Ktm 690 or 950/990 adventure

Looking for some input, I currenty ride a plated Crf 250x. Looking for a bike to explore Colorado. Mountain highways and dirt roads, and all the dirt passes, weekend trips etc. Do the carburated 950's need jetting changes if the bike is jetted for where I live 7200' to 13,000' passes and then decide to take it to Moab. Like I need to with the Crf. Should I spend the extra money to get a later model with fuel inj? Also thoughts between 690 and 950/990 for what I want to do. I have never ridden street bikes before and the size of the adventures are a little intimidating. I am sure I would get used to it.
Thanks, Steve

...and don't forget to add Super Enduro to your quandary... seeing as it's kinda inbetween the 690 and the 990 as for purpose.

You have a lot of research to do before you decide. But you knew that.
Don't discount some of the other bikes out there, they can be had at "beginner" prices right now. After you have some experience with an "Adventure" bike, then you can easily make a dicision. But, Fuel injection..............Absolutely YES. The carbs will work fine, but F.I. is dramatically better. The heft and weight of a big bike with lots of power is reall differant. So maybe a smaller start, especially if you don't invest much may be to your advantage. so how about a KLR or any of ther other 650 class bikes,DR650,XR650L,or WeeStrom. They are all very good, easy to transition to, and can be had very reasonably right now. They also tend to be very bullit proof, and low maint. Then after getting a year under your belt, you will know exactly what you like and don't like. Then sell, recoup most of your investment, and buy the dream.

A good dilema you have. The 690 tempts me occasionally but a bunch of my trips involve getting to a place 1-2k miles from Colorado. The 950 gets me to these locales and then takes me pretty much anywhere I want to go.

If I was to ride a bike around Colorado only and was gonna primarily be banging around offroad then I'd get a 690. The 950/990 will take you a lot of places if you're willing but a 690 would probably make it easier at times.

I've ridden my 950 around Salida (7K) and over most of Colorado's high passes without jetting issues. It takes a little more work to fire it up on top Mosquito Pass but I don't spend a ton of time at those altitudes.

Good luck.

There is also the consideration that the 990 (fuel injected) has had some "throttle snatch" issues and some fuel pump issues.

Just more food for thought (yeah, I've been reading in orange crush )

These 'snatch' issues can be easily fixed if you know what you are doing. Asks the boys up at Elite. They can feeeex it!!

I've had snatchy FI's in the past and figure I'd still prefer the FI... but then you read threads like this:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=509751

.. and wonder if its really that bad?

I'd love to ride an 990 & 950 back to back.

There all good. So any one that you choose you will most likely like a lot.

If you plan to do longer distances(>400 miles per day) and/or take a passenger then I'd go 950/990. Otherwise the 690 all the way.

I have no jetting issues with my 950 from down to 600ft and up to over 12Kft.

Having ABS for the street on the 990 would be the selling point for me, not the FI.

Such a fun choice you have.

I seen the beginnings of a future purchase.

I bought the 990 over the 950 b/c I wanted FI. So far my throttle response has been pretty good, after the 15 minute idle, while trail/off road riding. It is a little jerky commuting in town but I can live with that. The 990/950 is a dramaticaly different bike from the 650. Much bigger and more of a handful on tougher roads. But much more comfortable IMO over longer distances. You really need to try to ride them both.

Comparing the 990 to other bikes - I traded in a 1200GS for the big KTM b/c I wanted better handling off road. The BMW is just a superb bike for mainly road or graded gravel rides but not as good, again IMO, on tougher jeep roads. The first time I rode my 990 it felt just like my other KTM dirt bikes, only bigger.

Mid sized DS bikes, as noted above, are excellent options, especially if you intend to ride mostly rough jeep roads etc.

If you want to explore Colorado 690 or 640Adv even better.

If you want to explore the US and further 950/990.

Good luck and let us know what you get.

BTW The dealers are hurting right now and would love to let you test ride anything you fancy. Probably a good time to haggle to.

"whacha mean you don't wanna haggle?"

Flying Horse is absolutely right... (still have that 950 for sale?)

I have the 640 and a 950 (new this summer)...640 is killer (even 2-up) for everything around CO, but makes for a long ride from the Front Range to Moab (though we have done it). AWESOME once you get there!
The 950 is MUCH more comfortable getting to Moab, and performs great on most double-track off-road rides once you get there, but is not the beast that the 640 is once it gets technical. Then again, there is no way we would put 10,000+ miles on the 640, like we have the 950 this summer...the 640 has been garaged since the purchase of the 950.

