All of their current twins have cam wear problems 790 and 890 especially a lot of people have had their engines under warranty already from 2022 onwards idk what happened but stay away They should have never dropped the LC8. These bikes get well over 200k km before the engines need rebuilding
The 990 is analog? Nah, my 2005 950 is analog. Rottweiler intake and twin FMF cans, it literally sounds like a trophy truck. Although KTM sorta fixed the fueling issues with the 990 they don't hold a candle to a proper running 950. But that's just my opinion. Honestly, after spending a few years with my friend on her Ducati Desert Sled, I wouldn't trade my 20 year old 950 Adventure for a new one. Have you read a modern Ducati owners manual? 1000km servicing: See dealer Adjust valves: see dealer Change oil: see dealer Replace air filter: see dealer Check coolant level: see dealer Check tire air pressure: see dealer Adjust mirror: see dealer Yeah no thanks. And the 990 throws heat? What? Have you ridden an 1190 or 1290? Bwahahaha!!! I'm kind of with the other guy who said the comparison is apples and oranges. Sure the bikes are sorta meant for the same kind of riding but the riders aren't. One wears $3000 worth of Klim gear, shops the Touratech catalog and rides around DQs and Starbucks. The other doesn't even want to be seen on pavement. True story. My 950 wears knobbies and they're ribbed for my pleasure. 😛
I’ve owned both of these. Have had 3 990s. Had the Baja and did everything to it. Nothing has the soul of a 990 with Akros and a Rottweiler in it. Great motor. Bought a desert x on the spot because it feels like a more planted, lighter version of the 990 with updated hardware that is a way better street bike. If Ktm designed a new 990 with the same look as the old bike but updated the electronics, they’d sell a lot of them.
I took the X for a testride, and it felt immediately as I had it for ten years. It fitted like a glove! So yeah I can understand you went for it. But I was very disappointed in the lack of engine brake. Even max'ed out it's almost nothing.
I bought my ‘12 990ADV brand new off the showroom floor in 2012. Of all the bikes I’ve owned, it is the ONLY new bike I’ve ever purchased. It’s sitting in my garage right now, with +65k miles on it, and it will start up first hit of the button. The only thing it needs is for me to replace a broken indicator, which to be fair my wife broke it off. Not saying the bike has had no issues (it has), but the good vibes and enjoyment I’ve gotten from that bike over the years has far outweighed the problems. And FWIW, the problems were almost always something minor, the motor has never been apart. If you take care of a 990, she will take care of you.
And honestly that KTM is 20 years older. The 950 was released on 2003 and only had a few changes to the 990. Mostly a few CCs and fuel injection but overall it is the same bike.
That's pretty crazy when you look at it that way... 20 year old design and it still performs incredibly well. Would be hard to find another bike that's 20 years old and feels that modern.
@@EddyLukas The 950 was a terrible gas guzzler though, and the 990 only marginally better. A lot of 950/990 ended up with massive heavy fuel tanks installed.
Honestly the 990 is 9/10ths of every adv bike on the market today and 2/5ths the price in most cases, which makes it infinitely faster and more capable off-road because you’re not damaging a £18k bike and a £4K 990 can be almost disposable
to add to that, my buddy and I have these bikes, I hit a tree at about 25 mph on my 990, broken plastic between tank and fairing. That was it, but my head hurt. He hit a tree and has to replace his main metal tank and a few other bits and pieces. SIGNIFICANT price diff in damage. Oh, and I think his head hurt too. I do think the Ducati will be much much more comfortable for all day touring.
@@jimj911I hope you both were checked at the hospital for concussions. I'm sure you both were wearing full face helments. Ride safe and watch out for those trees🌳. 😮
Great Shootout! Owning a 2006 990 Adventure S since new, it is sooo cool to know from the experts that still nothing can beat it. After almost twenty years, some bikes come close, but at a price. I won’t pay 3 - 4 times a value of my 990 for a possible few % better bike. So, here are next 10 years on a 990 and then I will check again.
My idea completely! I've a 2005 950 since 2008, 127.000km and counting. The X is the first bike in 20 years that finally comes close to/equal with the 9x0! And, Cycle News, no the 990 is not 10 years old (yeah, the one in the movie is), but it's TWENTY YEARS old! Because, the difference between a 2003 LC8 and your 2013 LC8 is naught to nothing.
@@brucekendall52 890 is the modern in line twin. The early 2000s 950/990 Adventure and 990 Duke are V Twins. In 2025 there might be a new 990 Adventure but with the inline twin engine, not the classic 990 V-twin
I have a 2010 KTM 990 R. This bike has so much soul. Had a 690 Rally build, 1190 R then a 790 R and this is my favourite. I ride hard offroad. It has 265mm of suspension travel and has been reliable.
I’ve owned the 990, and currently own the Desert X. Both are great bikes and very capable off-road. Where the Ducati shines above and beyond the KTM is on road. It is an incredible bike through the twisty roads. Never owned a Ducati before, but the Desert X has definitely changed my thinking on the Italian manufacturer.
That’s a tough one. I’d say the desert x because of its longer wheel base. It made for a very stable feel off road. Confidence inspiring. The 990 was a very close second though. Photo finish😂
Me pasó lo mismo, me cambió la perspectiva completamente, las prestaciones que te da son tan buenas que después de probar motos trail del calibre descubres que tienes una bestia italiana, vale perfectamente sus 409 mil pesos .
950 I love ❤️ it and I will never sell it. For 2024 I agree with you, the closest bike to 950/990 platform is desert X. But nowadays all bikes have a big minus... a lot electronics. My suggestion is less parts a bike has less problems you will have,
I have two 990 2007. Yes, they need to be handled with care. Once all the things that you are supposed to do are done, the bikes are very reliable. If only gas were cheaper...
50k kms is absolutely nothing. LC8 if well maintained (water pump seal, cam chains, regular oil changes) can definitely go 150-200k km if not even more.
