KTM ADVENTURE 990 R - "The Behemoth in the Real World" review

Everyone knows the KTM 990 Adv is a bit of a beast, videos of pro's thrashing it around desert trails confirm all this. But what's it like for an average rider with only basic off-road skills? I set off into rural Wales to find out!
The jacket I'm wearing in the video is the Solitude by the good folks at ‪@merlinbikegear‬ and jeans by ‪@BullitJeans‬
0:00 Introduction to the KTM Adventure 990 R
0:45 Seat Height Issues
1:12 What's the KTM 990 Adventure R like on the open road?
1:56 The problem with KTM 990's Twin Tanks
2:50 Back roads
3:35 Greenlaning on the KTM 990 Adventure R
6:17 KTM Adventure R snatchy injector issues catches me out
6:37 Dropping the KTM 990 R
7:30 990 ADV size and looks
8:18 My conclusion on the KTM 990 Adventure R

[@seanfrench1029]

Great video. Lovely scenery and trails perfect for the 990. I've had a 990 S for 12 yrs now through thick & thin. Despite many other nice bikes to choose from in this sector, currently, there's no replacement for mine. Plan to ride it for as long as it lasts.

[@bigberthaontour]

Seems most people thing they're keepers...I've got the feeling mine will be!

[@teb800]

Good to read your thoughts, @seanfrench1029.. I just got a 2013 990 Adventure R with 30,000kms on the clock and I reckon I'm done shopping for an ADV. :) Ride Swift, Ride Safe, brother!

[@C_R_O_M________]

@@bigberthaontour I've had a 2009 ABS white since new which I converted to an R with the R suspension and the R map. I kept it until it had 110K kms. and sold it because there was something wrong with the engine. The guy who bought it rebuilt it and sold it for a lot more than he got it from me (it did have a partially melted rear piston probably because of a wideband failure as a set with the PCV that was on the bike) . I'm now on the market for another one. I was looking for the alternatives but unless I see a higher powered Tenere 700 or I'll wait for a cheaper 2024 (the updated model) used AT, I am going to be staying with the 990. She is still very relevant, ticking all the boxes, 21 years after the first 950 back in 2003! P.S. Lower tire pressures off road. That was the biggest reason you couldn't find traction at the slippery part where you dropped her. That and slipping the clutch. Having said that, she doesn't like the slow stuff on account of her rally heritage and a quite lightweight flywheel. She'll try to stall on you in the slow tricky stuff.

[@laurensthomas6406]

This is the shortest 10 minute video on youtube so far, love your review Owen! It didn't convince me to sell my airhead though :D

[@bigberthaontour]

Cheers Laurens, looking forward to guiding you guys around the trails in January!

[@plattenschielerlp7796]

I drive a 990 Adventure Blue with 116 HP and LOVE it :)

[@samb91a]

Great review mate. They are big they are angry but they put the biggest smile on your face 👌

[@bigberthaontour]

Cheers Sam, thanks for your advice buying it!

[@adaptableadventurerider]

Brilliant video always wondered what the 990 was like thanks for sharing 👍

[@bigberthaontour]

Cheers mate, looking forward to watching your 1150 review…no question that is the bike that got me into motorbikes when Ewan and Charlie took them round the world!

[@adaptableadventurerider]

@@bigberthaontour thanks mate snap :) yep once I've got a few more miles on her I'll deffo have to do a review on her :) just so relieved to be riding an have her fixed now 👍

[@LassesGlasskiosk]

Great video! love that bike :)

[@JamesJohnson-ov5ct]

Thank you for this review. The 950/990 has been a dream bike for a long time. It’s wonderful to hear someone talk about its character and how that translates into riding enjoyment.

[@bigberthaontour]

Glad you enjoyed it. A month or so later I can still vouch for the bike! It’s a big lump and not the most refined but worth all the effort for the smiles!

