KTM 990 - long term experience wanted

**dmc** · 14th August 2009, 20:29

So many comments on the range, who cares?

There are sweet F all rides that you can't get through on a full tank and there are lot of garages so I can't see the problem. fill the tanks at the garage ride the tits off it and fill it at the next garage problem solved.

**Gremlin** · 14th August 2009, 20:59

Originally Posted by dmc

So many comments on the range, who cares?

Perhaps not too much of an adventure issue, but I would imagine you guys spending long distances on the country station roads etc, where gas would be few and far between.

For my supermoto, I want to be able to cover as many km as possible, with minimum stopping, mainly for the long rides like TT2000, Grand Challenge etc. Also, at night, 24/7 stations can be few and far between.

Even Kaitaia to lighthouse and back is stretching my range into reserve, and there is no gas north of that besides Awanui during the day.

**dmc** · 14th August 2009, 21:20

Yeh we rack up large Km's but then there isn't many rides where you can't find gas within a tank range, I had a shed load of gas on my Africa and all it did was make it F'n heavy when full and when the boys filled the KTM's I would still have to fill up as the next fuel stop was to far to get too on what was left in the tank.

**ducatijim** · 15th August 2009, 11:06

Originally Posted by dmc

So many comments on the range, who cares?

There are sweet F all rides that you can't get through on a full tank and there are lot of garages so I can't see the problem. fill the tanks at the garage ride the tits off it and fill it at the next garage problem solved.

Well, I cared when the bitch ran dry 13km out in the bush on me!( No, there where no other servos within that 360km-I had 6.5l xtra above a tank full too!)
So, I thought if others like to ask about range, I am well qualified to give them some advice and save someone some walking perhaps?

So. youre not interested in 990 fuel range?, who cares!

**Eddieb** · 15th August 2009, 12:51

Never mind them Jim, I'm interested.

I can see a 950 in my future. I ride Wellington to Hamilton semi regularly, often leaving at times and taking routes where the only petrol stations are little country ones that are closed when I'm travelling.

Planning around fuel stops matters to me.

**dmc** · 15th August 2009, 14:20

So many touchie pep's on the site, as you will notice I said there are F all rides too far from fuel to do on a tank, I'm sure you can always find a ride somewhere but if you know the range of the bikes then how come so many people complain about it?

And yes I have run out of gas on my 950 before but that's because I F'd up and rode it too hard for the distance I had to cover and ran out a 1km short of the garage, but IMHO they are still the best bike you can have for NZ and still have a better range than alot of bikes out there just not as good as a small few.

**warewolf** · 15th August 2009, 16:28

Originally Posted by Gremlin

For my supermoto, I want to be able to cover as many km as possible, with minimum stopping, mainly for the long rides like TT2000, Grand Challenge etc. Also, at night, 24/7 stations can be few and far between.

Those rides are generally planned around a 200-250km range, 'cos so many sprotsbikes can only do that.

Originally Posted by dmc

when the boys filled the KTM's I would still have to fill up as the next fuel stop was to far to get too on what was left in the tank.

I get that with the 640A. Riding with mates with a "normal" fuel range, you just end up carrying the extra fuel weight all the time: a penalty rather than an advantage.

Originally Posted by Eddieb

I ride Wellington to Hamilton semi regularly, often leaving at times and taking routes where the only petrol stations are little country ones that are closed when I'm travelling.

Planning around fuel stops matters to me.

Agreee - BTDT - but almost all the servos have 24 hr eftpos access these days - or at least one servo in the town. 10 years ago it was an issue, but not now. If you get too far off the main routes for long periods, then maybe you'll have to carry extra fuel, but hey it's all part of the "adventure", innit? It's the price you pay.

The 640A has a range of 450km of mixed riding, and 600km without seriously trying... ex-factory. You pays your money and makes your choice & compromises. Fuel consumption and range was a factor in my purchase decision over the 950.

A wise man once said, "there's no such thing as a perfect woman, boy."

**Waihou Thumper** · 15th August 2009, 16:42

Originally Posted by warewolf

and 600km without seriously trying... ex-factory. "

Are you serious, the 25 litre tank takes you 600Km? Have you done that?
I have 28 litre tank on the 640A and I don't think it will do that...21km/litre best of times....Mind you, I haven't ridden it really economically, maybe I need to try and see what it will do...