Same for me. I have a 990 S for 13 yrs now and despite lotsa distractions on the new bike market, the visceral feel, looks and sound of a 990 still stirs my soul like it did in the beginning. (I hope to get a few more years still. . . )
I have both an 03 and 06 950S Adventures, as well as an 89 600 Transalp, so there is no reason for me to ever purchase another adventure motorcycle. Being I love my current bikes, I don't have a bucket list bike for Adventure, except maybe an original Africa Twin to compliment the Transalp.
I'm south African, I have a 990r adv ,I'm getting a bit old now ,67 but I love this bike ,would love to buy a 890 but alas being a pensioner it is not possible, very good comparison thanks
Great comparison I own a 2012 990 and right it has a soul. I did a test ride with the Ducati, too. Great looking bike, but if you really want to go offroad 990 is first choice.
My baja 990 is tougher 'n woodpecker lips! Been down like a cheap date n had more hot lunches than I can count. By far best bike I've ever had . Unbelievable reliable.. besides rear master cylinder... jus weld up the sight glass n ur good ta go
Every time I see a video that features a 990 I get super sentimental about my old 990... Shouldn't have sold it. The feeling it gives just isn't matched by any other bike I've ridden adter
I just got a 950 this summer and just came in from wrenching it. Made a cup of tea and saw this video in a youtube recommendation. I guess I will keep mine as long as possible, since actually I don`t know for which bike I would like to exchange it. 1290 super ADV is nearly 20 grand brand new and more of a touring bike. 890 and Norden are with faulty cylinder heads. Africa Twin is 230kg dry, if i`m not mistaken. Nah, I will stick to this old thing until it completely falls apart. What is also interesting is that my 950 feels sharper and has more responsive throttle than my friend`s 990. I dont know if my carbs have been adjusted in some way by previous owner but the throttle on my bike feels like a crack of a whip.
@@reinisrudzitis4802 The 950 has way better fuelling then the 990 tbh. The 990s were known to be quite herky jerky on the throttle. It got better in the later years but it was never as good as the 950s were
@@tolga1coolI have both and I can confirm. Even though my 950 is 10 years older than my 990, it still works better for her originally intended purpose. Other than being newer, with a little more power and a tad less vibey, I see no advantage to the 990.
@@reinisrudzitis4802 Early 990's with EFI had some fueling issues, so it's not surprising that a 950 with well sorted carbs would run better. I've had to get my 2007 990 remapped on a dyno, because in stock form it ran like crap at lower RPM's.
I have a 12 990R and a 2016 1290. Guess which one gives me more smiles. The character of the 990 is something special. Even if it’s too tall, too heavy, and tries to kill me. I love it.
Also the KTM is a bit Italian. The first legendary KTM 950 LC8 Adventure was made in Italy for and with Fabrizio Meoni and Giò Sala. The only bike developed directly from a Dakar prototype. I sold my 990 ADV with more than 100 km. The only issue: the clutch actuator.
Maybe assembled in Italy but engineered in Austria and it's the engineering that matters most assuming they have also engineered the production facility and have some QA/QC to ensure whoever's assembling it doesn't mess it all up. But yes if Meoni and Sala helped develop it and built there then sure it's a bit Italian.
@@shavedape LOL Austrians are Hungaro-Italians, they would just not be transparent about it and it’s the main reason why they try so hard to speak their own german. ;-)
I would love the desert X, but when you weigh in the cost of the bike and all of the farkles required to do some proper adventure riding, the cost is way out of reach for most people. You can buy a late model 990R with mods (probably by the previous owner), and have enough money to ride the adventures you want on the same budget as just buying the X.
I was on the point to buy a brand new 2023 desert X and buy a 7000$ 2013 ktm 990 Baja edition instead… because of this video review! Thanks for made me save 10K!! Cheers!
As an owner of an 04 KTM 950 Adventure. My father owns a beautiful 990 Adventure as well along with a 1090. My brother owns an 890. We love our KTM's. Some of the most addicting fun bikes you can ride. I also came off a XR650L setup more towards adventure riding. I'll never get rid of my 950. As a Dakar fan, this was a dream bike purchase for me and I'm glad I picked one up. Personally I really enjoy the Carb feel on the 950 as well.
I had a 950 adventure too that i sadly crashed, but my father bought it off me and sold his 990. So he has the 950 now! The difference between them are quite big. The 990 is a lot more touring/asphalty. The 950 is super aggressive but still smoother.
I own a ktm 990 2007 R I went with some friends with new ktm 890's and I and them were surprised with the enduro capabilties of the 990 really hard enduro. And the looks- sound is amazing!
I like these comparisons with the old 950/990! That was a terrific bike that had all the basics covered, and still looks appealing today: 18/21 wheels, great ground clearance, suspension travel, good damping, 100 hp, strong brakes, mid 400 lb range. I would have hoped that modern materials and manufacturing would enable the manufacturers to shed weight from these bikes, but alas. Perhaps the new Kove 800x will be the unicorn?
If you do a long trip on the ktm, get a single tail pipe conversion and fit an auxiliary tank, as it drinks like a fish. Also needs a better seat, as old ktm seat are like granite. It would also benefit from some extra cooling as they get very hot in traffic. This shoot out proves the ktm 990 was well ahead of it’s time.
@@ojalaandrew887 I don’t think it improves mpg much, but it will remove the Cats I think from memory and if you do that, the bike will need a new fuel map which you can get from KTM. I don’t think it costs a lot.
I have had both 950 and 990. The carb 950 is a better bike to run, its fuel consumption is lower and the engine behavior much better compared fuel injected 990.
I don't like the electronic stuff. Not that I don't see the point of having them, just that like working on my own bikes and I am not an electrical engineer. I also like minimal, raw motorcycles. I also had a 990 SMT, it was the best bike I ever owned and was reliable as hell. So I'd take the KTM all day long.
950 adv ( 2003 )- 990 adv ( 2006 ), I have not been impressed in 21 years. ( 18 years ) It's been 21/18 years! And he still compares the 2024 engines to the 950/990
I still have never seen any new offerings which could replace my 2013 KTM 990 Adventure Baja. I got it specifically because there are NO electronics to step in and mess with you. The KTM is however a motorcycle best owned by a technician, otherwise you will spend way too much money paying someone else to do the work, and it's a pain in the a** to perform regular maintenance compared to the rest of the options.
