KTM 990 Adventure - Should I?

[Dellis]

Thats good review fo your test ride.

been lookign saving and maybe buying new in year or 2.

Big thing for me was 2 up as well. have a cb1000 for 2 up now as i found africa twin with dual seat bit squashed and lot helmet bashing.

had 1150gs but wife never went for run with me on it.

how was the ktm over all 2up, would you rate the bmw as more comfortable for 2 people or are the seats of equal lenght?

There's a bit more space on the BMW fore and aft but the KTM has enough room. As I said I found the seat on the KTM fine and my hips more comfortable as my legs were in a more relaxed position. Blondie aka Sandra and I quote "we didn't have a massive test ride but it was fine, it's just a bit shorter than the GS" she's also keen on the reduced tank size "we might actually stop now"

Dave

 

[Panzerkinder]

still gsa

currently 1150GSA but was loaned a '10 990 very nice but not enough to tempt from 1150, however am awaiting delivery of fun time toy 640 for the extra buzz

 

[john_aero]

the small tank is putting me off big time, or low mpg. might wait see how the newer bikes fair out with mpg

i am hankering to buy new or 2 year old when i can afford it hopefully mid year.

had a gorgeus 950 adv in my hands but llad wouldnt drop price by 200 euro, pitty as i hadnt 1 bit more and would have meant his bike would sold 1 hour after going up. think it never sold in theend.

hmmm best luck with it and i will keep in touch regarding how you find it comfort wise.

no ktm back up in ireland also a right kick in the arse, not that i ever go to dealer anyway

 

[bakerlonglegs]

....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....

I had one of the hallowed 950 carb'ed bikes and the above comment sums it up. It made the previous bike I had (1150GS) feel like a lorry instead of a bike. It sounded lush, especially with akros on, the build quality (as others have said) seemed better, and Mrs BLL didn't mind the seat as long as she had a top box to lean on. The 'Sport' settings dialed in to the suspension helped the road feedback. It was properly fun to ride and, if I'd been braver, would have been a far better proposition for green laning than a big GS.

But...
The fuel range was too low for me for touring and the fuel light was unreliable, very nearly stranding me on one occasion (I rolled into a petrol station on a December dark and shitty A1, after coaxing a spluttering engine for a mile.... without a hint of a warning from the light). The battery would go flat far too quick if left off a trickle charger (something no other bike I've had suffers from) and the battery was fiddly to get to when it did. The stock panniers were as wide as a house either side of the end cans and the top box wouldn't take a lid. I don't know if I bought one at the wrong time but it had a least two recalls while I had it, leading to extra trips to the dealer outside the normal servicing. Talking of which, I seem to remember the first service at 600 miles was eye-wateringly expensive. (edit.... and another thing.... despite having the later supposedly improved seat, it still needed one of those airhawk air-cushion things on the seat for any trip over a hundred miles)

I still miss it - sat on one at the 2011 NEC bike show and seriously thought about it - but it's the wrong bike for me. This off-road nervous novice needs a small bike for green laning and a comfy mile-muncher for touring, and the KTM is neither.

 

[Tricky]

the small tank is putting me off big time, or low mpg. might wait see how the newer bikes fair out with mpg

It would only be 'small' if compared to like a something a GSA. My 950 Adv will do on average 160 miles to the fuel light (mixed riding conditions) with approx another 40 on reserve. The 990 FI bikes have slightly less capacity due to the revised position of the fuel pump. Also mpg does suffer on the 990 if you have the ackro FI fuel map installed.

Unless your planning to travel somewhere really remote it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[swissrob]

I've gone for the 'S' in blue. 2012 bikes now have the same spec 115bhp motor as the 'R', dual seat, ABS and is 40mm lower then the R

Dave

ktm cheeky twats.. they released the dakar version as a "special" then some months later release it as a standard model minus the dakar sticker.


on the fuel story, yes the fuel consumption is higher than the GS1200. i used to get about 340-360kms per brimmed tank on the GS, on the ktm i get 300kms to virtually dry - put in about 18-19 litres on both. this is with the standard 16/42 tooth sprockets BTW.

 

[Stonker]

Isn't there a new adv in the pipeline? I know a 1200 was rumoured to be in the pipeline

 

[john_aero]

Unless your planning to travel somewhere really remote it shouldn't be a big deal.

the dream would be too but sure i will prob have 10 bikes before i get the chance

well sounds something similar to my GS so of old.

