20 Things You Should Know About: KTM’s 950/990

Adventure Rider Issue #3

• Checkout
• Reader’s Bike: Steve Evans’ HP2
• 10 Minutes With: Sam Sunderland
• 20 Things You Should Know About: KTM’s 950/990
• Reader’s Ride: The Flinders Ranges, SA
• Rules To Ride By with John Hudson
• How To Ride with Miles Davis
• Suspension with Nick Dole
• Packing For Adventure with Robin Box
• Girl’s Talk with Karen Ramsay
• Wish You Were Here
• KTM 700RR
• Triumph 1200 Explorer
• Kawasaki KLR650
• Ol’ Mate
• Motohansa R1200GS
• Reader’s Pic
• Gear With A Story
• VSM DRZ400S
• Industry Players: Andy Strapz
• Mongolia
• The Adventure Challenge
• Cape York
• It’s What We Do

The LC8 motor first appeared in 2003 in the KTM 950 Adventure. The same powerplant went on to power the 950SE and the fuel-injected 990 Adventure. The motor hasn’t really undergone many changes despite the model designations, and this applies to frames as well.KTM dealer and keen 950/990 rider and competitor Craig Hartley outlined a few of the main traits on the tried-and-trusted Adventures.

Craig Hartley knows how to build and ride a reliable, competitive 950/990.

Most of the habits of both the 950 and 990 are very similar apart from some minor fuel injection traits on the 990. These traits aren’t a big problem once understood, so here are a few things that may help owners to better understand their machines.