Shall i take the plunge?

[RichieS]

Well, as a venerable HP2E and Blackbird owner i thought i had found my Nirvana. But now i am sorely tempted with a low milage 990 Adventure (with Akros', full side panniers, heated grips, and a couple of other useful bits of bling!) in a the very nice dark grey so matches my lid!! Dealer asking not an unreasonable £7250 and giving me WAY above book on my Blackbird.

Now i know that some of you may say that this is a good deal, and i have to say i agree, but i do love my big inline fours. Am i going to miss the blistering acceleration of the 'bird? Is the grin factor going to make up for this? Is it too similar to the HP2E? Decisions decisions. Watch this space!!

 

[RichieS]

Update...

Well, took out the Katoom today.

Standing there in all its Grey huge glory i really wanted this bike to impress. Having ridden my Blackbird to the dealership i had to clear my mind of all things 4 cylinder.

Starting her up and hearing a lovely V twin growl with Akros i was getting excited. Chuck a leg over the not to high saddle (for me a least) everything felt just about right. Snick into first gear and off we go. First impression was how light the throttle was.....and then it all strated to go wrong.
The much commented on fuel injection being snatchy at low revs was very apparent, combined with the light throttle made for hard work to keep it smooth in traffic.
Onto open dual carrigeway. Acceleration was brisk but the wind noise in my Arai was deafening. Never mind, crack on and find some back roads to play on. off the dual carriageway and again at lower revs the fuel injection showed its ugly head again. Having said that, the bike was a joy to flick around the bends and sat on the road very well indeed.....until i needed to brake with some enthusiasm thanks to an elderly baffon in his Fiesta. ABS kicked in a bit to early for my liking and it did need a big handful and without much feel. Get that little hazzard out of the way and an empty road ahead, thought i would have a play and stand up on the pegs. Geomatry all wrong for me, with the bars being too low. Not as nice as my HP2E.
A few more miles covered, and i statrted to get used to it, but i couldnt help thinking that i would get bored of the whole thing after a couple of weeks, with all of it foibles. Which is a REAL shame, coz i love the look of it, and i thought it be a great replacement for the BB which i could dabble off road on, ford streams and take to the Alps and beyond....but no. So the search continues. GS12? Been there done that.GS800? Yet to ride one, so might be suprised but probabally more for her indoors. 990SMT? Possibly. But dabbling off road on one and 2 up. Nah! Oh well. At least it gives me the opportunity to go and play on loads more toys!!

 

[Mav]

Interesting write up Richie - I'm not embarrassed to admit I've had similar thoughts about the 990Adv

For me, I have the 12 GSA to compliment the HP2E - abuse it for commuting, play in the dirt with the G/F on the back and doing long distance touring. It's also allowing me to make the HP even more dirt focused. Maybe you should try the GSA...

Look closely and you will see there are two of us on the bike in this pic ;-)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/3441400407/" title="Two up off-road by jsmarkos, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3441400407_e860ddccd6_o.jpg" width="1000" height="750" alt="Two up off-road" /></a>

 

[Klanky]

take the plunge....

......r

Why do you say the 800 is more for the missis?

 

[doyle]

SNAP i too was all set for a 990 adv ,had a test yesterday, a good bike but not for me ,i agree with what you've said, but i found it very easy to manouver,U turns slow speed i liked the balance of it. Jumped back on a 12 gs i was down on,and much preferred the gs, i also found the KTM a bit vibey ,maybee it would smooth out as it had only 600 odd miles on it?Not so roomy either. Each to his own though.

 

[RichieS]

......r

Why do you say the 800 is more for the missis?

Only because being used to a Blackbird and BIG gs's, i think i would miss the top end. But if i can persuade her to buy one, i doubt she would get it out of my grubby mitts!!

 

[RichieS]

Interesting write up Richie - I'm not embarrassed to admit I've had similar thoughts about the 990Adv

For me, I have the 12 GSA to compliment the HP2E - abuse it for commuting, play in the dirt with the G/F on the back and doing long distance touring. It's also allowing me to make the HP even more dirt focused. Maybe you should try the GSA...

