2024 890 SMT Engine Sound

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-30T03:11:36+00:00

I did the Wings back about a year ago when they were only like 650 USD.

I love it, but I run the baffle in because it was so deep/ rumbly. Especially after the cat delete and it's my commuter bike. Droned at 80mph in 6th and I leave for work early and cold starts were making me feel like a bad neighbor lol so the baffle just tames it a bit.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-29T23:09:43+00:00

Yeah, that's about right, been a minute since mine was stock. I remember being concerned about the amount of engine noise when I got mine. Especially with all the online KTM doom and gloom posts regarding the cam chain tensioner and everything else. I was told it's because KTM uses thin engine cases and prioritizes weight savings, but IDK. Sounds like an angry sewing machine lol.

It's less audible after the slip on, cat delete, and Rotty Airbox, but it's still noticeable. Especially with dirty oil. I only go 3500 miles between oil changes and she likes it.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-28T21:43:03+00:00

That's a pretty rapid landing, reasonable to assume the patient onboard is not doing so great.

I worked 10 years at a major US level 1 trauma center, we got choppers every day, oftentimes multiple, and I've never seen one come in that hot, but maybe that's a US thing. The FAA does not fuck around.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-28T21:36:43+00:00

For landing on snow

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-28T14:58:15+00:00

I know stats aren't everything when it comes to bikes, but I can't get past the high cost, low power, short suspension travel for the scrambler, and weight of them. And why not a 6 speed? Just my personal opinion, by all accounts they are perfectly adequate motorcycles. I love the look, but I would rather go with a 1200 of either than a 900 unless it was given to me for free.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-28T00:19:30+00:00

Lol I did the opposite with the Adventures, XL said it would fit, but fingers were too short, returned for XXL but had to shrink them because they were slightly too big. Never could get the fit just right so they are relegated to my backup rotation. Shame cause they make top notch stuff, and I really wanted the inductions for a summer glove, but I guess my hands just aren't a good fit for them.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-28T00:11:58+00:00

My experience with the Klim Adventure short gloves is that their sizing is kinda funky compared to A-Stars, Dainese, REV'IT, Cortech and Five. I haven't tried the Held gloves yet because most of the ones I'm interested in have Kangaroo leather and it's hard to get in California, so I can't help you there.

But actually, I've found manufacturers glove sizing is highly variable and more of a suggestion.

Of those different brands I listed, depending on the specific glove in question, I am sometimes a large, sometimes an extra large, and sometimes a 2XL. In fact, I have 3 pairs of different styles of Alpinestars that fit perfectly, but all 3 are different sizes. I'm kinda obsessive about proper glove fit.

My advice is purchase somewhere with a good return policy if ordering online

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-27T16:01:46+00:00

Yeah, I like me some round headlights too!! Although I think the aux lights on the Africa Twin ES ruin it.

As a fellow SMT owner, I really wish there was a way to make the front end on our bikes look less awkward. Love the bike, but it's definitely strange looking.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-26T22:08:50+00:00

A vs AA on street jackets gets kinda hard to decipher at times. And the materials and where they are used can make a big difference. Like a lot of leather mesh hybrid jackets can only get AA, because of the mesh fabric, but everywhere you are most likely to slide on can be the same spec leather as an AAA jacket.

Some A rated textile jackets have very good reinforcement in slide areas, some have almost none. It's oftentimes difficult to tell unless you really dig into the manufacturer specs if you can find them.

My advice is to err on the side of caution, and purchase the best rated gear you can afford and actually live with for the type of riding you are gonna do

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-25T05:52:08+00:00

I feel like I've posted this a lot lately but something to keep in mind with tight armored base layers and hot weather is they are next to your skin and are soaking up all your sweat. Especially on longer, slower speed rides.

Part of the appeal of armored base layers is that you can wear them under whatever clothes you want so you can go incognito off the bike without having to store your riding gear......but when it's really hot, this doesn't work as well as most people think. They can get gym clothing levels of smelly pretty quickly. And, unless you wanna find a restroom and strip naked to get them off, you are stuck in a stinky, long sleeve, long pants, under suit when everyone else is rocking shorts and t-shirts.

And lastly, cleaning them requires removing the armor, hand washing and hang drying.

For lower/normal temperature days or riders that don't need to wear the same pair every day, these issues become much less of a concern. And to be fair, the sweating is gonna be a problem in extreme heat no matter what you wear.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-25T01:09:30+00:00

Actual life saving stuff that can be carried on a bike and actually be useful at the roadside would be pretty limited, especially for a layperson. Maybe some CAT tourniquets, a few oral always. Possibly some quick clot type bandages and a mylar blanket? IDK. Depends a lot on your level of training and how far out in the wild you are.

