KTM 990 - long term experience wanted

**Ruralman** · 5th May 2009, 22:46

Hi Guys - I'm at that stage of whilst still being very happy with my Tiger, I keep looking around at what I would replace it with when all the planets align.

I have always liked the look of the big KTM and from the look of the new 990 it has overcome a few issues (especially in now having a seat it looks like two people could sit on for a decent length of time).

The reason these bikes appeal to me is that it appears to offer a lot more serious adventure riding potential without losing too much of what I like about the Tiger (great two up, comfortable on long trips with pretty good weather protection).

My concern about the KTM is about ownership costs and longevity - hopefully theres someone with longterm experience with one who can provide some informed comment.
The local dealer suggests they need 6000km servicing (my Transalp had a manufacturers recommendation of 12,000km and the Tiger 10,000km so coming back to 6000km's is a pain.
Is the servicing easy to do yourself? Are filters easy to replace?
What is the fuel consumption like on an easy highway cruise (110-120km/hr)?

What other problems do they have ? - would you be happy to buy a second hand one that had been well serviced but had ,say, 50-60,000km on it? When are motor rebuilds likely to be necessary?

Theres a huge difference in price between 990's and 950's on Trademe - is it worth the extra coin?

If anyone has some useful links I would appreciate it.
Thanks

**Gremlin** · 6th May 2009, 00:23

I assume you mean the Adventure?

I have a 990SM. Service intervals are 7500km, and it chews gas, unless its in 6th gear (which requires 130kph with stock gear). Best fuel consumption, under 6L/100km, worst, around 8L/100km. Wheelies are making it eat gas even faster I think. It has been remapped, has exhausts etc, and runs rich (can't modify the map properly).

The 990 is fuel injected, the 950 carbed. The FI often makes it super snatchy, I found the 950 adventure I had as a short loaner gutless compared to the 990, but much smoother to ride around town, for example. Rough stuff, you'd want smooth throttle control for sure.

I've done 19,500km in the 5 months I've had it on the road, hasn't missed one beat, and done dirt, road, night, day, hot summer and pissing with rain freezing winter.

Servicing hasn't been cheap, but none of my bikes ever have been. The 990 motor only started showing signs of easing up around the 8-10,000km mark, supposed to be very very strong engines.

Simply... the best bike I have ever owned

**ducatijim** · 6th May 2009, 10:09

Wot he said...

15km/litre and super snatchy throttle.....

Do yourself a real big favor and buy the new BMW F800gs....its a HONEY!

**Dazza** · 6th May 2009, 10:36

I know your probably after Adventurer (sp) info,so not of much help here. Did 550k's on a 950 a couple of years back around Northland & really enjoyed the saddle time as my 05 Super Duke was in for the big 9.5hr service.
I traded my 05 Super Duke with 50,000k's on the clock, only issue was the waterpump seal/shaft went east @ 30,000k's but was all fixed under warranty. Battery was toast @ bang on 2yrs of service.
Traded her on a run-out 07 SD Aug/Sept last year & have now covered 17000k's & loving every moment, man I love these machines.As Gremlin stated the service intervals are 7500k's for my beast aswell. As she's still under warranty I get these done by the dealer. If your mechanically minded I'm sure servicing it yourself would'nt be an issue.
Happy deciding, if money wasn't an issue I'd have a Adenturer & a RC8R in the stable along side the Super Duke, I do love the Super Motard aswell but I can ride a mates one if I need that fix anytime

**cooneyr** · 6th May 2009, 13:02

Not an owner but if you like to read the web

then here is a couple of links

OC Hall of Wisdom All about "Farkels, Repair Procedures, Technical Discussions and other stuff". This is a good place to start but it is tech descussions on what goes wrong and how to fix it with none of the whats good about the bikes bits so it can read pretty negative.

Other place to search and read till you've gone mad

is the adv rider Orange Crush Forum

Cheers R

**Crisis management** · 6th May 2009, 17:37

I would definately ride one for a while to see what you think of one, there are rentals around and that may be worth investigating. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with mine as I get frustrated with the throttle snatchiness and lack of fuel range (300kms ish) but it still puts a big grin on my face whenever I let it loose on gravel. My grumpiness with it stems from the fueling primarily (how come they can't get that right?) but also the minor faults and componentry failures as listed:

