GS'ers who went to or came from a 990 SMT

Jonny

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Hi all,
I'm in a situation at the moment to treat myself to a new bike. Theres two options I've got my heart set on at the moment, both local, both from dealers and both for around the £6,000 mark.

One is a 2007 R1200GS with a few extra bits and 27k miles. Test rode it and really liked it, but it didn't excite me. Was properly impressed with the confidence inspiring handling though.

The other is a 2011 KTM 990 SMT/SM-T. It's again got a couple of little extras, around 15k miles and looks amazing! I've seen it in person and have a test ride booked tomorrow to actually try out.

Considering they are both the same price I'm completely torn on which one to go for after testing the KTM tomorrow. Is there anyone that has had both or left one for the other than can share some insight into the differences and pros and cons between them. I can already guess from everthing I've read that the KTM is the much more exciting ride, but is the BM far behind it? How does the KTM actually tour? I'll be doing a mix of weekend blasting, weekend touring and some 2up with the other half.

Thanks in advance!!
 
Not quite the comparison you are after, but KTM allllllllllllllllllllll day. I still miss my GSA, but my 990 is simply more fun, has greater performance and is lighter. Just suits my needs for what I use it for.

Good luck.

P.S. The pleasure has returned to riding on the road since I returned to the KATOOM fold. Orange is enjoyable every time I go out.

P.P.S weekend touring should be fine, any longer I might go BMW!
 
SKIPSTER said:
Not quite the comparison you are after, but KTM allllllllllllllllllllll day. I still miss my GSA, but my 990 is simply more fun, has greater performance and is lighter. Just suits my needs for what I use it for.

Good luck.

P.S. The pleasure has returned to riding on the road since I returned to the KATOOM fold. Orange is enjoyable every time I go out.

P.P.S weekend touring should be fine, any longer I might go BMW!
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Thanks Skipster, it's definitely still useful input! Seems a lot of people love that 990 lump.
 
I had a 990 Adventure, fantastic engine, absolutely loved it but the tart in me missed stuff like a fuel gauge and gear position indicator so I went back to a GS. If I could get over the fact that I'm such a whore for gadgets i'd have another one tomorrow...lets face it I never use the fuel gauge anyway I reset the trip and trust the mileage and common sense over a fucking gauge!

Did many a long weekend (4 days) properly loaded up with camping gear, two types of bed (did I mention I'm a whore for gadgets) etc etc and it was brilliant. 300 mile days are my limit as I like to stop take pictures look about a bit but they were never uncomfortable, ever so slightly different riding position to the GS but as good. Commuting every day was more fun though, especially with twin FMF pipes and no baffles.
 
From 2009 onwards the 990 engine was updated - you can tell by looking at the clocks, on the old build both were orange backed, from and including 2009 they were modernised and black with the digital speedo on the right. Heavier crank as well to reduce vibes. The only other difference was from 2012 the engine got the R Map, giving it an extra few hp's, but you'd not notice, and any KTM dealer can re-map a pre-2012 bike with the R Map.
 
I had a 2011 SMT after a 56 plate GS. The KTM has an inspiring engine and feels very quick the downside is the appalling low speed fuelling- this can be masked to some extent by fitting 16T front sprocket which I did but I also ended up using the clutch to regulate the throttle. The
engine runs incredibly hot with the (loud) fan on about 60% of the time. Fuel wise mine averaged about 35 mpg with a best of 37 this did not improve even when touring, which was a nuisance. The Yorkshire dealer I bought from didn't have a clue and in the end I traded in due to an ongoing stalling problem that apparently couldn't be resolved. I really liked the bike and it never let me down but I wasn't confident it would last long.
 
I have an 1190A which is a great bike, but I still kinda miss my 12 plate 990A. Enough said.
 
You will make up your own mind once you have ridden both. From your post you mention touring 2 up,this will be the deal breaker.How often and how far you do this will mean the Gs could be the bike to go for.
The SMT is physically a much smaller bike,lighter to manoeuvre around and will feel flighty compared with the slower steering/turning GS.But as has been written many times ,the drive from the KTM engine is different,it spins up much quicker than the boxer and has a flickability [if that's a word?] that no Gs can match.The downside, it is harsher to ride,does not do slow pottering along like a GS. Try them back to back if you can then only you can decide what your main needs are,you won't go wrong with either.
 
Thanks all, great points to think about. Keep hearing such good things about that 990 engine.

As for 2 up riding. It will be the occasional afternoon and maybe a long weekend at a stretch with the other half but I dare say it'll be solo riding 90% of the time.

As doyle mentioned, I'm sure my mind will be made up post test rides. Hopefully I'll be able to hop off the KTM and then 20 minutes later onto the BMW.
 
Two of my close biking mates have 990 Adventure's.......... they ride like a superbike on stilts. It's an astonishing eager, fast spinning engine but they are overly fond of petrol.......... the range is horrendous if pushing on.

