04 950. not smooth?

FINNDIAN · 07-03-2010, 08:33 AM

Is there that much difference in the different years of 950 engines?

I've ridden several other adventure 950's a year or two newer than my 04 Go!! and found them a little smoother feeling engine wise.
Put a little time in the seat of a 07 950sm yesterday and I couldnt' believe the difference in the smoothness, rev happiness and performance of it.
I thought my bike ran well, it's well serviced, carbs just synced but now I'm wondering.
What's the deal I don't really want a new bike, can I get in the engine and make this one run smoother?

Head2Wind · 07-03-2010, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FINNDIAN

Is there that much difference in the different years of 950 engines?

I've ridden several other adventure 950's a year or two newer than my 04 Go!! and found them a little smoother feeling engine wise.
Put a little time in the seat of a 07 950sm yesterday and I couldnt' believe the difference in the smoothness, rev happiness and performance of it.
I thought my bike ran well, it's well serviced, carbs just synced but now I'm wondering.
What's the deal I don't really want a new bike, can I get in the engine and make this one run smoother?

the early engines tend to be "boxes of rocks".... later model engines are definitely more refined, but I have to say that I think that the early engines run harder than say a 05.5 or 06. I just finished up tuning a 07' 990 ADV and the difference between my early 04 and this 07 is substantial, but I still prefer my 04, but its more than just the engine for me. Granted my bike is setup for me and my style and I have spent a bunch of time with it so I know it better. I have to admit that as I was riding the 990 I thought that with a few improvements (brakes, suspension, ergos, EFI mapped correctly, exhaust, tires and ++) to the 990 I could make the change from my 04... but then again, why? At least not until the 04 quits, which I don't suspect will be happening any time soon, its been a solid machine so far.

jamesbrown · 07-03-2010, 09:40 AM

Yeah, they are noisier. There was some valuable info. in Pyn's thread recently. Apparently, his bike runs a lot quieter after fitting some updated parts. I think he mentions the split gear on the balancer shaft of the 990 as one important feature. OTOH, I kinda like a noisy engine (to a point).

FINNDIAN · 07-03-2010, 10:09 AM

ya I don't think I could part with my 04 and the noises don't bother me at all (kinda like my old 68 camaro).
Its just the smooth as butter feeling and rev happiness of the new one that I like. Maybe a 990 engine from a wreck with FCR's fitted in my 04 would be the simplest solution.

Stephen · 07-03-2010, 02:47 PM

I've ridden a few that were newer than my silver one.
Yup, they're smoother. You can tell even on the centerstand.
Didn't seem much different once underway, though.

07-03-2010, 08:33 AM	#1
FINNDIAN ^OP Mine goes to 11 Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Wawa, ont, Canada Oddometer: 1,570	04 950. not smooth? Is there that much difference in the different years of 950 engines? I've ridden several other adventure 950's a year or two newer than my 04 Go!! and found them a little smoother feeling engine wise. Put a little time in the seat of a 07 950sm yesterday and I couldnt' believe the difference in the smoothness, rev happiness and performance of it. I thought my bike ran well, it's well serviced, carbs just synced but now I'm wondering. What's the deal I don't really want a new bike, can I get in the engine and make this one run smoother? __________________ The more side roads you stop to explore, the less likely that life will pass you by. ~Robert Brault. 2004 KTM 950 S GO!!!!(Blacked out),03 Beta Rev3, 1973 Rokon Trailbreaker 2x2 mk3 auto, 1999 Intruder 1500, 05 Ruckus, 90 DRBIG 800, 79 GS850My last location and updates-Ride Reports

07-03-2010, 10:09 AM	#4
FINNDIAN ^OP Mine goes to 11 Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Wawa, ont, Canada Oddometer: 1,570	ya I don't think I could part with my 04 and the noises don't bother me at all (kinda like my old 68 camaro). Its just the smooth as butter feeling and rev happiness of the new one that I like. Maybe a 990 engine from a wreck with FCR's fitted in my 04 would be the simplest solution. __________________ The more side roads you stop to explore, the less likely that life will pass you by. ~Robert Brault. 2004 KTM 950 S GO!!!!(Blacked out),03 Beta Rev3, 1973 Rokon Trailbreaker 2x2 mk3 auto, 1999 Intruder 1500, 05 Ruckus, 90 DRBIG 800, 79 GS850My last location and updates-Ride Reports

07-03-2010, 02:47 PM	#5
Stephen Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2002 Location: Austin, Texas, USA Oddometer: 3,162	I've ridden a few that were newer than my silver one. Yup, they're smoother. You can tell even on the centerstand. Didn't seem much different once underway, though. __________________ Stephen Still for sale: 1988 BMW R100GS saddle: the Bumblebee seat

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07-03-2010, 09:40 AM	#3
jamesbrown Lefty tighty. Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Gone Oddometer: 6,413	Yeah, they are noisier. There was some valuable info. in Pyn's thread recently. Apparently, his bike runs a lot quieter after fitting some updated parts. I think he mentions the split gear on the balancer shaft of the 990 as one important feature. OTOH, I kinda like a noisy engine (to a point).