Can I ride your KTM 950/990 Adventure?

[bpw]

Anybody in the East Bay or Marin area have a KTM 950/990 Adventure they would be willing to let me ride for a few hours? I am thinking of getting one but would love to spend a little time on one first. Happy to swap bikes or leave a cash deposit. You could ride any of mine that are running (Wr250r, Ducati Monster 800, BMW R100gs Dakar, BMW r75/7, Honda trail 90:laughing)

I am well insured and of course would cover any damage I did.

Thanks,

 

[ScottRNelson]

As long as the height of the bike isn't an issue for you, just get one. You'll love it.

When I got my 990 in 2010, I had to adjust to being higher up off of the ground than on the Ducatis that I had been riding. On tight mountain roads I would put the wheels on the same line and find that on left turns my head was over the center line where it wasn't on a Ducati. I can't think of anything else that was a big adjustment other than the usual stuff when you switch to a different bike.

 

[bpw]

As long as the height of the bike isn't an issue for you, just get one. You'll love it.

When I got my 990 in 2010, I had to adjust to being higher up off of the ground than on the Ducatis that I had been riding. On tight mountain roads I would put the wheels on the same line and find that on left turns my head was over the center line where it wasn't on a Ducati. I can't think of anything else that was a big adjustment other than the usual stuff when you switch to a different bike.

I suspect your right, and I have ridden tall bikes before even though my legs are pretty short without issue. I have someone who may want to do a long distance fly and ride swap for my GS but it's an "R" model so I want to be sure I won't regret a bike that tall before we both go on a long ride to meet up.

 

[anytwowilldo]

I have a 2007, 990 Adventure on full knobbies in Novato I'd let you take for a ride. We could probably work something out next Monday or Tuesday during the day or after the New Year.

PM me.

 

[HadesOmega]

I got to ride one it's like a KLR650 on crack

 

[gixxerjeff]

I got to ride one it's like a KLR650 on crack

I've never understood this comparison.
Are you saying it's twitchy and unreliable?

 

[ScottRNelson]

The 990 Adventure definitely handles better than a KLR650, but with about three times the power as well.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

Comparing anything to a KLR is one of the highest insults out there. Do you mean it's an bloated shitbox with a trove of mindless followers who worship it, despite numerous objective shortcomings?

 

[gixxerjeff]

^^
This is why I like you. :laughing

 

[HadesOmega]

I've never understood this comparison.
Are you saying it's twitchy and unreliable?

It is twitchy it's its one of the worst throttles I've ever ridden. From what I have heard they are pretty reliable.

Seeing as how I rode one right after riding my KLR650 that's what I compare it to it really does feel like a KLR650 with more power. You can talk shit about the KLR650 as much as you want but it is the bike of legends.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Comparing anything to a KLR is one of the highest insults out there. Do you mean it's an bloated shitbox with a trove of mindless followers who worship it, despite numerous objective shortcomings?

:laughing:thumbup

god bless Kawasaki, and KTM ... always wanted a carb’d 950.

think the Novato 990 anytwowilldo offered up for a test-ride has a fun BARFer history:

think we counted at least ten big KTM 950s, 990s and 1090s among the 75 people who signed up for the BARF Hoho Magic Rally this year ... the dirt roads up that way seem just perfect for the fast, powerful open-savannah cruzers ... arty

think one of these KTMs is the ex-Cabrito 990, post anytwowilldo resuscitation massaging ...

6’4” HeatXfer making a brace of adv bikes look petite up on Sheetiron Mtn in 2019 ...

see you all in Cedarville if I can keep my KLRs running ... :facepalm

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

You can talk shit about the KLR650 as much as you want but it is the bike of legends.

It's a fine mule of a motorcycle. Going beyond that is absurd. There are so many other 650 singles that do the same thing just as well. The whole "doohickey" thing and the need to repair it RIGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR doesn't sit well with me.

Rabid fans jumping to the defense of any given bike is a pretty good sign that it's a piece of shit that instills a Stockholm syndrome upon it's owners. You needn't look farther than Harley or KTM for similar examples. Both bikes have objective shortcomings, but the fan base will defend them to the end with blind enthusiasm.

I still have fond memories of a KLR owner telling me how superior his bike was to my Buell. Something about the single cylinder being the pinnacle of simplicity and reliability. This conversation happened while we were hooking up a tow strap because his timing chain had failed and I was towing him to pavement. Something something pushrods and gears vs timing chain...

That doesn't mean my Uly is superior. That engine architecture has advantages, but the bike will NEVER be as capable off road as a KLR. A KLR will also never see a sustained 100+ mph on the highway. I will never have to adjust or lube my chain or valves, the KLR will never break a belt. There's no "best" bike. There's no "legend". Get the fuck out of here with that shit. Every bike is good at some things, and useless at others.

Sorry to detail the thread OP. I do hope you sample the 950/990. I'm a fan of that bike with a 17/19" wheelset. They're definitely agile, well suspended, and have a genuinely enjoyable engine. You'll definitely miss the ease of maintenance compared to your GS, but there's no free lunch.

 

[bpw]

It's a fine mule of a motorcycle. Going beyond that is absurd. There are so many other 650 singles that do the same thing just as well. The whole "doohickey" thing and the need to repair it RIGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR doesn't sit well with me.

Rabid fans jumping to the defense of any given bike is a pretty good sign that it's a piece of shit that instills a Stockholm syndrome upon it's owners. You needn't look farther than Harley or KTM for similar examples. Both bikes have objective shortcomings, but the fan base will defend them to the end with blind enthusiasm.

I still have fond memories of a KLR owner telling me how superior his bike was to my Buell. Something about the single cylinder being the pinnacle of simplicity and reliability. This conversation happened while we were hooking up a tow strap because his timing chain had failed and I was towing him to pavement. Something something pushrods and gears vs timing chain...

That doesn't mean my Uly is superior. That engine architecture has advantages, but the bike will NEVER be as capable off road as a KLR. A KLR will also never see a sustained 100+ mph on the highway. I will never have to adjust or lube my chain or valves, the KLR will never break a belt. There's no "best" bike. There's no "legend". Get the fuck out of here with that shit. Every bike is good at some things, and useless at others.

Sorry to detail the thread OP. I do hope you sample the 950/990. I'm a fan of that bike with a 17/19" wheelset. They're definitely agile, well suspended, and have a genuinely enjoyable engine. You'll definitely miss the ease of maintenance compared to your GS, but there's no free lunch.

Hah! I had a KLR for a while and don't disagree with any of this. I could never get my head around dealing with the complexity of shimmed valves and a water cooling system on a bike that made such a minimal amount of horsepower and I'll never forgive the engineer who designed the KLR footpeg attachment system. It is a weirdly good bike for being such a piece of crap though....

KTM maintenance will be a bit if a bummer after the GS, but I have a few other airheads. Would be fun to have something a bit modern and high performance in the garage to go along with the old bikes. I find I tend to grab my r60/2 the most often of the airheads so I am going to move the sidecar to the r75/7 and make the /2 my primary vintage solo bike.