I put this in this forum section to avoid getting advices narrowed down to just one brand (as would be the case in Orange Crush or the BMW fora). Here's the deal: I've been riding a late model 990 adventure since 2009 and although the bike has never let me down, it is getting a bit tired and I plan to retire it after this winter (to avoid riding a brand new bike through all the salt/snow). The obvious decision from my part would be to find another 990 or to get the new 1190 R, but I want to broaden my horizon and see if other good suggestions would pop up. I know it's personal and there are no bad bikes and all, but I still want your advice. My riding is 90% functional commuting and thus street oriented, but I do like to take it further offroad than just a local farm road every once and a while. I used to do some serious single track and dirt riding with the 990. Also, it needs to be able to carry lots of luggage as I like to travel for longer periods and distances. Finally, I do all the wrenching myself, so an easy to maintain bike would be a plus (although I think that after one tackled a full 990 service, anything would seem doable). Let the discussion begin!
I would consider switching from a KTM 990 Adv to a Ducati Multistrada 1200 ST. I would be giving up riding on rough dirt roads, which I rarely do, but on-road behavior would be quite a bit better. I quite like what I can do with a 990 Adv, but the bike has enough flaws that I don't exactly "love" the bike.
Any bike that comes in a hell of a lot lighter than a 990 if you enjoy playing in the dirt. Husqvana TR650 BMW GS650 Suzuki DR650 Kawasaki KLR 650 And the money you would save on buying one of these could be used to fix any and all of their little foibles and farkle seven shades of shit out of it and still come away with enough change to get a hooker and some blow.
Ah, first suggestions are in... Good idea, I honestly didn't think about this. Problem is that I don't have alternative means of transportation and the old one needs to go to fund the new one. It sure looks ok, are the specs known yet? I considered this bike before, but that was when the 1190 Adventure was still in the Austrian womb. Nowadays, I don't see why one would spend cash on the multistrada instead of the 1190. No thanks, I'll pass.
How can a 2009 990 already be a bit tired? I mean what have you got for miles on that thing, 150,000 or something like that? Unless you put a zillion miles, it really shouldn't need to be retired.:huh
This is what I was thinking, having recently gone from a R1200 GS to a 650GS (the single) and I'm loving the ease of the thing. Especially since you mentioned off roading
Fixed! Make your own bike! Buy a cheap low mile XRL and mod it to your liking over the winter. Won't take too much coin to do. Look around the XRL thread for ideas. Gussets go a long ways to beef up the sub frame for heavy Panniers. Don't like the lack of power(compared to your 990)? Contact inmate, "Cycle Wizard". He'll get your heart pumping! Then, get a SUMO set up for it and have the best of both worlds!