Clutches can be a bit dodgy, ask Oscar.
Clutch slave cylinder is rubbish and needs replacing with an aftermarket one.
Oil changes take two bloody hours and need half the bike dismantled so servicing is a bit expensive (I do my own).
Rear brake master cylinder was supposedly upgraded but I've had to replace mine again due to leakage.
Water pumps need watching and replacing as the seals and shaft wear.
I don't like the ABS, I know it's good on the seal but on gravel it needs turning off and it resets itself everytime you turn the bike off, it's a pain in the arse and prevents you stopping in deep gravel. The ABS also takes up all the under seat storage, makes the brakes feel mushy, weights about 10kgs and is probably related to Rodney Hide.
Headlight is crap and needs a Hella F50? driving light installed below it.
Standard KTM crash bars are a bit bendy, H&B bars are better.
Some say the seat is rubbish, it works for me.
The front screen is rubbish and causes buffeting and wind noise, this is a bit rider dependant with aftermartket screens being popular but I cut mine down and that works reasonably for me but weather protection is not great.
Side stand and centre stand are too long and make putting it on either stand a bit of a mission. The side stand holds the bike too upright and the centre stand requires a huge heave to get the bike onto.
Throttle snatch. Jerky and hard to control at off idle / low speed which is a real handful in slippery conditions. I have changed the twistgrip cam to ease the cable ramp, changed to a 16 tooth sprocket, removed the secondary throttle butterflies and now I am happy with it but it has to be treated with respect.
Fuel pump. There is some wingeing on the net about the pump dying but it is a very small number.

Good stuff:
21" front but the down side is a small contact patch and high wear rates under braking.
Spoked rims.....do you want to run tubeless?
Akrapovics.
Performance. Yeeha! There's nothing like 100hp sideways thru a corner, I find I need to ride it standing, like a dirt bike and then the gravel and slippery stuff is great, sitting down did not work for me.....bar risers are a good idea.

Compared to the Tiger (I've ridden Carys bike briefly and another 1050 for an hour or so) probably not as comfortable but a slimmer and quicker handling bike. I found the Tiger too big for me (175cm tall, 70kgs) and it seems to have a nice power delivery and gearbox, generally smoother.

I think, in summary, that it responds well to being thrashed but other bikes may do the touring style of riding better, I've come to view it as a huge enduro bike and if treated like that it seems to work for me (unless it falls on top of me at which stage I am well and truly stuffed).

**Padmei** · 6th May 2009, 18:26

Great honest synopsis Crisis. Well done.

**Aslan** · 6th May 2009, 19:16

what Padmei said Crisis - reading your candid assessment encourages me to be content with my 1150GS - like you and your 990 - I to like to stand up most of the time in gravel - cheers Aslan

**mickeyboy** · 6th May 2009, 22:42

If you want a bike that can puff gsxr's on a hill road , is the most competent off road adventure bike full stop , will make you a better rider , is mega fun , can wheelie on the power in 2nd and with a slight rise in 3rd , then buy the ktm ! if you want second best buy something else it's thats simple ! If you have a brain bigger than a walnut you can most of your own servicing. If you buy a used one make sure any recalls have been done and get out and ride the wheels off it !

**Ruralman** · 6th May 2009, 23:05

Thanks for all the comments (don't let that stop anyone else adding anything though!!) they are a big help.
I have a pretty good dirt bike in the Gas Gas which gets me my dirt bike, gravel chucking, wheelieing, mud chucking, rough shit thrills.
Sounds like if I wanted to do a lot of that on my "road bike" then the KTM would be the go - if the other uses are 90% plus (highway cruising, two up etc) then I'm probably better off with what I've got, and it will be quite a bit cheaper as well.
I would like to do the Yamaha 3 day adventure safari next year - the Gasser would probably be a pain on that (being a 2 stroke) and I would need to register it, so rather than buy a KTM I might be better off just hiring a bike.

**Oscar** · 6th May 2009, 23:57

In 40 words or less: I've run a 990 and a 950 together for 3 months or so, and I'd have a 950 over a 990 any day.

**Ruralman** · 7th May 2009, 17:09

Originally Posted by Oscar

In 40 words or less: I've run a 990 and a 950 together for 3 months or so, and I'd have a 950 over a 990 any day.

Can I ask you to lift your 40 words restriction and explain why?

**Oscar** · 7th May 2009, 18:02

Originally Posted by Ruralman

Can I ask you to lift your 40 words restriction and explain why?

I don't need anywhere near 40 words: Throttle response.

**dmc** · 7th May 2009, 19:33

Buy a 950, fully service it check all the usual recalls, stick a set of TKC's on it and some nice pipes and pocket the rest of the difference in cost of the 990 and stick it in the tank.