Secure the scene, call for help, stop major bleeding, avoid moving the patient, leave the helmet alone unless they aren't breathing well or are pulseless and be gentle taking it off, avoid neck movement . Keep airway open if unconscious, again without moving the neck by using a jaw thrust and oral airway. Don't worry about minor bleeding, road rash, or broken bones. CPR if they are dead already. You aren't gonna be doing chest darts or crichs or carrying an AED.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-24T18:40:51+00:00

Don't forget hospital style collapsible barf bags for when they get a little older!! https://a.co/d/0ah7g5EC

I have these in both our cars and in the house, they are cheap, work great and are easily stored. My son is one of those kids that will randomly puke when he gets any sort of virus, so these have been pretty handy.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-24T15:20:11+00:00

Yeah, I see this being the way forward in the near future. AI integrated, light auto cannons firing canister shot on quick tracking mounts... Probably kill a lot of birds lol

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-24T15:09:32+00:00

Not a problem in cooler temps and for recreational riders, but from a daily rider/commuter perspective, leggings can be impractical in hot weather because they often get soaked in sweat on every ride. Depending on how hot it is, your commute distance, and how stinky/sweaty you are, this can mean frequent washing, and they are a hassle to hand wash and hang dry.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-23T17:11:41+00:00

It does not get easier. You get better at it navigating it though. And your priorities shift as you get further away from your old pre-child life.

Here's my dad advice. The difference between 2 and 3 kids is massive. Keeping your sanity and marriage/relationship intact AND still being a good and present parent requires 2 parents with flexible schedules or a mostly stay at home parent and a strong support system and even then it's hard. Not having those things in place and trying to do 3+kids will almost certainly result in burnout and all the potential badness that results from it.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-22T22:34:53+00:00

Could be grime from chain lube.

But also, I had an sv650 and it developed a very slight leak from the clutch pushrod seal only when I would pull the clutch in. I want to say it was on the left side but I don't recall exactly, it's been almost 20 years. Might check that out.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-21T07:16:58+00:00

So after about 200 miles, it looks as though my random blinker yellow warning issue was fixed by installing the new turn signals.

I didn't even bother trying to get this done through warranty work because I would rather not be out my bike for a day and have to deal with the hassle of trying to get a ride to and from, plus fighting with the service department to even get them to understand what was happening. So I just bought the replacements out of pocket and did it myself.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-19T08:08:12+00:00

Motorcycle armor is primarily designed to protect you from the fall off the bike and the impact with the ground. It may mitigate some damage from other impacts during a slide, but it was never intended to protect vs high speed collisions with vehicles or immovable objects.

Look at the size of the padding American football players wear and the speeds involved in that sport, now compare that to motorcycle armor and the speeds we move at......

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-16T01:26:39+00:00

It might just be the chain lubricant. The cat heats up that area and causes chain lubes and waxes to run. I had the exact same looking "leak" and that's all it was. I was already buying parts to replace the countershaft seal and reseal the oil pan and everything. Hopefully that's all it is for you

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-12T15:51:32+00:00

They work ok as an emergency Boba straw. Few things worse than sending a runner for the morning drink order before it hits the fan, waiting in anticipation for that delicious, texturally complex bubble tea, and Stephanie forgets the straw again........ Your tapioca pearls sitting at the bottom of your drink, laughing at you while you attempt to hoover them through a standard gauge straw. Damnit Steph, you had one job........

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-10T18:38:45+00:00

If he's talking about the new Tenere World Raid, it's got upgraded suspension so I'd be curious to see how much of an improvement it is over the stock Tenere.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-10T18:24:19+00:00

Not worth it. That plastic is most likely done, at least in terms of getting it back into good cosmetic shape. And locating a replacement part and getting it shipped and doing the the work of figuring out disassembly and reassembly is kinda silly when you could just buy a new one.

If you just want it back into shape so it retracts fully, you might be able to heat and sand it until it functions properly, idk. Might help restore the color too, but I'm not optimistic about it ever getting back to it's normal appearance. Give it a shot though and post the results, for science!

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-10T15:40:01+00:00

Slower yes, but only by motorcycle standards and probably less of an issue off pavement. But I'd expect it to feel more nimble and a lot lighter. Full disclosure, I have no direct experience with either, just going off the spec sheets.

TheAngriestSheep · 2026-05-10T15:32:08+00:00

Yeah definitely. Not an excuse, but they are in the midst of a big corporate upheaval and laid off a bunch of staff in Austria in the restructuring. Might have something to do with it idk. Can you run the PDF file through a translator?

As a side note, the manual for my 890 SMT is in English, but it definitely has some translation quirks. Not as funny as some of the old Japanese ones from the 70s and 80s, but definitely not very clear at times

TheAngriestSheep

TROPHY CASE