Adventure advice

[Nin]

Chaps

Yes I know the perfect bike isn't out there, and yes I am trying to get round and ride everything to try them.

Background is I'm a more than competent rider (according to Mark at Rapid Training). I want a bike for everything - commuting, one annual longer trip (e.g. arctic Circle) and maybe 3-5 times a year to Salisbury plain easy trails - I've done enough of the enduro/rally circuit to know my limitations! I've had 640 Adv, r100gs, 1100 GS (x3) 1150 GS and even a Morini Kanguro, so I know what I like.

It must have ABS - my preference so don't try and talk me out of it!

I can do all my own spannering, but I dont mind someone else doing it for me, and I won't need the bike every day so occasional layups are fine, but it has to work when I want it to.

I'm also in a very fortunate position for the first time in my life of being able to afford pretty either of the options, but I will need to keep it for a few years to make it pay back.

So I would like to hear from folk who've owned and used a 990, 1050, 1190 and 1290 Super Adv. - real life experiences? What are they like to live with? What really irritates?

I keep coming back to the 990 Dakar, but for only a £2k more I can get an 8k miler '16 plate 21st century 1290 Super Adventure ...

What would you do?

Gratuitous pic for those who've got this far ---

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[Deleted account 211025001]

First start would be to have a long read of the "Tell me about..........." thread in here. A warts and all discussion on the 1190's. That will give you a very good feel of what they are like to live with.

If it were me and purely down to looks though I'd be going with the 990 Dakar you posted the picture of

Andres

 

[Moose]

That's one sick looking bike!

 

[strod]

I'm about to move from a 1290T to the 1090R, mainly because I fancy a lighter, more agile, engaging fun bike than I personally found the big tourer to be. I also wanted to go back to basics for a change with less electronics and manually adjustable suspenders etc. May be worth trying to make a shortlist of the specific models which meet your requirements and then ride them to compare (state the obvious)? I loved my 990A, but the service intervals were short and inconvenient in comparison to the more modern bikes for commuting/touring purposes, and I didn't find it the most comfortable for long distance, but I doubt the modern offerings would compare off road etc. Despite having had an 1190S and 1290T, I do still miss that 990A...

 

[Rasher]

I have no idea about trails, the most I ever do is a short stretch of dirt or gravel track no more difficult than an unpaved car park.

I only use my 1190S for leisure (as I have a second bike for commuting) so it gets used for local rides, days out and as many tours as I can find the time and money for.

For these tasks it is overall the best bike I have ever owned, as quick as a decent sportsbike until a fair way into instant ban territory, as comfy as any other bike I have ever ridden, definitely the best OE suspension I have ever had.

I can only find minor niggles like forks being a bit soft and diving a lot on the brakes (but then again this bike rides bumps and jolts better than anything else I have ever ridden) the heat from under the seat (hopefully will be fixed with heat deflectors and SA rear header I am getting fitted at the next service) and the standard seat is utter shite so you are forced to pay an extra £250 for the Ergo seats.

I am sure it will last a few seasons use and plan to keep it no longer than that, if I really wanted to run a bike for 10 years / 100,000 miles I would have kept my Yamaha Super Tenere which was a lovely bike and far more practical than the KTM with its shaft drive and indestructible engine - but it was fairly bland by comparison.

For reliability and cheap running my V-Strom 650 looks hard to beat, 12 years old and approaching 50,000 miles and it has never missed a beat (I have the full History of the bike) not even a tappet out of spec at 45,000 miles, surprisingly good fun to ride but still not a patch on the KTM.

Personally I would avoid the 1050 unless you try one and find a meagre 94BHP is enough - if you do then you can probably find a really good bargain out there, personally I need a bit more Ooomph - but the new 1090 might be a good compromise and is a few grand cheaper than the new 1290 models.

Probably going to be a few good late model 1190's being traded for the new 1290's, I would look for a 2015 onwards as they have a better airbox and starter motor.

 

[crotchrocket]

I Loved my 990 ADV. I suppose the reasons I sold if for a GS were the service intervals / expense doing high mileage commuting were seriously mounting up and although reliable the gearbox was going and a few other niggles starting here and there and I needed something to get me to work every day without fail. I'd still love to use one daily, but the GSA is a better bike for me.

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

990 ADV and spend the rest on a trip or farkles.

 

[Nin]

What's the seat like on the 990? Can you do 500 mile days on it?


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[Nin]

Strod, I keep coming back to the 1290 T as a good compromise between a road friendly bike and ability to tackle gravel tracks and dirt roads - my days of wrestling a big trailer out of muddy ruts are over I think.

What's it like to live with? Do all the trick bits enhance the ride or get in the way? And if you're going to sell ....



