[4][5] In August 1986, it changed to KKBR, (AKA "The Bear") and broadcast an eclectic mix of Classic Rock and Alternative Album Rock for several months (patterned after KFOG in San Francisco) before switching to a satellite delivered 50s and 60s oldies format when economic hard times hit the station.

[7] However, despite the success in Santa Fe, the Utah based owners would focus their efforts on the Albuquerque market, which had much more revenue potential.

[8] In March 1990, 98.5 would change to KRBL, and flipped to an Album-oriented rock format called "The Rebel Rocker", targeting a younger audience in Albuquerque.

After KIOT dropped Adult Album Alternative for classic rock in Fall of 1995, KTMN shifted its programming to fill the AAA void while continuing to use "The Mountain" brand.

It then went on to overcome two other long running oldies stations in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe markets, KBOM (moved to 94.7 in 2000, both frequencies which AGM had later purchased) in Santa Fe and KZKL (later changed to KQEO) in Albuquerque, which dropped the format in 2002, making KABG the only FM oldies station in both markets.

Local radio veteran Bobby Box would host the morning shift for several years, and would help make the station more popular with its target audience.