KTM 990/950 Adv thread

[NordieBoy]

The bike coped somewhat better'n me
Sprung a rib cartilage

Ouch. A broken subframe really hurts.

[Oscar]

Ouch. A broken subframe really hurts.

Nah, I just had a root canal procedure which turned into a tooth extraction.
That took my mind off the ribs

[marks]

Nah, I just had a root canal procedure which turned into a tooth extraction.
That took my mind off the ribs

don't ya just love dentists

they screw around in your mouth and then rape your wallet

and root canals are the gang bang of dentisty - man I hate those little round nerve root file thingys

[Willdat?]

root canals are the gang bang of dentisty

I read that as DESTINY - didn't realise Brian was into that sort of thing...

[Ruralman]

One thing I have just done as a result of the weekend trip to the KB bash at Kopara is alter the gearing on my bike - geared it down 1 tooth on the front. It was really obvious over the weekend that the bike was labouring in top gear at 115-120 - its fine if you are able to ride at 135 km/hr all day but that has some obvious risks

I took it for a quick zip along my road tonight once I'd finished - its now about 500 revs higher for the same speed in 6th, its much easier to manage in first (which was too tall ,and a pain in traffic) and it is quite a bit zippier (like it really needed that!!!!). All in all I'm pretty confident that it will be a much better bike for me with the change and wouldn't be at all surprised if it uses less fuel on a quiet cruise.

I get the impression that these bikes come geared to travel on European highways/autobahns and that dropping from a 17 to a 16 tooth front would probably make sense for quite a few riders. Has anyone else on here done it and what difference did you notice?

With the change it is now doing 4000 revs at 100km/hr - I did take it up to 115 on a short gravel straight but I can't remember what the revs were (I think 4500)

[Crisis management]

Has anyone else on here done it and what difference did you notice?

Thats about the best, simple thing you can do to the 990 (after fitting crash bars) as it transforms it into a machine more capable of slow speed manouvering (saves the clutch a bit) and gives you back 100km/hr in top with the ability to accelerate.
The downsides I found were a tendency to wheelspin like a mad bastard on any soft surface / gravel and that the rev limiter appeared very quickly in the first three gears.
I would think it's almost obligatory to change any large, modern bikes gearing as soon as you get it, as it is only geared like that to pass the EU noise test (set at 100km/hr?).

Oscar, where's the pictures?

[NordieBoy]

Dropping a tooth should be mandatory on all bikes. Even BMW's

There's people that say they can't feel the 10% difference in power doing the dynojet kit on a DR and yet rave about dropping a tooth off the front which on the DR is only about 8%.

There's a 950 in Nelson that's got a right foot shifter and thumb rear brake.

[Waihou Thumper]

There's a 950 in Nelson that's got a right foot shifter and thumb rear brake.

okay, this might seem a little obvious but 'why?'

[Eddieb]

Went for another little play last night. It's much better in slow stuff without the huge screen on the front as I couldn't see anything within about 20 feet of the front wheel. Feeling a bit more confident on it now.

And some KTM 950 porn, just because I can.

[NordieBoy]

okay, this might seem a little obvious but 'why?'

Little use of left leg?

It did have a hand operated gear shift.

Also twin Akra's to compensate for the extra weight.

[Ruralman]

Thats about the best, simple thing you can do to the 990 (after fitting crash bars) as it transforms it into a machine more capable of slow speed manouvering (saves the clutch a bit) and gives you back 100km/hr in top with the ability to accelerate.
The downsides I found were a tendency to wheelspin like a mad bastard on any soft surface / gravel and that the rev limiter appeared very quickly in the first three gears.
I would think it's almost obligatory to change any large, modern bikes gearing as soon as you get it, as it is only geared like that to pass the EU noise test (set at 100km/hr?).

Oscar, where's the pictures?

Yeah i know what you mean about the wheelspin - I was conciously trying to make this rear tyre last longer than the last one but that is going to require a lot more restraint in the lower gears than it did before
The low speed manoevering is certainly much better as you say - I have stalled the thing a couple of times taking off and not allowing enough clutch slip for the tall first gear - the first time it happened was in my driveway soon after I bought it and happened while I was turning around to ride out and had all the luggage on. It caught me by surprise and with the angle of turn etc I ended up stepping off it and having to lift the big bitch up - farking heavy with all the extra gear. Much less chance of this happening again now

I had a wee incident with inadvertantly filling the tank with diesel - read about it here
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=96045&page=61

[cooneyr]

....I had a wee incident with inadvertantly filling the tank with diesel - read about it here
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=96045&page=61

Umm what was wrong with pulling the hoses of the petcocks on the front of each tank as you have to do when removing the tank? Might have saved a few mouthfulls of petrol! Not having ago but hopefully others think of this before sucking up mouth fulls of petrol/deisel.

Cheers R

[junkmanjoe]

out standing performance today from my 950...2 up to napier in very strong winds.
return trip home was stronger winds and constant strong head winds....
one time was doing 110km, one good wind gust pushed me back to 85km,.
spent most of to day riding on a 45deg angle..., just tossed me and bike all over the road....

great balance skill test....

JMJ

[Digitdion]

hay boys and girls!
Got a minor issue with my 990. To do with the battery.SOmething seems to be draining it ever so little by little. Six months ago I got a new battery in her as the old one seemed dodgy(it was dodgy at the time).Before replacing battery while getting it services I got the mechanic to check the battery was being charged and that the gps mount and factory heated grips were not draining power when not in use(They were supposed to be wired up to the ignition). I was told then that all was good.
As you know they are not fucking cheap to replace. But a new battery it was. Its a yuasa. The battery is 6 months old. Rode down to the Bert Munro. On the friday Did 300 clicks from home to invers. Half of that was in the pissing cold rain and wind, so had the heated grips on. I did forget to turn the heated grips off but that should not be an issue as they are wired into ignition.
Bit of a cold ish damp night for the bike, and in the morning she would not start would just turn over for a bit then cough and nothing. Wait a few minutes , same thing. HAd to jumper lead it to start( Thats if you you not know what an absolute *unt they are to push start, Unless you are on a big hill).
So, jump forward 3 weeks(bike had been fine since) Took the bike to work. A short 5 km ride.( The day before took it for a blast thru the nevis with the mrs's on the back. thats 200km round trip) A cold day(where the fuck is summer) Bike sat for about 12 hours during the day and you guessed it battery was weak and just turned her over but would turn over twice then cough. Nothing! Waited about one minute and luckily she fired up, just.
Any ideas fella's before I talk to the workshop boys. Does it sound familiar? Just to re iterate, gps mount and heated grips are wired to ignition.
really appreciate any feedback as want to get it sorted so to avoid any potential major cock up in the middle of bumfuck Idaho( opp's I meant Otago!)
Cheers Dion!

[Digitdion]

Just to add fella's.
It is in my mind to much of a coincedence tht similar things happened with the old battery, We just thought it was buggered but maybe not. the new battery could be a dud but i doubt it. They bare way to much for me to be getting a new one every year. I may as well just give all my excess cash to ACC instead.
Once again cheers for any input and idea's!