KTM990 Adventure vs BMW1200GS

[ZReX12]

Thanks for that lot. Confused? You soon will be......

I currently have a F650GS, hate the 19" front wheel, lack of horse power (after 20 years of 1000cc+ Japanese 4's) and the complete lack of anything even slightly resembling sex appeal. Like the apparent bullet proofness of the thing, frugal fuel consumption, (which probably explains the lack of horses) and low seat heat when the track turns to wet clay, grass or dry sand, which is where I hate that bloody 19" front wheel (even shod with TKC's its dodgy in the slippery stuff)

Love the look of the KTM compared to the BMW, price difference also helps the KTMs case. Concerned about the KTM's pillion comfort for a long trip and how the 21" front handles the tar.

Point taken on the profile bit, must up date it a bit. Test bike in Nelson's not going to help much unless I feel like a ferry ride one weekend....

Cheers

[skelstar]

Point taken on the profile bit, must up date it a bit.

WOO HOO Wellington!!!

[mickeyboy]

Thanks for that lot. Confused? You soon will be......

I currently have a F650GS, hate the 19" front wheel, lack of horse power (after 20 years of 1000cc+ Japanese 4's) and the complete lack of anything even slightly resembling sex appeal. Like the apparent bullet proofness of the thing, frugal fuel consumption, (which probably explains the lack of horses) and low seat heat when the track turns to wet clay, grass or dry sand, which is where I hate that bloody 19" front wheel (even shod with TKC's its dodgy in the slippery stuff)

Love the look of the KTM compared to the BMW, price difference also helps the KTMs case. Concerned about the KTM's pillion comfort for a long trip and how the 21" front handles the tar.

Point taken on the profile bit, must up date it a bit. Test bike in Nelson's not going to help much unless I feel like a ferry ride one weekend....

Cheers

Mate The 21 front is great on the road, if you are a punter of any calibre you will be able to nail most road bikes on most roads with the standard Pirelli Scorpions onboard. The KTM is VERY Underated scratches bike, ridden well you surprise a lot of unsuspecting road riders and will have a gas offroad, two up is not a problem. 1 thing you need is the Gel seat option the standard seat is as hard as wood.

[mickeyboy]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...p-40652588.htm

thats your bike man

[NordieBoy]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...p-40652588.htm

thats your bike man

Anyone want to buy my DR for ummm... $19000 ono?

[cooneyr]

Anyone want to buy my DR for ummm... $19000 ono?

You'd have to start the newby post thread all over again!

R

[NordieBoy]

Yeah but for $19000 I'd put up with it

[hondav2]

www.advrider.com has GigaBytes worth of discussion on such topics, some of it even informed & sensible.

I've only had a brief ride on a KTM950, I'd buy one over the beemer cos it would suit the riding I do & cos it gives me wood. For more road & 2-up there's no doubt the R12 is the more sensible option.

Cheers
Clint

Well spoken Clint. Ive ridden the BMW, brilliant on paved roads, eat up the ks with ease but they are crap in loose gravel ( small front wheel ) KTMs rode the 990 duke , fuel injection is crap around town in traffic, my 950 SE is like any other bike on paved roads but get on the gravel and it will give you the biggest woddy u ever had, will wheelspin in most gears, Im only 1.7m tall , lowered front end and cut the seat and can only get my toes down so its fun. If I was 60+ and going touring I would have a BMW want some fun get a 9fiddy. Cheers Toddy

[wilber]

Try TSS in L/Hutt they have a 990 out there, not good if your short i'm just under 6' and still only front of foot on ground ,shes real a tall bike.

[Dazza]

Well spoken Clint. Ive ridden the BMW, brilliant on paved roads, eat up the ks with ease but they are crap in loose gravel ( small front wheel ) KTMs rode the 990 duke , fuel injection is crap around town in traffic, my 950 SE is like any other bike on paved roads but get on the gravel and it will give you the biggest woddy u ever had, will wheelspin in most gears, Im only 1.7m tall , lowered front end and cut the seat and can only get my toes down so its fun. If I was 60+ and going touring I would have a BMW want some fun get a 9fiddy. Cheers Toddy

Mate, you have a 950 SE, your one puppy, it'd have to be the tallest bike I've ever had the pleasure of sitting on !!! Would love to take one for a strop on a gravel road Everyone keeps going on about the low speed fueling on the SD, after 35000k's I must be used to it !!!

