Source: Bike Bound
“Crazy Race Animal” — Loko Dream Factory’s KTM rally bike…
The KTM 990 Adventure was one serious dual-purpose machine, offering the 999cc LC8 V-twin engine from the fire-breathing Super Duke in a bike with more than 8″ of suspension travel at each end. On the dyno, the 990 Adventure made 92 hp at the rear wheel — just 4 hp shy of the BMW R1200GS, its main rival, but the KTM was 25-30 lbs lighter.
The result was one hell of an adventure machine:
“Ridden solo the 990 is pretty much ready for anything. Though it still feels like a big dual-sport and its power tempts one to ride more briskly in the dirt than is probably prudent for most of us, a skilled rider can get it down just about any type of road really, really fast.”
Our friend Tom Kol of Israel’s Loko Dream Factory is one of those skilled riders — a veteran off-road racer who wanted to transform his 990 Adventure into a rally-ready race machine:
“I created a crazy bike to use in my rally races, which would have good performance on the motocross track and wood trails at the same time…. The main influence for this project was my crazy mind.”
To tackle the desert, woods, and motocross track, he lifted the bike a whopping 10 centimeters (4 inches) with all new front and rear suspension. As you can see from the photos, that’s enabled this 990 Adventure to truly fly!
Other highlights include a redesigned subframe / tail unit, front mask / headlight, and tank guards, as well as a 2-into-1 exhaust, new wheels, and new paint with graphics Tom designed himself. Not only does this 990 now look like a factory-built rally bike, riding it is a truly “loko” experience:
“It feels like riding a crazy race animal.”
Below, we talk to Tom for more details on “The Beast.” Photos courtesy of Nir Amos (@nir_amos32).
KTM 990 Rally Bike: Builder Interview
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
KTM 990 Adventure, 2009.
• Why was this bike built?
I built this bike for myself to race rally.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
I created a crazy bike to use in my rally races, which would have good performance on the motocross track and wood trails at the same time.
It was super important for me to create a cool looking bike that will get the attention everywhere it goes! The main influence for this project was my crazy mind.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Complete new rear suspension
Front suspension cartridges and springs replacement
Complete new single pipe system
Re-designed sub-frame
Re-designed rear tail unit
Front mask and headlight
Complete new wheels
Re-designed fuel tank guards
New paint and self-designed stickers for the entire bike
Flat race fitted handlebar
• Does the bike have a nickname?
The Beast.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Crazy! I lifted the bike 10 centimeters. The new suspension makes it feel like a lightweight enduro bike. It feels like riding a crazy race animal. I race desert rally and ride motocross and wood trails on it.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
The new suspensions.
The re-built sub-frame and tail unit.
The super crazy final look of the bike.
Follow the Builder
Website: www.lokokol.com
Instagram: @loko_dreamfactory
Photographer credit: @nir_amos32
