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2024 KTM 690 Enduro R On and Off Road Test Ride and First Impressions
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 มิ.ย. 2024
- The KTM 690 Enduro R is one dual sport motorcycle that I've been dying to test ride for a long time. I've also been afraid to throw a leg over it because I've been afraid of just how much I think I will like it and I don't want to buy one right now.
Imagine my surprise when I finally got a KTM 690 Enduro R test ride in and discovered that I wasn't enjoying it nearly as much as I thought I would. After an hour or so with the bike, my initial KTM 690 Enduro R review is honestly surprisingly negative. Riding this bike feels like a workout and while I thought it would turn out to be the best of both worlds in terms of ADV and dual sport motorcycles, in reality it feels more like the opposite.
Shockingly, I walked away from this KTM 690 off road and on road test ride kind of underwhelmed. I'm sure this is the perfect very powerful dual sport in the hands of the right off road motorcycle rider, but what I discovered is that is definitely not me.
Big thanks to Power Motorsports in Sublimity Oregon for the opportunity to do this KTM 690 Enduro test ride! Check out their website: www.powermotors...
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KTMs are hooligan bikes at heart. That's why I love them. Definitely not for everyone.
That's exactly why I haven't sold my KTM 450 EXC-F. After riding it all over Death Valley for about 2 weeks in early April, I convinced myself it's a lot more fun than the T7 I had.
I love mine... not selling it!
Yup, not the most reliable, but no other dual sport is as fast and thrilling either. Not a beginners bike.
Explain to me like I’m a GSXR squid
I ride mine a maximum of 1-2 hours to get to the good stuff. And that's with the rally pegs and seat concepts xl on it. The stock seat is horrible in transport, for hard charging it will do. Also, it's the first bike I've got that makes me giggle like a eight year old every time I just walk by it in my garage - because it will do stuff, behave like a german sheppard on meth when you give it throttle. So if you ride it active - It will preform - but you have to roll on the throttle, just like a street bike or it will get you into trouble fast.
Well, I'm old, fat, and short. I love my 690. Best dual sport I have ever ridden. 10k trouble free miles to date. It is a bit twitchy, I admit that, but the beast can be tamed and for sure not a beginner bike! It likes to wheelie, can do 80-100 mph no problem. Gravel, two track, single track are all smiles for me.
I have done loads of mods to my 690. Rally fairing, aux tank (I carry 5 gal of fuel). Rally pegs, comfort XL seat, crash bars.
The 690 is for sure my unicorn!
I have 6k miles on a street 400 , 36 years old second year riding and I learned more quickly than I anticipated. Now I want a dual sport. Would you say that off-roading is harder to learn than street riding ?
@@mycool_p6483 I'm 60 and primarily ride dirt. Start small, get some experience, move up.
I can't tell you how awesome it is to hear an honest "I don't like it" from a reviewer. Just makes me trust your reviews even more.
I also appreciate the "I don't like it, but here is who I think the bike is designed for" instead of just bashing it for why it's not the bike for his specific riding type and level of aggressiveness. Dork FTW
Sounds like maybe the old adage still holds true: "it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than ride a fast bike slowly." Great review Dork!
I've had my '17 690 now for about 4 years. I LOVE it. It does have a Yenkro fairing on it, which makes it a whole lot nicer to ride on the highway. However, you still don't forget that it's a thumper/dual sport. Everyone reviewing these makes the same mistake, they think it's going to rip up singletrack like a 500 EXC. It's not, at least not in the hands of most riders. It's a dual sport bike that kicks serious ass on BDR type rides. I'm a lot happier picking up my bike vs my friends T7, which weighs over 100lbs more for instance. The bike is a complete hoot, it makes me giggle in my helmet every time I ride it. I haven't found it unhappy at slow speeds, on the more technical passes here in Colorado I usually leave it in 1st gear and just let it eat.
I got a 2017 enduro R many years ago. I didn't like it either for about 2 months. Then it RAPIDLY grew on me, and is now the benchmark.
Excellent assessment. I've had two of these, the original 640 and now a kitted out 701. 20k miles between the two, and I think the sweet spot for these is BDR riding and camping. It's light enough to make all the expert sections but can still easily ride the highway. I just did sections 1 and 2 of the ORBDR this week on it I appreciate that it can haul a small camping load, but still easily get back home on the highway at the end of the day.
I have a 500 that gets a lot of use, and it's unquestionably better for hard off road that the 701, but it is way less fun on the road and is is less relaxing with a load.
The 701 was a replacement for my 790 as a BDR bike two years ago, and I'm still very happy with the switch.
Well stated
You are, in a way , correct about this bike. I have a 2023 Husqvarna 701 Enduro and to me it is a light easy to manage bike but I say that after owning a 2018 1290 Super Adventure R. It is definitely not an Adventure bike in any way no matter how much you try to make it one. It is a dual sport bike geared more to off road than street. It is also geared to the more aggressive rider. To me it's not in the same class as a KLR, DR XR or T700 in stock form although many people try to compare them. Ride it hard and you'll love it. Rise it easy and you'll realize you spent way too much money for a bike when you could've had one better suiting your needs for half the price.
can you give me some options i could have for half the price? I am looking to buy just one bike, i need to commute to work, say 10-15 miles of city ride everyday. Hit the nature and trails on the weekends with light camping gear, and on longer breaks, maybe drive to a nearby state with camping gear and more luggage.