Good video. I own a 990 and checked a Desert X at the dealer. Ergonomics very close, I liked that. Looking forward to have some time riding the Desert X before make decisions.
@@alberto-cg7ox well they are 10 years apart and the Ducati is just better the tech in rally mode is really clever so it compliments your riding. But it really does depend on your skill level i race enduro so i'm a decent level rider and i would pick the ducati every time it's reliable plently of grunt but the KTM is better to crash and parts are cheaper however it does feel more off road biased whereas the ducati is more onroad biased but it does everything great
@@dubreg6711 I've a trial bike and a 300 2 stroke.. ride some enduro and trial so.. Im not a pro.. I know the basic, jap , double blip, traction ecc.. but I'm very basic level.. I was looking for something for enduro/travel. I'm not interested about on Road behaviour .. I had 690 and Cagiva elefant so no problem.. the weight of the two bike Is the same.. curious about center of Mass, inertica ecc.. if One it's more enduro oriented..
The 950 Adventure is a step better than the 990 (mainly fuelling, fuel consumption and range - all better on the 950). Regarding travel: all the 950/990's faults are well known, so can be fixed. One of my 950s has 225,000 kms on it, and is very reliable. We have yet to see how the Ducati is regarding long-term reliability. When I first rode the DesertX, I thought it was the closest bike to the 950. Very similar road manners. Good job Ducati.
Was thinking which Adv bike to get. Love the 990s, own a 990 SMT with great ABS. But the 990 ADV R has no ABS, which is a no-go for me. Got a 1190 Adv R for less money than a 990 Adv R, love the 150hp on the streets, added heated grips, shaved 20kg off. With 23 l of gas it weighs 227kg. Runs stable up to 260 kph. Takes 5 - 6 liter on 100 km. Good overall bike. Reliable too.
Mate I used to own an 1190R. Would have to be one of the best bikes I've owned. Only gripe was it was really too tall for me. I'm 5'9". How did you shave off 20kg?
I also had a 1190R. Rode hard offroad here in Australia. Recently. brought a smick 990 R. No abs or traction control and this thing destroys the 1190 offroad. I can get way wilder on the 990R, if I rod the 1190R the same way it would kill me. The 1190 was better on road.
@brettstone6885 that's interesting to know mate. I'd heard the 990 was still a better off road bike than the later models. What part of Aus mate? Most of my true off road riding the 1190 was in the Otway's and Vic high country.
@@frankensteinsgarage9632 South Coast NSW mate. I did the KTM rally on the 1190 in Tassie and rode it hard. Really struggled in the rough stuff at speed, the geometry of the bike is off. Hard bike to steer through the twisty single track while seated, not so on the 990. 990 has a much better front end feel. I was running 30-32 psi in the front tyre and had 4 flats in 1600km offroad. Heaps of fun but doesn't cope well when hitting multiple ruts ect.
Very well done video except for the music volume increase when the talking stops. Not enjoyable have to turn down the volume each time the segments change from talking to riding. After watching Adam Riemann ride the KTM 1090R in both the New Zealand and Australian adventure rallies, I knew that was the bike for me. I love the 990 but the 1090R adds a few rider modes that can make off-road riding safer, and the heated grips make Winter riding a joy, even in Colorado, USA. I use a computer for all; internet and do not own/use any wireless technologies, so the new bikes hold no interest for me: they are too complicated, and with the new KTM 890/1290, some riders have had starting issues off-road which in rural Colorado, can be very dangerous. I love how the motorcycle industry builds bikes that can make everyone happy; some prefer the latest electronic tech, while others like myself prefer less or none at all, as on the 1090R and the 990. Thank you for the great job making this video, have not seen the results of the proposed South America ride, but will research that now!
Hi mate, Reimann can make anything look amazing, very talented rider here in OZ. Ive extensively ridden the 1190R, very similar to the 1090R, I know own a 990R, 265mm suspension travel. Its a miles better DIRT bike than the 1090/1190. The 1190R is much better on the road with just insane power. I'm a fast off-roader and ride my bikes like a rally bike and the 1190 had major limitations offroad that the 990R does not.
Trailmax Raid is not high mileage. Trailmax Missions are. Raid rear lasted me 3k. Front is holding well. Running it with a Motoz Tractionator Adventure which will be replaced with a Tusk 2Track next to try keeping the Raid front. Highly doubt you'd take the Desert X anywhere in the world on an adventure especially a solo one. People are going to continue to buy the T7 over others. We all know why.
Seriously I sold my Ducati because I literally couldn’t find an accurate spec to tension the chain. Even bought the dam Hanes manual. Ducati is for rich people
I love both bikes l.. but you're right. I've also call ducati and Say they don't want to let the workshop manual (not the maintance). I have nothing against electronics.. but if I can't use any software to diagnostic or repair issue it's a big problem when travel .. if something happend in offroad how to do? 950 have carb so no software.. 990 it's efi but I can use tuneecu and software Is open... All new moderno bike have lock software.. it's not Freedom.
I LOVE to PARADE at Starbucks. At 37k I am still open throttle and no problems . I Have issued with brakes giving out. Want Rottweiler performance and a valve job. Might as well cycle south and have 3 bikes. Pick me:)
Nup…KTM 990 Adventure is 460 dry, 492 fuelled, add in oil and brake fluid and it’s certainly not heavier, maybe line ball, most likely a few pounds lighter
My Ducati DesertX has Genuine Ducati bash plate, crash bars, aux lights, heated grips, aux bar w/Ducati branded Garmin GPS, bar bag, full race Termignoni de-cat race exhaust and EVO tune. With brand new Scorpion STR tires tires installed and filled to the brim, it tips the scale at 488 lbs. Sorry, the Honda is heavier then the DDX.
@@jamescampbell4334 That is objectively not true unless your accessories are made of Helium. Ducati says 463lbs (unfueled) themselves. Fuel capacity is 5.54 gallons. One gallon of gas is 6lbs. At an absolute minimum, with NOTHING else on the bike, it weighs 496lbs. Yours weighs virtually the same as the base model Africa twin.
