The big KTM 990 SMT thread -- riders check in w/ photo!

[D.T.]

Mid 30's for mpg?? Is there a PC5 available for the bike?

[Gryphon12]

It wouldn't help. All KTM 950/990's are short stroke, rallye-based (race) engines. Gas mileage and water pumps are their Achilles Heels. Only a very few lucky examples ever get better mileage. Discussed to death in Orange Crush.

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by Gryphon12

It wouldn't help. All KTM 950/990's are short stroke, rallye-based (race) engines. Gas mileage and water pumps are their Achilles Heels. Only a very few lucky examples ever get better mileage. Discussed to death in Orange Crush.

What do you mean by rallye-based ? Gas mileage is really disappointing when compared with the twin engine of ducati.
We are in 2012, the consumption should get lower (in any bike) year by year, not higher.

As i said, the bike costs a lot, it is surely worth it, but in that price count that a 500km trip is like 15-20 euro more expensive than on other bikes of the same category.

[Gryphon12]

Sorry, I was being obtuse. The KTM 950 engine was designed as a racing engine to win the Paris-to-Dakar rally when liter-twins ruled the event. Maximum power and torque in a slim package with lots of suspension were the goals. The big tanks on the ADV verison of the bike were sized to make the race course fuel stops.

The short-stroke / high specific-power motor was never designed around fuel economy (or real world adventure touring for that matter). Even remapping the FI on the 990 motor only gets you so far before you are too lean everywhere across the rev range. To even start you'd have to switch to smaller valves, milder cams, and smaller exhaust - which would ruin the motor. You just can't get Honda Civic fuel economy from a Ferrari F430 engine.

Fuel economy and race-base maintenance are the biggest drawbacks to taking the 950/990 Dakar-derived motor to the general public. But KTM has always been a race-based company, the KTM customers (enduro riders) know this and accept the maintenace as a matter of course when riding high-spec dirt bikes. Lots of current ADV / SM / SM-T / Super Duke riders have forgotten the roots of the motor.

The KTM 950 / 990 ADV are liter-class dirt bikes. The SM / SM-T / Super Duke are street (racing) variations on the theme. The GS1200, S-10 and the Ducati MS are street-based ADV touring bikes.

Anyway you slice it, the KTM 950 / 990 define their class. However, nothing is going to make them nearly as fuel efficient as their competition, which were designed as ADV bikes from the ground-up.

[Scutty]

Just back from a solo 7 day ride - 2000 miles. France, Monaco and Italy, 21 Mountain passes - bike was awesome, the SMT was built for these sort of trips:



And then all cleaned and polished, post-trip:

[dougpaw57]

I posted my 2010 990 SMT for sale in the Flea Market, like brand new.

[PiJiL]

Originally Posted by Scutty

Just back from a solo 7 day ride - 2000 miles. France, Monaco and Italy, 21 Mountain passes - bike was awesome, the SMT was built for these sort of trips:



And then all cleaned and polished, post-trip:

nice

[seh750]

Originally Posted by Scutty

Looks like a fun trip, I really enjoyed riding through the Alps a few years ago. What kind of handguards are those?

[Scutty]

Hi

Thanks for the comments. The hand guards are Acerbis Dual Road guards (with LED strips) from here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ACERBIS-DU...item231f3475fd

[dougn]

Originally Posted by D.T.

Mid 30's for mpg?? Is there a PC5 available for the bike?

with my SMT, i get 39mpg commuting, 42 droning along at 80, and maybe mid 30s in back-road type riding. what more could you ask for??

i got over 40 consistently on my 04 adventure but it wasn't near the motor the SMT is

all these people that claim this really poor mpg....well.....i don't get it.

[cug]

Originally Posted by dougn

all these people that claim this really poor mpg....well.....i don't get it.

It's about perspective. I average 30mpg in my car with 3 other people in it when driving backroads (and having some fun while doing that). I average 42 mpg on my Tiger when having fun backroads, 56mpg when riding with my wife. Most bikes are super bad with regard to fuel economy and KTMs are nearly the worst I have ever ridden. They are a lot of fun, granted - but mileage is shitty, no denying that.

[Scutty]

I'd contest that - my SMT averages better mileage than any of my last three bikes (Diavel, Z1000 and SV1000). KTMs aren't inherently more inefficient than most bikes (of similar displacement) and I certainly get better mileage than my wife in her diesel Freelander (plus I know which of us has more fun!!).

[dirtydeeds]

Any long term rider updates?

[zimm]

Coming on a year of ownership and just hit 2000 miles. Zero problems. I'm now commuting on it everyday to work to take advantage of the HOV lanes (3+ people per car, buses and motorcycles only). I'm thinking about upgrading to pilot road 3 tires because the stock ones are slippery on cold mornings and take time to warm up. Like my Wings exhaust. Added HID headlight bulb, LED solstice driving lights, and a huge and ugly givi trekker case to the back rack to hold all my stuff for work (backpack, uniform, lunch, motorcycle cover). And when I'm at work, I can fold up my jacket and keep my helmet in there.

[ultrachrome]

I've had my 2011 for 15 months, 8k miles, mostly commuting.

Noticed a slight coolant leak from one of the hose clamps last winter but then it promptly disappeared. Otherwise, nothing to speak of.

I only have two issues with the bike:
- engine speed hunts in the 3-4k RPM range. I'm thinking I'll ditch the air box for a Rottweiler and get a custom map.

- wind protection. Stock screen not quite right, touring screen too tall. Testing home made spoilers on the stock screen but may end up systematically trimming touring screen.

My mod list is short:
- 16t sprocket (best change you can make to the bike)
- center stand
- frame guards
- crash bars (kind of small, not sure what they'll protect)
- top box
- Rigid Dually Amber Spots on SW-Motech brackets
- Scottoiler