KTM 990/950 Adv thread

[Oscar]

Out of interest why are you wanting to do these mods, and I'm presuming you 6 foot something tall

PS, perhaps we can help you save some money by talking you out of it

I am six foot tall, have a standard 950adv with a Touratech (low) seat, and I can't understand how anyone would a) need more suspension travel or b) want the big pig to be any higher.

I have taken my Adv some fairly gnarly places and sometimes at speed. I can tell you from these experiences that in that direction lies pain, both physical and financial. It's not that the bike is bad, actually it's the opposite - it's so good it encourages you to treat it as a big ole trail bike...and having filled you with completely unwarranted confidence you then find it's a deal bigger and heavier than you thought.

So I have taken the opposite path - in order to curb my stupidity, I am back to the original tyres (so as to be able to resist the temptation to go silly places that is brought on by knobblies) and have bought one of the aforemention "big ole trail bikes" for the more serious adventures.

[10bikekid]

haha, yeah I'm pretty tall. actually i'm quite a big guy. 6ft 4 and 140 kgs. I want the longer travel as I'm starting to push the bike a bit harder off road, I'm far form an expert or anything like that but I'm really enjoying the bike and its capabilities.
I really should be sensible and just put heavier springs in the forks etc, but I like the idea of the extra travel as I've bottomed it out going relatively slowly. I'm flat footed when parked on it so the extra height doesn't scare me - yet haha

Well you certainly put forward a good case for making those mods.

I can say though that At 85kg I can get my 950 to wallow off road (though I do run softish setting as mostly do metal roading)

If you were running my settings at your 140kg the bike would be a pogo stick

Have you set the suspension as hard as it will go on the front and perhaps what the manual recommends on the rear for a light pillion ?

I recently did a trip down Wilsons Rd (a famous sand entrance to Murawai beach in Auckland) and I experienced what Oscar described, on those down hill sand trails if I went any faster than a moderate pace I knew I was going to die, (and I was wishing at the time that I was 6.4" 140kg muscle bound so I could whip the 950 into shape like I would my 100kg dirt bike)

Stiff S setup would probably work fine for you but I would recommend you try to get the most out of what you got first and work from there if you need more as this gives you a good gauge of what your aiming for.

PS: you probable lose 15mm of travel over the rest of us mere mortals just from the extra sag 140kg rider weight exerts on the suspension

[10bikekid]

I am six foot tall, have a standard 950adv with a Touratech (low) seat, and I can't understand how anyone would a) need more suspension travel or b) want the big pig to be any higher.

I have taken my Adv some fairly gnarly places and sometimes at speed. I can tell you from these experiences that in that direction lies pain, both physical and financial. It's not that the bike is bad, actually it's the opposite - it's so good it encourages you to treat it as a big ole trail bike...and having filled you with completely unwarranted confidence you then find it's a deal bigger and heavier than you thought.

So I have taken the opposite path - in order to curb my stupidity, I am back to the original tyres (so as to be able to resist the temptation to go silly places that is brought on by knobblies) and have bought one of the aforemention "big ole trail bikes" for the more serious adventures.

This is sort of where I'm at with my 950 except I'm only 5'10 so have to run a front knobby to get out on the beach to play with the 100hp dirt bike


The other day even that wasn't enough

[BrendanZX9R]

yep. Being a fatty I do tend to loose a bit of suspension travel that you skinny guys don't. That's what made me start thinking this was a good idea. It almost scares me how good this bike goes off road so I'd like to make the most of that, especially when touching the ground isn't a problem for me. But I always have to remind myself its a heavy bitch to pick up if I get it wrong and I ride accordingly. And it pays to remember that I'm not as good as I think I am

For now I've firmed up the rear end and that's made a big difference, it doesn't squat so much at the back end when I sit on it and that helped get the bike sitting a bit more level. It's helped the front end in the lose stuff as its more planted with a bit more weight on it. The previous owner had wound al the pre load out of the rear shock for some reason?

At some stage I'll have a play with the front end and firm that up some more, perhaps even some stiffer springs. I'm a total noob so any advice is appreciated!

