The KTM 990R, (2011) is now 250mi. (U.S.) and is beyond words at this point! So simple to work on if something goes awry. The power band is extreme for this class of bike and what it is intended for. Did some dirt last two weeks in eastern Oregon and bout nearly killed myself on the torque band! It was so pleasurable not to use full throttle to get the wings spinning aloft. Just synergy in art of pure weight to horsepower! Damn this bike rocks on the highway. I was cruising on a twisty’s when these jerks of crouch rockets punched it and flew passed me doing about 48mph (U.S.). I mean these twisty’s were tight and I knew they were capable riders, but for God sakes!

I looked in my rear view mirrors and saw six more riders coming up behind me fast and, so I decided then to let them go passed. Granted I was behind two cars and I guess they needed to go somewhere fast! Later on into the ride of pleasure I saw three riders down, with one car involved. As I grew closer the scene ever grew into nine cars involves. Road jam! There were cars pulled off on all sides of the street and bogs on both sides. I parked the KTM 990R off to the side and assessed the situation, as I am a medic in orthopedics’. A few broken bones and some contusions to a few of the riders, other than that all was well. Paramedic’s were called and there was nothing more that I could do.

No one dared to venture off the four lane road into farm land that engulfed both sides of the road way. Too soft and you “WILL” absolutely not make it around the jam! It was for certainty! After that thought a gentle grin besieged my minds eye and laid hold forever a GRIN upon my childish face….

I could just see the emergency vehicles asking “Does anyone own a helicopter, Bull Dozer or a KTM to help out? I was all about me on the Black Stallion; and I was not about to sit still for who knows what. Walked up the “Orange Crush” and said to the Alien, (That is its name), are you capable? Just then I remembered my past on my Honda XR 650L in the dirt and this new bile was more than capable. Enough said.

I spent the last four minutes scanning the terrain and decided to go East where the pack was thickest. Booyakasha! I mounted the Austrian horse and people looked @ me with awkward grins, as if to suggest where the ‘Hell’ does he think he is going in this mess.

I nodded once and pointed my nose into the cross wind. The Akrapovic’s were given four smooth throttles as to my intention and with a quick throttle in first I over took an eight, (8 ft. US) slope down into farm country and smoothly plowed my way about the man made Enduro farm land. Crikey Mick!! To be nice I stopped in a clearing when it was safe to do so and looked back into the mess. Mouths dropped and heads turned in my direction I took it all in…. Who knows what they were thinking. From my stand point I was free…

It was great to be Free!

This is what the bike does for one soul. It let’s you invent….. and I mean quite literally. That is.. if you are capable! The crowed looked on, as I mounted the stallion. Slowly I did so that they could see the human potential of its creation.

With the bike in First Gear I made quick process of the dirt beneath my rear wheel and was gone! I exited one the field some miles up and when I hit the pavement; I so wanted the dirt again. Pure pleasure!

Oh! I was doing 90MPH (U.S.) in the corn field for those that was wondering. 75 MPH (U.S.) on average. Upon my destination I hopped off my 990R and walked into my residence.

My wife said.. “How are honey?” I said “Brilliant.”

I just picked up my F800GS from Mortons BMW after they had it for a month for repairs this time. They finally decided to replace the fuel pump even though the time before last they should have replaced it instead of making me take it to them again and have to torture my friend for a ride to pick it up again.
On top of it the guy at Mortons gave me a hard time about picking it up “finally”!! I then said well if you had replaced the fuel pump the last time you would not have had to keep it for another month and then replace it. He said there was nothing wrong with the fuel pump last time. I then said the trouble codes were not a clue that it needed replacing and he said no.
I could see it was pointless trying to comunicate with him so I stopped.
I wanted to ask him well why did you replace it this time.

The last time Battley had my motorcycle they said it was ready for pick up and when I tried to drive it off their lot the handlebar had to be turned way to the left for the motorcycle to go straight. Battley refused to fix the problem they caused. My motorcycle was not like this when I took it to them. Another dealing with Batlley was when I paid them for my first service. I had waited all day for the motorcycle and at night when it was ready before I rode it away I noticed some oil on the left side of the engine and I just figured it was some oil they had spilled and forgot to wipe off. When I looked at my motorcycle in the daylight the next day oil was all over the engine and there was obviously some thing cracked or a leaking gasket.

