KTM 990 - long term experience wanted

[Oscar]

Turn the handlebars to full lock so that the front wheel points uphill.
Go to the side of the bike with the end of the handlebar nearest the ground.
Position yourself:
facing the bike
so the end of the handlebar is:
central between your feet
just in front of your feet
feet shoulder width apart
Grab the end of the handlebar nearest to the ground with BOTH hands. (So it feels that you are going to pull the handlebar into your crotch).
Prepare yourself for lifting by bending your knees and keeping your back straight.
Depending on the position of the handlebars and the layout of the ground, you may need to go into a full squat.
Lift by straightening your legs WITHOUT BENDING YOUR BACK.
Stop lifting just before the bike becomes vertical (to stop it going over on the other side!).
After completing this manouvere seek urgent medical assistance as your fufu valve will be hanging out

I dropped my 950adv in a ditch (I was trying to jump it at the time) and it ended up with the handlebars a foot lower than the wheels. I managed to pick it up with that method, but I think I blew several seals and a coupla gaskets...

[warewolf]

You lot need to eat some spinich. I've drop the XTZ with 30l of fuel and about 10kg of luggage, say 240kg,

Or more meat pies and beer. You to the 240kg Super Ten is a better ratio than me to the fully fuelled 640A.

[Eddieb]

You lot need to eat some spinich. I've drop the XTZ with 30l of fuel and about 10kg of luggage, say 240kg, and can pick it up without too much trouble. No sticky out cylinders to help either. Hardest thing is finding something to lift with when you are in a hurry cause you dont want the other people in the car park to realise you are such a plonker - doh

Cheers R

Yeah but thats due to the 'Oh shit don't want to look an idiot' endorphin kick. If you'd waited a few minutes and calmed down it might have been a different story.

[Underground]

I've slipped a piece of pushbike tube onto my throttle grip and can stretch it over the brake lever to lock the front wheel . stops it from running away on me while picking it up on a slope ,also good to stop it moving around on the ferry

[cooneyr]

Or more meat pies and beer. You to the 240kg Super Ten is a better ratio than me to the fully fuelled 640A.

From guessing your weight I thing you migth be about right. So I guess this means I sould be riding the 950AS about the same as you ride a rally version of a 530EXC - dont think that is gonna happen!!

Yeah but thats due to the 'Oh shit don't want to look an idiot' endorphin kick. If you'd waited a few minutes and calmed down it might have been a different story.

Mmmmm endorphins. Had a few of those in my time, adrenalin as well. Pitty they are so hard to get ya hands on - having the crash or similar.

Cheers R

[warewolf]

So I guess this means I sould be riding the 950AS about the same as you ride a rally version of a 530EXC - dont think that is gonna happen!!

My power vs the bike's weight is a significant consideration for me. I can ride a lighter bike harder for longer, with more precision, and can save far more "Oh! Shit!" moments when the bike's mass doesn't totally overwhelm little ol' me. I luv my 95kg 200EXC

[That looks like fun]

Went for a ride on the Whanga Rd one day, all by my lelf And of course fell off in the biggest deepest papa shithole on the Rd. No worries, I will just use the BMW lifting technigue (didnt pass spellink at scool) and be on my way Got her upright no worries, but sadly the climb out of the mud was to much for a bimmer and one pusher of said bimmer to manage. (insert swear word here) Only plan seemed to turn it around, easier said than done. Ended up putting her back on her side and dragging it around in the mud, then standing it back up again. Due to leaky skin (they tell me its called sweating) and having used a lot of energy (as you do when your turning around a bimmer in a shithole) I employed the old back up to the seat, grasp firmly, drive up with the legs, then walk backwards system to get her vertical. About halfway through the lift a thought entered my head about the same time as I felt unable to get her upright "if you put her down and have a rest, boy you is stuffed, get her up this time or start walking back to the tunnel because thats where you will be sleeping tonight ". Inspired by that thought She rose majestically (yeah right) from the mud and was ridden home (at which point some woman claiming to be a loving wife complained bitterly about some stupid bastard she was married to)
So with all this fufuu valve and meat pie blowing bike lifting stuff, why would some old bugger who has very little trail bike experience ride an 1100 hundy GS through something like, oh lets say the 42nd. logic? sanity? too much money? Na lack of all the above. I ride it because I like it I am limited by the bikes off road abilities as much as it is limited by mine. Would I be better on a yellow or orange or green beast, I think not. Is it the ultimate bike? nahhh. Do I hug it when I get home from a ride (even after picking it up five times on that ride ) You betcha