**Ruralman** · 15th August 2009, 22:04

Originally Posted by oldrider

It's over 300km, my fuel light comes on going along Moorehouse Avenue! (220miles on the trip meter)

That usually leaves about 5-6 litres in the tank, so it's not too heavy to lift off for servicing!

The same mileages apply when I ride down the back roads (mainly gravel) to your place and fill up at Balclutha!

You might be wise to read ducatijim's post below Brucie or you could end up walking! Unless of course, you take your Tiger!

300K's - piece of cake John. To get the consumption down to those low levels I presume involves absolutely caning it - probably on gravel backroads where the bike is up and down in speed all the time and the average speed is not necessarily that high but the bike is working pretty hard (and the rider is having shitloads of fun!!)
I am having a go at seeing what I can get out of it riding somewhat restrained - done about 90km so far on this tank full - I'll do another trip to town and back or something and then measure it

**Woodman** · 15th August 2009, 22:51

I would presume that when on gravel your back wheel is probarbly doing a lot more miles than the front is indicating on the odometer. This factor will rise exponentially with the more horsepower you have.
When on the tar the mileage relative to the front wheel will be more true.

**oldrider** · 16th August 2009, 00:15

Originally Posted by Woodman

I would presume that when on gravel your back wheel is probarbly doing a lot more miles than the front is indicating on the odometer. This factor will rise exponentially with the more horsepower you have.
When on the tar the mileage relative to the front wheel will be more true.

Nope. I don't ride the Tiger like a chook chaser, my back can't take long periods on the pegs or boobing up and down any more!

I mostly use the long cogs, sit back and ride it like a lazy boy chair, covers the ground, gets me around OK.

Of course you young fellahs would class that as Nanna riding but hey, I am a Nanna, remember!

**warewolf** · 16th August 2009, 10:56

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Are you serious, the 25 litre tank takes you 600Km? Have you done that?
I have 28 litre tank on the 640A and I don't think it will do that...21km/litre best of times....Mind you, I haven't ridden it really economically, maybe I need to try and see what it will do...

All but; I've done 480km of mixed riding several times. Mine is 25.5L and riding a GC with a nanna mate sitting a few kays either side of 100km/h (except for wicking it up in a few twisty sections

) it returned quite good figures:

4.38L/100km over 382km = range of 582km (22.8km/L for you old skool types)
4.39L/100km over 287km = range of 581km (22.8km/L)
4.58L/100km over 444km = range of 557km (21.9km/L and didn't even hit reserve yet!)

If'n I wasn't wicking it up in the corners, and I was doing say 90km/h tops, I'd expect to get well over 600km from a tank. Not saying I could achieve that gravel touring - these are absolutely best case figures from steady tarmac cruise with fairly road-ish tyres.

That's not a one-off: the next year returned a couple of 4.48L/100km's, and in '07 with Clint on Rosie's killer sherpa, we were moving a bit faster, most were under 5.0L/100km but the two best tanks were:

4.58L/100km over 420km = range 557km (21.9km/L)
4.61L/100km over 420km = range 553km (21.7km/L)

I record everything and it goes into a spreadsheet that calculates all the useful stuff. That gives me excellent data so I can see a) when the bike is having fuelling issues, and b) how different conditions affect the fuel consumption.

btw you do realise that your 21km/L means 588km on 28L, don't you? So 600km should be pretty easy for you to achieve.

**The Duck 01** · 16th August 2009, 14:06

I just saw this and thought i'd throw a curved ball into the arguement.

LOL

**1KTM** · 16th August 2009, 16:00

I just brought the new 990 09 my 1st tank did 220ks be 4 fuel light came on now i done 1600ks now i get about 240ks two 280ks . My old bike 950 can do 300ks be 4 fuel light came on . my old bike 4 sale $13,995 21564ks on it at wheels of thames

**ducatijim** · 17th August 2009, 10:12

Originally Posted by dmc

So many touchie pep's on the site, as you will notice I said there are F all rides too far from fuel to do on a tank, .

Are you ever right about the touchy folk on here....I've noticed them too!!

( takes all sorts eh dmc?)

You musn't read much m8, most all publications re new bikes harp on about fuel range/fuel useage, it does seem like something folk like to know about, even just going from the discussion in this thread alone.

The 'whys and wherefores' of the subject will be differant from rider to rider, but by and large, I have never spoken to a fellow rider who doesn't intimately know his machines fuel stats. Period.

So, lets you and me keep an eye out for those...'touchy' folk eh!