KTM ADVENTURE 990 R - "The Behemoth in the Real World" review 

Seems most people thing they're keepers...I've got the feeling mine will be!

Good to read your thoughts, @seanfrench1029.. I just got a 2013 990 Adventure R with 30,000kms on the clock and I reckon I'm done shopping for an ADV. :) Ride Swift, Ride Safe, brother!

@@bigberthaontour I've had a 2009 ABS white since new which I converted to an R with the R suspension and the R map. I kept it until it had 110K kms. and sold it because there was something wrong with the engine. The guy who bought it rebuilt it and sold it for a lot more than he got it from me (it did have a partially melted rear piston probably because of a wideband failure as a set with the PCV that was on the bike) . I'm now on the market for another one. I was looking for the alternatives but unless I see a higher powered Tenere 700 or I'll wait for a cheaper 2024 (the updated model) used AT, I am going to be staying with the 990. She is still very relevant, ticking all the boxes, 21 years after the first 950 back in 2003! P.S. Lower tire pressures off road. That was the biggest reason you couldn't find traction at the slippery part where you dropped her. That and slipping the clutch. Having said that, she doesn't like the slow stuff on account of her rally heritage and a quite lightweight flywheel. She'll try to stall on you in the slow tricky stuff.

Cheers Laurens, looking forward to guiding you guys around the trails in January!

Cheers Sam, thanks for your advice buying it!

Glad you enjoyed it. A month or so later I can still vouch for the bike! It’s a big lump and not the most refined but worth all the effort for the smiles!

As the video clearly shows, the bike is rather unduitable for that kind of riding. Although his mouth keep saying it’s alright, when it clearly isn’t. Throttle on these is horribly jerky. If anything get the 950. At least it’s carburated. But before you go out and buy one, test ride the 790…

Cheers mate, looking forward to watching your 1150 review…no question that is the bike that got me into motorbikes when Ewan and Charlie took them round the world!

@@bigberthaontour thanks mate snap :) yep once I've got a few more miles on her I'll deffo have to do a review on her :) just so relieved to be riding an have her fixed now 👍

I was nervous at 6’3”! Tallest bike I’ve ever ridden. Are there any good mods to get the seat height down!

@@bigberthaontour I have the normie version of the 990 so travel is a little less so its not to bad one foot down lol. Lowering mods … different seat , drop two inches of the forks and thats about it I think.

Awesome, I’m on a trip to Turkey from Wales at the moment. It’s just been the right bike for every scenario…twisty mountain roads, motorway, TET trails, does them all!

Thanks watching for the feedback, yeah the audios not great on that section, must remember to slow down a bit if I’m going to do talking. The Cardo’s are used a lot by filmers and others seem to get great results so perhaps i need to play with the settings

Cheers for the info! Yep no bike is perfect for a rider out of the box (unless you were the test rider!)

We need to get some r6’s, I’m still keen!

@@bigberthaontour only things I have left affiliated with motorbikes are 3 AGV helmets and 3 pairs of FIVE race gloves😂😂. Some additional necessities are required 😟

I don't even know what I'd do with a 790, those things don't look nice from any angle!

@@bigberthaontour swap for Husky 901 expedition

@@ukaszusielski3606 great looking bike, can’t afford it! 🤣

It is quite literally a "Dirt Bike" on Steroids; trying to pretend that its well mannered on asphalt. That sounds it up! Power and fun in the dirt, and so light in weight.

890s are definitely the ultimate off-road weapon now, you’ll have fun with that :-)

I have seen someone your height ride my bike, but he was Serbian Hard Enduro champion! The non S or R versions aren’t as tall so might be a better option

I do love a carb bike…I just didn’t want to buy anything too old! Getting used to it with time anyway!

Rusty nuts isn’t sad at all, he’s happy to take the piss out of my ridiculous ktm any opportunity he gets

Btw yep always open for spin as long as it’s midweek!

When he’s finished growing up he’ll regret flogging the beemer. I expect the KTM phase will last slightly longer than the V85TT love affair which won’t be too difficult! Sand raiders next year Owen?

