Should I buy a KTM950 Adventure?

[NordieBoy]

Just mod a DR650.

How hard could it be?

The front wheel is a keeper.

[Big Dave]

Vege and Oscar both tell me that a 950 is 'Too much bike for you, Sunshine. You don't need 100 ponies on the dirt'.

The message isn't a condemnation of the bike at all, just the observation that it's for advanced players.

We have the new GS800 over at KR now. After a week with the Cross Country 650 Single I'm very keen for a fang on it, but damn it's still GS ugly up front. KTM weird.

[young1]

We have the new GS800 over at KR now. After a week with the Cross Country 650 Single I'm very keen for a fang on it, but damn it's still GS ugly up front. KTM weird.

The GS800 hmmm. Any idea on the pricing in NZ?

[Big Dave]

It's red and black and has a funny front mudguard.

[4skins]

Vege and Oscar both tell me that a 950 is 'Too much bike for you, Sunshine. You don't need 100 ponies on the dirt'.

It'll be there when you're ready to step up to it Big Boy.

[Big Dave]

It'll be there when you're ready to step up to it Big Boy.

Buells got 103 and slicks and I do 'OK'. Just not as fast as those coonts.

[rok-the-boat]

Sell the BM, and get another 400 for the wife.

[spsduc]

Here's my 2c worth.
I have a KTM 990s and I am stoked. The s is the taller version. I'm 6'3" or thereabouts. I would say it depends on your skill and type of riding. I have done two South Island Safaris on mine and did pretty much all the off road options with out trouble. As long as it's dry you are fine. The suspension is unreal on these things. Greasy mud should be left for real trailbikes with full knobblies. I am lucky as I managed to score a second set of wheels like Ruralman suggests, so have the best of both worlds with tyre choice.
My riding consists of back roads including as much gravel as possible. These things are awesome for that kind of riding. They also make a great road bike and a good rider can scare the hell out of sports bikes on twisty roads.
As far as BMW goes they just don't smoke my tyres. My KTM puts a grin on my face every time I ride it and thats why I ride bikes. Hell I've even done a couple of track days on mine!
As far as reliability goes the earlier ones had a couple of small issues which will have been well sorted out by now.
I have 11000ks on mine without a glitch and I have 3 mates with them also (2 990+1 950)
In summary if you want to go trailriding buy a trail bike, if you want to go adventure riding, test ride a 950/ 990 but be prepared with your cheque book as you will want to own it

[young1]

Here's my 2c worth.
I have a KTM 990s and I am stoked. The s is the taller version. I'm 6'3" or thereabouts. I would say it depends on your skill and type of riding. I have done two South Island Safaris on mine and did pretty much all the off road options with out trouble. As long as it's dry you are fine. The suspension is unreal on these things. Greasy mud should be left for real trailbikes with full knobblies. I am lucky as I managed to score a second set of wheels like Ruralman suggests, so have the best of both worlds with tyre choice.
My riding consists of back roads including as much gravel as possible. These things are awesome for that kind of riding. They also make a great road bike and a good rider can scare the hell out of sports bikes on twisty roads.
As far as BMW goes they just don't smoke my tyres. My KTM puts a grin on my face every time I ride it and thats why I ride bikes. Hell I've even done a couple of track days on mine!
As far as reliability goes the earlier ones had a couple of small issues which will have been well sorted out by now.
I have 11000ks on mine without a glitch and I have 3 mates with them also (2 990+1 950)
In summary if you want to go trailriding buy a trail bike, if you want to go adventure riding, test ride a 950/ 990 but be prepared with your cheque book as you will want to own it

An excellent summary!

[buzzard]

I have 20,000kms on my '06 990. Almost all of it on road including a big tripround the south island last year for the Bert Munro. I use it most days to commute on and its great. You sit up high have great visibility and when you want to give it some welly it has plenty there to give. The handlebars and protectors are high enough to go over the wing mirrors of most cars so filtering is very easy, and its such a big bike that it gives most of the cage drivers the shits when (if) they see you.

The only complaint i have is that the windflow around the screen is a little noisy and the batteries cost a fortune at the moment ($450).

Overall if you have one of these you will not need any other bike, but as the previous poster said, get your cheque book ready because they are not cheap.

[ducatijim]

The GS800 hmmm. Any idea on the pricing in NZ?

Yeah guys, its listed on a dealer site here for a shade under 20K + ORC.....makes the 'fully focused' Kt look more attractive for only a few more pingers, eh?

[Dazza]

Just do it

[dino3310]

going buy reputation the GS donkey will out live the ktm

[Dazza]

going buy reputation the GS donkey will out live the ktm

Reputation ?

[Tony W]

Just do it

IT LOOKS AS IF MY HEART IS CORRECT IN ITS PERCEPTION ONCE AGAIN !

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FELLOW RIDERS FOR YOUR INPUT AND EVALUATIONS.

2009 IS ALL SET TO BE THE YEAR OF THE KTM FOR ME !!!