How to Finely Farkle Your 990 Adventure

fastcat · 02-03-2011, 06:37 PM

As some of you are aware, last summer I began a post called Ride Eastern Oregon. Then, in July I was struck by a deer on Hwy 395, and my bike and I have both been out of commission for awhile. Many of my suppliers of exotic KTM 990 parts were most helpful in the rehabilitation of my beloved '07 990 Adventure. For the next couple of weeks I'll be posting photos and reviewing the products that I used to restore my baby to better-than-new condition.

Those of you who have visited the BearCat Lodge and have seen or ridden my bikes know I'm a performance and technology junkie. Ever since I purchased my personal 990 in early '08 I have endeavored to create the ultimate dual sport tourer. And although nothing is ever perfect, this bike has given me 35,000 miles of pure trouble-free adrenaline rush joy.

Some of the new products I've added to the bike since we tangled with Bambi have taken the bike and my riding experience to yet another level. With the exception of Craig Johnson's all-wheel-drive 950 S, I have to say that my 990 is probably one of the most completely farkled adventure bikes out there. I look forward to your comments, input and questions on the posts that I'll be placing in the coming weeks. Unless global warming gives us some surprising weather and I get to ride, which is doubtful to the max, I'll have plenty of time to respond daily to your posts or questions. And if any of you ADV junkies have found other interesting stuff for our orange addiction, don't hesitate to jump in and share. By-the-way, we'll be stocking all of the items we review in this forum at the BearCat Lodge.

The first item I'd like to talk about are the new levers I received from FPRacing. Pre-accident I was running a mixture of stock and Brembo levers, but I couldn't find a matched pair with the adjustability I was looking for. There just aren't many adjustable lever sets available for the 990 Adventure. After I contacted FPRacing, they sent me a pair of their new ultra trick fully adjustable billet levers with detent on both clutch and brake. The detent feature is nicely done. It's very tight, to keep the levers from becoming floppy or loose from wear, and its precise adjustability allows the rider to put the lever in the perfect position for his or her hand size and comfort.

The levers have another wonderful feature that will save many asses. When you flop your ride, the lever simply snaps out of the way to prevent it from breaking off. What a cool feature! With a good impact they relocate themselves up or down, saving you from having to make a costly replacement or being stranded in some remote location with nothing but a nub to work with.

The quality of workmanship on these levers is beyond reproach. They are not only ergonomically designed and precisely made, they are manufactured with such careful attention to detail that you could call them motorcycle art. The installation was super quick and they fit perfectly. I had both levers on the bike and adjusted to my preference in under ten minutes. So many things that we purchase for our motorcycles any more are one size fits all--with modifications. The FP levers are an exception to that unfortunate trend, and I'm sure they will give me and anyone else who chooses them many thousands of miles of trouble free service. FPRacing offers the levers in a variety of different color combinations and their anodized finish has the deep luster and quality appearance you only find in top quality products. Check out their products on their website: http://www.fpracingusa.com

Check back tomorrow, as I'll be telling you about the new Fasst Company Flexx handlebars--you're gonna like this! Meanwhile, here are pics of the FPRacing levers, on my bike.

Fastcat

jay71 · 02-03-2011, 07:55 PM

I've been hoping someone would be the guinea pig for those levers; they are next on my farkle list! Are those the short or the long levers?

fastcat · 02-03-2011, 08:06 PM

They were at the time of shipping the only option and they could not be any longer and work with hand guards.

mtb_man · 02-03-2011, 11:13 PM

I like those levers, but what's the point of the pivoting lever if you're running hand guards? I see the point on a road bike, but you'd have to very unlucky to break a lever with hand guards on.

I'm also curious why a highly farkled machine like yours still has the mirror attached to the brake reservoir? Given it's a known weak spot, isn't that's just asking for trouble (especially when the KTM clamp relocater bracket is about $9)?

Looking forward to your next reviews.

Just Paul · 02-04-2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtb_man

I like those levers, but what's the point of the pivoting lever if you're running hand guards? I see the point on a road bike, but you'd have to very unlucky to break a lever with hand guards on.

I'm also curious why a highly farkled machine like yours still has the mirror attached to the brake reservoir? Given it's a known weak spot, isn't that's just asking for trouble (especially when the KTM clamp relocater bracket is about $9)?

