KTM LC4 – The 690's March of Progress

KTM have revamped their LC4 range this year, with the 690 SMC R supermoto and the dual-purpose 690 Enduro R both getting updated chassis and the dual-spark, ride-by-wire engine that powered the Duke R last year. To show them off, KTM laid on a “triathlon” near Barcelona.

Story: Roland Brown
Photography: Francesc Montero, Félix Romero, Sebas Romero

If any firm knows how to build sporty, light, single-cylinder bikes, it’s surely KTM. The Austrian company was Europe’s biggest bike manufacturer last year (with over 123,000 sales, up 15.6%); and its total number of world champions — most on singles — is fast approaching 250, the dominance stretching from Moto3 to the Dakar Rally (KTM singles have won the last 11), via enduro, motocross and supercross.
Street-legal singles powered by the LC4 engine have been an important part of the picture ever since KTM began their road-going range 20 years ago with the original 620 Duke. This year the LC4 range is revamped, with the 690 SMC R supermoto and the dual-purpose 690 Enduro R both getting updated chassis and the dual-spark, ride-by-wire engine that powered the Duke R last year. To show them off, KTM laid on a “triathlon” near Barcelona, comprising road riding on all three models plus kart-track laps on the SMC R and an off-road trek on the Enduro.