Tapatalked from my MotoX Dev Edition.
 
hi jonny

I've just changed from a 1200gs-2010 twin cam to a 13 plate ktm-smt. the gs is a great bike fantastic 2 up and the fuel consumption is very good. But my circumstance's changed wife cant come on bike due to back injury so decided time for change along came a 13 plate smt with just a 1000 mile on the clock. Test rode and I loved it lighter great engine fantastic brakes and superb suspension. Just completed 4 day tour in the Scottish highlands with 3 Honda's and one of them broke down. averaged 46 mile a gallon. Not the fasted tour but we did ride in the snow cant wait for the summer. hope this helps
 
deathfartofawarthogg said:
hi jonny

I've just changed from a 1200gs-2010 twin cam to a 13 plate ktm-smt. the gs is a great bike fantastic 2 up and the fuel consumption is very good. But my circumstance's changed wife cant come on bike due to back injury so decided time for change along came a 13 plate smt with just a 1000 mile on the clock. Test rode and I loved it lighter great engine fantastic brakes and superb suspension. Just completed 4 day tour in the Scottish highlands with 3 Honda's and one of them broke down. averaged 46 mile a gallon. Not the fasted tour but we did ride in the snow cant wait for the summer. hope this helps
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Thanks! That does help a lot :)

Can I ask how the KTM feels when your pushing? Does it ever give you any worry? Only reason I ask is that I'm still building my confidence back after coming off my ZX6R a couple of years ago which really made a dent in my biking mental state. I'm now forever thinking front and rear wheels are sliding or tanks are slapping every ride I do on my VFR (which I know neither are realistically close to being true lol) but when I took the BM out it just gave me such a feel of confidence and sureity in the corners, I felt like I was gliding!

At the same time though I did feel like it was a bit boring and I'm not sure I could walk away from it and look back thinking its gorgeous. The KTM on the other hand is gorgeous and seems like an absolute blast to ride (unfortunately I'm still waiting on a test ride due to my local KTM dealer being difficult) but is it the type of ride where I'll be worrying every two seconds if my heads not in the right place?
 
Jonny said:
Thanks! That does help a lot :)

Can I ask how the KTM feels when your pushing? Does it ever give you any worry? Only reason I ask is that I'm still building my confidence back after coming off my ZX6R a couple of years ago which really made a dent in my biking mental state. I'm now forever thinking front and rear wheels are sliding or tanks are slapping every ride I do on my VFR (which I know neither are realistically close to being true lol) but when I took the BM out it just gave me such a feel of confidence and sureity in the corners, I felt like I was gliding!

At the same time though I did feel like it was a bit boring and I'm not sure I could walk away from it and look back thinking its gorgeous. The KTM on the other hand is gorgeous and seems like an absolute blast to ride (unfortunately I'm still waiting on a test ride due to my local KTM dealer being difficult) but is it the type of ride where I'll be worrying every two seconds if my heads not in the right place?
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sorry Jonny cant help you there. the best thing for you to do is get at test ride and make your own mind up for me it feel better than the bmw but I do agree with you that the bmw is confidence inspiring
 
Jonny, Forgive me ,but it sounds like you might benefit from either going out with an instructor or a good mate and follow each other to gain your confidence back. I am no expert and have not done any extra training or such like,but, there are plenty IAM folk or similar on here who may give better info.
The GS is i think one of the most confidence inspiring bikes which is on the go.
 
doyle said:
Jonny, Forgive me ,but it sounds like you might benefit from either going out with an instructor or a good mate and follow each other to gain your confidence back. I am no expert and have not done any extra training or such like,but, there are plenty IAM folk or similar on here who may give better info.
The GS is i think one of the most confidence inspiring bikes which is on the go.
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I agree, if your confidence is at a real low maybe joining a training school for some refresher sessions will help, at least you'll be able to use one of their bikes get your mojo back and then look into what you want to buy.
Hate to say it but if you're a liability to other road users you should stay off the roads unsupervised until you're over it. A big heavy powerful GS or KTM is not for you at the moment mate.
 
SKIPSTER said:
Not quite the comparison you are after, but KTM allllllllllllllllllllll day. I still miss my GSA, but my 990 is simply more fun, has greater performance and is lighter. Just suits my needs for what I use it for.

Good luck.

P.S. The pleasure has returned to riding on the road since I returned to the KATOOM fold. Orange is enjoyable every time I go out.

P.P.S weekend touring should be fine, any longer I might go BMW!
Click to expand...

+1 I chopped my 1200GSA in for a 990 Adv (sorry not SM-T) but the same applies; lighter faster more fun I now have an 1190 and that's even more fun :D

Dave
 
Jonny, I've just replaced my 1200GS with an 1190 after coming off it in February and writing it off.. Confidence is coming back slowly.

What I CAN tell you is that my new 1190 Adventure is lighter, has better suspension, better handling, is more nimble and has an absolutely bonkers engine... I'm chuffed to bits with it. That's not to say the GS isn't a superb bike, just that I'm very happy with my new steed and have no regrets switching to be honest.

Oh and the gearbox doesn't feel like a bag of spanners either ;)
 
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