The KTM 990 Adventure, a Bike with Vast Potential

The KTM 990 Adventure offers an antidote to the BMW GS experience, while offering a real-life trailie-tourer. But how well does the KTM 990 Adventure do the day-to-day chores?

For a start, the KTM 990 Adventure's headlight is very good with a well-defined dip and good searchlight-like penetration for the main beam – quite an improvement over what the BMW GS offers.

The sidestand is okay, although when parking on a slightly arched surface you'll need to be careful. The centerstand, though, seemed to require too much muscle, the leverage point being perhaps in the wrong place. Filling up two fuel tanks, left and right, was a slight bind – you have to observe a rule of not overfilling the right tank (if you use the sidestand) – but it's no less of a bind than the BMW GS's strange funnel. The mirrors were also equal to the BMW GS's. There is strangely a very limited steering lock as well. WE say strangely because off-roaders typically have a generous steering lock, but the KTM 990 Adventure's upside-down forks seem to prevent anything like the tight U-turn you can achieve on the BMW GS. So much so that the lack of lock will catch you out on your first few rides.

Instrumentation is also a step down from the BMW GS. Cool in orange they may be but the list of functions comprises just speedo, analogue tacho, digital odo, plus two trips. O and clock. Actually that's pretty good, only it's lacking the handlebar mounted scroll button of the BMW GS, and the mode buttons on the console are slightly small and fiddly for a gloved hand.

And you'll want to try a two-up test ride if you regularly carry a pillion. Our pillion tester though the accommodation a touch compromised being too short in the saddle and when the panniers were fitted too restrictive on legroom too – a bit numb all-round after 100 kilometers.

Fuel consumption was consistently and acceptable and with the fuel light coming on at 240 to 260 kilometer mark refuels were every 274 to 290 kilometers. Given the 22-liter fuel tank the theoretical range is about 335 kilometers, but the reality is the consumption rate and fuel range are both just a wee bit below the BMW GS's ability.