KTM 950 Supermoto - Mossy Rides

Words/pics by: Chris Moss/Mike Weston

Without doubt the question most commonly asked of any bike tester like me is also one of the trickiest to answer. The enquiry, ‘what’s your favourite bike?’ for me at least, needs plenty of time just to consider, let alone respond to. The answer does of course depend on what sort of course you want to use your preferred horse for. For the track it would be either Ducati 1098S or

Suzuki

GSX-R1000. For long-distance touring, I’d probably opt for a

Honda

Gold Wing. For commuting across a big city I’d go for a Suzuki Burgman 650 scooter. And for a bit of everything, a Suzuki V-Strom 650 will probably get my nod of approval. But for sheer unadulterated pleasure and thrill-seeking, the bike at the top of my list would be a

KTM

950 Supermoto. It’s a real favourite of mine and one I always look forward to spending time on. It’s not perfect by any means but in the right place at the right time it’s a very hard bike to beat for absolute stimulation.

Supermotos are pretty focused animals and very different to most bikes, and the KTM is no exception. For starters it’s built more for speed than comfort. With a small fuel tank and no fairing, it’s hardly what you’d call a

tourer

either. And if you’re a bit of a short-arse like me, then practicalities are very much compromised by its very tall, almost nose bleed-inducing seat height.

But none of those limitations can ever seem to stop my enjoyment of spending time on this utterly fantastic tool of inspiration. In fairness I couldn’t really rely on it as an only bike, but in a dream garage housing a few more versatile and sensible machines I’d always head for the KTM for entertainment purposes. Whatever it forces you to sacrifice in everyday, real world terms, it more than makes up for in thrills and excitement. Riding this visceral machine is a blast with a capital B (road).

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The KTM’s racy intent is clear as soon you climb on it. It might say it weighs only 187kilos dry on the spec sheet, but even before it’s rolling it feels like it must only tips the scales at about 150kilos. When you’re underway, even when fuelled up, you’d swear the 950 is even lighter. This toy-like, featherweight manageability is one of the real keys to the KTM’s outstanding handling, letting you ride it in a manner you never imagined possible. I’m not really talking about sheer speed here, but more about the level of control and feel which the Supermoto has so much of.

The high quality and beautifully controlled WP suspension is another contributor to the magical poise of the bike. And while it’s supple enough to smooth out rougher surfaces to make the road feel as if it’s freshly laid, the quality forks and shock always provide brilliant support for the bike and limpet-like grip for its tyres. They have a fair bit more travel compared to most road bikes, but that’s not used up anywhere near as quickly thanks to their well-controlled damping. This welcome feature really increases your confidence levels, allowing you to go much faster yet do so much more safely than you could on many other production bikes. To be honest when conditions are at their best, roads aren’t the best place to find the limits of the KTM simply because you’d have to ride so hard and fast to find them. I don’t mind admitting that the handling of this bike is in a different league to my own ability. I’d be happier to push it harder on a track, but on the public roads I’m content just feeling totally safe and secure thanks to the bike’s exceptional balance and stability.

You can actually ride the KTM at a more sensible pace if you want, but it’s difficult not to be seduced by the Supermoto’s ability to carve through corners as though they weren’t there. It’s such a superb handler you just can’t help but push things a bit harder. And with very strong but predictable brakes it’s nice to know that speed can be curbed just as swiftly and safely as it’s gained. The initial bite from the Brembo equipment is quite sharp, but once you’ve dialled yourself into the light finger pressure levels needed, there’s no reason to worry about making even the shortest and sharpest sort of stops. It’s all about balance, and the KTM’s chassis has plenty of that.

Adding to this equilibrium is the excellent Supermoto engine. I’m a big fan of V-twin motors and the one fitted to this bike is a great example of this configuration. With plenty of punch on tap regardless of rpm or gear selection, progress can be made really easily. The time-consuming business of changing gear is rarely required. Though when it is, the light and slick action of both the clutch and gearbox gets the job done speedily.