ktm 990 adv

[(RIP) Perryhill]

damn - you're right. What i really want is an MZ TS125... no... no... its actually a diesel enfield. On second thoughts, maybe a pogo stick...



ummm, not really too sure where you're coming from? are you in the right forum? (i guess i'd call the GS an adventure sports bike as much as the 990)

Maybe I've got my classifications all wrong but the point I was attempting (and obviously failing) to make was - as someone who rides all year round - I'd rather test a bike in the crappiest conditions I can get because that way I'd know the worst. Maybe it doesn't rain in your part of the country ​

 

[(RIP) Perryhill]

Maybe I've got my classifications all wrong but the point I was attempting (and obviously failing) to make was - as someone who rides all year round - I'd rather test a bike in the crappiest conditions I can get because that way I'd know the worst. Maybe it doesn't rain in your part of the country ​

In fact, just to expand on this, as I live very close to the aforementioned Tri Counties and it was a really sh1tty day today (a day off) I rang Clive and booked a 990 Adventure test ride.

What a nice bloke and what a bike! With less than 200 miles on the clock I had to keep the revs down but short shifting is my normal style so that wasn't too much of a hardship. After about 50 miles of back lanes, bumps, puddles and blind drivers I was really sorry to give it back.

My thoughts were, it felt un-run-in and in need of a tweak - which apparently happens at 600 miles, the tyres appear less road biased than the industry standard Touraces but better over a muddy field (sorry Clive - I did try and find some deep puddles to clean the worst off) and I'm sure they will improve once properly scrubbed in. Overall it probably isn't as smooth as a new BM but one up on my beloved GSPD.

People have said it is tall but at 5'8 it felt absolutely spot-on for distance even if they say you can't do over 110 with panniers on.

The thing that really impressed me was the attention to detail in all the components - it really looked like it had been built by engineers.

Conclusion - finally a bike that makes me think of selling the GSPD, something the 1100/1150/1200 has never done - so Mr Cookiemonster I'd definitely give it another go at TriCounties just wait till after the 600 service but bikes (and dealers) are a personally thing and it may not be for you ​

 

[Mucky Helmetier]

Think I saw you today riding through Wokingham??

 

[(RIP) Perryhill]

Think I saw you today riding through Wokingham??

T'was I - if what you saw had a hi-viz jacket, silver grey BM lid and inane grin! ​

 

[Peter Pan]

I don't think I could ever go back to a bike with a chain ..........PITA!

 

[Mucky Helmetier]

T'was I - if what you saw had a hi-viz jacket, silver grey BM lid and inane grin! ​

That was the look... You overtook a truck just as I was passing.. The grin was very visible, more so than the hi vis jacket..

 

[Tobers]

Tank range - the KTM does about 185 miles/tank whereas I was on about 230 miles on the 1200GS. Both take 22 litres I think. Riding style or inefficient carbs, or both

Doesn't bother me but it might bother some people. You can get 40 litre tanks for the KTM if you like. Personally, I couldn't do 180+ miles in one go anyway - I like to get off for a stretch every 100 or so.

Whatever the range, more smiles/mile on the KTM and that's all that is relevant to me.

 

[Richyboy]

K tee em ....

Seems that a fair few of the lads that were ex sport bikers and that currently have gs's are now looking at the ktm 950/990 for different thrills maybe as a second bike - me included .I got the 1150 gsa wanting to explore the bikes potential but despite going near n far on various trips and avin my dose of bmw reliabilty i have felt i am missing the grin factor that performance used to bring.Ive looked at the 12gsa and decided the looks girth and its direction are not that far from where im currently at. Got fed up of lifting the 1150 gsa in sand in moroc despite tkc's whilst my ktm 950 mate were avin a ball - on his road scorpions...

anyhow trouble is that after having spoke to various dealers who used to be ktm franchises i think its a case of better the devil you know...after all my bmw dealer has always given good aftersales service and i love the gsa dearly but they aint the do all cure all that people on this board make em out to be.So can anyone who's made the jump shed light?


High mileage reliability is also of question ?, but the niggling thing is the performance is REAL tempting especially if it were in the in your face orange... but at the mo thier seems to be too many negatives?




Avit ,thats right make em avit...thats wot i say.

 

[cookiemonster]

Maybe I've got my classifications all wrong but the point I was attempting (and obviously failing) to make was - as someone who rides all year round - I'd rather test a bike in the crappiest conditions I can get because that way I'd know the worst. Maybe it doesn't rain in your part of the country ​

Ah, got you

And yes, I agree - i was happy to take it out in the rain to see what it would be like in "real" conditions; like i say the sad reality of my life is that 90% of my riding is in shitty weather, congested traffic or long straight motorways...

However, I felt after not getting on with the 990 in the wet that I should try it in the dry to see if i could get to grips with it; then maybe the next time in the wet i would be more comfortable...

jon

 

[(RIP) Perryhill]

Ah, got you

And yes, I agree - i was happy to take it out in the rain to see what it would be like in "real" conditions; like i say the sad reality of my life is that 90% of my riding is in shitty weather, congested traffic or long straight motorways...