@someguy5035 Full wet weight of the DDX is 492. Termignoni full race decat exhaust drops the weight to around 482, the accessories added around 6 lbs. That is objectively FACT. Edit; I have the rear peg assemblies removed too.
My 990 was the most unreliable bike I've ever owned. In addition, it was a huge PITA to work on. Out of all my KTM's, it's the one I don't regret selling. I wouldn't take either of those out of the country, dealer network and parts support for the Ducati is going to stink south of the border and the 990 is just too fickle to rely on.
In the grand scheme of what the 990 was designed for it's one of the most reliable bikes, what dirt bike/endure will handle thousands of hours or riding with oil changes (not rebuilds) every 200 hours? And total life of regularly over 1500hours (~50k miles)??? If you rode a YZ250 on the road as a road bike, it too would be unreliable.
@@AntaresSQ01 these are big dual sport adv motorcycles they are not dirtbikes That comparison doesnt make sense, the yz250 is a pure dirtbike. The engine is designed to rev its heart out for a few hours at a time, short life spans. The tenere 700 CP2 regularly goes over 170 thousand miles without anything besides oil changes and valve clearance adjustments. Thats what an adventure bike engines should be. Who the fuck wants a cam follower failure in the middle of Sudan?
Correct. And for that reason I’d prefer the 950 and made sure it has all upgrades it needs to be reliable, as I would do on a T7 if that’d be my choice. But it’s a different animal. Until then I ride my Himalayan 411. ;-) joking.
Any reliable bike is unreliable if you got the wrong one. And there’s no sports bike that covers 300tkm proving it’s reliability in quantities. There I can only see a supertenere1200 and that’s a boat, maybe a varadero, another boat, … Bikes that can’t do 300tKm easily, and neither 50tKm without needing an engine opening or electric unit replacement, or having a service other people buy a motorcycle for that bill, are unreliable in general to me, all others are just bike-average nothing to brag about.
Just because the manual says contact your dealer doesn’t mean you can’t work on it yourself… I’ve replaced my air filter, all brake pads, chain and sprocket, oil and filter and reset the service light all without going to a dealer…
@j0hn22 I've done the filter swap in 20 minutes. Installed a 3 stage foam Uni-Filter (Australian company) so it only needs to be swapped every 9k miles or so. One of the first DesertXs was ridden 13k kms across Australia with the 2 stage Uni-Filter without cleaning or swapping.
Yeah we were surprised at the weight. Decat exhaust, lithium batteries, removed center stands, all kinds of weight reduction stuff going on... but then you add a beefy skid plate, luggage racks, some spare parts hidden inside the bike and pretty soon that weight comes back.
I like the looks of the 2013 KTM. In my opinion, it looks better than anything they are currently selling.
Very much agreed. Looks better than any bike on the market.
All of their current twins have cam wear problems
790 and 890 especially a lot of people have had their engines under warranty already from 2022 onwards idk what happened but stay away
They should have never dropped the LC8. These bikes get well over 200k km before the engines need rebuilding
How about No...
Yes the new headlights look terrible
The 990 is analog? Nah, my 2005 950 is analog. Rottweiler intake and twin FMF cans, it literally sounds like a trophy truck. Although KTM sorta fixed the fueling issues with the 990 they don't hold a candle to a proper running 950. But that's just my opinion.
Honestly, after spending a few years with my friend on her Ducati Desert Sled, I wouldn't trade my 20 year old 950 Adventure for a new one. Have you read a modern Ducati owners manual?
1000km servicing: See dealer
Adjust valves: see dealer
Change oil: see dealer
Replace air filter: see dealer
Check coolant level: see dealer
Check tire air pressure: see dealer
Adjust mirror: see dealer
Yeah no thanks.
And the 990 throws heat? What? Have you ridden an 1190 or 1290? Bwahahaha!!!
I'm kind of with the other guy who said the comparison is apples and oranges. Sure the bikes are sorta meant for the same kind of riding but the riders aren't. One wears $3000 worth of Klim gear, shops the Touratech catalog and rides around DQs and Starbucks. The other doesn't even want to be seen on pavement. True story. My 950 wears knobbies and they're ribbed for my pleasure. 😛
990 forever!
I’ve owned both of these. Have had 3 990s. Had the Baja and did everything to it. Nothing has the soul of a 990 with Akros and a Rottweiler in it. Great motor. Bought a desert x on the spot because it feels like a more planted, lighter version of the 990 with updated hardware that is a way better street bike. If Ktm designed a new 990 with the same look as the old bike but updated the electronics, they’d sell a lot of them.
I took the X for a testride, and it felt immediately as I had it for ten years. It fitted like a glove! So yeah I can understand you went for it. But I was very disappointed in the lack of engine brake. Even max'ed out it's almost nothing.
haha i did the exact same thing, i hope you are enjoying the desert x i love mine just hit 8k on it after 5 months
I bought my ‘12 990ADV brand new off the showroom floor in 2012. Of all the bikes I’ve owned, it is the ONLY new bike I’ve ever purchased. It’s sitting in my garage right now, with +65k miles on it, and it will start up first hit of the button. The only thing it needs is for me to replace a broken indicator, which to be fair my wife broke it off. Not saying the bike has had no issues (it has), but the good vibes and enjoyment I’ve gotten from that bike over the years has far outweighed the problems. And FWIW, the problems were almost always something minor, the motor has never been apart. If you take care of a 990, she will take care of you.
And honestly that KTM is 20 years older. The 950 was released on 2003 and only had a few changes to the 990. Mostly a few CCs and fuel injection but overall it is the same bike.
That's pretty crazy when you look at it that way... 20 year old design and it still performs incredibly well. Would be hard to find another bike that's 20 years old and feels that modern.
@@EddyLukas The 950 was a terrible gas guzzler though, and the 990 only marginally better.
A lot of 950/990 ended up with massive heavy fuel tanks installed.
Thank goodness, the 950/990 is the benchmark for the ADV bikes and it's about time people start making this comparison.