[@philiplaurell1163]

As the video clearly shows, the bike is rather unduitable for that kind of riding. Although his mouth keep saying it’s alright, when it clearly isn’t. Throttle on these is horribly jerky. If anything get the 950. At least it’s carburated. But before you go out and buy one, test ride the 790…

[@joeyoungexplores]

Great vid. Loved the edits. I have not yet taken mine off road abit nervous as im 5,7 lol. Great content keep it coming 👊👊

[@bigberthaontour]

I was nervous at 6’3”! Tallest bike I’ve ever ridden. Are there any good mods to get the seat height down!

[@joeyoungexplores]

@@bigberthaontour I have the normie version of the 990 so travel is a little less so its not to bad one foot down lol. Lowering mods … different seat , drop two inches of the forks and thats about it I think.

[@lijkie1]

AWESOME STUF! really nice and good video. You make great content. But I do recommend that you get a better mic for in your helmet. It was for me almost impossible to understand what you where saying on the highway. Other then that. Absolutely awesome, keep doing what you're doing.

[@bigberthaontour]

Thanks watching for the feedback, yeah the audios not great on that section, must remember to slow down a bit if I’m going to do talking. The Cardo’s are used a lot by filmers and others seem to get great results so perhaps i need to play with the settings

[@danregan6588]

Great video 👍👍

[@Karodrinker]

Epic vid! I ride a 2011 Dakar version, I completely agree with your sentiments here. At first it was intimidating and twitchy, but holy smokes it’s fun on fire roads. It also feels bad ass riding a dirtbike on the highway going as fast as you want. Love my 990.

[@bigberthaontour]

Awesome, I’m on a trip to Turkey from Wales at the moment. It’s just been the right bike for every scenario…twisty mountain roads, motorway, TET trails, does them all!

[@oathsworn9426]

If you haven’t already take it to BSD tuning for a remap, it will make it a lot sweeter to ride a slow speed by eliminating the snatchy on off throttle with the fuel injection, just better performance and a little better fuel economy 🤞 but that’s always the trade off with the grin each time you twist that throttle . Also if you get the suspension set up to you and your riding it will make a big difference, I used Lee at RG3 again big difference in performance. Yes they have issues, but doesn’t every bike. But few can have the character of these and share the same history. Hope you’ll enjoy her as much as I’ve enjoyed mine ❤👊😎

[@bigberthaontour]

Cheers for the info! Yep no bike is perfect for a rider out of the box (unless you were the test rider!)

[@daoudik]

2008 KTM 990 Adv owner here. For me this is the ultimate 50/50 bike. I know a lot of riders talk about unicorns, but this is I bike I would feel confident taking anywhere in the world (just update the regulator/rectifier!).

[@RupertUtley]

I rode around the world on this bike (2010-2012) - awesome bike.

[@francodimaio2870]

Great video. I also have the 990 adventure. Have ridden it for a year. Did allot of trails and greenlanes. Enjoyed riding it..but its way to big for me. I think a 690 enduro will make my life a bit easier.

[@64faffi]

Good to know I am not the only one thinking that classically styled motorcycles fit so much better in nature than the angular, alien insect shapes of many modern-ish bikes. Probably because of the more organic shapes of classic bikes.

[@bigberthaontour]

I don't even know what I'd do with a 790, those things don't look nice from any angle!

[@ukaszusielski3606]

@@bigberthaontour swap for Husky 901 expedition

[@bigberthaontour]

@@ukaszusielski3606 great looking bike, can’t afford it! 🤣

[@pmfilmsUK]

Fantastic

[@carlosmurgelcddr.1418]

I love my 990 Adventure!

[@richtucker857]

Could you confirm your location for your video I couldn't make it out?? Great content I really enjoyed it all.

[@arjanvanraaij8440]

Stering into corners onroad get alot better if the frontsprings replaced by a nodge stiffer springs. That is the only mod I did.

[@rorybamford4670]

Excellent video Owen, still prefer you scratching your knee on Pembrey with me but I dig the new look 😎

[@bigberthaontour]

We need to get some r6’s, I’m still keen!

[@rorybamford4670]

@@bigberthaontour only things I have left affiliated with motorbikes are 3 AGV helmets and 3 pairs of FIVE race gloves😂😂. Some additional necessities are required 😟

[@vossi6177]

yery well done !!!!!!