Looking forward to your next reviews.

I broke a lever with Hand Guards on.. I crashed so hard I bent the guards down and then the level snapped...
Nice levers BTW !

motorzen · 02-04-2011, 01:10 AM

Hmmm... are you trying to make a case for me to ride out your way to check out farkles? I do need a Spot Connect thingymabob and these levers look pretty fancy.

Now, where'd I put that Don Julio 1942, and how should I pack it on the bike?

AdvRat · 02-04-2011, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastcat

They were at the time of shipping the only option and they could not be any longer and work with hand guards.

So... they are the shorty levers? Are they the Sport or Tactical ones? It's the Tactical ones that bend - correct?

fastcat · 02-04-2011, 03:01 PM

First, In my encounter with bambi I broke both hand guards the brake lever and buggered the clutch lever. I also broke one mirror. I run supermoto mirrors and do a fair bit of pavement so no I haven't change the mounting system yet , could be the next up grade. As for visiting the lodge, all patrons carrying Don Julio 1942 are welcome! And may even receive special treatment!

The levers are not short; they are standard length.

Now, on to the next post.

fastcat · 02-04-2011, 03:38 PM

When the Fasst Company guys sent me their new Flexx handlebars a few months back, I was remiss--I didn't get them on my bike immediately. When I finally put them on, I realized at once that the are a vast improvement over the stock Renthal bars. The Fasst bars finally give me the additional height I needed so I can stand comfortably for hours on my CJ Designs foot pegs.

The bars came with harder compound bushings installed and after riding with those for several days, I changed to the softest combination from the bag of accessories that comes with the product.

The bars come with a foam pad for the center section, but since I wear a full-face Shoei Sonora helmet I removed the pad to give me a better view of my gauges. Although the boys at Fasst Company told me they were sending a set of bars that would mirror the bend of my stock Renthals, I found the new bars to be in a completely different position. I adapted quickly and now find the new riding position much more comfortable than the stock bars had allowed in the past. With the Flexx suspension I can now ride rough terrain for greater distances before fatigue, and I require much less Ibuprofen for my achy hands and wrists at the end of the day.

The quality of workmanship in the build of these impressive bars is first class. I didn't find the same attention to detail in the hand guards that were supposedly made specifically to fit these bars; however, the hand guards are made by another company, whose name I won't mention, and I found their workmanship to be lacking.

The only challenge I encountered with the new bars was figuring out how to mount all of my electronics. Cables, perches, and reservoirs all fit nicely in the space allowed and electrical lengths were not a problem. To accommodate my radar detector I bought a 1/4 inch ball mount from RAM Line and drilled and tapped into the handlebar flare for a clean installation. I believe I'll do the same on the other side for my SPOT. Not much else to say about the product, except I don't think I'll ever own another motorcycle without these bars! And the guys at Fasst Company are terrific to deal with. Here's their website: http://www.fasstco.com

Tomorrow, CJ Designs.

fastcat

Here are the bars:

Dualsport Crazy · 02-15-2011, 12:12 PM

Hi Fastcat....

I'm looking into getting these levers for my bike. Would like to know if you got the short or the standard size levers since they come in two sizes.

Thanks

cjracer · 02-15-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dualsport Crazy

Hi Fastcat....

I'm looking into getting these levers for my bike. Would like to know if you got the short or the standard size levers since they come in two sizes.

Thanks

My guess is they are the SHORT.

You'd want the SHORT if you run hand guards. The Short are about the same size as the OEM KTM levers. The Long would be too long, IMO.

cjracer · 02-15-2011, 12:29 PM

Great info JW. Keep it up.

Deadly99 · 02-15-2011, 04:21 PM

Dualsport Crazy · 02-16-2011, 08:28 AM

Thanks for the great info CJ Racer.....

Glad I checked before I ordered my set or else I would have been pretty disappointed

DireWolf · 02-28-2011, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastcat

With the exception of Craig Johnson's all-wheel-drive 950 S, I have to say that my 990 is probably one of the most completely farkled adventure bikes out there. I look forward to your comments, input and questions on the posts that I'll be placing in the coming weeks.

My question:

Have you ever taken that blingy bike anywhere, or is all that just for show?