Honestly the 990 is 9/10ths of every adv bike on the market today and 2/5ths the price in most cases, which makes it infinitely faster and more capable off-road because you’re not damaging a £18k bike and a £4K 990 can be almost disposable
Great point
to add to that, my buddy and I have these bikes, I hit a tree at about 25 mph on my 990, broken plastic between tank and fairing. That was it, but my head hurt. He hit a tree and has to replace his main metal tank and a few other bits and pieces. SIGNIFICANT price diff in damage. Oh, and I think his head hurt too. I do think the Ducati will be much much more comfortable for all day touring.
@@jimj911I hope you both were checked at the hospital for concussions. I'm sure you both were wearing full face helments. Ride safe and watch out for those trees🌳. 😮
Agreed! I just bought my second 990 for 7.5K euros and only 32K kms.
CANNOT get rid of my 990!!!!
Ever.
Me too my 990 adv R 2010
Great Shootout! Owning a 2006 990 Adventure S since new, it is sooo cool to know from the experts that still nothing can beat it. After almost twenty years, some bikes come close, but at a price. I won’t pay 3 - 4 times a value of my 990 for a possible few % better bike. So, here are next 10 years on a 990 and then I will check again.
My idea completely! I've a 2005 950 since 2008, 127.000km and counting. The X is the first bike in 20 years that finally comes close to/equal with the 9x0! And, Cycle News, no the 990 is not 10 years old (yeah, the one in the movie is), but it's TWENTY YEARS old! Because, the difference between a 2003 LC8 and your 2013 LC8 is naught to nothing.
The KTM 990 Adventure was released in January 2006 (Adventure R in 2009). The DesertX was released in 2022 and is 16 years younger :)
Its an 890 not a 990??
@@brucekendall52 890 is the modern in line twin. The early 2000s 950/990 Adventure and 990 Duke are V Twins.
In 2025 there might be a new 990 Adventure but with the inline twin engine, not the classic 990 V-twin
"No wife, no kids, no child support "
Smart man
990 all day ❤
I have a 2010 KTM 990 R. This bike has so much soul. Had a 690 Rally build, 1190 R then a 790 R and this is my favourite. I ride hard offroad. It has 265mm of suspension travel and has been reliable.
I’ve owned the 990, and currently own the Desert X. Both are great bikes and very capable off-road. Where the Ducati shines above and beyond the KTM is on road. It is an incredible bike through the twisty roads. Never owned a Ducati before, but the Desert X has definitely changed my thinking on the Italian manufacturer.
For off-road who Is Better?
That’s a tough one. I’d say the desert x because of its longer wheel base. It made for a very stable feel off road. Confidence inspiring. The 990 was a very close second though. Photo finish😂
I have a S1000XR 2016 and DDX 2023 ....Love my bikes!!!
Me pasó lo mismo, me cambió la perspectiva completamente, las prestaciones que te da son tan buenas que después de probar motos trail del calibre descubres que tienes una bestia italiana, vale perfectamente sus 409 mil pesos .
950 I love ❤️ it and I will never sell it. For 2024 I agree with you, the closest bike to 950/990 platform is desert X. But nowadays all bikes have a big minus... a lot electronics. My suggestion is less parts a bike has less problems you will have,
I have two 990 2007. Yes, they need to be handled with care. Once all the things that you are supposed to do are done, the bikes are very reliable. If only gas were cheaper...
My 2010 990 had over 50,000km’s on it when I sold it in 2013 and was still running perfectly and I still miss it. It had a hard life 70% off-road
You got the 1 out of a 1000.
@@DannyHerron I had a 990 SMT for 10 years and it was solid as a rock ... so what, 2/1000 ?
50k kms is absolutely nothing. LC8 if well maintained (water pump seal, cam chains, regular oil changes) can definitely go 150-200k km if not even more.
I own that bike and always puts a smile on my face.
i just cant give up my 990. nothing else does it for me
A certified classic
Same for me. I have a 990 S for 13 yrs now and despite lotsa distractions on the new bike market, the visceral feel, looks and sound of a 990 still stirs my soul like it did in the beginning. (I hope to get a few more years still. . . )
990 still the KiNG Period
I have both an 03 and 06 950S Adventures, as well as an 89 600 Transalp, so there is no reason for me to ever purchase another adventure motorcycle. Being I love my current bikes, I don't have a bucket list bike for Adventure, except maybe an original Africa Twin to compliment the Transalp.
I'm south African, I have a 990r adv ,I'm getting a bit old now ,67 but I love this bike ,would love to buy a 890 but alas being a pensioner it is not possible, very good comparison thanks
Love my ktm 950 adventure carby model super easy to work on and sounds hot 👌
Great comparison I own a 2012 990 and right it has a soul. I did a test ride with the Ducati, too. Great looking bike, but if you really want to go offroad 990 is first choice.
Well said!
My baja 990 is tougher 'n woodpecker lips! Been down like a cheap date n had more hot lunches than I can count. By far best bike I've ever had . Unbelievable reliable.. besides rear master cylinder... jus weld up the sight glass n ur good ta go
I love my 950 ADV S so much.
And got myself a 950 SMR for the road as well😍
You better know how to keep them alive though 😅
990 any day of the week
Every time I see a video that features a 990 I get super sentimental about my old 990... Shouldn't have sold it. The feeling it gives just isn't matched by any other bike I've ridden adter
I just got a 950 this summer and just came in from wrenching it. Made a cup of tea and saw this video in a youtube recommendation. I guess I will keep mine as long as possible, since actually I don`t know for which bike I would like to exchange it. 1290 super ADV is nearly 20 grand brand new and more of a touring bike. 890 and Norden are with faulty cylinder heads. Africa Twin is 230kg dry, if i`m not mistaken. Nah, I will stick to this old thing until it completely falls apart. What is also interesting is that my 950 feels sharper and has more responsive throttle than my friend`s 990. I dont know if my carbs have been adjusted in some way by previous owner but the throttle on my bike feels like a crack of a whip.
@@reinisrudzitis4802 The 950 has way better fuelling then the 990 tbh. The 990s were known to be quite herky jerky on the throttle. It got better in the later years but it was never as good as the 950s were
@@tolga1coolI have both and I can confirm. Even though my 950 is 10 years older than my 990, it still works better for her originally intended purpose. Other than being newer, with a little more power and a tad less vibey, I see no advantage to the 990.
