KLR vs. KTM 990
Mechanical, sorry for cluttering up your thread, that is still an awesome looking bike. A local buddy of mine is planning on selling his 950 ADV and offered me a test ride. I am not sure what he is asking, and my wife would kill me, but I may go take a look at it.
No worries, hopefully my mindless ramblings will be able to help out.
I'm 6'2" - 235 lbs. - 32" inseam
I'm not really sure how helpful I will be. I haven't really had the chance to ride the 990 very much in the dirt. That being said, I'll just list some things I have found that are different about the bikes, as well as some reasons I switched to the 990. I'll try to keep you updated as the summer progresses.
It is hard to compare these bikes. They are very different approaches to the same problem. The KLR is a very capable budget bike. The 990 is a very capable performance bike. It is sort of like comparing a Honda Civic to a WRX STI. Sure, they both go down the road just fine, the difference is just a function of performance. That's it, both of these bikes will take you to the same place, and you are almost guaranteed to have a smile on your face when you get there, the 990 just has a little more bite.
Some notes about the KLR: My KLR was virtually bone stock. I put a set of Kenda 270's and some handlebar risers on the bike, but that was pretty much it. I know nearly every serious KLR guy is going to revalve/respring the forks, and totally upgrade the rear shock. I didn't do any of these things to mine. The stock 990 suspension is miles ahead of the stock KLR suspension, but I can't really give an honest comparison between a modified KLR vs. the stock 990.
Power - This was the main reason I switched to the 990. You can dump wheelbarrow loads of cash into the KLR, but you can't really do anything to give it a substantial power increase.
KLR power/weight = 35hp/428lb = 0.082
990 power/weight = 104hp/460.8lb = 0.226
These numbers say it all. You are sacrificing 32.8 lbs to gain 69 hp!
Torque - The KLR has a pretty torquey engine. Sometimes I like to be able to "tractor" around, sometimes I like to solve problems by twisting my right hand. The KLR and KTM shine in these areas respectively. The KTM finds torque at a slightly higher rpm. This isn't bad by any means, just different.
Suspension - The 990 has fully adjustable suspension. It is always really nice to be able to easily tune the bike for your riding style. I'm a bigger guy so I stiffened the bike up quite a bit. However, I think I'll still have to put stiffer springs in the forks of the 990. The stock 990 suspension is still miles ahead of the stock KLR suspension. More reviews on the suspension later.
Height - I don't have any problems reaching the ground on the 990. I think the seat is slightly higher than the KLR.
Weight - I can't tell any difference moving from the KLR to the 990. The KTM sits slightly higher, but I think the center of gravity is virtually identical.
$$ - The price difference of the bikes is just the beginning. I just spent $100.00 on 5 Liters of Motorex 10-50 full synthetic. There are cheaper brands of 10-50, but while the bike is under warranty I'm going to run what KTM asks for. Any brand of 10-50 full synthetic was pretty hard for me to find, but I live in the middle of nowhere. The aftermarket for the KLR is substantially cheaper than the aftermarket for the 990.
Street Performance - The 990 feels much more planted in corners. I broke in the bike by riding highways/back roads/interstate. The 990 feels fine at any speed, none of the exciting wobbliness the KLR gets from the beak. Wind/buffeting feel pretty identical.
Dirt Performance - I loved the KLR in the dirt. It was fun, capable, and fairly nimble. I always felt confident on the bike. I can't really give a honest review of the 990 until I get a good set of tires on it. Right now it is just really good a spinning the Pirelli. Barring the crappy tires, the bike feels very well suspended, and feels like it is going to be really fun. I think everyone is right in saying that the KTM is really just a large dirt bike. More on this later.
Maintenance - KLR maintenance was fun... recreational. Oil changes on the 990 are... an endeavor in motorcycle maintenance.
Initial Required Maintenance - This may be trivial, but should still be accounted for. It also may not be an issue if you are buying a used bike, but it seems that nearly every motorcycle has issues off of the showroom floor. KLR "doohickey" is about $140.00. The 990 needs the right hand mirror relocated ~$12.00, and the kickstand relocated ~$90.00 if you don't build the bracket yourself.
Fuel Range - On the KLR I would hit reserve at 185 miles. The fuel light on the 990 comes on between 140-150.
I'm sorry this review is lacking substance. I'll be able to provide something more comprehensive after I spend a summer on the bike.
Hope this helps.