02-03-2011, 06:37 PM	#1
fastcat ^OP fastcat Joined: Aug 2008 Location: bearcat lodge.com Oddometer: 96	How to Finely Farkle Your 990 Adventure As some of you are aware, last summer I began a post called Ride Eastern Oregon. Then, in July I was struck by a deer on Hwy 395, and my bike and I have both been out of commission for awhile. Many of my suppliers of exotic KTM 990 parts were most helpful in the rehabilitation of my beloved '07 990 Adventure. For the next couple of weeks I'll be posting photos and reviewing the products that I used to restore my baby to better-than-new condition. Those of you who have visited the BearCat Lodge and have seen or ridden my bikes know I'm a performance and technology junkie. Ever since I purchased my personal 990 in early '08 I have endeavored to create the ultimate dual sport tourer. And although nothing is ever perfect, this bike has given me 35,000 miles of pure trouble-free adrenaline rush joy. Some of the new products I've added to the bike since we tangled with Bambi have taken the bike and my riding experience to yet another level. With the exception of Craig Johnson's all-wheel-drive 950 S, I have to say that my 990 is probably one of the most completely farkled adventure bikes out there. I look forward to your comments, input and questions on the posts that I'll be placing in the coming weeks. Unless global warming gives us some surprising weather and I get to ride, which is doubtful to the max, I'll have plenty of time to respond daily to your posts or questions. And if any of you ADV junkies have found other interesting stuff for our orange addiction, don't hesitate to jump in and share. By-the-way, we'll be stocking all of the items we review in this forum at the BearCat Lodge. The first item I'd like to talk about are the new levers I received from FPRacing. Pre-accident I was running a mixture of stock and Brembo levers, but I couldn't find a matched pair with the adjustability I was looking for. There just aren't many adjustable lever sets available for the 990 Adventure. After I contacted FPRacing, they sent me a pair of their new ultra trick fully adjustable billet levers with detent on both clutch and brake. The detent feature is nicely done. It's very tight, to keep the levers from becoming floppy or loose from wear, and its precise adjustability allows the rider to put the lever in the perfect position for his or her hand size and comfort. The levers have another wonderful feature that will save many asses. When you flop your ride, the lever simply snaps out of the way to prevent it from breaking off. What a cool feature! With a good impact they relocate themselves up or down, saving you from having to make a costly replacement or being stranded in some remote location with nothing but a nub to work with. The quality of workmanship on these levers is beyond reproach. They are not only ergonomically designed and precisely made, they are manufactured with such careful attention to detail that you could call them motorcycle art. The installation was super quick and they fit perfectly. I had both levers on the bike and adjusted to my preference in under ten minutes. So many things that we purchase for our motorcycles any more are one size fits all--with modifications. The FP levers are an exception to that unfortunate trend, and I'm sure they will give me and anyone else who chooses them many thousands of miles of trouble free service. FPRacing offers the levers in a variety of different color combinations and their anodized finish has the deep luster and quality appearance you only find in top quality products. Check out their products on their website: http://www.fpracingusa.com Check back tomorrow, as I'll be telling you about the new Fasst Company Flexx handlebars--you're gonna like this! Meanwhile, here are pics of the FPRacing levers, on my bike. Fastcat

02-03-2011, 07:55 PM	#2
jay71 Farklin' Poser Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Asheville, NC Oddometer: 315	I've been hoping someone would be the guinea pig for those levers; they are next on my farkle list! Are those the short or the long levers? __________________ 2006 KTM 950 Adventure

02-03-2011, 08:06 PM	#3
fastcat ^OP fastcat Joined: Aug 2008 Location: bearcat lodge.com Oddometer: 96	the long and the short of it........ They were at the time of shipping the only option and they could not be any longer and work with hand guards.

02-03-2011, 11:13 PM	#4
mtb_man Unfettered Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Canberra, AUS Oddometer: 171	I like those levers, but what's the point of the pivoting lever if you're running hand guards? I see the point on a road bike, but you'd have to very unlucky to break a lever with hand guards on. I'm also curious why a highly farkled machine like yours still has the mirror attached to the brake reservoir? Given it's a known weak spot, isn't that's just asking for trouble (especially when the KTM clamp relocater bracket is about $9)? Looking forward to your next reviews. __________________ 04 KTM 950 ADV 08 KTM RC8 Gone but not forgotten: 06 KTM Super Duke, 05 Kawasaki ZX636, 05 Suzuki DR650 When you are great, candor is often perceived as arrogance.

