KTM 990 Adventure - Should I?

[Dellis]

Are they any good two up? Looking to trade my GSA for a new 990 Adv, I'm looking for a change but it still needs to be a decent two up mount capable of hauling me, Sandra and our camping gear around. Over the last six years I've owned 2 x 1150's and 2 x 1200's and have covered well over 100,000 miles between them so a change is due. Thoughts please....

Dave

 

[Timolgra]

Well that's only 25k miles per bike so a KTM should come close to that before expiring

 

[Dellis]

Well that's only 25k miles per bike so a KTM should come close to that before expiring

My GS history

36,000 current 1200 GSA in 2 1/2 years
48,000 previous 1200 GS in just under 3 years
30,000 between the two 1150's in about 18 months

How will a 990 fare?

 

[Fanum]

Dave......the thing that strikes me as being the critical factor here is, not to put too fine a point on it, Sandra's bottom.

Rosie HATED the back of a 990, but regularly falls asleep on the back of the GSA.

Very very different beasts for touring.

 

[champagne james]

I woudn't

I had a new Adventure 990 last year and then bought an 07 GSA.

Sure you get more for your money with the KTM but it has a huge down side which if you've been on the KTM forum you will know is the fuel range. Some 990s can only make 130 miles to a tank others upto 180, they all differ(and depending on your riding style, traffic, roads etc). If thats not an issue for you then no big deal. The KTM is comfy even 2 up just, 09 models onwards are smoother.

I couldnt live with the fuel range and poor mpg. On a bad day mine might only do 25mpg which can get expensive.

Other than the fuel issue it was a great bike.

Just my thoughts

 

[Dellis]

Dave......the thing that strikes me as being the critical factor here is, not to put too fine a point on it, Sandra's bottom.

Rosie HATED the back of a 990, but regularly falls asleep on the back of the GSA.

Very very different beasts for touring.

We're taking a test ride a week on Saturday. Sandra rides pillion most of the time I'm on the bike so her input is important, she's also a regular pillion snoozer too.

I had a new Adventure 990 last year and then bought an 07 GSA.

Sure you get more for your money with the KTM but it has a huge down side which if you've been on the KTM forum you will know is the fuel range. Some 990s can only make 130 miles to a tank others upto 180, they all differ(and depending on your riding style, traffic, roads etc). If thats not an issue for you then no big deal. The KTM is comfy even 2 up just, 09 models onwards are smoother.

I couldnt live with the fuel range and poor mpg. On a bad day mine might only do 25mpg which can get expensive.

Other than the fuel issue it was a great bike.

Just my thoughts

I'd be interested to hear what MPG you get from your GSA, I can then benchmark that against my MPG and it should give me an idea of which end of the spectrum I'll end up. Fuel economy was one of my concerns fuel range less so as Sandra will be very happy if my non stop jaunts are curtailed with the smaller tank capacity

 

[Timolgra]

If your not using it offroad then the only advantages the KTM has over a 1200 are looks, fun, coolness and performance etc. etc.

 

[Stonker]

Ever since a well publicised bust up with BWM, I was hankering after a 990 Adventure but didn't like the looks, chain drive, fuel consumption or that silly double filler. I waited for the Guzzi Stelvio but was really dissapointed when I rode it. The latest one is great though so I was ready to place an order in the spring....until my head was turned by the new Triumph.....,I've still not made my mind up

 

[Timolgra]

Ever since a well publicised bust up with BWM, I was hankering after a 990 Adventure but didn't like the looks, chain drive, fuel consumption or that silly double filler. I waited for the Guzzi Stelvio but was really dissapointed when I rode it. The latest one is great though so I was ready to place an order in the spring....until my head was turned by the new Triumph.....,I've still not made my mind up

Great advise

 

[Stonker]

Great advise

did i offer advice? it was just a comment

 

[RJT_Berlin]

I had the adventure, great bike, loas of character too. I almost wish i never sold it tbh. I had an issue with the front wheel, caused a but of stress and slashed confidence, hence the sale.. Now have a gsa, not good enough weather to compare handling yet, but think they are both awesome bikes, depends if you are happy to look after chains too.... I also heard ktm servicing is very expensive.....