[@TubbyTrialTeam]

I feel your pain picking them up. Nicely shot as usual and well put together content. Are you racing it at valleys lite this year?

[@bigberthaontour]

Yep, no more novelty retro bike, I’m out of excuses! You?

[@TubbyTrialTeam]

@@bigberthaontour ah great stuff yeah I’m going back to have a go I’m still on the 950 so fingers crossed 🤞🏻

[@bigberthaontour]

@@TubbyTrialTeam tidy, I think you were the first people to bring 950/990s to my attention…been intrigued ever since!

[@TubbyTrialTeam]

@@bigberthaontour ah fantastic glad I could help haha!

[@Aonexia]

I owned on in 2011! It was a blast!!!!

[@Aonexia]

It is quite literally a "Dirt Bike" on Steroids; trying to pretend that its well mannered on asphalt. That sounds it up! Power and fun in the dirt, and so light in weight.

[@Mattygonemad]

I traded my 2007 990 adventure S in for the new 2023 890 Adventure R and while I love the 890... there was just something about that 990 that will always draw me to them.

[@bigberthaontour]

890s are definitely the ultimate off-road weapon now, you’ll have fun with that :-)

[@geronimomadmartin3499]

I wonder if my 5'-8" self can fit on this bike, it's on my bucket list and I'm thinking of looking for one soon.

[@bigberthaontour]

I have seen someone your height ride my bike, but he was Serbian Hard Enduro champion! The non S or R versions aren’t as tall so might be a better option

[@touchingthecloth]

Excellent video Owen. Really admire the absence of ego, showing the falls (both). I love the look and sound o that bike, but at 5' 7" i'd need a set o steps to climb aboard! Weirdly enough my 1250 te is very manageable to a short arse and when i drop it (often, off rd) it never goes flat due to the pots. Rusty nuts'll be sad, if you've shifted the Beemer.....surely not!? Would you be open to showing me some o those Welsh trails some time? They look almost doable! 😆🙄

[@bigberthaontour]

Rusty nuts isn’t sad at all, he’s happy to take the piss out of my ridiculous ktm any opportunity he gets

[@bigberthaontour]

Btw yep always open for spin as long as it’s midweek!

[@rustynuts82]

When he’s finished growing up he’ll regret flogging the beemer. I expect the KTM phase will last slightly longer than the V85TT love affair which won’t be too difficult! Sand raiders next year Owen?

[@bigberthaontour]

I would regret selling it if someone was actually buying it. Maybe having a bunch of videos of me battering it on KZbin isn’t helping!

[@touchingthecloth]

Thanks, I'll be in touch if it ever gets above freezing and stops raining for a couple o days!@@bigberthaontour

[@christosktm5624]

Great video!!!I have exactly the same bike.can you tell me what jacket you wear ?

[@bigberthaontour]

Glad you like it. Jacket is the Merlin Solitude, my one is a one-off preproduction model so can’t get it in those colours but the other colour ways are nice too

[@christosktm5624]

@@bigberthaontour thanks a lot!

[@nick4506]

early fuel injection is indeed ass. there are tunes that remove the off throttle fuel cut so it cracks open smother, or get the carbs from the old 950

[@bigberthaontour]

I do love a carb bike…I just didn’t want to buy anything too old! Getting used to it with time anyway!

[@guitarcarfanatic]

I've watched this a couple times now - as I currently ponder a replacement for my Tiger 1200...but I have just twigged you said "old bike" when referring to Big Bertha! Does that mean she has been sold?! :D

[@bigberthaontour]

Bertha long gone, orange everywhere now

[@guitarcarfanatic]

@@bigberthaontour ROAR! :D

[@garrysmith6592]

Great vid, you are a brave man in those conditions, more suitable tyes would transform your experience. I have a 2012 normal suspension 990 after several 950 s versions, its a lot easier.

