ktm 990 smt, anyone ridden one?

[DanF]

Was thinking of chopping in my triumph street triple r for another bike. I'm off on another 2 week holiday in a couple of months and trying to pack the STR is just, well hard. I'll be camping so need to take a fair amount of kit, the camping kit completely fills my topbox leaving clothes etc in a bag on the rear seat. This also effects handling a fair amount on a light bike.

So the shortlist options so far where Tiger 800 xc, tiger 1050 sport or ktm 990 smt. I'd assumed the insurance on the 1050 and 990 would be crippling living in London but the 990 is barely any more than the STR. The 1050 is over twice as much so I think it's out the list. I've ridden the Tiger 800 xc before and liked it but find it maybe a little dull as in just too smooth and well mannered. It's why I got the STR before, it just made more sense as a commuting and weekend bike at the time.

So does anyone have any opinions or history of the ktm 990's?
How's reliability and servicing on them?
What's the ride like on longer distance work?

 

[atpbx]

The KTM is a very good bike.

I am picking my XC up this weekend, bought for the very reasons you dont like lol.

Smooth and well mannered,comfy as well.

If you are not planning on camping all the time, just keep the STR.

 

[Scuzi]

I have a 990SMR. A very different beast to drive but here's some thoughts anyway...

The motor is excellent. I feel like it runs out of revs a bit early at times but there's no need to bring it to the red line, there's more than enough torque at any RPM. The map I have on it at the minute makes the throttle snatchy which is a pain around town, but I don't think this will be a problem with the SMT.

The KTM took me longer than any other bike to get comfortable with it. I almost traded it in because I thought I just couldn't get on with it. It always felt like it would chew me up and spit me out. After some "confidence building", it is the most rewarding bike to drive I have ever owned. It's capabilities go far beyond most riders and if you drive it to the limit of your abilities, it will reward you greatly.

It feels really well put together. I always considered KTM up there with Ducati and Aprillia when it comes to being temperamental and high maintenance. Touch wood, my bike hasn't skipped a beat.

It feels special. You can tell it was the brainchild of some very intelligent, fairly sensible but completely mental people. I can't put my finger on it, but it just feels different to most other bikes for some reason. Maybe I'm a sucker for the KTM marketing

I hope the SMT has a different seat because the SMR seat is about as comfortable as sitting on a Sybian covered in razor wire!

 

[hillbilly2]

I have a 950 ADV (Original LC8 engine with carbs).I love it and the LC8 engine is a real peach.Have done several euro trips on it,down to the Alps and back.They can chew the fuel if you throttle them up and ride them hard,but on a calm motorway run they are very good (60mpg).
My old neighbour has a newer 990 ADV and has always complained about his snatchy throttle,and my 950 is just a touch faster
Really well build bikes and i would only change it with another KTM.

 

[DanF]

The KTM is a very good bike.

I am picking my XC up this weekend, bought for the very reasons you dont like lol.

Smooth and well mannered,comfy as well.

If you are not planning on camping all the time, just keep the STR.

yeah the thought has crossed my mind, will know after some test rides. Looks like I can get some expandable panniers for the STR which might do the job, then I'd just need an uprated rear spring as the current one is set up for solo riding.

http://goo.gl/Z2ZRvk

Still think the tiger 800 is a really good bike but I do a fair bit of inner London commuting as well.

I hope the SMT has a different seat because the SMR seat is about as comfortable as sitting on a Sybian covered in razor wire!

yeah it's a fair bit different, looks like a proper road bike seat with a decent pillion bit as well

http://goo.gl/pxrxiI

 

[DanF]

I ended up buying one last weekend. It's a 2010 with 12k on the clocks and some handy mods installed. Rides very different to the current Street Triple and currently thinking of trying to keep both of them for at least the summer. The STR is just way better around London as you'd expect, the SMT attracts a lot of attention as well.

So just a few notes from a couple of days riding.
- Engine, really nice but unhappy under 3k rpm. Needs a fair amount of clutching to keep it smooth at slower speeds. Works so well on faster roads though with loads of torque and pretty fast revving for a large v-twin.
- Gearbox is definitely more agricultural, it's a clunker (unless mines got some issues)
- forks are great, nicer suspension travel to the street triple r's
- rear shock feels badly set up with not enough compression or rebound damping but should sort that out this weekend.

I've got some traxs panniers coming for it for the holiday around the pyrenees, can't wait to leave now.

 

[Fireskull]

Very nice. looks great!

I think the general consensus with all KTM's are they are lumpy down low, nothing some fuel management and a decent remap cant improve though.

 

[Katoom]

If the ECU is the same as the LC8 ADV version, you can buy a cable off the bay for around £35, download some free software called TuneECU and load some different maps on it.