Still, If anyone knows of someone with some taller s suspension available then let me know. I'm still keen on the idea

[10bikekid]

If you have a Manuel it will show you how to put your forks at full stiff (spring preload and compression and rebound)
If not I can give you info

Then I would balance bike on the rear to that (Rear should have more than enough adjustment as is designed to take about 200kg)

Edit
Manuel says Max rear axle load 240kg, Max Front 200Kg (total all up weight 400kg - 235kg biked fueled = 165kg giving your muscular 140kg body you will have 15kg left for luggage) and suspension should have adjustment to cater for this

[BMWST?]

The previous owner had wound al the pre load out of the rear shock for some reason?
!

Probably for the opposite result you are lookin for?

[BrendanZX9R]

If you have a Manuel it will show you how to put your forks at full stiff (spring preload and compression and rebound)
If not I can give you info

Then I would balance bike on the rear to that (Rear should have more than enough adjustment as is designed to take about 200kg)

Edit
Manuel says Max rear axle load 240kg, Max Front 200Kg (total all up weight 400kg - 235kg biked fueled = 165kg giving your muscular 140kg body you will have 15kg left for luggage) and suspension should have adjustment to cater for this

I don't have a manual so if you could let me know how to set the front forks that would be great. thanks for the help

[10bikekid]

Sweet, can do

Full hard on fork preload is done by using a 24mm wrench on the nut on the top of the fork Range is 1 full turn per mm of preload Full clockwise is full Hard and full anticlockwise is full soft

Hydraulic compression is at the bottom of fork legs under rubber bung. turn screws full in on both forks then back out 10 clicks for max payload setting (15 out is std setting)

Rebound is set by Knobs on top of fork hard setting is full in then 13 clicks out (18 out is Std setting) this helps offset the extra spring reaction created by the stiffer spring trying to bounce back.

I am heading to Fiji in the next few days for a week but would be interested how that works for you on my return

[BrendanZX9R]

Sweet, can do

Full hard on fork preload is done by using a 24mm wrench on the nut on the top of the fork Range is 1 full turn per mm of preload Full clockwise is full Hard and full anticlockwise is full soft

Hydraulic compression is at the bottom of fork legs under rubber bung. turn screws full in on both forks then back out 10 clicks for max payload setting (15 out is std setting)

Rebound is set by Knobs on top of fork hard setting is full in then 13 clicks out (18 out is Std setting) this helps offset the extra spring reaction created by the stiffer spring trying to bounce back.

I am heading to Fiji in the next few days for a week but would be interested how that works for you on my return

great thanks for that. Would you recommend going to full hard settings for my weight? Next ride is down to the burt munro, going to take as many gravel roads as I can find. I'll fill you in on how it goes when I'm back. Thanks for your help

[10bikekid]

great thanks for that. Would you recommend going to full hard settings for my weight? Next ride is down to the burt munro, going to take as many gravel roads as I can find. I'll fill you in on how it goes when I'm back. Thanks for your help

Last post before I fly out, Would recommend if you have time that you try it in bites perhaps halfway between the STD settings and full and work up to full if its still feels to loose, though it depends on your tastes (and what you are set at now) as for me I go as soft as I can without loosing stability (as bike will respond and drive better on the metal like that)

Enjoy the Ride

[dino3310]

Last post before I fly out,

Enjoy the Ride

whats your address again

[10bikekid]

whats your address again

last post after last post

I have two large Dogs (well actually they're small) who live in the garage, if you get out with you legs intact the bikes are yours

Due for a ride your way on my return

[Bluft]

Sadly sold my 990 and have a brand new genuine ktm aventure tankbag and new mitas 150 E10 to get rid of. Send me a pm if interesred.

[10bikekid]

Best of Luck on your parts sale Bluft, TM best place to sell, what did you replace 990 with.



Update from Christmas rides

The ADVentures not in the slightest bit intimidated by Kawasaki's biggest sports tourer

[BrendanZX9R]

haven't had my 990 for long and It didn't come with an owners manual. I presume the plug/socket on the dash is a power plug. What type of fitting do I need to use and where can I get one from? keen to use a GPS but not sure how to power it.

Also, I don't have the factory tool kit. After taking a good look over the bike I've put together a small kit to carry. I've got what I think I need, but is there anything you fella's with more experience would recommend?