KTM 990 - long term experience wanted

[warewolf]

the BMW 800GS - Its a pretty capable machine and all the comments on here about them have been positive so I need to have a look at it as well. While I'm sure they won't be immune from their own issues I haven't heard of any - am I just looking in the wrong place??

Didja find this:
BMW F650GS & F800GS “Twins” Thread Index & Links

or these:
800 GS Heat problem...don't buy one!!
F800gs - Almost perfect except for poor suspension. (vs KTM 990)
F800GS Clutch Failure....

Just some stuff I found after a quick search, no doubt there is more in that same forum.

[warewolf]

Uh Oh!!! Here's a quote from an F800GS owner:

The hard suspension also exerbates a very sensitive throttle which causes unintended imputs often at unsuitable moments.

[ducatijim]

Didja find this:
BMW F650GS & F800GS “Twins” Thread Index & Links

or these:
800 GS Heat problem...don't buy one!!
F800gs - Almost perfect except for poor suspension. (vs KTM 990)
F800GS Clutch Failure....

Just some stuff I found after a quick search, no doubt there is more in that same forum.

Wow, is that all you could find? Gee wolfie, you should search the ktm990 threads on popular sites sometime and see some real stories!!!

[ducatijim]

Secondly the oil/water pump went last year. This was more problematic as the radiator coolant was being sucked into the engine and pooling. It took AMPS quite a long time (read that as lots of labour) to work this out and fix it, so $700ish later it was repaired
.

Geez....I wonder if this may be my problem?

You see, I am having trouble convincing the starter to turn, and hence start, my bugger. I thought it was a dickie battery, but got to town and got it tested today and all fine there.
I have tried to turn the motor over with the wheel and the engine in 3rd gear...cant shift it at all, its like its 'hydrauliced'...or would you expect that from an engine of this size?

Just bloody fabulous....stuck in hicksville, out bush WA and the bloody austrian motorsickle won't go.....hang on a minute.....are those banjos I hear....just wait.............................................. .................................................. .................................................. ......

[warewolf]

No, it's just the first stuff I found.

Judgement was reserved; don't shoot the messenger!

[buzzard]

Geez....I wonder if this may be my problem?

You see, I am having trouble convincing the starter to turn, and hence start, my bugger. I thought it was a dickie battery, but got to town and got it tested today and all fine there.
I have tried to turn the motor over with the wheel and the engine in 3rd gear...cant shift it at all, its like its 'hydrauliced'...or would you expect that from an engine of this size?

Just bloody fabulous....stuck in hicksville, out bush WA and the bloody austrian motorsickle won't go.....hang on a minute.....are those banjos I hear....just wait.............................................. .................................................. .................................................. ......

That didnt happen for me, the motor kept running perfectly, it was just drinking liters of coolant. Now its fixed it still runs perfectly, so I guess that is testament to the build quality.

Not being mechanically minded at all i rely on "experts" to tell me what is wrong, however in AMPS case the experts turned out to be the adventure rider website. That is a great source of information, some of those guys are anal to the extreme about their bikes.

[Crisis management]

Geez....I wonder if this may be my problem?

You see, I am having trouble convincing the starter to turn, and hence start, my bugger. I thought it was a dickie battery, but got to town and got it tested today and all fine there.
I have tried to turn the motor over with the wheel and the engine in 3rd gear...cant shift it at all, its like its 'hydrauliced'...or would you expect that from an engine of this size?

The things I do to stop you whinging........
My in house testing, bike on centre stand and all 70kgs of trembling with exertion (only had one latte, so that could be the problem...)
1st gear, no bloody way is the wheel turning, I can lift the bike off the ground without any engine movement.
Ditto for 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th
6th gear the engine will reluctantly turn and I mean reluctantly.

DJ, if you have a leaky water pump you have a sump full of coolant and brown frothy oil, it's bloody obvious.

Battery....get your connections checked as it may be a loose connection / high resistance that causes the lack of starter oomph. However this is usually more obvious when the bikes been run and the wiring heats up and increases the resistance, typical scenario is: starts fine when cold but is a real bastard when hot with the starter barely turning over.

Failing that push start it, looks like in 6th gear at about 100km/hr.

[Oscar]

Uh Oh!!! Here's a quote from an F800GS owner:

Vege made an astute observation about 990 throttle problems.
He said (and I've taken out the expletives) that some of the guys buying these things were "born again" or straight off big trailies, and therefore some of the problem was a lack of experience with that much horsepower.

This theory is certainly borne out by the fact that guys like 4skins and Mike Webb have no problems with 990 throttles.

[NordieBoy]

This theory is certainly borne out by the fact that guys like 4skins and Mike Webb have no problems with 990 throttles.

