Excellent video ! One of the best reviews I have seen on you tube or anywhere else for that matter. A job well done to Michael and his production crew.
Not a great review. He just spoke mainly about optional extras and prices. I wanted to hear about: the reported lumpy fueling of the FI at low revs, oil change intervals, service costs, how easy to do valve checks and adjustments, standard tires and options, pillion comfort, filtering in city traffic, over heating issues in slow traffic. Yes, he mentioned the stock seat being uncomfortable.
+TS50ER, here's my 7,000 mile review, and I don't even own one: - The cam chain tensioners are not robust. If you hear a clatter when first starting the bike, replace. They are cheap, but can ultimately cause big damage if left unattended - These bikes have dry sumps, check the oil level when the bike is hot, not cold, otherwise you may overfill. -The water-pump shaft seal is a bit of an achilles heel. Keep an eye out for any sign of water in the oil. - The spokes are prone to rust. The chrome plating on them doesn't last.
This was another FANTASTIC review.... Why is it that in the States reviews like this falls short of a cartoon. MCN, your editorial staff Rock's! From America... your staff Rule's! To Michael: You Rock!!! :)
Looking for an Adventure Touring Bike but gotta cross the KTM off the list early. As a shorter rider the seat height at 880 mm is just way too tall. Even the big BMW 1200 GS can frame lower to 790mm. The 798cc F650 GS can drop to 765.
Great review nicely presented! I test rode the 950 and it was superb, but ended up with a BMW because of access to dealership and possible resale issues.....i'm on my third BMW and still lust for the KTM, but still need a dealer on the doorstep,boring but true, as I was doing 15to 20k a year at the decision time.
Do you own one? I'm thinking of getting one. My last bike was a Multistrada 1000SDS and I liked it but wanted a change and don't want a GS (not yet at least - maybe when Im 50!)
at the end of the day it all comes down to personal likings i like your review a lot - still there's some things i dont like with ktms (owning one) - especially the (very) high inspection costs at 15.000 km intervalls also i personally dont think it has a good milage - it will be up to 10 litres in city and about 8 on country roads when riding it in "fun mode" - still a great bike - like the sound of the pipes - got them fitted as well and yes - without db killers its a lot too loud
Good review, but unfortunate to hear that you become uncomfortable on the bike after 1 hour of riding - completely unexpected and being comfortable in the saddle for long distance is one of the reasons I would have considered the KTM Adventure...
No, I don't own one. KTMs are said to be very fine bikes, but they're all too finicky. I think GSs are more comfortable for everything - especially the chainless 1200. Service intervals are long, everything that's prone to wear or maintenance is easy to access etc. Very fine bikes too, just with another approach.
For me exhaust : ajko - italian factory sound best with this bike, sat nav o noooo!... Im not gona spend next 500 pound when i have my car tom tom v3 and I can bay proper waterproof case for.....25 pounds and its working fine!!
HOWEVER The starter torque limiter goes on them all and makes the bike unstartable. The loudest crack you will ever hear comming from an engine when this part starts to break down inside and slip. Look it up before you get one. KTM have updated this part and the side casing of the bike twice now and the part is months in the queue waiting to get it, and each time they charge the owner of the bike even though its a manufacturing fault they cant seem to fix long term. There should be a buyer beware. Great bikes but they are off the road in more than one way because of this weak part which they wont give you because they dont have it. One KTM dealer I spoke to said he had been fitting these updates for years, and still they're going wrong. Now they dont go wrong, .... because they don't have them in made, or in stock to give you...
my only problem with him has been how extremely biased he is towards ktm, think he would ride that 1190 RC8 super-bike of theirs off-road and say its better than the gs, i think he would almost deliberately fall wit the gs so prove its inferiority...but i love his positivity and enthusiasm when those two brands are not involved :-)
Very good review indeed! I just don't understand those two fuel tanks, which you have to fill separately because the connecting tube is so thin, it's faster to pop open the other cap and fill it. You kinda have to fill it three times! (side 1, other 2, then side 1 again). Also, the topbox has TWO KEYS! WTF IS WRONG WITH THESE GUYS? Don't they think about practicality? Also, you have to remove the battery (or cover it with aluminium foil) in order to exchange the oil. That's ridiculous!
