2021 KTM 450 SMR
R I D E R E V I E W
P70
And that brings us to 2021 and the
all-new KTM 450 SMR.
Based heavily off the 450 SX-F mo-
tocross weapon of Cooper Webb and
company, the SMR has undergone
a makeover to turn it into an ideal
tool for sliding around dirt and tar-
mac, rather than stadium triples. The
450cc motor is largely the same—you
get the same cylinder head, titanium
inlet and exhaust valves, cams, pis-
ton, conrod, crank and gearbox, but
the SMR is fitted with a Suter slipper
clutch to stop you from locking the
rear wheel up when downshifting into
corners. Having ridden supermotos
with and without a slipper clutch, trust
me, it's a must-have accessory.
The familiarity to the 450 SX-F
doesn't stop there. The chromium
molybdenum steel frame, aluminum
subframe and swingarm, and the
majority of the bodywork is the same
on the SMR (the SMR gets a shorter
front mud guard) but that's about
where the similarities end.
WP still supplies the suspension
in the 48mm inverted fork, sitting in
triple-clamps with a 16mm offset. The
fork itself which has been lowered,
(Left) The new
swingarm has
more adjustment
to vary wheelbase.
(Below) Brembo
brake package
on the SMR is
top notch.
