KTM 990 Adventure 2012 New Release

Just looking at this bike and its sharp distinctive lines makes you realise that this is one durable piece of machinery. From the almost vertical screen, the bright colour, the slim profi le and the rigid frame hidden by the panels just shouts out: “I am as tough as nails, ride me any way you want and I’ll get you there!” Doesn’t that just scare you a bit knowing this bike might outlast you? The fully adjustable WPPDS shock provides for suffi cient reserves in every situation. Thanks to hydraulic spring preload, it is possible to adapt it perfectly to the respective load by means of a flip-out adjustment knob. Suspension travel on the KTM 990 Adventure is impressive at 210mm, whilst the KTM 990 Adventure R off ers a whole 55mm extra and sets the standards with an incredible 265mm. The monocoque space frame made from chrome molybdenum is the most stable and at 11kg, also the lightest construction on the market; insurance for simple handling and outstanding directional stability.

2012-KTM-990-Adventure

2012 KTM 990 Adventure

 Diff erent to the Yamaha and BMW rivals the KTM provides you with a single seat comfortable enough to
take you places you’ve never been including the odd Iron-But or two. This of course is the only one of the three bikes where you could put the bike on the main stand and lie on the seat for a breather comfortably. The off -road sized rims and heavily-treaded tyres should spell vague handling, but largely they don’t. The quality WP suspension is plush and only gets a bit wobbly if you start throwing it around at high-speed. Feedback is enough to inspire confi dence, and it rarely gets fl ustered. The KTM 990 Adventure has sports-bike kicking pace on less than perfect roads, or will trot along enjoying the scenery too. The twin fuel tanks require fi lling individually, which is a minor inconvenience but helps keep the bike slim-line and the weight down.

2012 KTM 990 Adventure

2012 KTM 990 Adventure

2012 KTM 990 Adventure

 I took the Adventure on the freeway so I could get a feel of how it performs under hard acceleration at relatively high speed. Excellent! No matter in what gear I was in, neither the rpm levels, the V-twin delivered the needed grunt that made the KTM feel able to pass cars with no problem whatsoever. Throtltle response is great and the bike will amaze you with every twist. But let’s face it, who am I kidding? The off road is where the 990 Adventure belongs and I was in for a rough ride. The trails are a kid’s play and I didn’t manage to fi nd it lacking the ability to suppress any obstacle that it has encountered. This bike relies on its race-inspired character to save the situation and it does it with success every single time.

The KTM 990 Adventure isn’t a cheap bike, but for your hefty outlay you get a versatile bike that will tour, long-distance commute and hammer along back roads at an indecent pace. It’ll even deal with gentle off -roading in novice hands, and a set of full knobbly tyres add enough traction to keep more experienced mud-pluggers happy. From street use to off -road hardcore exploring has never shown a meaner streak than the KTM’s 990 Adventure.