KTM 990 Adventure - Should I?

MarkN said:
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:thumb 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.
:beerjug:
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Mark, thanks for that, very helpful.

Dave
 
990

I have a 990adv and its a fantastic bike,iv owned a 1200 gsa and an1150gsa,they are all great bikes,but the build quality of the KTM is way above the Beemers,at 4500 mile service intervals maybe if you are doing loads of miles then that might be a consideration,but you've stated you will be doing your own maintanance so no worries,mine is an early model 07 iv'e cured the throttle with a G2 throttle cam and a 15min idle reset.No fuel gauge as some have said but my 1200gsa one was shit and broke on the way to the south of france and i used the trips...the katoom has a light with a countdown gauge that comes on with it to tell you how many miles since the light came on,my other half finds the back seat fine not quite as comfy as the 12 but we stop every 100 miles or so anyway,i have a gel seat fitted so no probs on your butt.These bikes sound awesome,when i wind it up with the twin Akros howling it makes me laugh like a drain and it makes my old 12 feel slow,as for the chain well mate rode his 2000miles across spain and with a scottoiler fitted didnt have to touch the chain but yes granted you get a bit of mess on the spokes but chains are a lot cheaper to change than a shaft drive.You wont be dissapointed with a 990 they hold their condition even after being covered in shite such is the quality of the parts beemers are great bikes but the KTMs are the ones to own if you want to put fun back into your motorcycling.....just my 2ps worth.....
 
Best to take a long test ride on the big Katoom with the Mrs and see what she thinks. :thumb2

Mine hates the orange beast but loves the GSA. So most of my one up riding is done on the KTM and two up touring on the GS. The Katy is the more exciting bike to ride for sure but if your thinking of a 990 try and get a post 09 model (more refined) and check for the dreaded flaky FI.

I would avoid the early 990's (06-08) for this reason.

The best 9xx KTM Adv is the superb and smooth 950 carb version. :D

Good luck. :)
 
Can agree wit this........ Rode a carb version, fugging amazing, my fi was a little difficult, great bike, more character than any bmw can ever have even though i have th gsa now.....
 
Not considered the KTM SMT??

If you don't venture off road this is a better road bike than the ADV, good sticky road tyres and phenomenal Brembo monobloc radial brakes, also decent grab handles for your pillion.

Agree with the comments about the KTM's build quality, far better than the BM's, the paint actually stays where its supposed to :D

Link to my original thread when I bought mine :-

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274942

I think it fuels perfectly for a high performance big twin, 7,700 miles on it now, not a single problem with it, and it just gets better now its loosened up a bit, I bloody love it! :thumb
 
Any of the 990's can be vastly improved by using custom mapping with a Power Commander etc. Completely transformed my 08 Superduke :thumb
 
Thanks for all the info. I had considered an SM-T but the Adv is more up my street. I'm off to try an Adventure a week on saturday so we'll see what that leads to.

Dave
 
Make sure you take Sandra too. As well as finding it uncomfortable, there wasn't much room for my feet (but Bill has got huge feet, size 13)
 
Pink said:
Make sure you take Sandra too. As well as finding it uncomfortable, there wasn't much room for my feet (but Bill has got huge feet, size 13)
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Sandra will be coming along, we spend a lot of time together on the bike so her input is important.

Dave
 
Dellis said:
I do hope so :) What with my new Hilleberg and hopefully a new or newish KTM there'll be no stopping me :D

Dave
Click to expand...

If I wasn't so committed with spares, panniers, bling etc. on the GS's, I'd be getting rid and on the lookout for a mint 950ADV and excited at the prospect.:thumb
 
I've had a 990 adv for a couple of years now and it's been a great bike. I use it for 2 up touring with all the camping gear, my wife finds it no less comfy than any of the other bikes I've had (80G/S, 1100GS, 1200RT, Caponord etc). I also use it off road with trips to the Peaks, Wales, Portugal (one up) although I did the Assieta Pass in Italy with the missus on the back; I would say that off road is where the bike excels above any other in this genre. The only tip I would give is if the demo bike has a top box, make sure it's on as you might get a slap from somebody behind you :D; you won't be able to resist giving it the beans.:thumb
As has been said, build quality is excellent and they are easy to maintain yourself once you get used to the layout of the fuel tanks etc.
Have fun.
 
Got both, 990ADV (2009) and a 1150GSA (2003).

Gs gets 50mpg all day
ktm gets 35 - 45 mpg depending on how I ride it.

GS - Great tourer, two up - pan continental
Ktm - Good tourer, tank range (160 miles to light) would do my head in on long journeys

Gs - Is like a family car
Ktm - is like a sports car (i.e. both get from AtoB but they have different outlooks on life)

my 2p
 
Paul S said:
Any of the 990's can be vastly improved by using custom mapping with a Power Commander etc. Completely transformed my 08 Superduke :thumb
Click to expand...
A cheaper mod is this http://www.ktmforum.co.uk/adventure/91901-best-mod-990-adv-all-accounts.html Still going well and no probs, now its wet its even better



Tyres wise, Dunlop 908rr rear (140 sze fits BTW) and TKC front, really good off road and okay on road, be sensible in the wet, good fun in the dry--- gas it and ....squirm baby! squirm! Last rear lasted me 5k with about 4mm left, front was enough to last another 1/2 rear,, if you follow :confused:

On a foot note, one of the best bikes I've owned, and thats a few. Saying that I love V Twins,Twins, and V Fours but it makes me grin after every ride, and thats every day ish BTW
 
Timolgra said:
If I wasn't so committed with spares, panniers, bling etc. on the GS's, I'd be getting rid and on the lookout for a mint 950ADV and excited at the prospect.:thumb
Click to expand...

My 950 Adv was one of the last of the carb versions registered in the UK (April 2006) and is definitely a keeper. :thumb2

Mind you the last time I said that about a bike it was on ebay three days later. :rolleyes::D
 
Kt

Had LC8's since 04,(you might possibly remember fixing a puncture in the very early hours one morning )1150 and 1150 adv before that. Sorted the range with an adventure tank and a 2 into 1 exhaust. Tony Archer sorted the seat for £60.00. Self service . Only possible problem would be that you might be getting a bit old for one . Not for the pipe and slippers .

LOL !
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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