Suspension differences between SM & EX/R?

[Moto-Mucci]

I'm having trouble finding reliable information here but I'm curious if the SM got the same suspension as the EX.
From the little bit of spec data I can find online they are both listed as having the same wheel travel. I don't know how trustworthy these 3rd party sites are though.

 

[Philip]

Not the same. According to our own incredibly credible sources, it has a special "bees knees" KTM supermoto suspension.

 

[Moto-Mucci]

Not the same. According to our own incredibly credible sources, it has a special "bees knees" KTM supermoto suspension.

Does that equate to reduced travel? Would it be 690 SMCR suspension then?

 

[Philip]

This is all that I know:

Help identifying forks

Hey guys, I recently bought some WP forks that were listed as Redshift SM forks. These forks have the radial caliper mount but what is throwing me off is that they seem to be WP Xplor forks based on the cap as it is identical to the one on my 2018 KTM 350 EXC-F. I haven’t found anything showing...

altaownersforum.com

 

[Judaslefourbe]

Does that equate to reduced travel? Would it be 690 SMCR suspension then?

It's been a while so someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think you get 12" of travel on the SM.

 

[Moto-Mucci]

This is all that I know:

Help identifying forks

Hey guys, I recently bought some WP forks that were listed as Redshift SM forks. These forks have the radial caliper mount but what is throwing me off is that they seem to be WP Xplor forks based on the cap as it is identical to the one on my 2018 KTM 350 EXC-F. I haven’t found anything showing...

altaownersforum.com

Ah awesome, looks like KTM 450 SMCR 48mm WP Xplor forks with different valving.
Still curious what the wheel travel is / if it’s the same as the 450 / how it differs from the EX.

All the online specs I find say both have 12” on travel. Again, no idea how true that is because it’s not directly from Alta.

 

[Philip]

All the online specs I find say both have 12” on travel. Again, no idea how true that is because it’s not directly from Alta.

If Judaslefourbe said it, then this is as directly from Alta as you will ever hear

 

[Philip]

The travel should be the same. Why would a supermoto suspension have a reduced travel? Also, why is this so important to you, what are you planning?

 

[Moto-Mucci]

The travel should be the same. Why would a supermoto suspension have a reduced travel? Also, why is this so important to you, what are you planning?

Because SM’s usually have lower suspension.
I’m curious because I’m wondering if a wheel set and gearing would turn a SM into a EX or if it’d be a compromised off-roader due to lower stiffer suspension.

 

[Philip]

21" knobbies with SM brakes... how bad of an idea is this?

So I've got myself pretty much sold on picking up the SM currently for sale in Colorado. Going to check it out Saturday. As we can all agree: this is a good idea and I should buy it. However, this would leave me with 2 dirt bikes: my EX and the SM. I would like to be able to bring my wife dirt...

altaownersforum.com

SM wheels and brakes on a non-SM

I HOPE EVERYONE ON THIS FORUM UNDERSTANDS WHAT A GREAT AND HELPFUL GROUP WE'VE GOT HERE.........sometimes it should be shouted out. thank you guys so much, this is something I doubt I could have done myself. on a side note I bought extra sm wheels from liquid performance @ $225 each, they come...

altaownersforum.com

Converting an SM to EX

What does it take to convert an SM to an Ex? I don't need a 100% conversion but just something good enough to let me use it as an Enduro bike. Tires - not a problem. Suspension - can I tune/calibrate the existing ones? Can I use the same "maps"? Is it sensitive enough? What else? Thanks in...

altaownersforum.com

 

[Judaslefourbe]

Because SM’s usually have lower suspension.

I do not believe this is the case.
It feels lower because the wheels are smaller (16/17 vs 21/19 or 18) and the tires lower profile.

 

[Moto-Mucci]

21" knobbies with SM brakes... how bad of an idea is this?

So I've got myself pretty much sold on picking up the SM currently for sale in Colorado. Going to check it out Saturday. As we can all agree: this is a good idea and I should buy it. However, this would leave me with 2 dirt bikes: my EX and the SM. I would like to be able to bring my wife dirt...

altaownersforum.com

SM wheels and brakes on a non-SM

I HOPE EVERYONE ON THIS FORUM UNDERSTANDS WHAT A GREAT AND HELPFUL GROUP WE'VE GOT HERE.........sometimes it should be shouted out. thank you guys so much, this is something I doubt I could have done myself. on a side note I bought extra sm wheels from liquid performance @ $225 each, they come...

altaownersforum.com

Converting an SM to EX

What does it take to convert an SM to an Ex? I don't need a 100% conversion but just something good enough to let me use it as an Enduro bike. Tires - not a problem. Suspension - can I tune/calibrate the existing ones? Can I use the same "maps"? Is it sensitive enough? What else? Thanks in...

altaownersforum.com

Ahh the caliper doesn’t clear... that makes this a lot more expensive.

 

[Moto-Mucci]

I do not believe this is the case.
It feels lower because the wheels are smaller (16/17 vs 21/19 or 18) and the tires lower profile.

Maybe there are models that don’t but whenever I look up specs they have different wheel travel:

690 Enduro: 250mm F / 250mm R
690SMCR: 240/215

TE610: 300/320
SM610: 250/290

DRZ400: 290/295
DRZ400SM: 260/276

 

[Philip]

Maybe there are models that don’t but whenever I look up specs they have different wheel travel:

690 Enduro: 250mm F / 250mm R
690SMCR: 240/215

TE610: 300/320
SM610: 250/290

DRZ400: 290/295
DRZ400SM: 260/276

These are all heavy adventure-based bikes. They have almost nothing in common with motocross and supermoto bikes. They never jump.

Any motocross or supermoto bike from 125 to 500cc has at least 12" of travel.

 

[Moto-Mucci]

These are all heavy adventure-based bikes. They have almost nothing in common with motocross and supermoto bikes. They never jump.

Any motocross or supermoto bike from 125 to 500cc has at least 12" of travel.

I'm not sure what point you're making or question you're answering?

Current Supermoto bikes on the market:

701SM
690 SMCR
450SMR
DRZ400SM
FS450
Zero FXS
KLX300SM

Every bike above has lower suspension than it's enduro/MX counterpart... which is why I asked my original question.

 

[Judaslefourbe]

I stand corrected.

 

[standbyu]

Here's a side by side of the installed SM fork leg (brake side), and a 2022 AER leg (throttle side) from a KTM 450 SFX. Stock Alta SM 4CS has 11" travel and is therefore 1" shorter than the aforementioned AER leg.