[cooneyr]

Mate, you have a 950 SE, your one puppy, it'd have to be the tallest bike I've ever had the pleasure of sitting on !!! ....

I'd have to agree. I'm a 6'1" ape i.e. long limbs and couldn't get my heals down on the brand spanker SE in Superiors. Damn they are tall but wouldnt it be fun to have a fang (or two or three ).

Cheers R

[warewolf]

Mate, you have a 950 SE, your one puppy, it'd have to be the tallest bike I've ever had the pleasure of sitting on !!!

The 640 Adventure is taller; 945mm, 30mm higher than a 9x0 Adventure S. The 950SE is 920mm.

But seat height is not everything. The KTMs, as a gross generalization, are set up fairly stiff for an aggressive rider, with the smaller bikes sprung for a lighter rider and the bigger bikes for a bigger rider/load. Plus the suspension on a new bike is not bedded in and subsequently even more stiff. My 640 took about 5000km to loosen up; those triple-bush front forks are uber-stiff.

I've got lowering links on my 640 to bring it down to 917mm, but with the correct suspension sag I can get the balls of my feet comfortably on the ground (I'm 5'7", sub-75kg in riding gear). I've sat on mickeyboy's bike, and set up for him the suspension didn't move even when I bounced up and down on the seat... I was on tippie-toes at best. The v-twins are also wider at the seat which increases the distance your legs have to cover to get to the ground.

I've sat on a new 950SE at Thunderbike, again it didn't compress under my weight and I couldn't reach the ground on the thing. There wouldn't be too many people that could ride one of those things to its limit, but there's sure as shit plenty of us that would love to have one!

[hondav2]

Mate, you have a 950 SE, your one puppy, it'd have to be the tallest bike I've ever had the pleasure of sitting on !!! Would love to take one for a strop on a gravel road Everyone keeps going on about the low speed fueling on the SD, after 35000k's I must be used to it !!!

I had a VTR 1000 with 2 bros and around town just on the gas was a little rough but the Duke I rode had nothing there , didnt like it , some guys have told me the 9fiddy is smoother and better engine braking as well compared to 990. I had to soften the rear spring as well ,( no dog bone to change on rear.)When i come to a stop I cant do a left turn as I have to get my ring off the seat and right leg down. I going to have to put an extension on the side stand as some times my toes cant flick it up. But once you get going and get on the gravel its all worth it. Another 2-3 L bigger tank would be better .BTW on short wet grass covered in cattle shit its lethal especially going down hill when you roll the gas off the compression locks the back wheel. Thats when I prefer my old 6fiddy. Cheers toddy

[windboy]

Well... good to hear there are other short arses out there adjusting their bikes to fit their inseam. I purchased the overpriced lowered seat on the tranny, yeah made a huge difference in terms of reaching the ground, the down side was that the pegs then got much closer to the seat and the wicked comfort that the bike had for the long haul was suffering because of this.

I opted to sell the lowered seat and took about 30mm of preload from the rear (quite a mission in the tranny, involves chiesels and big hammers...). It's a lot better now. When sitting, the increased sag helps me get the ball of my feet on the ground when wearing boots (at 5'8" and 75kg).

I guess when loaded up, the bike would tend to bottom out easier but unladen has never happened to me yet... BTW, I'd love to be able to ride a big 950 or 990 too.

[cooneyr]

Man it must be nice to be light so that to can just loose preload and the suspension will work (to an extent although would propbably still be a little harsh I guess). I think my rear spring is a bit naff cause there is no preload adjustment left i.e. it is wound right up and the thing is still to soft for me!

I know what you are saying about breaking the suspension in WW. When I tried the SE on for size the suspension would hardly even shift with my large arse jumping on it. That hast to be stiff new suspension or KTM make the stuff crazy stiff which I dont believe. I recon a broken in SE with a 18l tank would make a wicked adventure bike. Pity about the $ and the tank size.

Cheers R