But do they ride with an analog throttle or digital thereby bypassing the problems and showering them with roost?

I know WoodMan rides his KLR using the throttle as a switch.

[Oscar]

But do they ride with an analog throttle or digital thereby bypassing the problems and showering them with roost?

I know WoodMan rides his KLR using the throttle as a switch.

Webb got straight on the 990 and proceeded to give a master class.
He was holding 5-6,000 rpm into the corner, to get it sliding and bypass the ABS.

[Crisis management]

Webb got straight on the 990 and proceeded to give a master class.

But Oscar, both Mr Forsyth and Mr Webb are exceptional riders and the rest of us are not in that class (or even the same school) so it's a bit unrealistic to use them as an example of what KTM was expecting it's target market to be. The truth is, it's a big powerful bike and needs an authorative hand to control it, no different to riding a GSXR or R1 and experienced riders are required but it should have decent fueling and the ability to provide fine throttle control out of the box.
KTM have let themselves down with this.

Just so my position is quite clear, I love KTM's, the engineering, the detail and the performance but the bikes should not have the reliability problems that they do.

[Oscar]

But Oscar, both Mr Forsyth and Mr Webb are exceptional riders and the rest of us are not in that class (or even the same school) so it's a bit unrealistic to use them as an example of what KTM was expecting it's target market to be. The truth is, it's a big powerful bike and needs an authorative hand to control it, no different to riding a GSXR or R1 and experienced riders are required but it should have decent fueling and the ability to provide fine throttle control out of the box.
KTM have let themselves down with this.

Just so my position is quite clear, I love KTM's, the engineering, the detail and the performance but the bikes should not have the reliability problems that they do.

Personally, I found the throttle thing annoying, but figured I could get used to it, but I agree that KTM did let themselves down with it.

Veges comments could actually be applied to the broader group.

Whereas I've seen some hairy riding on Brand Orange (remember "My Attorney" on that Raglan ride?), I've also seen guys out of their depth on other marques. I'm constantly amazed where guys start with a "small" DR650 or F650 and then graduate as soon as possible to a GS or Adv.

I can think of two or three guys with big Adv bikes that were lucky not to kill or maim themselves...

[Ruralman]

Well I picked up the big beast for a ride today on a fine but bloody chilly afternoon. With a new bike needing to be run in, new tyres with all the fluff still on them and lots of greasy patches it was a ride that needed to treat the bike and the road with some respect - we still found some bit to give it a good twist and a small gravel road to try that out too (but two up so no power slides today)
Two up we both found it very comfortable - suspension a tad hard but theres plenty of adjustment to sort that out.
Power wise - its got plenty but what impressed me was that it was linear grunt all the way up. I rode a Buell 1200 recently and that thing was like a 2 stroke with lots of power in a very narrow band but nothing below that - so much for all the bullshit about Harley torque!! - my Tiger blew it away in top gear roll ons. I didn't feel like the 990 power was heaps more than the Tiger but a side by side comparison might tell a different story - they both have enough.
It certainly feels light and chuckable compared to the Tiger and will be an absolute blast on gravel.
I didn't find any problem with throttle snatchiness - so either they've fixed it or its the way I ride or its no different to the Tiger.
For me the riding position is better than the Tiger which I find lacks a bit of legroom for me - but when you come to a stop you've got to remember its a full stretch to the ground!! I was very conscious of how tall it is riding through traffic - its great, with a very clear view of everything.
I would like to know how good or otherwise the headlight is for night riding.
The major negative was helmet buffeting - I've got an MRA screen on the Tiger which solved the same problem I had with it when I first got it, so an alternative screen or preferably the adjustable outer bit from the MRA screen should solve that.
I think I need to ride the GS 800 as well - lack of a dealership down here is a big factor so it would really need to grab me to go that way I think, but its also quite a bit cheaper..............
So no decision to buy it today - the head has got to have a chance to rule over the heart but ....... when riding is one of your passions then why not get something that is somewhere near the ultimate for the sort of riding you like to do?? I turn 50 next year so I am thinking I should go for it and enjoy something like this while the body is still able to handle it.
Anyone interested in a bloody good Tiger????

[timg]

I turn 50 next year

Me too - party your place or mine? Both Ya know ya really want a Katie M, just buy her

[Ruralman]

Me too - party your place or mine? Both Ya know ya really want a Katie M, just buy her

There will certainly be a party - we have some plans hatching with a spot in mind that will be enjoyed by all two wheeled attendees...........

Just one other thing about the KTM - I didn't find the front brake anywhere near as good as the Tiger's. Do they improve as they wear in?