Look closely and you will see there are two of us on the bike in this pic ;-)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasemarkos/3441400407/" title="Two up off-road by jsmarkos, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3441400407_e860ddccd6_o.jpg" width="1000" height="750" alt="Two up off-road" /></a>

Think that will be the next test ride. I'll just pop into Vines early one morning and come back real late!!

 

[Klanky]

Only because being used to a Blackbird and BIG gs's, i think i would miss the top end. But if i can persuade her to buy one, i doubt she would get it out of my grubby mitts!!

fair comment, old chap.

 

[riderbob]

I went from a 06 12GS to a 08 Adventure S. Haven't looked back and it's awesome off-road.

 

[Possu]

Sounds like it's the fuelling that's putting you off the most, try a carbed 950 Adventure & see how you get on or try a 990 fitted with stock pipes & a G2 Throttle Cam?

 

[RichieS]

Sounds like it's the fuelling that's putting you off the most, try a carbed 950 Adventure & see how you get on or try a 990 fitted with stock pipes & a G2 Throttle Cam?

Have tried the carbed version and did like it which is why i was hoping this would be the same. Good idea about trying one with standard cans tho. What difference do the throttle cams make?

 

[Zoton]

Look its well documented that when a grey Katoom comes off the line the boys don’t map emright to stop em selling.
Anyway I would like to know if the mapping had been done on the 600 mile demo bike with the akros fitted.I took a SMT out the other day with standard cans and the fuelling was well sorted.
Might be worth asking the dealer or indeed if your lucky enough try another dealer.
Wind noise in my Arai was deafening ? Do you use ear plugs? It is well documented that the screen is crap, seems to work better for shorties.Ya can buy a touring screen but why should you shell out to sort the problem.
ABS kicked in a bit to early – Better than late ? I’m interested what were the conditions like.
I have never locked mine in the dry.
I am however real happy with mine but I will be testing a GSA soon as it's been some years since my 1200 went.

 

[Zoton]

O yea.

 

[riderbob]

Have tried the carbed version and did like it which is why i was hoping this would be the same. Good idea about trying one with standard cans tho. What difference do the throttle cams make?

The G2 throttle cam makes a huge difference. It makes it a lot less twitchy and if you plan to take it off-road it's a god send. The standard cam is a 100 but the kit comes with a 200, 300 and 400 cam. I fitted the 400 cam and its probably the best £60 I spent on the bike.

 

[enabb]

The G2 throttle cam makes a huge difference. It makes it a lot less twitchy and if you plan to take it off-road it's a god send. The standard cam is a 100 but the kit comes with a 200, 300 and 400 cam. I fitted the 400 cam and its probably the best £60 I smpent on the bike.

+1 but I fitted the 300 cam n it makes a masive diffrence

 

[corky]

I,ve got a 990 with cam mod and standard cans and is fine--at least you get used to it, the throttle is instant response,but doesnt wander itself. Abs does often kick in on the back brake under heavier braking, seems a lot earlier than the GS--which never kicked in--conditions dry. By the way Mines a 2008 990 and its for sale see non gs bikes for sale

 

[Zoton]

I,ve got a 990 with cam mod and standard cans and is fine--at least you get used to it, the throttle is instant response,but doesnt wander itself. Abs does often kick in on the back brake under heavier braking, seems a lot earlier than the GS--which never kicked in--conditions dry. By the way Mines a 2008 990 and its for sale see non gs bikes for sale

Locking the rear under heavy breaking in the dry is just poor control.

 

[corky]

Never locked any other bike, and I'm not talking the kind of braking where you thought you were near the limit, every time it happened I was suprised, but it was no bother and happy to see it works

 

[Possu]

Have tried the carbed version and did like it which is why i was hoping this would be the same. Good idea about trying one with standard cans tho. What difference do the throttle cams make?

The Throttle Cams are smaller cable pulleys at the handlebar end, in effect it's a slow action throttle conversion, makes the throttle response less twitchy, not needed on the superior 950's with carbs.

You get 3 or 4 pulleys with the kit, each a different diameter, you can tune the throttle response to your liking.