What about in Oz Tim? Are you telling me I'm riding around with an extra 490cc! ;-)

I can answer that actually: I am, but I love it.

To the O.P.: I have owned 3 KTMs (450, 690, 990) and know many other owners. I know of 990s with well over 100,000km that have never had the engine cases opened. Even one 690 with over 100k.

The bigger bikes, including the 690s (and Husky 701s) are NOT high maintenance. They have long service intervals and valves need checking only every 15k kms. They are very solid and reliable and I wouldn't hesitate with one of these.

The enduro bikes are HIGH maintenance but designed to be. I.e. 500cc EXC and below. These need very regular oil changes, for ADV probably every 2,000km. This does not mean they are unreliable. This is typical for an enduro/race bike.

All of these bikes have some small known issues which are well documented and can easily be worked around. This is the case with all brands.

I'm not sure where KTMs got this reputation but it must've been in the 90s before I started riding them. My 990 has been absolutely bulletproof and it's half way to 100,000. The more I ride it the more I trust it.

A final word: the bigger capacity bikes are more complex. 1190/1090 is a very complex bike. If you're not comfortable working on those sorts of systems a smaller, simpler bike is advisable. Although the 690s are fuel injected (extremely reliable!) they are a bit less mechanically intimidating.

If I was buying a bike today I would go smaller and get a 690. It's just that once you ride a 990 you never want to get off...


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