Motorcycle specifications KTM990 Adventure 2008 Adventure is adventure

dakar dream? It's impossible not to think about it once you're behind the wheel of a KTM Adventure. Particularly the S version (30 mm higher ground clearance and Dakar deco) irresistibly evokes the dunes and the scent of hot sand. The most important aspect of this evolution of the Adventure is not this pretty trekking suit, but the adoption of the Superduke 's twin: the 990 cm3. Downsized to 98 hp to better suit big-bike trail riding, it allows the Katoche of the open road to switch to fuel injection and add a little more torque. New seat, new turn signals, optional ABS - these are just a few of the little extras that will bring the Adventure little by little closer to the queen of the segment, the BMW R 1200 GS.

test ride :

set at a good cruising speed, the Adventure does as well as the other segment tenors: excellent protection, a much more comfortable seat than the old softwood, a raised torso, a pleasant stance and satisfactory range - the KTM has grand touring values.

And then there's always the end of the road... or rather, the change of scenery. To discover magical places, you often have to take the beaten track or the back road. That's where the big modern trails form 2 teams. The Varadero, Caponord, V-Strom, 1200 GS (to name but a few) express themselves in unison: "Well, we're going to continue on asphalt because... That is... Well, there you go...". Clearly, they're super-strong (sometimes more so) like the KTM on the big ribbons; but as soon as the going gets rocky and adventurous, only the Austrian sets out to conquer the tracks. OK, it's green. So we put ourselves in the TT position, raise our heads (and everything else, too) and set off like the GR 20. Even if the Adventure can't match the lightness of a 450, it lives up to its trail name and performs very well on unsealed roads. The big, smooth, progressive V2 ensures that you don't get a tome when re-accelerating on this tricky terrain. If you really insist on playing, don't forget that there are over 200 kgs to make up for if things go wrong...
2 quintals is relative. At standstill, it feels like it's doing more; on the move, with its thin tires, center-of-gravity layout and engine behavior, the bike feels like it's doing less. Agility quickly becomes apparent, and the Austrian twin knows how to make itself appreciated. At mid-range, the 990 offers more than the old 950, even though its values on paper are virtually the same. In use, this V2 is a real joy, smooth, powerful, easy, available and never vibrating.
What's not to like about the 990? Perhaps the price is a little high, there's no fuel gauge, little space under the seat and a seat height that might put some people off (especially the S version: 89.5 cm). As far as versatility is concerned, this is surely the only big trail that will let you ride at a good pace on the long Corsican national highway from Solenzara to the Agriates desert.

M.B
(Photo credits: KTM - P. Mathis - T. Landrichinger - H. Mitterbauer)