I would regret selling it if someone was actually buying it. Maybe having a bunch of videos of me battering it on RU-vid isn’t helping!

Thanks, I'll be in touch if it ever gets above freezing and stops raining for a couple o days!@@bigberthaontour

Always a tricky one with tyres. I use it a lot on the road too so I end up with something that’s a bit crap at both 🤣 to be fair the TKC80 have been fine with most off-roading I’ve done on the bike, just winter mud they struggle with

@@bigberthaontourif available in the UK try Motoz Tractionator, I had them on my 1290SA and they have excellent grip plus I got almost 10k km on the rear. Motoz has some more aggressive tyres, but they’re generally designed for hard pack and desert, not so much wet. For highway and off-road the Tractionator is hard to beat

@ronanrogers4127 your second person to recommend those…must be good! If your getting 10,000km then they will be useful for my tour later this year

Yep, no more novelty retro bike, I’m out of excuses! You?

@@bigberthaontour ah great stuff yeah I’m going back to have a go I’m still on the 950 so fingers crossed 🤞🏻

@@TubbyTrialTeam tidy, I think you were the first people to bring 950/990s to my attention…been intrigued ever since!

@@bigberthaontour ah fantastic glad I could help haha!

Glad you like it. Jacket is the Merlin Solitude, my one is a one-off preproduction model so can’t get it in those colours but the other colour ways are nice too

@@bigberthaontour thanks a lot!

Cool, sounds expensive on fuel and tyres but entirely worth it! I’d love to try the Superenduro version one day, bet it’s an absolute hooligan!

I’ve heard they’re very good, unfortunately a long way from Pembrokeshire! In the meantime I’ve turned off the oxygen sensor and it’s buttery smooth now, big improvement

Haha, the third drop was off camera!

No doubt, I love how it looks…just a photographers nightmare when it comes to travel snaps 🤣

Bertha long gone, orange everywhere now

@@bigberthaontour ROAR! :D

I don't think I've had mine long enough to answer that question fully...but the general consensus from forums is that they are very reliable with an owner who knows that to look out for and maintain.

Very - just look after fuel pump and filters - and if you need to do big distances - look after chain

@@RupertUtley that’s amazing that you went round the world on it. Setting off for Turkey from Wales in spring. What can I do to look after the fuel pump?

It’s been a steep learning curve…but it’s worth the effort!

3) Thanks for the sprocket info, I’ll give some of those combos a go! 4-5) I will enjoy learning to ride it properly!

@@bigberthaontour the more you ride that motorcycle and the faster you get, the more you will understand why riders like it so much 🤟

Which white spring did you put on, my rear shock is looking pretty corroded so it’d be nice to replace it at some point

Hard cases full of heavy camera gear...tough day on the trails! With time I've learnt the bike is incredible capable off road, just needs time to master (not that I have mastered it, but definitely better than before!). Throttle jerkiness comes as standard with many of these, mapping and O2 sensor delete has helped mine massively

Genius idea, although filming could be difficult without any equipment 🤷

I think I might have overestimated it, it’s probably less 🤣

Oh, my fuel light comes on at 130 miles...maybe I've got a hole in it!

@@bigberthaontour same same for me 250Km...she drinks a lot

It's off to Portugal for a new life in the sun!

Haha, funnily enough I actually had a finisher of "meet Bigger Bertha" at the end but decided against it!

@@bigberthaontour Got to be I think 😁

That’s an excellent description!

I’m sure I’ll be fine, I’m just used to an 80s BMW where the valves can be checked and adjusted in 15 minutes!

@bigberthaontour I will give a recommendation the Rottweiler glove box or the others quick release bracket helps to shave time off of disassemble and get rid of factory air box 📦 I run the triple clamp moto unit its a solid design those 2 alone make make maintenance a breeze . Last thing tune ecu software is your friend the old software "cd" is best but new version is good for Diag purposes. Looking forward for more videos from you! James from Ohio

Up for sale! No ones bought it yet tho so maybe I’m stuck with it!

I should’ve probably passed the channel over to the new owner!

I found the G2 Cam throttle tube helped massively for slow speed riding, plus a ECU remap by a garage did wonders.