Has anyone changed from a 1200GS to a 990 and regretted it?

[Elmo]

Does changing from Varadero to 990 count?... if so will never regretted it!!!
Changed because i prefer the 21" front . Also found that the 990 was exellent in the dunes, managed to get up dune 2 with 2 other HP2 riders, the GSA was too heavy that day.
But having sayed that, rode Cape Town Thursday(one day), back on Saturday(one day), all N1, and must say that a GSA would probably been more comforatble.
But like Ryperd says... personal choice
Good luck with your decision.
 

[Ama ride ride]

The question you should ask yourself is...What do you want to do with the bike...

Your answer will tell you if you will regret it or not.

[Frog]

Jeez, here we go again. Has'nt this been argued to death about 1000 times.
If you want a great dirt bike, keep the GS. If you want a great tar tourer get the KTM...........................or get a Loncin 200 that can do it all

My question is very specific. Your answer has no relevence.

[Frog]

Boys boys boys  get a 640 (or690Eish) KTM for a serious fun factor on dirt and a 1200GSA for everything else.  For sand mud and rock (not dirt) day rides a 990 is just as limiting as a 1200!  Never ever get brand befok its about size not brand, usage not brand, practical elements not brand!  I ride my 640 adv and get a hard on, I ride my 1200 GSA and get a hard on! 

To clarify - there is no bike with a 33l tank, huge screen, soft seat etc like a GSA.  There is no bike with a kick start, 28 l tank, light and powerful like a 640adv!  Nothing beats a kdx 200 on serious techinical stuff!

QUESTION!  has anyone bought more than one bike and regretted it?
ANSWER:  NO!

If I could afford 2 bikes I would.

[Frog]

Does a 1150 GSA to a 990 count? If so, I miss certain aspects of the GSA, but I have never regretted my decision.

Care to elaborate?

1150 to 990 is an even bigger change than 1200 to 990. I would appreciate some more detail as this topic is exactly where I am now too. I loved the GS12 and the GSA12 always tugged the strings.
I am also just looking for a change probably to the more technical side so the 950SE is in play for me as well.

Things I miss on the 1150GSA that the 990 doesn't have:

Big tank.
Comfort on a really long haul, 800km + in a day.
Fuel guage.
10 000km service intervals.
there are more, can't think of them now...
The 990 lacks a few items, but for overall grin factor, performance, weight and offroad ability, those items are worth sacrificing.

Thanks Adventurer, this is the type of feedback I was looking for!

[Adventurer]

Does a 1150 GSA to a 990 count? If so, I miss certain aspects of the GSA, but I have never regretted my decision.

Care to elaborate?

1150 to 990 is an even bigger change than 1200 to 990. I would appreciate some more detail as this topic is exactly where I am now too. I loved the GS12 and the GSA12 always tugged the strings.
I am also just looking for a change probably to the more technical side so the 950SE is in play for me as well.

Things I miss on the 1150GSA that the 990 doesn't have:

Big tank.
Comfort on a really long haul, 800km + in a day.
Fuel guage.
10 000km service intervals.
there are more, can't think of them now...
The 990 lacks a few items, but for overall grin factor, performance, weight and offroad ability, those items are worth sacrificing.

Thanks Adventurer, this is the type of feedback I was looking for!

If you do swap, we can remove the topbox from your GSA and transfer it to the 990.

[Obi -Wan]

It really makes no sense to ask others about what you should be riding. Only you know how you ride, where you ride, do you have a pillion, how much off-road are you planning, what types of trip do you do. Personally I ride long distance , two up, with panniers, 80 to 90% tar , little bit of sand roads , nothing too technical. For this my 1150 GS is good for me. 

If you are riding 70 % dirt, more technical stuff, one up, not carting too much weight, The KTM or HP 2  is far more suited to your specific requirements.

Even then, this is not a hard and fast answer as I know a number of riders on 1150 and 1200 Adventures who take their bikes places that I would not even consider.

My opinion on the GS

70% TAR, 30% SAND ROADS Mix and suitability
Greater comfort 
Easier to maintain
Carry more weight if required
Greater fuel range
Tubeless Tyres - not the whole range

But

Poorer suspension
Less outright vooma
Heavy

I think it was summed up as a bike that isn't the best at anything , but does everything really well.