Hi Dan, thanks for watching. Fortunately, the lure of a 'free bike' doesn't create a conflict for an organisation the size of MCN. As the world's biggest motorcycling weekly, we are inundated with offers to test new models all of the time. We endeavour to review as many as we possibly can but even then can't always cover them all. Hope that provides some clarity. MCN
Rewatching this 12yr old review after I bought my second 990 Adventure.
I own the same maintenance Hell !
THIS is what an MCN video should be.
The rest of the crew should watch this video about 1000 times to understand what is expected in future.
Excellent video ! One of the best reviews I have seen on you tube or anywhere else for that matter. A job well done to Michael and his production crew.
Mike is by far the best review reporter/tester from anywhere covering any subject. He's just so damn magnetic and energetic!
Not a great review. He just spoke mainly about optional extras and prices.
I wanted to hear about: the reported lumpy fueling of the FI at low revs, oil change intervals, service costs, how easy to do valve checks and adjustments, standard tires and options, pillion comfort, filtering in city traffic, over heating issues in slow traffic. Yes, he mentioned the stock seat being uncomfortable.
I'm in agreeance with you, it would be good to know the real facts that matter.
+TS50ER, here's my 7,000 mile review, and I don't even own one:
- The cam chain tensioners are not robust. If you hear a clatter when first starting the bike, replace. They are cheap, but can ultimately cause big damage if left unattended
- These bikes have dry sumps, check the oil level when the bike is hot, not cold, otherwise you may overfill.
-The water-pump shaft seal is a bit of an achilles heel. Keep an eye out for any sign of water in the oil.
- The spokes are prone to rust. The chrome plating on them doesn't last.
This was another FANTASTIC review.... Why is it that in the States reviews like this falls short of a cartoon.
MCN, your editorial staff Rock's!
From America... your staff Rule's!
To Michael:
You Rock!!! :)
This was a very nice review. And what a nice guy. Listening to him was a pleasure.
Great Gobi top box. I have one on my ... Suzuki B-King. I can't get a helmet in mine.
Looking for an Adventure Touring Bike but gotta cross the KTM off the list early. As a shorter rider the seat height at 880 mm is just way too tall. Even the big BMW 1200 GS can frame lower to 790mm. The 798cc F650 GS can drop to 765.
Great review nicely presented! I test rode the 950 and it was superb, but ended up with a BMW because of access to dealership and possible resale issues.....i'm on my third BMW and still lust for the KTM, but still need a dealer on the doorstep,boring but true, as I was doing 15to 20k a year at the decision time.
Do you own one? I'm thinking of getting one. My last bike was a Multistrada 1000SDS and I liked it but wanted a change and don't want a GS (not yet at least - maybe when Im 50!)
Very good review, but the standard seat is pretty good for me...
did you use off road tyres, knobblies in the woods?
at the end of the day it all comes down to personal likings
i like your review a lot - still there's some things i dont like with ktms (owning one) - especially the (very) high inspection costs at 15.000 km intervalls
also i personally dont think it has a good milage - it will be up to 10 litres in city and about 8 on country roads when riding it in "fun mode" - still a great bike - like the sound of the pipes - got them fitted as well and yes - without db killers its a lot too loud
is 1000-1200cc really needed?
Great ! Enthusiastic ,informed,wish I'd bought one!!
great bike!
Very informative review. Cheers
@jillybooty It was designed to be a personal review as it was his last moments before parting with it...:(
Good review, but unfortunate to hear that you become uncomfortable on the bike after 1 hour of riding - completely unexpected and being comfortable in the saddle for long distance is one of the reasons I would have considered the KTM Adventure...