[marks]

Went for a ride on the Whanga Rd one day, all by my lelf And of course fell off in the biggest deepest papa shithole on the Rd. No worries, I will just use the BMW lifting technigue (didnt pass spellink at scool) and be on my way Got her upright no worries, but sadly the climb out of the mud was to much for a bimmer and one pusher of said bimmer to manage. (insert swear word here) Only plan seemed to turn it around, easier said than done. Ended up putting her back on her side and dragging it around in the mud, then standing it back up again. Due to leaky skin (they tell me its called sweating) and having used a lot of energy (as you do when your turning around a bimmer in a shithole) I employed the old back up to the seat, grasp firmly, drive up with the legs, then walk backwards system to get her vertical. About halfway through the lift a thought entered my head about the same time as I felt unable to get her upright "if you put her down and have a rest, boy you is stuffed, get her up this time or start walking back to the tunnel because thats where you will be sleeping tonight ". Inspired by that thought She rose majestically (yeah right) from the mud and was ridden home (at which point some woman claiming to be a loving wife complained bitterly about some stupid bastard she was married to)
So with all this fufuu valve and meat pie blowing bike lifting stuff, why would some old bugger who has very little trail bike experience ride an 1100 hundy GS through something like, oh lets say the 42nd. logic? sanity? too much money? Na lack of all the above. I ride it because I like it I am limited by the bikes off road abilities as much as it is limited by mine. Would I be better on a yellow or orange or green beast, I think not. Is it the ultimate bike? nahhh. Do I hug it when I get home from a ride (even after picking it up five times on that ride ) You betcha

That is an awesome track - I've had a mirror buried in the mud there - I'd still be there if I hadn't had company

I'm disappointed that there are no photos.....

glad you got back in one piece

[Eddieb]

That is an awesome track - I've had a mirror buried in the mud there - I'd still be there if I hadn't had company

I'm disappointed that there are no photos.....

glad you got back in one piece

+1000 on that road.

I'd still be there too if it wasn't for Joe. There's not many people that will push a fat heavy BMW out of a huge hole laughing crazily while being totally roosted from head to foot.

[Woodman]

Have had no issues picking up the KLR. Lifting it out of huge seat height ruts is another story.

What is an ideal bike weight to rider weight ratio? (bw:rw) if there is such a thing.
Possibly slightly off topic.

[That looks like fun]

Rider to bike weight ratio is far less important (in my humble opnion) than the riders power to brain ratio

[Woodman]

Rider to bike weight ratio is far less important (in my humble opnion) than the riders power to brain ratio

I ride a klr so i hope my brain to power ratio is high.

[That looks like fun]

My bike has lots of power, but Im not scared Im special, I know that cause me Mum told me

[AussieRik]

Thanks for that endorsement - I suppose from someone with both a 990 and a GSA1200 under their name that is good news, but, why both?

To answer your question re timing for coming over - a highlight of any Sth Island backcountry riding is a trip through Molesworth and the Rainbow Station and as discussed in another thread these don't open now until Dec 28th and you would probably want to complete this route before the end of March. So if you design your trip so you can be in the top of the Sth Island in that period its prob best.
Theres a couple of routes down here in Otago - the Dunstan Trail and the Nevis which are both best ridden in summer. Especially true of the Nevis which has 26 river crossings but these hardly get your feet wet in summer whereas in winter and early spring the rivers are much higher and the approaches and departures from the fords get scoured out and can be quite challenging with a fully loaded adventure bike
Look forward to catching up if it works out that way.

Thanks for that - and for the record I don't own both those bikes. I've got the 990 and my mate Mal has the GSA which some of us rather unaffectionately refer to as "the whale". They are very capable (but not as much so as the 990 on the really rough stuff) and you seem to feel somewhat isolated from the terrain riding the thing - theres just so much bike in the way of everything!!
Both great bikes - but each to his own

[Ruralman]

You could use the NZ motorcycle ATlas

http://www.hemamaps.com/default.asp?...oductTypeId=28

Get one of these and it will show you all the best roads for bikes