2013-06-20 update
Got the bike for a few weeks now, put over 1,000km on it. Love it! It's mean, it's big and it's fast! Got some bling for it... read details below.
It is a big mean V-Twin and, with the rather loud Hindle exhausts on it, sounds great. They just amplify the growl of that engine and make it seem like it's twice the power :).
There is some truth behind that "loud pipes save lives". The ones I have are not the obnoxiously loud kind, but loud enough and you definitely get noticed. Cars do make more room... all I have to do is just rev the engine and you certainly get noticed.... the drawback is that... well, you are noticed... even by cops. Not the best thing on a fast machine.
I kept thinking I want quieter pipes and I might, but for now I'll put up with these. If I get a quieter screen, they'll be next.
Anyways, did some city, did some backroads, did some freeway. It is great.
It is very smooth under 4k rpm (about 120 km/h). The seat is fairly comfortable: did a 3 hour ride with the kid on the back and it's great. May need an aftermarket seat for all day or multi-day rides, but it's good.
I got a KTM topcase, the small 37L, more as a backrest than to carry stuff, although I use it to store helmet when commuting. It's kind of annoying, because on the SMT forum, there some some who's frame cracked from topcase usage, so I tend to not use it now... not sure if I shuld spend some time/moneys and beef up the rear frame?
The stock screen is annoying - very noisy. I got a Givi screen, which is 17cm higher but made things worse actually - there is a bit less noise but much more turbulence now, even at small speeds (80 km/h). Not sure what to try next...
It definetly does not like slow traffic. The big V-Twin just lugs at low revs and you end up slipping the clutch like crazy - apparently some aftermarket fuel ignition maps will cure that, still have to try. Some say to change to a 16 tooth front sproket - I worry that it will raise the comfortable rpm at 120 km/h and introduce some vibration which then needs curing...
Other stuff I got:
Annoying stuff:
Continue reading 2010 KTM 990 SMT Review - part 2 or more impressions about the KTM 990: KTM 990 SMT vs Ducati Hypermotard or Upgrading the KTM 690 Enduro for 990 SMT. Here are my notes as well: Razie's 2010 KTM 990 SMT Notes++.