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So why would ADVMoto magazine want to report on a bike that really hasn’t changed in the last six years? Well, the fine folks at KTM North America wanted us to live with the brand for the summer (I love my job). Not having spent much time with the brand in the past, other than a few off-road KTMs, I was excited to get some seat time on the 990. After racking up a few miles on the bike, I can tell you that it’s been a “Summer of Love.”
I was pleasantly surprised that there were so few quirks to become accustomed to. The hardest was the sensitive throttle input—mostly due to fuel injection. What I found worked best was making slow, smooth wrist movements. This technique seemed to mellow the on/off feeling the throttle delivered. The other minor quirk was gear selection—if you ride in too high of a gear; there’s a lot of drive chain noise. But riding in a lower gear kept the tach in check and noise was decreased noticeably. After I’d become comfortable with these minor quirks, it was clear that the 990 is pretty close to one of the best purpose-built adventure bikes I have ever had the pleasure to ride.
Power comes from the infamous LC8 75° V-twin engine that produces around 105 HP and 74 ft. lbs. of torque @ 6750 rpm. Suspension is plush with customizable settings for different terrains and riding styles. And an added bonus is the large preload adjustment knob on the rear shock, which comes in handy for riding two up, or loaded with gear (no need for aftermarket upgrades).
Now that we have some of the particulars out of the way, let the farkling begin. The crew at ADVMoto is always looking for ways to improve your daily adventure bikes, so we added a few things to make this great motorcycle even better.
Saddlemen Adventure Track Seat
The stock seat that comes on the 990 isn’t bad by any means; we were just looking for a little more comfort for those longer rides and maybe a little more room for us vertically challenged riders. The Saddlemen Adventure Track seat is available in a two inch lower version which allows for a little more foot on the ground. Although welcome on street, the benefits of putting your feet on the ground are huge for off-pavement adventuring, and we’d bet there are more than a few riders would appreciate the extra two inches.
Their hybrid design combines exclusive Saddle gel interior, progressive density foam, and a channel down the middle of the saddle to provide adventure riders with unparalleled comfort and control. Integrated bag/cargo mounting points on the pillion is a nice touch and provides additional tie down points for any luggage you might need to bring along. With all these features, the only downside to the saddle is the micro-fiber suede which covers the main seating area. Once this portion of the seat gets wet, it takes a while to dry out. Replacing that area with vinyl or leather would probably be just as comfortable and drier to boot. Despite this lightly annoying feature, there’s no doubt the overall design and reduced saddle height makes living with the 990 not only more comfortable, but safer and generally more fun.
Fastway Adventure Pegs by ProMoto Billet
You have to admit that most manufactures often don’t pay much attention to the footpegs they hang on their machines. The stock units that come on the 990 are way too small for any type of off pavement adventuring. We picked up a set of these beautifully-crafted billet aluminum gems. The pegs measure an impressive 2.25? front to back, 4.75? wide while most are around 2? front to back and 3? wide. The added width gives you more confidence when the terrain gets rough and the screw-in cleats have incredible traction with the boot. A removable rubber pad would have been a nice touch at this price point for riders who could use extra dampening for extended riding. The patented adjustable collars make it easy to run them in the “standard” or “low boy” positions on most bikes, giving the rider more room for bulky boots, or longer legs. All in all, the Fastway Adventure pegs are a well-made, comfortable and confidence inspiring upgrade for any 990.