@@reinisrudzitis4802 Early 990's with EFI had some fueling issues, so it's not surprising that a 950 with well sorted carbs would run better. I've had to get my 2007 990 remapped on a dyno, because in stock form it ran like crap at lower RPM's.
for the average rider both bikes are way more bike than you need for riding on dirt roads
I have a 12 990R and a 2016 1290. Guess which one gives me more smiles. The character of the 990 is something special. Even if it’s too tall, too heavy, and tries to kill me. I love it.
990 for the win
both are great bikes, I will stick with my 2012 990 Adventure R. great footage makes we want to get out there and ride some more...
That's what its all about!
Tolga is the man! no kids no wife just enjoying ride! Helal olsun!
Perfect shootout. I love KTMs of past days and Ducati motorcycles of these days.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed!
Also the KTM is a bit Italian. The first legendary KTM 950 LC8 Adventure was made in Italy for and with Fabrizio Meoni and Giò Sala. The only bike developed directly from a Dakar prototype. I sold my 990 ADV with more than 100 km. The only issue: the clutch actuator.
Maybe assembled in Italy but engineered in Austria and it's the engineering that matters most assuming they have also engineered the production facility and have some QA/QC to ensure whoever's assembling it doesn't mess it all up. But yes if Meoni and Sala helped develop it and built there then sure it's a bit Italian.
@@shavedape LOL Austrians are Hungaro-Italians, they would just not be transparent about it and it’s the main reason why they try so hard to speak their own german. ;-)
I would love the desert X, but when you weigh in the cost of the bike and all of the farkles required to do some proper adventure riding, the cost is way out of reach for most people. You can buy a late model 990R with mods (probably by the previous owner), and have enough money to ride the adventures you want on the same budget as just buying the X.
You can buy a 990 for yourself, plus two more for two buddies to go ride along with you for the price of a DDX!
I was on the point to buy a brand new 2023 desert X and buy a 7000$ 2013 ktm 990 Baja edition instead… because of this video review! Thanks for made me save 10K!! Cheers!
Absolutely love my 2012 990 Dakar! Suspension upgrades are needed in the future but it’s a monster that’ll eat up more than I can ever give it
For Desmo servicing needed good service on 30k km(on 15k km check belts and change oil)and it's expensive(1k-3k $) that is big problem for Ducati😢.
As an owner of an 04 KTM 950 Adventure. My father owns a beautiful 990 Adventure as well along with a 1090. My brother owns an 890. We love our KTM's. Some of the most addicting fun bikes you can ride. I also came off a XR650L setup more towards adventure riding. I'll never get rid of my 950. As a Dakar fan, this was a dream bike purchase for me and I'm glad I picked one up. Personally I really enjoy the Carb feel on the 950 as well.
Don't sell it my friend, keep it as long as you live, this bike is priceless with a huge history. Wish you the best
I had a 950 adventure too that i sadly crashed, but my father bought it off me and sold his 990. So he has the 950 now! The difference between them are quite big. The 990 is a lot more touring/asphalty. The 950 is super aggressive but still smoother.
I own a ktm 990 2007 R I went with some friends with new ktm 890's and I and them were surprised with the enduro capabilties of the 990 really hard enduro. And the looks- sound is amazing!
Pls ktm bring this headlight back
It's a terrible performing headlight that is borderline dangerous for how weak it is and needs auxiliary lighting (or an entire replacement).
I like these comparisons with the old 950/990! That was a terrific bike that had all the basics covered, and still looks appealing today: 18/21 wheels, great ground clearance, suspension travel, good damping, 100 hp, strong brakes, mid 400 lb range.
I would have hoped that modern materials and manufacturing would enable the manufacturers to shed weight from these bikes, but alas.
Perhaps the new Kove 800x will be the unicorn?
If you do a long trip on the ktm, get a single tail pipe conversion and fit an auxiliary tank, as it drinks like a fish. Also needs a better seat, as old ktm seat are like granite. It would also benefit from some extra cooling as they get very hot in traffic. This shoot out proves the ktm 990 was well ahead of it’s time.
That’s my setup 😉👍
does the conversion to single tail bike help improve fuel mileage even without an aux tank?
@@ojalaandrew887
I don’t think it improves mpg much, but it will remove the Cats I think from memory and if you do that, the bike will need a new fuel map which you can get from KTM. I don’t think it costs a lot.
I have had both 950 and 990. The carb 950 is a better bike to run, its fuel consumption is lower and the engine behavior much better compared fuel injected 990.
I don't like the electronic stuff. Not that I don't see the point of having them, just that like working on my own bikes and I am not an electrical engineer. I also like minimal, raw motorcycles. I also had a 990 SMT, it was the best bike I ever owned and was reliable as hell. So I'd take the KTM all day long.
I got 2010 990 SMT couple months ago, best bike I've ever owned.
Why I ride a 990 🔥
950 adv ( 2003 )- 990 adv ( 2006 ), I have not been impressed in 21 years. ( 18 years )
It's been 21/18 years! And he still compares the 2024 engines to the 950/990
I still have never seen any new offerings which could replace my 2013 KTM 990 Adventure Baja. I got it specifically because there are NO electronics to step in and mess with you. The KTM is however a motorcycle best owned by a technician, otherwise you will spend way too much money paying someone else to do the work, and it's a pain in the a** to perform regular maintenance compared to the rest of the options.
The Desert X won't be easy either.
Good video. I own a 990 and checked a Desert X at the dealer. Ergonomics very close, I liked that. Looking forward to have some time riding the Desert X before make decisions.