 

[Zoton]

you will love the ktm but will suffer on the resale if above normal mileage compared to the BMW resale.But top bike for two up stuff but opt out of the plastic luguage as straping stuff on the top is a pain.

 

[how much for a service!]

KTM

nice 2010 model in the for sale section

 

[Whele]

Are they any good two up? Looking to trade my GSA for a new 990 Adv, I'm looking for a change but it still needs to be a decent two up mount capable of hauling me, Sandra and our camping gear around. Over the last six years I've owned 2 x 1150's and 2 x 1200's and have covered well over 100,000 miles between them so a change is due. Thoughts please....

Dave

You need to have balls to ride a KTM.

Anyone man who's choice of motorcycle is dependant upon pillion confort needs to nurture some growth in the tousers department before starting to looking towards anything orange.

Stick to BMW's they suit you sir.

 

[Dellis]

You need to have balls to ride a KTM.

Anyone man who's choice of motorcycle is dependant upon pillion confort needs to nurture some growth in the tousers department before starting to looking towards anything orange.

Stick to BMW's they suit you sir.

What a crock of crap. I happen to like riding two up and I like going camping so these have to be considerations.

 

[Dellis]

nice 2010 model in the for sale section

PM'd you

 

[Dellis]

I had the adventure, great bike, loas of character too. I almost wish i never sold it tbh. I had an issue with the front wheel, caused a but of stress and slashed confidence, hence the sale.. Now have a gsa, not good enough weather to compare handling yet, but think they are both awesome bikes, depends if you are happy to look after chains too.... I also heard ktm servicing is very expensive.....

I'd self service and am happy with chains, in fact a modern chain might even outlast a BM final drive......

 

[Timolgra]

I'd self service and am happy with chains, in fact a modern chain might even outlast a BM final drive......

I'm right in the middle of some preparation and 'preventative maintenance' on my KTM 640 ADV (it's a dirt bike and get's ridden hard) so checking the usual suspects such as cam followers and water pump etc. they're all perfect so far, but what's very impressive is the build quality of KTMs

 

[Dellis]

I'm right in the middle of some preparation and 'preventative maintenance' on my KTM 640 ADV (it's a dirt bike and get's ridden hard) so checking the usual suspects such as cam followers and water pump etc. they're all perfect so far, but what's very impressive is the build quality of KTMs

That is one of the reasons for change, I reckon that if I'd stuck to the 1150's I might not be looking elsewhere.

Dave

 

[MarkN]

I had one of the first 990 (Fi) Adventures in the country back in 2006 and I have to it was probably one of the most fun bikes I have ever owned but it was one of the worst bikes I've ever owned too.

To be fair though most of the problems that I had were because it was a new model and everything looks like it has been fixed by KTM on later models. Each problem I had at the time were corrected by retro-fits etc and the support I received from both KTM and my dealer were superb.

The main niggle really was the fuel economy and after having the Akrapovic exhausts fitted this dropped to around 25-30mpg giving a range of around 120 miles, not very good compared to the 350 I now get from my GSA.

Being a "V" twin though this is always going to happen as they are quite buzzy motors that like high revs.

I never carried a pillion so can't comment there but I did find the seat very uncomfortable for me and ended up having a seat made by Renazco in the US, which helped a lot.

As a bike though, it was superb and made me smile every time I rode it (when it didn't break), a bike like this doesn't have any reason to handle the way it did In the owners manual it gives several different settings for the suspension and if you do a lot of riding on the road it's worth setting the bike up in "sport" mode as it stiffens everything up and you'll surprise a few sports bikes on your favourite twisty road.

Tyre choice - well you have two, the excellent OEM Pirelli Scorpions or TKC80's - that's it really.

Ride it, test it, talk to the wife and see what she thinks and make up your mind.