The LC4 690 cc single-cylinder engine combines powerful acceleration from the very lowest revs with an outstanding free-revving nature and refined engine running. Another big plus is besides the engine being extremely economical with fuel it also has long service intervals of 10,000 km, keeping running costs low.

A lightweight, compact cylinder head contains four valves and a single camshaft placed over the intake valves, and a secondary balancer shaft driven by the timing chain. The intake valves are actuated by finger followers and the exhaust valves by a rocker arm.

Twin balancer shafts, one in front of the crankshaft and the other in the cylinder head reduce vibration, which ensures a smoother ride.

Plain bearings are used in the conrod to ensure a reduced reciprocating mass, which helps the engine run smoother and therefore enhances its lively character. 

The PASC (Power Assist Clutch) ensures the rider needs minimal input to operate it, due to reduced engine torque transferring to the clutch plates. The slipper clutch prevents rear wheel lock-up under aggressive downshifting, which reduces destabilizing rear wheel chatter on the tarmac when braking sharply or decelerating into turns.

The smooth 6-speed gearbox with Quickshifter+ allows quicker clutchless up and downshifts when you're on the gas in and out of turns. This not only enables the rider to be more in control of the motorcycle by keeping a full grip of the handlebars, but also improves rear-wheel traction.

The KTM 690 SMC R is equipped a ride-by-wire system, which processes throttle twist grip movements with the help of electronic sensors and activates the throttle valves to control throttle action. This significantly improves the response, giving the rider better throttle control of the potent single-cylinder and a smoother ride.

Electronic fuel injection and engine management allow performance perfectly suited to the riding conditions. The result: even more and even better controlled power, lower fuel consumption, and less emissions, plus the benefit of features like MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control), MSR (Motor slip regulation), and Quickshifter+. The rider has the choice between two different mappings to influence the engine characteristics. A twin-plug ignition system controls two differently sized spark plugs in the cylinder head independently from each other, for more efficient combustion and a smoother, precisely controlled combustion sequence at all times.

The exhaust system is made using high-quality stainless steel. It's routed as close as possible to the bike to help with the slim profile, and the exhaust shape has been optimized for hard offroad usage. For 2021, the KTM 690 SMC R has some additional hardware, this comes in the form of a new specification of catalytic converter in the muffler.

Accessing the airfilter for maintenance is easy thanks to the airbox being located under the seat. This makes servicing the bike simple, and stress free, at the end of a long day's ride. 

The trellis frame is manufactured from lightweight sections of top-quality chrome-molybdenum steel tubing of varying thicknesses. This type of balanced frame design provides high torsional rigidity for best handling and rideability, while a more specifically-tuned longitudinal flexibility can absorb the wheel impact energy, supporting the suspension for reduced rider fatigue.

Tried and trusted - the effective use of the rear fuel tank as the main structural element of the subframe, keeps weight low and eliminates design complexity.

This swingarm design allows for an optimal mounting position of the rear shock ensuring a high progression rate. The single-component casting process eliminates any inconsistencies and weak points that would be inherent in a welded swingarm.

Highly rigid forged triple clamps with an offset of 24 mm (adjustable to 22 mm), provide a solid grip on the forks for precise handling. They allow forwards and backwards adjustment of the handlebars in four different positions for optimum rider ergonomics.

Maximum Super Moto control is enhanced by the WP APEX 48 upside-down fork. The split fork design developed by WP and KTM has been adapted for the KTM 690 SMC R. It is fitted with springs on both sides with separate damping functions - compression is on the left and rebound on the right-hand side. They have no negative influence on each other. Therefore, damping can easily be adjusted via the dials on top of both fork tubes, with 30 clicks of adjustment each.

The WP APEX shock absorber is specially tuned for Supermoto and is connected to the swingarm by a linkage. This ensures a progressive suspension character and a high resistance to bottoming out. Fully adjustable, including high and low-speed compression, you can set up the shock absorber to any circumstances and rider preference.

The KTM wheels use lightweight, CNC machined hubs and high-end black 17" rims to combine maximum strength with minimum weight. They are fitted with BRIDGESTONE S21 tires for maximum performance on the street, and plenty of grip for racetrack usage.

The BREMBO brakes deliver class-leading stopping power that is combined with lightweight discs – 320 mm diameter on the front wheel and 240 mm on the rear – to provide a crucial combination of stopping power and a consistent brake feel.

The KTM 690 SMC R features a 13.5 liter fuel tank which acts as a load-bearing part of the chassis, making it stiffer and gives the rider an optimal feel.

The lightweight tapered 808 mm wide handlebars are rubber mounted to reduce vibrations. Their width and shape are aimed at providing optimum control in all situations.

The slim profile needed for maximum lean angle is helped by short footrests, while a removable rubber insert ensures comfort with street boots.

The KTM 690 SMC R's seat height is 890 mm for ease of access without sacrificing lean angle, while the seat material is finely grained for grip with leather suits.

Electronic fuel injection, ride-by-wire and the engine management system (EMS) make it possible to offer innovative yet easy-to-use electronic rider aids. These features can be selected, deselected and utilized to put the potent new-generation LC4 motor to effective use across a much wider range of streets, surfaces and conditions.

Two ride modes (1) Street mode (2) Supermoto mode: "Street mode" for sporty throttle response where wheel slip and wheelies are kept to a minimum for optimal street performance. "Supermoto mode", by contrast, produces smooth throttle response with Supermoto Traction Control, which allows wheel slip and front wheel lifting without hindering performance. The modes are easily switched over from the handlebar, making adjustment to the character of the engine possible on the fly. Traction control can be disabled if needed.

The MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) lean-angle sensitive traction control system reacts immediately the instant the rear wheel rotation speed becomes disproportionate to the riding situation. In mere milliseconds MTC reduces engine output with an extremely smooth, barely perceptible intervention at the throttle valves, until slippage is reduced to optimum proportions for the selected ride mode and current angle of lean. For particularly ambitious riders, the traction control can also be switched off.

Quickshifter+ uses two sensors, where one sensor on the shift arm detects the movement on the shift lever rod when the rider upshifts and the system cuts the injection instantaneously. As soon as the second sensor detects the gear engagement it reapplies the injection and opens the butterfly valve, ensuring fast and smooth action at all throttle openings and engine speeds. When downshifting, the system matches the engine speed to the speed of the lower gear.

KTM's Cornering ABS mode allows riders to always use the full power of their brakes in all conditions, while taking the lean angle of the motorcycle into account. In the optional Supermoto ABS mode, the ABS only acts upon the front wheel, while cornering-sensitivity is disabled. In extreme scenarios, the rider can also choose to disable the ABS completely.

Optional supermoto ABS allows rear wheel lockup and reduced ABS on the front wheel for the hooligans who like to have more control over the motorcycle when pushing the limit through turns.

A lean-angle sensor keeps track of the angle of the bike and sends the information to the ECU and relevant control units, which uses this data to adjust traction control and ABS actuation.