http://crosstrainingenduro.com http://tractionerag.com The KTM 950SE and it's close cousin the 950 Adventure! Is it just an obese pumpkin, or one of the most versatile big adventure bikes ever made? I have occasionally ridden with guys who own these beasts and always been surprised when they start riding them like dirt bikes. A mate of mine owns one and occasionally drags it out of storage, yesterday we popped out for a quick run and I got to ride the 950 again for the first time in years... First, a bit of history about this big adventure bike. The story of KTM 950 Adventure started in 1992. Two engineering students combined a pair of cylinders from a KTM LC4 single on a special crankcase, and it was displayed at a motorbike show. In 1998, KTM decided to go with a vtwin design and an emphasis on light weight and compact build. The result? the new LC8 engine and production began in 2003. 196kg dry weight, and around 102 horsepower. Later it become the fuel injected KTM 990 Adventure. Many say the KTM 950SE like riding a big dirt bike. And I can see why. 21 inch front wheel. Lots of suspension travel. And relatively light weight for the engine size. Years ago I used to lead rides with my DR650 and I clearly remember being followed by guys on KTM 950s. I would up the pace a bit. They were still there. I'd increase the pace again. They were still on my tail. Seems everyone I know has a KTM 950 or 990, so an overview of the big pumpkins made sense. The Italian company however refused to share it with their Austrian neighbours. Another alternative for KTM was the Swedish Folan 60degree Vtwin motor which already existed, however it was also aborted once KTM had been successfully floated on the stock market. A few times I pushed as hard as I could safely and there was one guy who was always right there behind me, no matter how rough the forest trail became. An experienced rider can really boot these big pumpkins along at good speed. And of course it's always 80% the rider, 20% the bike. So what is it like to ride a KTM 950 Adventure after the DR650? A constant theme you will hear from owners is you notice the weight at a standstill but the moment you are moving you don't notice it anymore. I can see what they mean, but I don't completely agree. The KTM is around 50kg heavier than my DR650 and I was always conscious of that extra weight. But yes, once you are moving it is surprising how you don't worry about it. The long travel suspension soaks up the bumps and jumps. It's easy to see why the KTM 950 Adventure bit quite a bit into BMW's share of the adventure bike market. Known issues with the KTM 950SE? Not a lot. The basic engine design was rock solid. There were some issues with clutch slave cylinder failures, water pump seals, and faulty radiator caps. The emissions equipment caused the usual types of problems so the majority of owners just ditched it. That was just a teaser, though as was the second time around in 1996, when it was revealed that the Stuttgartbased design office Kraft Technik, had been commissioned by KTM to produce a design for a Vtwin Hard Enduro, possibly using the 60degree Vtwin RSV900 Rotax engine at that time developing for Aprilia. Regular viewers will know in recent vids I've been discussing whether the big adventure bikes are getting a bit too heavy for many riders. What about the KTM 990 Adventure? Of course if you mainly do highways and some easy dirt roads then weight isn't very important. And a heavy bike is usually more stable if you have a passenger. But for the solo rider who wants to occasionally get into the rougher stuff, then weight does become an issue. And I know plenty of guys getting into adventure riding for the first time, or after a long break, and they bought the biggest adventure bike possible then rapidly realised it was too heavy. The story of KTM 950 Adventure started in 1992. That year, a oneoff special called the Bepono, built for the German BoTT series by two engineering students by combining a pair of cylinders from a KTM LC4 single on a special crankcase, was displayed on the KTM stand at the IFMA Show in Cologne.
Would a secondhand big adventure bike like the KTM 950 or KTM 990 Adventure suit you? It's hard to say, but at least it's a lot lighter than many of the other options, and still has the grunt to punt along at highways speeds all day. My gut feeling is if you are new to adventure riding it's best to get a smaller bike at first and work up to the beasts. For everyone else? This KTM 950 Adventure, or its close cousin the 990, are well worth looking at if you want a very versatile adventure bike.

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