KTM

70 % dIRT , 30% ROAD ORIENTATION  - My view -please disagree
Much lighter
Great Suspension
Big Grin Factor

But

I understand maintenance can be a bear
Some complaints about parts availability
Reduced fuel range
Chain maintenance

Please understand that there are so many variables and pros and cons involved here that it would be impossible to summarise it all - I think that these are both great bikes in their own way, the question that you need to answer is which one is for me.









lIGHT lIGHT


n't d









 

[LuckyStriker]

Boys boys boys  get a 640 (or690Eish) KTM for a serious fun factor on dirt and a 1200GSA for everything else.  For sand mud and rock (not dirt) day rides a 990 is just as limiting as a 1200!  Never ever get brand befok its about size not brand, usage not brand, practical elements not brand!  I ride my 640 adv and get a hard on, I ride my 1200 GSA and get a hard on! 

To clarify - there is no bike with a 33l tank, huge screen, soft seat etc like a GSA.  There is no bike with a kick start, 28 l tank, light and powerful like a 640adv!  Nothing beats a kdx 200 on serious techinical stuff!

QUESTION!  has anyone bought more than one bike and regretted it?
ANSWER:  NO!

That would be my reasoning as well

I've never been a fan of the 950/990 but I do think the 640 is da bom.

[Shotgun]

That would be my reasoning as well

I've never been a fan of the 950/990 but I do think the 640 is da bom.

LS: Most of the time I share your views, but could you please elaborate on your statement  It is a bit like saying: I have never been a fan of the Springboks, but Maties is da bom.

[Gavin]

Went from a 1150 ADV to a 950 4 years back and never regreted it once, KTM still makes me smile every time I spank her

[LuckyStriker]

Shotgun, It's obviously a personal opinion based on my own riding habits.

I think the 990 is a great looking bike and admittedly I have not spent enough time in its saddle to make an authoritative claim.
But I think for play time the 640 is better and for tour time the 1200GS is better

some would say that the 990 is a good compromise between tour and play and perhaps they are right. But it is a still a compromise and GG's setup (having both a 1200 and a 640) beats having just one 990 hands down IMHO.

Plus, I think litre bikes are overrated. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, prefer thumpers.
I might go back to a large bike if my wife insists but it won't be voluntary.

[Frog]

It really makes no sense to ask others about what you should be riding.  

Obi-Wan, thanks for the post but I am not asking others about what I should be riding.
What I am asking is whether they regreted changing from the 1200GS to a 990 and if so what are the reasons.

[the_BOBNOB]

That would be my reasoning as well

I've never been a fan of the 950/990 but I do think the 640 is da bom.

LS: Most of the time I share your views, but could you please elaborate on your statement  It is a bit like saying: I have never been a fan of the Springboks, but Maties is da bom.

you must be joking 

the 950/990 and the 640 is 2 different bikes - all they have in common is the word KTM on the side and the orange colour 

surely you can like the one and not the other 

or is this one of those blind faith type things - you like/own a ktm you have to say that everything that comes out of the ktm factory is pure magic 

[Shotgun]

Two bikes is never really the answer, because you will find yourself in a situation where you say: I wish I was on the other one. If you spend time in the saddle, the 640 just doesn't cut it and in my opinion there is nothing that you can do on the 640 that you cannot do on a 990. The only upsides to the 640 is range on the standard fuel tanks and price.

Obviously: All in my opinion.

Bobnob: I totally agree that you can prefer the one above the other. I was purely questioning the semantics 

[the_BOBNOB]

Two bikes is never really the answer, because you will find yourself in a situation where you say: I wish I was on the other one.

i agree on this

i'm all for having as many bikes as you can but i would limit it to categories

you only need 1 good adventure bike while you can have many superbikes and many cruisers as they tend to be more a use it when you feel like it bikes.

but having a 990 and a 1200 - you clock up 20 000km per year on the one and not even 1000km on the other 

[LuckyStriker]

Two bikes is never really the answer, because you will find yourself in a situation where you say: I wish I was on the other one.

I only have one bike and I wish that anyway. On long roads I wish I had a Goldwing, on sand dunes I wish I had a MX bike, on game farms I'll wish I had a quad (yes really ), etc.

in my opinion there is nothing that you can do on the 640 that you cannot do on a 990.

If you believe that then you'll believe anything

Obviously: All in my opinion.

Yes and it sucks

[I&horse]

Has anyone ever changed from a 990 to a 1200?

[LuckyStriker]

Plore changed from a 950 to a 800

[the_BOBNOB]

Has anyone ever changed from a 990 to a 1200?

KTM is like a cult of brainwashing zombies!

Once you join the only way out is death 

[the_BOBNOB]

Plore changed from a 950 to a 800

LS you just signed his death warrant 

Was nice knowing you Plore