However, I felt after not getting on with the 990 in the wet that I should try it in the dry to see if i could get to grips with it; then maybe the next time in the wet i would be more comfortable...

jon

Well I've finally put my money where my mouth is and am picking up a 990 Adventure on Saturday - I'll let you know if it was just the one you tried or whether 'they're all like that, Sir'​

 

[Pressurized]

Well I've finally put my money where my mouth is and am picking up a 990 Adventure on Saturday - I'll let you know if it was just the one you tried or whether 'they're all like that, Sir'​

I'm picking one up in March and am very keen to know if they've sorted the FI. Please let us know!!

 

[Whele]

Hi

I am not going to enter the BMW vs KTM debate as they are quite different bikes offering a different experience. However I swapped my BMW for a 990i back at the end of November.

Once the grin factor wore off I began to get very frustrated with the on/off fuelling which to me really spoilt the bike. I really thought I had made a mistake purchasing it, I even considered selling it for a 950 carb version. Most frustrating was taking mini roundabouts sub 25mph, this could only be negotiated safely slipping the clutch (unless the roads were perfectly dry) it made me appear to my riding buddies that I didn’t have good bike control.

Off road was a nightmare too, in slippery conditions it was impossible to use any subtle drive to get out of deep mud. Typical situations were … stop get off bike to open gate, get back on and attempt to ride through deep mud gently, open the throttle a fraction and the rear wheel would spin wildly, ramblers were not amused.

When it had its first service just before Christmas, I requested that the dealer (Premier Bikes) load a revised map that had just become available. This did improve matters significantly, but not entirely. Three weeks ago I fitted a new throttle body with the K300 cam. This gives a more gentle progressive pull on the cable at small throttle openings but less at openings beyond half throttle to ensure the amount of twist from zero to full throttle is exactly the same as the OEM body.

Finally last week I had the dealer upload the 2007 revised map, the bike is now how it should have been, maybe a tad to gentle on road, but standing up, off road in deep mud its great, sufficiently progressive that you can drive out of some very slippery chalky mud (no not me on the Ridgeway officer ) with minimal wheelspin.

 

[Pressurized]

...Finally last week I had the dealer upload the 2007 revised map...

Am I right in saying that it's perfect with both the 2007 map and the throttle body cam?

Do you reckon it's be right with just the 2007 mapping?

 

[(RIP) Perryhill]

Am I right in saying that it's perfect with both the 2007 map and the throttle body cam?

Do you reckon it's be right with just the 2007 mapping?

Hope not or I just invested/wasted £80 in trying to solve a problem that won't exist after its first service! ​

 

[(RIP) Perryhill]

I'm picking one up in March and am very keen to know if they've sorted the FI. Please let us know!!

The one I bought is a late 06 that had been on static display in the dealer. I don't think it had been remapped when I picked it up as it was worse than the one I tried at Tri-Counties. However, doing 'leave it running for 15 minutes' thing seemed to make a significant improvement and adding one of those new cams (the 300) from Redline makes it almost as good as as your average hondkawzukimaha . I can't afford Akras but hope to get the 2007 mapping done at the first service to fix it completely.​

 

[Alphason]

Best of luck....Dealers are denying all knowledge of a software fix. Or at least the dealers in the Rochdale area are denying all knowledge

 

[Horsedribble]

I've just spent the last two months trying to choose between a 1200GS or a KTM 990! After many an hours research/test rides I'm going for the GS! As a matter of fact I'm going to buy it tomorrow!

I have to confess, I actually think the KTM is a more desireable bike when you're stood there looking at it, (there's some real fancy components on them KTM's and they've got a lot more sporty appeal to them).

But I'm the kind of bloke who likes to wave his own spanners at things, and the GS is far much less complicated on that front. No water cooling, no bucket and shim valve adjustment, and life's just too short to fiddle about with messy chains every two days!

Finally, I think the GS is a better financial choice. The GS is more expensive to buy new but there's not a fat lot in it really, and the servicing costs are about the same. However, although I don't talk from experience here, the GS is apparently lot more economical, especially under load, and I think it will probably hold it's value a lot better than the KTM????? Hmmm, I guess time will tell on that????

I tell you what though, The GS is a quirky beast with bonkers switch gear etc, and if you've never riden a boxer twin before those big old sticky out pots aren't half hard on the shins! My money's on you'll only kick it once!

 

[Alphason]

Absolutely the right choice. Don't buy the KTM, buy the GS. They're much more popular and I'm sure they always will be.

 

[Pressurized]

Absolutely the right choice. Don't buy the KTM, buy the GS. They're much more popular and I'm sure they always will be.

Well, when KTM will only supply their dealers with about 10 per year and BMW are churning out GSs like there's no tomorrow, you're absolutely right. No question.

That said, I'm picking up a KTM 990 at the end of the month and selling my 1200 GS.

Some other guy said the GS will have good resale. Obviously I hope so but I doubt it.

 

[Alphason]

Good choice but don't tell anyone.They'll all want one and then you'll start seeing 'em everywhere!