Test rode a 990 today .......

[Steve the Kiwi]

With problems with the EFI on the 990... does the 950 have it better?

What would be the major advantage of the 990 v's the 950 ( except for the 950 being more in my price range) is the 950 still the business?

 

[Rushy]

With problems with the EFI on the 990... does the 950 have it better?

The 950 has carbs not EFI. Much, much smoother although some can suffer from carb icing quite badly apparently.

 

[Pipster]

The 950 has carbs not EFI. Much, much smoother although some can suffer from carb icing quite badly apparently.

My carbs didn't ice up on the Salisbury plains rideout and it was about -6 on the way up in the morning the 950 motor is super smooth

Thought the 990 EFI was sorted now - and the older ones can be with a 16 tooth front spocket and thottle cams onyack Johnny has sorted his

 

[SilverFish]

The 950 has carbs not EFI. Much, much smoother although some can suffer from carb icing quite badly apparently.

Carb heaters were one of the early recalls - a dealer should be able to tell you if you're bikes been sorted.

Has anyone had a play on the 990 Adv R yet? Wondering if they've properly fixed the jerkiness and how those extra 15HP work in the real world...

Mike

 

[Dazzle]

I test rode an adventure yesterday, had my heart set on a GS but it has made me confused KTM, feels like a big trail bike and the gs more like a road bike, my gripes with the KTM is the clocks look micky mouse, and this is what you are looking at most of the time.
grips are very narrow and I am not sure but the riding position is slightly more upright and gave me a bit of a back ache ( not sure this could be from multiple test rides over the last few days)
heated grips have to be chopped into the loom, not straight plug in.
Bags of fun to ride though, did notice the fuel surge but the twistgrip on the one I rode had no freeplay which would not have helped, also the idle speed was very high (possibly to hide the surging ) wp suspension is sublime.
I asked about servicing £250 for first service
Might go with an 08 gs as it works out cheaper and it seems better value for money to me, and I loved the telelever front end and the power of the brake on the gs very secure feeling in some terrible road conditions.
I think the gs is the one I would want to go out for longer rides on, If I was travelling round the world on all road surfices I'd have A ktm.

 

[lloyd]

The things that keep stopping me are:

jerkiness of the fuel injection at low speeds.... it's bloody terrible, and if you stand up a lot on dirt trails etc. it drives you mad, particularly when compared with the smoothness of the 1150gs. They've done a few software mods, and put a different cam in the throttle, but it's still crap! (the 950 was great)

Tank size.... I've got an adv tank on my 1150 and it's great being able to do 300 mile stints, if i'm feeling like it! And also never getting those panic attacks wondering where the next petrol station is!

Weather/wind protection was is also poor compared to the 1150.


On the plus side.... in terms of ability, agility, and pure riding excitement it's the best bike on the planet as far as i'm concerned.

I need both really!

I have just sold my 990 to go back to 1200gsa because of the utterly appalling fuel injection.
Changing the gearing doesn't work , I tried.It doesn't even make sense how it could. I fitted a new throttle cam, had it remapped and different exhausts. After all this it still was inconsistent .Picking a bike up from an apex, cranked over with a pillion on wet roads was mush harder then it should have been. The GSA I tested last week was a piece of cake in comparison.
I also had to have a 19" wheel conversion so I could fit decent rubber and even then my old 1200 would have eaten in round the curves, although the 990 would blast past on the straights.
Never found it fun to be honest, constantly having to be as silky smooth as possible on the throttle with a pillion or looking for another petrol station or the front 21" wheel washing out on corners. When I tried a GSA I instantly went faster and was more relaxed.

If you get a good 990 they are great, trouble is there seems to be lots of bad ones out there. I know people who love them , so of course they are not all bad .Combined with 130 miles to a tank and low 30's mpg its not a bike that I could recommend to anyone until KTM pull their fingers out and fix the FI system .
If I was buying another ( which I wouldn't) I would go for the 950 version with carbs. A superior bike and far easier to ride .

 

[Hubs]

loved my 950, still thinking about a 990, although I'm back on a 1150GSA

Mark

 

[mooky]

With problems with the EFI on the 990... does the 950 have it better?

What would be the major advantage of the 990 v's the 950 ( except for the 950 being more in my price range) is the 950 still the business?

The 990 has a few uprated parts (water pump seal, clutch slave). Depends on the year of the 950. Late model 950's (2005) are pretty much the same as 990s. Most of the major issues (from 2003/2004) are sorted out.

The 950 is a much better package IMO. Slightly more aftermarket support (for lights & high fender, etc) & much more control over the fuelling.
The 990 would be sorted by now if they opened up the fuel control algorithm/system so ppl could tune it & customise it. Ppl are currently reverse engineering it to work out how to tune it. Making good progress, so there is hope.

The 950 has carbs not EFI. Much, much smoother although some can suffer from carb icing quite badly apparently.

Badly??
The carb heaters (standard fitment on 2005 bikes) help a lot. Only in really extreme situations are the carb heaters not enough - using a fuel additive sorts it out properly anyway. It would be a criteria for me for upgrading a 950 to a 990.