02-04-2011, 01:10 AM	#6
motorzen Internet Antagonist Joined: Mar 2007 Location: seattle Oddometer: 114	Hmmm... are you trying to make a case for me to ride out your way to check out farkles? I do need a Spot Connect thingymabob and these levers look pretty fancy. Now, where'd I put that Don Julio 1942, and how should I pack it on the bike? __________________ KIVA.ORG TEAM ADVrider >>> Motorcyclists helping motorcyclists with microloans around the world

02-04-2011, 03:01 PM	#8
fastcat ^OP fastcat Joined: Aug 2008 Location: bearcat lodge.com Oddometer: 96	questions First, In my encounter with bambi I broke both hand guards the brake lever and buggered the clutch lever. I also broke one mirror. I run supermoto mirrors and do a fair bit of pavement so no I haven't change the mounting system yet , could be the next up grade. As for visiting the lodge, all patrons carrying Don Julio 1942 are welcome! And may even receive special treatment! The levers are not short; they are standard length. Now, on to the next post.

02-04-2011, 03:38 PM	#9
fastcat ^OP fastcat Joined: Aug 2008 Location: bearcat lodge.com Oddometer: 96	Fasst Company Flexx Handlebars When the Fasst Company guys sent me their new Flexx handlebars a few months back, I was remiss--I didn't get them on my bike immediately. When I finally put them on, I realized at once that the are a vast improvement over the stock Renthal bars. The Fasst bars finally give me the additional height I needed so I can stand comfortably for hours on my CJ Designs foot pegs. The bars came with harder compound bushings installed and after riding with those for several days, I changed to the softest combination from the bag of accessories that comes with the product. The bars come with a foam pad for the center section, but since I wear a full-face Shoei Sonora helmet I removed the pad to give me a better view of my gauges. Although the boys at Fasst Company told me they were sending a set of bars that would mirror the bend of my stock Renthals, I found the new bars to be in a completely different position. I adapted quickly and now find the new riding position much more comfortable than the stock bars had allowed in the past. With the Flexx suspension I can now ride rough terrain for greater distances before fatigue, and I require much less Ibuprofen for my achy hands and wrists at the end of the day. The quality of workmanship in the build of these impressive bars is first class. I didn't find the same attention to detail in the hand guards that were supposedly made specifically to fit these bars; however, the hand guards are made by another company, whose name I won't mention, and I found their workmanship to be lacking. The only challenge I encountered with the new bars was figuring out how to mount all of my electronics. Cables, perches, and reservoirs all fit nicely in the space allowed and electrical lengths were not a problem. To accommodate my radar detector I bought a 1/4 inch ball mount from RAM Line and drilled and tapped into the handlebar flare for a clean installation. I believe I'll do the same on the other side for my SPOT. Not much else to say about the product, except I don't think I'll ever own another motorcycle without these bars! And the guys at Fasst Company are terrific to deal with. Here's their website: http://www.fasstco.com Tomorrow, CJ Designs. fastcat Here are the bars: fastcat screwed with this post 02-04-2011 at 04:10 PM

02-15-2011, 12:12 PM	#10
Dualsport Crazy 2010 KTM 990R ADV Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Canada Oddometer: 63	Hi Fastcat.... I'm looking into getting these levers for my bike. Would like to know if you got the short or the standard size levers since they come in two sizes. Thanks

02-15-2011, 12:29 PM	#12
cjracer AWD please!! Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Mukwonago, WI Oddometer: 3,867	Great info JW. Keep it up. __________________ My 2006 950S thread. 2006 950s update New product updates here! Wordpress BLOG click www.cjdesignsllc.com for the full line of products. www.outriderjournal.com FREE STUFF!!

02-15-2011, 04:21 PM	#13
Deadly99 Fast and Far Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Merrickville, Canada Oddometer: 6,882	__________________ *www.GravelTravel.ca Canadas Source For Overland Routes* Tales From The Bivouac Rally Print Publications *TCAT Trans Canadian Adventure Trail 15, 000 km GPS route across Canada*

02-16-2011, 08:28 AM	#14
Dualsport Crazy 2010 KTM 990R ADV Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Canada Oddometer: 63	Thanks for the great info CJ Racer..... Glad I checked before I ordered my set or else I would have been pretty disappointed

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