Right on thanks for watching! Good luck in your decision.
i currently have the Desest X and it's a better bike but it's 10 years of tech and learning on the 990 which still is a great bike
Hi, you try both? How are for off-road stuff ? Pro and cons? Im Just going to buy One of these two
@@alberto-cg7ox well they are 10 years apart and the Ducati is just better the tech in rally mode is really clever so it compliments your riding. But it really does depend on your skill level i race enduro so i'm a decent level rider and i would pick the ducati every time it's reliable plently of grunt but the KTM is better to crash and parts are cheaper however it does feel more off road biased whereas the ducati is more onroad biased but it does everything great
@@dubreg6711 I've a trial bike and a 300 2 stroke.. ride some enduro and trial so.. Im not a pro.. I know the basic, jap , double blip, traction ecc.. but I'm very basic level.. I was looking for something for enduro/travel. I'm not interested about on Road behaviour .. I had 690 and Cagiva elefant so no problem.. the weight of the two bike Is the same.. curious about center of Mass, inertica ecc.. if One it's more enduro oriented..
KTM 1090 fits nicely between the two but I still love the rawness of the 990.
Me encanta la 990 Adventure. Muchas gracias por el video. Me suscribo para estar atento a tus aventuras por Sudamérica. Saludos desde Argentina.
Great video guys. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks Scott!
K&N on the desertx for off-road 🤣
THE KING,…. Great comparison to see the King vs the Desert X. Thank you!!!
Glad you liked it!
The 950 Adventure is a step better than the 990 (mainly fuelling, fuel consumption and range - all better on the 950).
Regarding travel: all the 950/990's faults are well known, so can be fixed. One of my 950s has 225,000 kms on it, and is very reliable. We have yet to see how the Ducati is regarding long-term reliability.
When I first rode the DesertX, I thought it was the closest bike to the 950. Very similar road manners. Good job Ducati.
Well documented indeed. Plus nothing really catastrophical. But a lot of annoyances and it's a pain to work on.
I'll take the Ducati Desert X in the Rally flavor
This comparison really just makes me want to keep my 1090r. Seems to offer a lot of what both bikes here have.
Was thinking which Adv bike to get. Love the 990s, own a 990 SMT with great ABS. But the 990 ADV R has no ABS, which is a no-go for me. Got a 1190 Adv R for less money than a 990 Adv R, love the 150hp on the streets, added heated grips, shaved 20kg off. With 23 l of gas it weighs 227kg.
Runs stable up to 260 kph. Takes 5 - 6 liter on 100 km. Good overall bike. Reliable too.
Mate I used to own an 1190R. Would have to be one of the best bikes I've owned. Only gripe was it was really too tall for me. I'm 5'9". How did you shave off 20kg?
I also had a 1190R. Rode hard offroad here in Australia. Recently. brought a smick 990 R. No abs or traction control and this thing destroys the 1190 offroad. I can get way wilder on the 990R, if I rod the 1190R the same way it would kill me. The 1190 was better on road.
@brettstone6885 that's interesting to know mate. I'd heard the 990 was still a better off road bike than the later models. What part of Aus mate? Most of my true off road riding the 1190 was in the Otway's and Vic high country.
@@frankensteinsgarage9632 South Coast NSW mate. I did the KTM rally on the 1190 in Tassie and rode it hard. Really struggled in the rough stuff at speed, the geometry of the bike is off. Hard bike to steer through the twisty single track while seated, not so on the 990. 990 has a much better front end feel. I was running 30-32 psi in the front tyre and had 4 flats in 1600km offroad. Heaps of fun but doesn't cope well when hitting multiple ruts ect.
@brettstone6885 good stuff mate. Maybe I need to keep an eye out for a good 990
No contest price wise😊
2013 KTM990 for 6 GRAND ?!?! DAMN!
Very well done video except for the music volume increase when the talking stops. Not enjoyable have to turn down the volume each time the segments change from talking to riding. After watching Adam Riemann ride the KTM 1090R in both the New Zealand and Australian adventure rallies, I knew that was the bike for me. I love the 990 but the 1090R adds a few rider modes that can make off-road riding safer, and the heated grips make Winter riding a joy, even in Colorado, USA. I use a computer for all; internet and do not own/use any wireless technologies, so the new bikes hold no interest for me: they are too complicated, and with the new KTM 890/1290, some riders have had starting issues off-road which in rural Colorado, can be very dangerous. I love how the motorcycle industry builds bikes that can make everyone happy; some prefer the latest electronic tech, while others like myself prefer less or none at all, as on the 1090R and the 990. Thank you for the great job making this video, have not seen the results of the proposed South America ride, but will research that now!
Hi mate, Reimann can make anything look amazing, very talented rider here in OZ. Ive extensively ridden the 1190R, very similar to the 1090R, I know own a 990R, 265mm suspension travel. Its a miles better DIRT bike than the 1090/1190. The 1190R is much better on the road with just insane power. I'm a fast off-roader and ride my bikes like a rally bike and the 1190 had major limitations offroad that the 990R does not.
@@brettstone6885 you have much better skills than I do! I ride a 2023 KTM 350 EXC-F for difficult/technical off-road rides.
And then it was a BMW HP2 Enduro in 2005.
990R would be a step up to this s model. But still, a great comparison. The OG, the King, vs the newest punk on the block
Ok, with no kids and mostly no wife i could buy two desert X!!!
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I have a 1090 r and love it! I think it was the sweet spot between old and new. What's your thoughts?
This the test I'm interested in, is thew Desert X, the successor of the 990
Sold my 2013 990 and bought Tenere 700 world raid
Why is everybody using the same type of stupid music
Great video guys! 👏🏻
Thank you!! 😁
The first thing would be to find a Ktm 990 in good shape and like to work on your bike ?
Trailmax Raid is not high mileage. Trailmax Missions are. Raid rear lasted me 3k. Front is holding well. Running it with a Motoz Tractionator Adventure which will be replaced with a Tusk 2Track next to try keeping the Raid front. Highly doubt you'd take the Desert X anywhere in the world on an adventure especially a solo one. People are going to continue to buy the T7 over others. We all know why.
Wait till you have to adjust the chain on the Ducati...what's the torque figure for the wheel nut?
(Biased 950 owner).
Seriously I sold my Ducati because I literally couldn’t find an accurate spec to tension the chain. Even bought the dam Hanes manual. Ducati is for rich people
I love both bikes l.. but you're right. I've also call ducati and Say they don't want to let the workshop manual (not the maintance). I have nothing against electronics.. but if I can't use any software to diagnostic or repair issue it's a big problem when travel .. if something happend in offroad how to do? 950 have carb so no software.. 990 it's efi but I can use tuneecu and software Is open... All new moderno bike have lock software.. it's not Freedom.
