990 at 43k miles

Replaced my OE engine at 63k miles plus unknown race miles, primarily due to rattling top end - subsequent strip down revealed u/s cam chain tensioners only (plus damaged piston due to broken plug) - based on that and Colonel Klinck's 50k miles dropped valve, suggest top end overhaul incl. valves, guides, cam chains and guides, and possibly pistons, rings and small ends would be sensible at circa 50k miles.

Having said that, second engine dropped exhaust valve at circa 20k miles and then another one less than 50 miles after total engine rebuild............both resulted in bent con rods but no evident damage to big ends, crank, etc - bottom end proven to be strong, cf advrider.com.

guy that sold mine to me worked at KTM.
Said guys bring these bikes in with 100K miles on em. Said they're pretty tired by then but seems the bike can last a bit.

Mines got 42 k on the clock and runs as well as when i bought it with 7K miles.

good luck

Mine's running well at 58K miles. Knocking on wood.

This is the question I always ask other 990 Superduke riders I meet...and hope not to hear horror stories I love my 2008 SDR so I'll run it as long as I can...don't care about the resale value but the service intervals come in thick and fast since it's my only bike! Got mine at 15k miles and put just over 10k in the past year riding year round (95% fun miles). 3k of that was a 10 day trip down to Tuscany from London through the Alps. I did bump into someone while waiting for the Le Shuttle in France who was telling me about their friend who's SD has fooked twice in a short space of time...I'm guessing that's Klinck...small world

Mine's still running good at 25k...I have fun but I wouldn't class myself as a complete hooligan (none of my wheelies are intentional ). Pretty sure the gasket at the bottom of the rear cylinder (base gasket?!) is weeping. I thought stretchy bolts weren't a feature on the 990 SDR! My balancer shaft seal was completely prolapsed and pissing oil into the trumpet through the breather hose (smoked like a two-stroke), so replaced that but now the generator cover is leaking after refitting...a fix for another day! Oh while in Europe she did develop a very small coolant weep which got sorted by replacing the main clutch cover gasket. But the bike felt really good after two hour 'supercruise' to get to the Tunnel despite having really bad neckache from windblast there's this really nice silky sweetspot around 8k rpm in 6th...kinda took me by suprise since it's a v-twin! I guess Italian tuneups do some good

Currently getting it serviced at KTM Hemel but getting them (or any dealer) to do a rebuild at 50k just won't be worth it since I'm trying to save for a another silly (non-orange) bike. As mention earlier, I guess I should be looking at a rebuild around 50k as preventative maintaince and to keep her fresh. But then there's "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Currently burning/leaking 220ml per 1,000km...so still within spec

Aye, probably still me as he told me that he spoke to a SDR owner there round about then - call whom?

Sorry, wires crossed...you mentioned talking to Paul about an engine rebuild.

And your friend was talking about you not Klinck...didn't read it properly the first time :'D The story seemed so familiar at the time but it was only after I remembered I had read it on this forum but couldn't remember who it happen to.

With hindsight I would have changed the valves out when I did the cam chains at 52k. Seemed expensive at the time but not as expensive as a ruined engine. Live and learn.