[@bigberthaontour]

Always a tricky one with tyres. I use it a lot on the road too so I end up with something that’s a bit crap at both 🤣 to be fair the TKC80 have been fine with most off-roading I’ve done on the bike, just winter mud they struggle with

[@ronanrogers4127]

@@bigberthaontourif available in the UK try Motoz Tractionator, I had them on my 1290SA and they have excellent grip plus I got almost 10k km on the rear. Motoz has some more aggressive tyres, but they’re generally designed for hard pack and desert, not so much wet. For highway and off-road the Tractionator is hard to beat

[@bigberthaontour]

@ronanrogers4127 your second person to recommend those…must be good! If your getting 10,000km then they will be useful for my tour later this year

[@finnsxc3610]

I have -08 950 Superenduro R , most fun of 20-bikes that i ever owned ! I is like a puppy that just want to jump all the time…whispers to you all the time : wheelie a litlle , spin tyre on roundabout, grawel make mess hunred meter :) , go to this path,, yes go on , its illegal ,yeah go on :) I use coarse gravel and motocross tyres and 1500 km max rear tyre is shot , tank of fuel 150 km so you need to know where nearest station is 9l/100 km is norm…

[@bigberthaontour]

Cool, sounds expensive on fuel and tyres but entirely worth it! I’d love to try the Superenduro version one day, bet it’s an absolute hooligan!

[@juancorrea7396]

Ese perro 😍

[@lorenzomasia9024]

not an easy bike. I have it since two years and she wants respect. She does not forgive...but she is mechanical monster that makes you feel the road...the worse the weather the more you want to ride with her ....

[@jonasbaine3538]

Usually after the 3rd drop I start thinking 'are we having fun yet?' 🙂

[@bigberthaontour]

Haha, the third drop was off camera!

[@robertbotoole]

The R80 G/S is a magnificent bike. Best not think about the KTM.

[@jamesgibson8004]

You need a trip to BSD Performance they will sort out the fuelling!!

[@bigberthaontour]

I’ve heard they’re very good, unfortunately a long way from Pembrokeshire! In the meantime I’ve turned off the oxygen sensor and it’s buttery smooth now, big improvement

[@inked-96]

How reliable were the 990's?

[@bigberthaontour]

I don't think I've had mine long enough to answer that question fully...but the general consensus from forums is that they are very reliable with an owner who knows that to look out for and maintain.

[@RupertUtley]

Very - just look after fuel pump and filters - and if you need to do big distances - look after chain

[@bigberthaontour]

@@RupertUtley that’s amazing that you went round the world on it. Setting off for Turkey from Wales in spring. What can I do to look after the fuel pump?

[@tubeme4vr]

990s are amazing... But not super fun for the average rider when you go to the muddy greasy Wales TET

[@bigberthaontour]

It’s been a steep learning curve…but it’s worth the effort!

[@philiplaurell1163]

I had the 990 SMT. Jerkiest throttle I ever experienced on a bike. Totally unsuitable for off road. Also it was the thirstiest bike I ever owned. Mine had trouble consuming less than 0.7l per every 10th km. Also way too heavy for this kind of thing. And he’s sporting hard cases. Not ideal for the kind of riding he did in the clip

[@bigberthaontour]

Hard cases full of heavy camera gear...tough day on the trails! With time I've learnt the bike is incredible capable off road, just needs time to master (not that I have mastered it, but definitely better than before!). Throttle jerkiness comes as standard with many of these, mapping and O2 sensor delete has helped mine massively

[@geslerecoutaye8529]

i have an adventure r i m 1m70 60 kg it 's like a big bike but i put a white spring on it s better my friend

[@bigberthaontour]

Which white spring did you put on, my rear shock is looking pretty corroded so it’d be nice to replace it at some point

[@BN1960]

Nice Bigger Bertha On Tour?

[@bigberthaontour]

Haha, funnily enough I actually had a finisher of "meet Bigger Bertha" at the end but decided against it!