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[Rasher]

Strod, I keep coming back to the 1290 T as a good compromise between a road friendly bike and ability to tackle gravel tracks and dirt roads - my days of wrestling a big trailer out of muddy ruts are over I think.

What's wrong with an 1290S/R for that - both lighter and less bulky than the T model, with the R adding even more off road ability, albeit at a slight disadvantage on the road due to its 21" wheel, unless you really need the extra 7 litres fuel capacity, but I would expect the new S/R models to be good for 200+ miles at commuting / touring speeds (I easily manage that on my 1190)

 

[ShaunC]

I had the same dilemma a few months back. I think the only answer is 2 bikes. I went for 1200gs for the touring/commute and a £2000 wr450 for throwing around. I was going down the KTM route which if you can only have 1 bike its probably the best but it isnt doing either job perfect. For the time being I'm happy with the set up but I do change my mind often .

 

[strod]

Strod, I keep coming back to the 1290 T as a good compromise between a road friendly bike and ability to tackle gravel tracks and dirt roads - my days of wrestling a big trailer out of muddy ruts are over I think.

What's it like to live with? Do all the trick bits enhance the ride or get in the way? And if you're going to sell ....

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If doing a lot of road miles whilst touring or commuting, possibly with pillion, the 1290T makes a lot of sense. Candidly, I didn't really exploit all the tech as much as I thought I would, cruise control rarely used, as was the heated seat despite year round use. Electronic suspension setting tended to stay in Street or Comfort, as I felt the impact in my lower back on Sport. Engine map almost entirely left in a sport mode. The cornering lights are a bit of a novelty, but the safety features are good (Bosch electrickery abs stuff). It is a good bike, but a pretty heavy one when fully fuelled and just not the bike I want right now.

If I hadnt already agreed an attractive package to change, which includes transfer of various accessories, with the bike already having been taken away for said transplants, we may have been able to arrive at an agreement...

 

[twizzle]

Having ridden a 1050 Adventure ( mine) an 1190R (Andres) a 1290 T (Demo) and reviewing your wish list i would buy a 13/14 plate 1190R plenty out there for £8k....

Jobs a carrot....it will do everything you want plus more.....

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

KTM 990R or a F800GS(A) - don't laugh

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

I like my 1190S and it's great for touring if you want to be able to put in a long day every now and then but given that you say you'd like to be able to do a few days on Salisbury Plain I'd lean more towards the 1190R because of the better choice of tyres suitable for using on slippery wet mud.

Obviously I'd say go for the S version if road use is more your thing but demand money off if they're selling you the bread bin panniers with it because they're awful and induce a really horrible weave if you wind it on for a spot of high speed entertainment.

 

[Nin]

KTM 990R or a F800GS(A) - don't laugh

Thanks everyone for input - there's some really good experiences out there to tap into, I appreciate you taking the time to share them.

Thinking through the options, 1090 S doesn't do it for me with cast wheels, 1090 R is prolly the best new option.

1190s? my gut tells me that first generation electronic suspension could let me down, maybe I'm being a Luddite?

The 990 R doesn't have ABS otherwise (although the one in my pic does, go figure) And JB after 20+ years of BMW bikes, I think I'm done with them now.

So the current front runner is also most likely the cheapest, sticking a Renzaco seat and a touring screen on a 2013 990 Baja or Dakar.

Need to find one to have a ride on now.

Cheers aye!

Nin


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[Nice 'n' Fat]

The 990 R doesn't have ABS otherwise (although the one in my pic does, go figure)

The bike in your photo isn't the 990 R it's a 990 Adventure albeit in Dakar colours which became a standard colour (just minus the Dakar badges) in 2012

It came as standard with the 990 R spec 115bhp motor though

 

[crotchrocket]

I think the R was also bloody high! As was the S, which is a similar colouring to the first post. That Blue is really nice in person, as is the white Baja one. Some 990's are being sold for more than the 1190's. Seem to hold their value well. Probably because its the best at what it does!!

 

[Nin]

It came as standard with the 990 R spec 115bhp motor though

Ah, interesting, didn't know that, and explains why I can't find a later "Dakar" version.

Being 6'3" means the height of the bike isn't so much of an issue for me.

I managed a quick spin on a 990 last night, and was surprised at just how good it is.

So job done, thanks all. Late 2012/13 990 Adv is on my shopping list. Now who's got one for me?

 

[Khulu]

an 1190R (Andres)a 13/14 plate 1190R plenty out there for £8k....

Jobs a carrot....it will do everything you want plus more.....

I want one of these!!!!

What would I use it for though when my TC GSA can do everything????