It’s based on a Dakar bike - off-road riders don’t spend a whole lot of time in the saddle...
Great pictures at the end :D
ITS AWKWARD WATCHING YOU SWAY TOWARDS THE CAMERA THEN AWAY TOWARDS AND AWAY..
Great review! This is how it should be ;) Just misses HD, but oh well
WHERE´S THE CBR600 LONGTERM TEST? Please!
Great review and just the look on your face tells the whole story. I want that look on my face!
Michael guy is awesome.
That's a proper report :)
Hehe, its funny how he pronounces Akrapovič :) Very nice review
No, I don't own one. KTMs are said to be very fine bikes, but they're all too finicky. I think GSs are more comfortable for everything - especially the chainless 1200. Service intervals are long, everything that's prone to wear or maintenance is easy to access etc. Very fine bikes too, just with another approach.
WHEN YOUR STANDING TALKING, YOUR SWAYING BACK AND FORTH. I THOUGHT U WERE ON A BOAT IN HIGH SEAS..LOL
Your a very cool dude. i like your reviews!
Excellent review. More like this please :O)
For me exhaust : ajko - italian factory sound best with this bike, sat nav o noooo!... Im not gona spend next 500 pound when i have my car tom tom v3 and I can bay proper waterproof case for.....25 pounds and its working fine!!
good review
HOWEVER The starter torque limiter goes on them all and makes the bike unstartable. The loudest crack you will ever hear comming from an engine when this part starts to break down inside and slip. Look it up before you get one. KTM have updated this part and the side casing of the bike twice now and the part is months in the queue waiting to get it, and each time they charge the owner of the bike even though its a manufacturing fault they cant seem to fix long term. There should be a buyer beware. Great bikes but they are off the road in more than one way because of this weak part which they wont give you because they dont have it. One KTM dealer I spoke to said he had been fitting these updates for years, and still they're going wrong. Now they dont go wrong, .... because they don't have them in made, or in stock to give you...
Great review, KTM owe you a pint :)
A-kraw-po-vich - as in Igor - the founder and owner of the company =D
8+ horsepower for your KTM Adventure. Rottweiler Intake Systems.
my only problem with him has been how extremely biased he is towards ktm, think he would ride that 1190 RC8 super-bike of theirs off-road and say its better than the gs, i think he would almost deliberately fall wit the gs so prove its inferiority...but i love his positivity and enthusiasm when those two brands are not involved :-)
that heat handlebar switch looks cheap
la mejor trail fabricada
Very good review indeed! I just don't understand those two fuel tanks, which you have to fill separately because the connecting tube is so thin, it's faster to pop open the other cap and fill it. You kinda have to fill it three times! (side 1, other 2, then side 1 again).
Also, the topbox has TWO KEYS! WTF IS WRONG WITH THESE GUYS? Don't they think about practicality?
Also, you have to remove the battery (or cover it with aluminium foil) in order to exchange the oil. That's ridiculous!
@Wash9102 Man
you took the words from my mouth :))
THANK YOU!!!! The one phonetically sound person on TH-cam!!! haha
I like KTM but they are a bit cheaply made for what they cost
Magnesium engine casing . That's why
2 dislike is from bmw raiders -)
'akraPOvick' lol
Ah-crap-o-vitch
long term test bike? free motorcycle ? no conflict of interest here ....
Hi Dan, thanks for watching. Fortunately, the lure of a 'free bike' doesn't create a conflict for an organisation the size of MCN. As the world's biggest motorcycling weekly, we are inundated with offers to test new models all of the time. We endeavour to review as many as we possibly can but even then can't always cover them all. Hope that provides some clarity. MCN
I think he is cute
God, they were awful at reviewing bikes. No useful information, just common, vague gibberish.
africa twin is better
Depends what you want in a bike. My 990 would smoke that thing