[@BN1960]

@@bigberthaontour Got to be I think 😁

[@santiszibergs1116]

1) this is one of the motorcycles where the only limiting factor is the rider! And to soft suspension if you are good rider. 2) real consumption is from 7+ liters per 100km, reserve turns on at 210-230km, on reserve you can take 40-60km 3) the sprockets ratio is very important for this motorcycle, at least 16:42 or 17:45, if a lot of offroad, then 16:45 4) jerky throttle is only if you are a slow driver and drive too slowly, this bike is designed for speed 5) I wouldn't say that the motorcycle is too big, it is very well balanced, the weight disappears as if it were moving. Of course, this motorcycle is not for short people 😀

[@bigberthaontour]

3) Thanks for the sprocket info, I’ll give some of those combos a go! 4-5) I will enjoy learning to ride it properly!

[@santiszibergs1116]

@@bigberthaontour the more you ride that motorcycle and the faster you get, the more you will understand why riders like it so much 🤟

[@cartaun5276]

42.5 MPG? is that for real?

[@bigberthaontour]

I think I might have overestimated it, it’s probably less 🤣

[@sjtheroadshenanigansofabri6631]

Awww say it ain't so 😢😢 you haven't got rid of BIG BERTHA?

[@bigberthaontour]

It's off to Portugal for a new life in the sun!

[@gbner9991]

still one of the best looking adv bikes to date

[@bigberthaontour]

No doubt, I love how it looks…just a photographers nightmare when it comes to travel snaps 🤣

[@alejandroesteves8903]

how about leaving the luggage home!?

[@bigberthaontour]

Genius idea, although filming could be difficult without any equipment 🤷

[@jasongarcia7544]

Tanks should hold 22 litres which should get 400-500kms.

[@bigberthaontour]

Oh, my fuel light comes on at 130 miles...maybe I've got a hole in it!

[@lorenzomasia9024]

@@bigberthaontour same same for me 250Km...she drinks a lot

[@kaparos14]

you cannot really imagine what a machine it is untill you actually ride one. After many many years of wanting one of those i sold my 2017 1200 gs adventure and bought a 2007 990 adv, i can tell you that was the best decision ever! It is angry, capable beyond imagination on and off road and it is for sure that dumbass friend that always tries to get both of you killed but gives you at the same time the best time of your life! A MOTORBIKE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!

[@bigberthaontour]

That’s an excellent description!

[@jamesstutler5713]

Nothing complicated about the machine it's basic nuts and bolts buy a manual read over it . I aswell own a 2010R as well other bikes but if I'm having a bad day it's the first machine I go to it never disappoints in doing its job, it will always have a home in my garage .

[@bigberthaontour]

I’m sure I’ll be fine, I’m just used to an 80s BMW where the valves can be checked and adjusted in 15 minutes!

[@jamesstutler5713]

@bigberthaontour I will give a recommendation the Rottweiler glove box or the others quick release bracket helps to shave time off of disassemble and get rid of factory air box 📦 I run the triple clamp moto unit its a solid design those 2 alone make make maintenance a breeze . Last thing tune ecu software is your friend the old software "cd" is best but new version is good for Diag purposes. Looking forward for more videos from you! James from Ohio

[@gw2shibarashi674]

it comes with a lot of problems...

[@leslieaustin151]

You fickle lover! Poor Big Bertha, have you sold her? Is she pensioned off to rot in the shed? Is she destined to be ridden endlessly from Starbucks to Starbucks by some pretend off-road adventurer? KTM does look like heaps of fun though. Les

[@bigberthaontour]

Up for sale! No ones bought it yet tho so maybe I’m stuck with it!

[@mrflores7708]

Ah, shame Bertha's gone, only reason to watch the channel. Yours, Unsubscribing, I'm afraid, good luck for the future.

[@bigberthaontour]

I should’ve probably passed the channel over to the new owner!

[@MrPaulreddick]

I have 07 990 for a long time now, snatchy fuel injection is the only real negative and comes into play if your an average rider who wants to take it slower on the rough stuff - would be interested in trying an 06 for the carb

[@bigberthaontour]

I found the G2 Cam throttle tube helped massively for slow speed riding, plus a ECU remap by a garage did wonders.