Does anybody know where was that filmed?
I LOVE to PARADE at Starbucks. At 37k I am still open throttle and no problems . I Have issued with brakes giving out. Want Rottweiler performance and a valve job. Might as well cycle south and have 3 bikes. Pick me:)
Both bikes have the same mirrors. I mean, the bikes are basically the same.
KTM 990 2013 has ABS! You better know what you say about this bike man. This bike is a masterpiece
@dimitris9366 No the 2013 does NOT have ABS or traction control, which is why I ride one.
You’re wrong. Baja version did not.
I own 2023 baja no traction or abs which I like.
tolga abi en iyisini yapmışsın çocuk yapmamakla izindeyim
Aprilia Caponord, 990 on the cheap 🎉
great bike but 17 inch wheels
The Caponord is nothing compared to these bikes.
Too expensive
Father and Son
Test it against a 890 Adventure there only 39 cc apart
Those are both heavies. The base model Africa Twin only weighs 503lbs fueled.
Put crashbars and a luggage rack on the Africa Twin and the difference will be gone.
Nup…KTM 990 Adventure is 460 dry, 492 fuelled, add in oil and brake fluid and it’s certainly not heavier, maybe line ball, most likely a few pounds lighter
My Ducati DesertX has Genuine Ducati bash plate, crash bars, aux lights, heated grips, aux bar w/Ducati branded Garmin GPS, bar bag, full race Termignoni de-cat race exhaust and EVO tune.
With brand new Scorpion STR tires tires installed and filled to the brim, it tips the scale at 488 lbs.
Sorry, the Honda is heavier then the DDX.
@@jamescampbell4334 That is objectively not true unless your accessories are made of Helium.
Ducati says 463lbs (unfueled) themselves. Fuel capacity is 5.54 gallons. One gallon of gas is 6lbs.
At an absolute minimum, with NOTHING else on the bike, it weighs 496lbs.
Yours weighs virtually the same as the base model Africa twin.
@someguy5035
Full wet weight of the DDX is 492.
Termignoni full race decat exhaust drops the weight to around 482, the accessories added around 6 lbs.
That is objectively FACT.
Edit; I have the rear peg assemblies removed too.
It’s surprises me at how many people like that Chinese shit box
I’m not mad at this test. Maybe compare a new and old bike of the same brand/class next time
and then came a long the F900GS....
It didn't make it to the film site because of the same throttle problem they've had for 5 years now.
My 990 was the most unreliable bike I've ever owned. In addition, it was a huge PITA to work on. Out of all my KTM's, it's the one I don't regret selling. I wouldn't take either of those out of the country, dealer network and parts support for the Ducati is going to stink south of the border and the 990 is just too fickle to rely on.
What parts did you have to replace? People do say they're a bit of a PITA to work on.
TWO EXTREMELY unreliable brands and models.
In the grand scheme of what the 990 was designed for it's one of the most reliable bikes, what dirt bike/endure will handle thousands of hours or riding with oil changes (not rebuilds) every 200 hours? And total life of regularly over 1500hours (~50k miles)??? If you rode a YZ250 on the road as a road bike, it too would be unreliable.
@@AntaresSQ01 these are big dual sport adv motorcycles they are not dirtbikes
That comparison doesnt make sense, the yz250 is a pure dirtbike. The engine is designed to rev its heart out for a few hours at a time, short life spans.
The tenere 700 CP2 regularly goes over 170 thousand miles without anything besides oil changes and valve clearance adjustments. Thats what an adventure bike engines should be. Who the fuck wants a cam follower failure in the middle of Sudan?
Do a 20ft jump on a 1200GS and tell me how reliable it is!
Correct. And for that reason I’d prefer the 950 and made sure it has all upgrades it needs to be reliable, as I would do on a T7 if that’d be my choice. But it’s a different animal. Until then I ride my Himalayan 411. ;-) joking.
Any reliable bike is unreliable if you got the wrong one. And there’s no sports bike that covers 300tkm proving it’s reliability in quantities. There I can only see a supertenere1200 and that’s a boat, maybe a varadero, another boat, … Bikes that can’t do 300tKm easily, and neither 50tKm without needing an engine opening or electric unit replacement, or having a service other people buy a motorcycle for that bill, are unreliable in general to me, all others are just bike-average nothing to brag about.
Stupid head to head
Thanks for the comment! We appreciate your thoughtful insight.
I think it’s very relevant. I own both but if I only could have one I would take my old 990S without a doubt.
It’s comparing an apple to an orange
Thanks for the condescending response
I will just unsubscribe and not read your magazine if you can’t be real journalist
Pocos hablan de la desert x , en parte porque pocos la tienen, si la llegan a tener , cambiarían de opinión.
"When the [990] is working, you'll be really really happy"
How I feel about my 1190. She's a drama queen, but I love her when she's running well.
I wouldn't want to fix the Ducati either on the road. Cause YOU CAN"T. You can't even in your garage.
It has one step air filter cleaning. Step 1) Contact your Ducati dealer.
Just because the manual says contact your dealer doesn’t mean you can’t work on it yourself… I’ve replaced my air filter, all brake pads, chain and sprocket, oil and filter and reset the service light all without going to a dealer…
@j0hn22
I've done the filter swap in 20 minutes.
Installed a 3 stage foam Uni-Filter (Australian company) so it only needs to be swapped every 9k miles or so.
One of the first DesertXs was ridden 13k kms across Australia with the 2 stage Uni-Filter without cleaning or swapping.
@@gpzfan5272 What equipment did you use to reset the service light?
Wow... weighs alot.. by the time you add your gear to South America, off roading may be limited.
Yeah we were surprised at the weight. Decat exhaust, lithium batteries, removed center stands, all kinds of weight reduction stuff going on... but then you add a beefy skid plate, luggage racks, some spare parts hidden inside the bike and pretty soon that weight comes back.