Er, Don't suppose you have considered the F800 GS.
Almost got tempted by the 990 when looking about for a bike as I am a big KTM fan. However the 990 felt like a really big lump.
Then I tried the BM, Sold. First demo test ride was on wet muddy back roads. The bike handled brilliantly, easy to hold when drifting and pretty well balanced. Managed to find an 09 bike with luggage at my local dealer, love it.
The only other bikes that I considered were the XT660. A mates got one, A good durable work horse, works well both of and on road with boxes etc, or the old 640 adventurer, tough and very capable machine but a bit hard to find a good one. Another friend has one of these.
The new KT690. Not too sure, it seems that they need so much changing on them to make them a good long legged AB. Should be great off road, but on road and big distances with luggage,
don't know. I'm personally not keen on spending a heck of a lot of cash on a bike and then having to spend a shed load more trying to make it into the bike I really want. :S
Best idea! Sell the bike if you don't like it. Then take your time to choose, it's not a race and you have cash in pocket. Try a Yam / BM even a trumpet if you do mostly road miles. but do go for a good demo ride to help you decide.
Yep, I did give the demo bike back to the dealer plastered in mud. They did not mind. As promised, I did not go off road with it. Yep, I was lucky, as I was paying for the 09 bike another guy was discussing buying it with one of the other sales staff.
Picked up my bike and went for a bimble. Ah, it's pretty dry today, I can just nip down Gypsy Lane and get onto Bullocl Lane as a gentle off road try out. Dry my *rse. Bloody big and long mud holes and me on road tyres with side and top boxes fitted. laugh, Sh*t, can't turn around, oh well, feel up, trials ride it keep it nice and steady and keep momentum, don't stop. All Good. Stayed upright. Bike well plastered but did well. You can imagine the comment when I dropped in for a coffee at the dealers on the way to a jet wash. Look what youv'e done, (or words of a similar vein),not had the bike more that a couple of hours. Still got a free jet wash in their yard as well as a coffee. Result.
Sorry to digress a bit. Buit the reason is simply to emphasise my comment. TRY THEM ALL.
Then decide which one you like best. GOOD LUCK.
D-S