Must head up north some weekend and chat witht he KTM lads see if they do deal and sell it with Irish plates or with not VRT or reg costs and i will have go do that down here save me paying for VRT twice

 

[Dellis]

Time is passing VERY slowly - three weeks to go.....

Dave

 

[Ross Dean]

I just bought a 2007 model and came from an F800GS (see signature for the rest). I've only had it two days but did a 178 mile mainly motorway ride home with it yesterday and found it amazingly comfortable after the 800GS ... vibey but by no means tiring. My fuel consumption with the Akras was about 42 mpg which means that the range is an issue to be solved for long journeys in remote places but this a solvable problem without resorting to replacing the fuel tanks with some massive alternative ... did anyone mention the sheer fun of the bike? - I have never ridden anything like it, even today on the wet and muddy county roads of remoter Devon

 

[Dellis]

I just bought a 2007 model and came from an F800GS (see signature for the rest). I've only had it two days but did a 178 mile mainly motorway ride home with it yesterday and found it amazingly comfortable after the 800GS ... vibey but by no means tiring. My fuel consumption with the Akras was about 42 mpg which means that the range is an issue to be solved for long journeys in remote places but this a solvable problem without resorting to replacing the fuel tanks with some massive alternative ... did anyone mention the sheer fun of the bike? - I have never ridden anything like it, even today on the wet and muddy county roads of remoter Devon

Nice to hear you're enjoying the new bike - 2 1/2 weeks to go......

Dave

 

[doyle]

Fuel consumpsion means feck all when you ride them

 

[Istanbulian]

Fuel consumpsion means feck all when you ride them

...unless you are in the likes of Kazakhstan where fuel stations can be in excess of 200 miles apart.

I managed 265 miles on a standard tank but only because I was forced to and for the last 150 miles had to exercise serious restriant with the throttle in order to get to Uralsk. Pretty scary.

 

[cherokee]

...unless you are in the likes of Kazakhstan where fuel stations can be in excess of 200 miles apart.

I managed 265 miles on a standard tank but only because I was forced to and for the last 150 miles had to exercise serious restriant with the throttle in order to get to Uralsk. Pretty scary.

The fun of the bike negates the fuel prob imho,granted KTM should have made it with bigger tanks and for sure if you're way out in the wilderness its a pita,but there are plenty of fixes on the market cheap and expensive so its solvable,and guys come on,this bike is a hoot to ride the best fun with your clothes on you can have.....

 

[Dellis]

Two weeks today..... Just a bit excited, couple of days booked off work and raring to go

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

You know what Dave, you're a b@stard

I bought my 05 GS new, as a keeper and up until now I have never, once, considered getting rid of it for anything else.

However, having seen the gorgeous Dakar of Betty Swollocks up for sale and following this thread I'm thinking more and more how I'd like one of these bikes.

I want to get a test ride...........but...............I just know what will happen if I do.........................

B@astard

Andres

 

[Dellis]

You know what Dave, you're a b@stard

I bought my 05 GS new, as a keeper and up until now I have never, once, considered getting rid of it for anything else.

However, having seen the gorgeous Dakar of Betty Swollocks up for sale and following this thread I'm thinking more and more how I'd like one of these bikes.

I want to get a test ride...........but...............I just know what will happen if I do.........................

B@astard

Andres

Yes Andres the test ride WILL tip you over the edge, go for it

 

[johnnyboy]

You know what Dave, you're a b@stard

I bought my 05 GS new, as a keeper and up until now I have never, once, considered getting rid of it for anything else.

However, having seen the gorgeous Dakar of Betty Swollocks up for sale and following this thread I'm thinking more and more how I'd like one of these bikes.

I want to get a test ride...........but...............I just know what will happen if I do.........................

B@astard

Andres

Leisure Trail, Long Eaton or Redline, Loughboro' would be your local dealer. You know you want to.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Yes Andres the test ride WILL tip you over the edge, go for it

Leisure Trail, Long Eaton or Redline, Loughboro' would be your local dealer. You know you want to.

Yes, I know Leisure Trail well, unfortunatly they are but 5 mins away from where I work.............and you can both 'bog off'

Andres

 

[johnnyboy]

Yes, I know Leisure Trail well, unfortunatly they are but 5 mins away from where I work.............and you can both 'bog off'

Andres

Shall I get Pete to drop the demo bike off at your workplace then?