Just like skiing...unless you can afford the quiver, pick the one that best fits your riding desires, and deal with the limitations.

Bought our 950 in San Francisco, and have ridden it over 12,000ft, with no fuel delivery issues, at all...only started sputtering and burning through fuel and oil, since taking it to Elite :huh for the 15K full service...anyone know a GOOD service shop in CO?

Ha, no my 950 is gone. It has already been to Canada and now lives in deep in Mexico with the new owner. Truly he is using it for what it was meant for.

+1 on the jetting issues. Inmates have done all the research you need to know about jetting. Talk to YellowPig or 309 for maximum performance jetting. I ran stock sea level jets on mine and had no complaints about the power. There is more than enough juice to get you in trouble at any rpm. At least I though so.

info on 950...

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=509743

...so I went to the KTM Adventure Rally in Riggins, ID a couple of weeks ago to ride them.

I'm riding a 650 Dakar now, and I've gotten it in some stupid places. I want something more dirt-worthy.

I rode the 990 Adventure, it is an awesome bike! I would love it more if I didn't have my Dakar, it pretty much does the same thing-only faster and with better suspension. If I were doing more road/dirt road touring, this is the machine. (I won't get rid of my Dakar-too much into it, and I got it from my dad).

I don't know why it has 6 gears, you only need 4! The 990 cruises at 90 mph like my Dakar cruises at 50 mph! 6th gear at 70 was barely above idle. I don't know why anybody would ever buy a cruiser or a Hardley-Ableson when they could have a 990 Adventure and cruise as comfortably, but be able to go so many more places, and of course with more style and not dressed like a member of the Village People. :ymca

I rode the 950 SE and was really surprised. It is as good on the road as anything else. I didn't expect that. It would need some wind protection, but other than that, it cruises well. I wish it were FI'd, then it would be perfect. It has more "hit" to the motor than the 990Adv. It is a BFDB-Big F'n Dirt Bike.

Lastly I rode the 690 Enduro. The performance was better than my 650 for sure. It picked up the front wheel just accelerating through the first 3 gears. It is wound out on the highway for cruising, but it feels like a "dirt bike". Again, you can add a windshield to them from the TT catalog.

After all that, to do what I want to do, which is closer to home, harder off-road riding and trails, I would get a 690 Enduro. I'm a little put off with some of the issues that people have had. I don't want to worry about getting stuck somewhere with a bad fuel pump. My Dakar hasn't had any problems-reliable as a stone axe-probably because it uses the same technology!!oser

I hope KTM fixes what issues that they've had. I don't think the issues are big enough to deter me from getting one, I just wish they would get it all sorted out. They know what the common problems are.

And let's not EVEN talk about KTM seats!!! Holy sheet! Who designed the seats, Sponge Bob Square Pants? You gotta have a flat square shaped azz with it's own padding to spend any time at all on a KTM seat!

Sorry, don't mean to be so drawn out, it's just a bit of detail to answer the post. Let me know if you want more specifics.

Carry on,

Speedster

Hey, thanks for all the info and advice. I do have friends with street bikes that enjoy camping and over night trips. So that is another reason for the 990 and I already have a plated bike for the tougher stuff. I will keep watching the used bike market this winter for both bikes. So I have a little time to decide.

Thanks, Steve

950 Super Enduro. :slurp

Super Enduro is a sweet bike, But the seat is way to tall.

It is tall... and my legs are not. I have my seat cut down which helps, but it is still a handful if I lose forward momentum on something off-camber and need to put a foot down or try to dab/paddle walk the bike instead of just staying on the pegs and riding. But with the weight advantage, it is still easier for me to handle on technical terrain than my slightly shorter 950A, and I've ridden them both quite a bit on fairly technical stuff. I just get used to picking it up when I drop it, which is often if I'm riding with the 450-650 dirt bike crowd!

Superplush (or any other good suspension tuner) can also drop the suspension an inch or more while they are doing one of their revalve/resprings.

If your exploring Colorado, get a 690R...

Check out photo's on my signature.


You can ride the single track with the 690.. not fast but you can do it. You can also ride all of the pavement.