Non of them have made my motorcycle right, in fact some of them have made the motorcycle worse/broken it when they got their hands on it.
When a BMW dealer says my motorcycle is fixed and ready to pick up, I have learned to always ask are you sure? Nothing is falling off, cracked, leaking, etc. The BMW dealers always say yes but then when I pick it up oil is coming out of the engine, the front end alignment has been destroyed, etc. etc.
BMW and the dealers do not seem to care if I am killed, maimed and harmed in some fashion by riding their death trap. I say this because they knew the motorcycle had problems and sent me out to ride it and break down on major highways in traffic traveling at 70 plus MPH. I was fortunate that I was not run down by a truck or some other catastrophic event did not happen…yet. They seem to be trying though.
The dealers always say there is nothing wrong with my motorcycle and try to blame the break downs, bolts falling off, not shifting,leaks, non starting, etc. on me.
They say ridiculous things like: I do not know how to ride, the oil that is recommended in the owners manual is the problem, etc.
They seem to think I love asking friends, family and my work constantly help me with my breakdowns. All the dealers are too far away and I waste most of a day or whole days dropping of and picking up my motorcycle from them.
They all seem incompetent and hateful.
I do not know if it is BMW Motorrad that makes them such horrible dealers or what. But BMW HQ defiantly needs to blow up their structure/management and start from scratch.
All my dealings with Motorrad have been abominable also logic and decency do not seem to be in their customer service plan. I have tried being, calm and logical with them but they have proven by their actions and none action to not understand logic, there products and services.
The time before last I had it at the BMW dealer it needed a fuel pump because it threw codes saying the pump had problems/faults and the motorcycle did not always start. For some reason the dealer did not replace it then. They sent me out on the roads only to have me come back again and again. I now have to ask a friend to give me a ride and waste another day picking it up.

It seems the dealers have and ride my motorcycle more than I do.
I should be able to charge them rent for keeping and riding MY motorcycle.
I bought a BMW because they used to make a good product. I thought they would have good customer service. I wanted to love my purchase/BMW, but BMW and it’s dealers seem to have conspired to make sure I hate even the thought of BMW!
BOY DID I MAKE A BAD DECISION WHEN I BOUGHT A BMW!
Do not buy a BMW the dealers are too far and the way the dealers and BMW have treated me and others is heinous and shameful!
I wish I had something good to say about my BMW and BMW in general but I do not.
I also own a KTM(love it), and a Suzuki now, and a friend owns a Kawasaki and a Yamaha they seem to be good motorcycles and at least some of the dealers have proven to be much closer and more customer service oriented and helpful.

Thanks.

Just wanted you to know that “Kilter” (The F800GS)is doing just fine here in Ontario having recovered from the performance anxiety you boys put it through. The rad is still cable tied in place (without a need to replace it) and it has been fitted with lots of guards and bling making it much better suited to that type of Adventure Riding. The chain breakage issue you experienced was a result of a bad batch of chains that BMW has since recalled. (Scratch one off the “we broke it” list!) Affected owners were treated with a new chain and both sprockets installed under warranty.

I’ve put a lot of miles on it since I bought it and still haven’t got used to that seat. I’m able to combine gas stops with butt breaks so it’s bearable. After three 8 hr days in the saddle it seems to be less of an issue. Still wouldn’t trade it for any other bike!

Keep up the good work.

ps….how do I buy the DVD?

Now why would I be so foolish as to do something like that? It’ll just cost me more money as wellas a load of work selling my wife on the safety merits of the 990 and why I “need” a sfer bike. No, for now ill stick with the bicycle. Well, I have been eyeing the KTM at the motorcycle shop, but hey that’s juts looking.

I’m not sure what happened to my spell check on that one.

Ive had the klr 650.It was a great bike until I test rode the KTM 990.It was like getting off a bicycle and getting on an explosion of fun.If you enjoy the KLR, I would advise you to not test ride the KTM or the BMW.All in fun, Keep riding til your cheeks fall off!

Now why would I be so foolish as to do something like that? It’ll just cost me more money as well as a load of work selling my wife on the safety merits of the 990 and why I “need” a sfer bike. No, for now ill stick with the bicycle. Well, I have been eyeing the KTM at the motorcycle shop, but hey that’s juts looking.

Your attention to detail is brilliant! With that said, I truly understand how hectic a pace your mind works in defining and redefining these (moto) tests. I have seen all your workings on YouTube and this channel, just to name a few. You have many fans on the inter-web just craving your holy grail reviews on just about any subject under the sun.

-As many readers have warmly stated before on several posts that your reviews on these bikes are probably the best so far on the web. Good on you!

So the point of this post is to alert you to my new 2011, 990 R coming within the next few months and a planned month long journey into the Canadian Outback. First things first though; A ride south, via Portland to north-eastern Nevada for some dry lake bed camping. Really… I need a bit of warmth before heading north…

Neil… I notice that within all your video’s with the 990 that you never equipped it with tank guards. Why? I understand that these bikes were loners, but why did you not equipped it with a bit of protection? Are the tank guards really needed on this bike for better protection? I’m just curious….

I’ll keep this short and sweet; but again a very, very grand Thank you for all you do. Your Mum must be proud of you.

Cheers!

Curtis

Just thought I would let you know that I am now the proud owner of the 09 R1200 GS menioned before. There was a “slight” mixup in the price I was quoted originally, but I still think I got a pretty good deal. Thanks again for the info here, it was a big help.

Rob

That is good advise, and good to hear. Thanks again for the information, and congratulations on the best website on this topic I have seen, period.

Hope to be part of the GS family soon!

Rob