2027 KTM 450 SMR
Supermoto might be motorcycling’s purest shortcut to a good time.
Riders of almost every skill level can enjoy it and get away with things they never thought they could thanks to how approachable a 110-kilogram machine powered by a punchy single can be. A relative newcomer can discover the pleasure of late braking, quick direction changes and steering with the throttle, while an experienced racer can spend years searching for the final few tenths while getting in all sorts of shapes.
The important distinction is that while Supermoto can be wonderfully accessible, the KTM 450 SMR is certainly no softly tuned beginner bike. This is an uncompromising, closed-course competition machine with serious performance and no provision for road registration.
Despite the KTM 450 SMR being unable to be registered for the road, I still managed to lose five points off my licence just writing this…
Fresh clothes rather than a reinvention
KTM has not claimed a wholesale mechanical redesign for 2027. Instead, the established competition package returns beneath a sharper orange-and-black livery, while the introduction of KTM’s new Premium Manufacturer’s Warranty provides the most substantial model-year change.
The predominantly orange plastics are contrasted by black handguards, rims, silencer and seat, giving the 2027 KTM 450 SMR a suitably purposeful appearance.
Underneath those new clothes remains the same compact and thoroughly developed platform that helped Lukas Höllbacher secure the 2025 FIM S1GP Supermoto World Championship.
At the centre of the package is KTM’s 449.9 cc SOHC four-stroke single, coupled to a five-speed transmission and managed by a Keihin engine-management system.
KTM does not quote a power figure, but says the engine is tuned to deliver immediate response while complying with the 109 dB FIM noise limit. I reckon the SMR would make around 50 horsepower at the rear wheel, perhaps more…
Electronics help put the power down
A handlebar-mounted switch allows the rider to select between two engine maps. Map 1 offers the more linear delivery, while Map 2 provides the sharper throttle response and more aggressive character expected from a competition 450.
Traction control can be switched on or off from the same control, while launch control is standard. The launch system limits the amount of power reaching the rear wheel under hard acceleration to reduce wheelspin and help the bike drive cleanly away from the line.
A standard quickshifter permits clutchless upshifts from second through fifth gear, while the SUTER slipper clutch helps control the rear wheel during aggressive downshifts.
That slipper clutch is particularly important in Supermoto, where deliberately unsettling the rear of the motorcycle under braking is part of the technique rather than necessarily evidence that everything has gone horribly wrong.
Brembo supplies the hydraulic clutch actuation, while the engine is tilted two degrees rearward to lower the front sprocket position by three millimetres. KTM claims this arrangement improves mass centralisation and contributes to the bike’s anti-squat behaviour.
Why Supermoto is so good
Supermoto typically blends asphalt with a shorter dirt section, combining elements of road racing, motocross and flat track within a compact lap.
The 450 SMR sits at the serious end of that spectrum, but its low mass, slim ergonomics and direct responses also capture what makes Supermoto so addictive.
WP XACT suspension at both ends
The 2027 KTM 450 SMR continues with a 48 mm WP XACT closed-cartridge fork offering 283 mm of travel. Compression and rebound damping can be adjusted without tools through hand-operated clickers.
At the rear is a linkage-equipped WP XACT monoshock providing 266 mm of wheel travel. High- and low-speed compression damping can also be adjusted by hand, allowing the motorcycle to be configured for anything from smooth asphalt to the dirt sections and jumps that form part of a traditional Supermoto course.
The central double-cradle frame is constructed from 25CrMo4 chromoly steel and paired with an aluminium-reinforced polyamide rear subframe.
KTM has paid particular attention to longitudinal and torsional flex, with the frame designed to provide direct feedback without transmitting every impact to the rider.
Published weight is 109.3 kg without fuel, while the wheelbase is 1472 mm, seat height 898 mm and ground clearance 281 mm. The compact 7.2-litre fuel tank is more than adequate for the relatively short sessions and races the bike is intended for.
Slicks, spokes and serious Brembos
Black ALPINA rims measure 3.5 x 16.5 inches at the front and 5 x 17 inches at the rear. They feature CNC-machined hubs and lightweight spokes, wrapped in Metzeler Racetec SM K1 Supermoto slicks.
Braking performance comes courtesy of a four-piston radially mounted Brembo front caliper and radial master cylinder acting upon a 310 mm disc.
The rear uses a single-piston caliper and 220 mm disc. That rear brake has roles beyond merely slowing the motorcycle, particularly once a rider begins experimenting with Supermoto’s more theatrical corner-entry techniques.
A SUTER slipper clutch, sticky slicks and a powerful rear brake do not automatically make everyone Lukas Höllbacher, but they do provide all the necessary ingredients.
Designed for life at the circuit
The Twin Air filter can be accessed without tools after removing the left side-panel, while the threaded radiator closure is designed for quicker and easier operation.
Sculpted bi-component tank shrouds direct air towards the radiators while providing useful contact surfaces for the rider’s knees. The footpegs are relatively compact to reduce the risk of catching on kerbs at extreme lean angles.
KTM also offers its Connectivity Unit Offroad as an optional PowerPart. When paired with the KTMconnect application, the unit can record riding information, allow further adjustment of engine behaviour and provide suggested suspension settings based on rider preferences and track conditions.
Further chassis, protection and performance accessories are available through the KTM PowerParts catalogue.
One-year Premium Manufacturer’s Warranty
From model year 2027, the KTM 450 SMR is included in KTM’s new Premium Manufacturer’s Warranty programme.
The warranty provides one year of coverage from the motorcycle’s date of first use and applies automatically at no extra charge. It covers material and manufacturing defects but, unsurprisingly for a competition motorcycle, does not cover normal wear and tear.
Owners must use the motorcycle as intended and complete scheduled servicing through an authorised KTM dealer to maintain coverage.
Full conditions are available on the KTM Premium Manufacturer’s Warranty page.
Australian arrival from November 2026
The 2027 KTM 450 SMR is scheduled to arrive at authorised Australian KTM dealers from November 2026.
Australian pricing has not yet been announced, and KTM has confirmed that the 2027 model will not be offered in New Zealand.
More information is available on the 2027 KTM 450 SMR model page.
2027 KTM 450 SMR Specifications
| Engine | 449.9 cc SOHC single-cylinder four-stroke |
| Engine management | Keihin EMS |
| Transmission | Five-speed with quickshifter from second to fifth |
| Clutch | SUTER slipper clutch with Brembo hydraulics |
| Rider aids | Two engine maps, traction control and launch control |
| Frame | Central double-cradle 25CrMo4 steel |
| Front suspension | 48 mm WP XACT closed-cartridge fork, 283 mm travel |
| Rear suspension | WP XACT linkage monoshock, 266 mm travel |
| Front brake | Four-piston radial Brembo caliper, 310 mm disc |
| Rear brake | Single-piston Brembo caliper, 220 mm disc |
| Wheels | 3.5 x 16.5-inch front; 5 x 17-inch rear |
| Tyres | Metzeler Racetec SM K1 Supermoto slicks |
| Wheelbase | 1472 mm ± 10 mm |
| Steering-head angle | 63.9 degrees |
| Seat height | 898 mm |
| Ground clearance | 281 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 7.2 litres |
| Weight | 109.3 kg without fuel |
| Availability | Australia from November 2026; not offered in New Zealand |
