isn’t your sensible commuter or mile-munching tourer – it’s the bike you ride when you want to misbehave.
Dobler TThat said, it will make that commute to work more exciting, and getting your knee down is always an option to deliver that rush of adrenaline while your grinning like an idiot inside your helmet.
And despite all that hooligan potential, KTM still backs the 690 SMC R with a 4 year premium manufacturer warranty for peace of mind, so you can enjoy every clutch-up wheelie knowing you’re covered.
If you’re ready to experience one of the most exciting, character-filled bikes on the road today, come and see the new KTM 690 SMC R at Triple D Motosport.
Just don’t blame us if you start taking the long way home… every time.
2 of these bad boys landed at Triple D this week with now just 1 remaining. Visit our Kendal showroom to check it out or complete the form below to register your interest.
