- I know about the clutch slave cylinder issue but how do I sort that out? Is it a big job? Who does the fix and how much does it cost?
There is no "fix" that I'm aware of besides replacing it with an aftermarket one.
- Canisterectomy? I've tried reading up on this but I'm not grasping how important it is or how to get it done.
This is only partially applicable to the 990's in SA as they don't have an Evaporative Canister, which is where the name "Canisterectomy" comes from.
The SAS (Secondary Air System) is present on the SA 990's and removing it is not vital.
- The bike hasn't been used much over the last few months. Is the battery the only concern or is there something else I should be checking?
If memory serves, '09 is pre the fuel pump filter upgrade. It will be worth having the fuel pump filter checked (See last point below).
Besides the obvious things like, tyres, oil, coolat etc you should be fine.
- Considering it's been at the coast all its life, are there any rust-prone bits I should be checking?
Depending on how the owner has looked after the bike the amount of rust can vary. The spokes are always the most obvious point for rust along with the KTM bolt heads.
The reality is that you can never tell how much rust is present until you start removing parts and going through the bike properly.
- Lastly, the seller says he's going to take it to his local KTM-friendly bike shop for a once over before he sells it. Considering I'm going to jump on it and ride 1500km or so back home, is there anything specific I can ask them to check or do?
Fuel pump filter in left tank. They are prone to being clogged from bad fuel and will typically cause the bike to lose power above ~5000rpm. The repair kit is ~R900.
KTM Part# 61007090100 FILTER-SET FUEL PUMP