Something like crf300 and klx300 would be underpowered to carry luggage on longer trips, plus they would be too wispy on a highway. Drz400 would have similar issues, plus, I dont want a carburetor in 2024. Something like t700, ktm790, klr650 are too heavy and i just dont want a heavy bike, plus i am not taking them on trails. KTM 500 has the power but the engine requires frequent maintenance and will be wispy on highways. KTM 690 seemed like a good fit. I am not looking to thrash the bike on gnarly trails, just some fun off roading, but like you said at that point i would be wondering if i could have bought some other cheaper bike better suited to my needs, which are those bikes?
I guess Dork is not Ready To Race 😝
Ready To Camp
If I’m gonna race off road, it’s gonna be on a 2 stroke.
It's ready to repair
Lol. That's a good one.
(All in good humor!)
I enjoyed the honest opinion actually great work brother 👊
I own a 2022 690, I absolutely love it both on road and off road! It is not my only bike, but it is my first dual sport. I am a very experienced rider, I've riden street bikes from croch rockets to curisers and I raced motocross and enduro/hairscrambles for many years. I'm in my 50's now so it's been a littel while! LOL! I will say you are completely accurate the 690 is NOT for beginers, it is a bike that requires your attention but if you know how to use it it is probably one of the most amazing motorcycles you could ever ride. It is in my opinion fully capable from the highway to single track. It's not comfortable long distance but you can make it work with a seat change and a little (rear end padding!) It can be the unicorn people are looking for but for those who have the experince to use it. Over all it's an amazing machine and I for one love the freedom and diverce experience it offers me! That's my two cents make of it what you will! Enjoy the ride!
I’ve put about 12000 miles on a 690 over a course of a year - rode it across the country and up to Alaska as part of the Alcan 5000. Lived off of it for weeks at a time. Everything from 500+ mile days to freeway to singletrack. Mine was lightly adventurized (small tower) and I carried some luggage most of the time.
I think your assessment is fairly spot on - it’s a very unique motorcycle because it’s not a dual sport and it’s not an adventure bike. It’s a rally bike - KTM built the platform for Dakar - and I think they do a piss pour job of explaining/marketing what it’s supposed to be. It’s designed to go fast off-road, in mostly a straight line, and for a long time. That’s why it’s tall, kinda top heavy, doesn’t turn particularly well, and has gearing that seems way too short for any on-road riding. That said, it’s also super reliable and capable. Once you get used to how it rides, it becomes instinctive and the margin of safety you have when riding fast off-road is hard to match. It’s a platform that can be built into probably the ultimate light weight adv bike (basically what Lyndon Poskitt did), though also a ridiculously expensive one.
I think the fact that this platform exists (with changes/upgrades over the years) for almost 20 years now (more, if you include the 640) is testament to how good and unique it is in KTMs line up. They’ve redone everything else at least twice already.
A note on maintenance - this was one of the easiest to maintain modern bikes I’ve owned. I could do valve checks/adjustments in a parking lot. The engine did always sound like it was filled with gravel though 😂
I rode one once. Was like a big puppy that wants to play but doesn’t realize it can kill you easily. Down, boy!
I have a 701 that's all setup as a light ADV. Your assessment is fair as it comes from the dealer. If you had a chance to ride one that had a windshield or rally tower setup, your highway expectations would have been met. Off pavement, like you said, it's big and powerful, and you didn't do yourself any favors jumping from a Tdubs right to this. It has big power, but it is controllable and the clutch is easy to modulate to control that power. To me it is the unicorn bike, but it took a good amount of mods to dial it in exactly the way I wanted (Rade tower, Seat Concepts, Rekluse, Veridian Cruise), I can do tight trails, or hours on the highway at 70+ comfortably. A couple weeks ago I did 700mi in 2 days with hours on the highway and trails. Is it cheap? Nope. But it's a bike that I can comfortably do anything on.
My son rides a 300L Rally with ABS, and my bike feels like a super powerful version of that. They are very well matched aside from my comfort at higher speeds on the highway and really rough stuff.
how do u like that Rekluse??
It's unfortunate you have to mod it so much from the factory when the bike is already very expensive.
@@Roberta_Esposito it’s great. I have it set so it doesn’t freewheel on downhills so I still get the engine braking, but it does when stopped albeit with a little drag. If I dodn’t tell someone it’s on there they dont notice until they realize it’s unstallable. Makes dragging along at slow speed much easier.
@@TheParaxore agreed, although I wouldn’t say it has to be modded as much as I have, I just love the bike and wanted to make it my dream bike. I’d say an Adventure Spec windshield, slip on exhaust and it’s pretty much where mine is minus some shiny nice things. That’s only $650 or so.
I agree with this, especially with the big power but easily controlled. I've only been riding for about 2 years and I feel more confident on my 701 than any other bike. It is absolutely possible to ride this bike mildly.
I bought my bike from Power because of this channel, so just chiming in so they hear that again. :)
I've been riding a 2019 Husky 701 for 2.5 years. I love the bike. Up to then I owned a 640 Adventure for 10 years. In comparison the 701 motor is nearly electric feeling. No vibes until over 70mph.
I also totally see where you're coming from. When I first hopped on the 701 it was like sitting down at someone's computer where the mouse sensitivity is turned to 11. Offroad felt like a struggle trying to tame that motor. But I've figured the bike out and now love ripping it offroad. What helped me most was bar risers and steg pegs. More comfortable riding stance and I no longer have to hold onto all those horses with my hands, I just squeeze my boots and can lighten my grip on the bars.
You're absolutely right about it not being comfortable on the highway. Speeds above 70mph I'm just being blown off the back of the bike. I'm fully OK with that, I avoid long highway stints as much as possible. I've hacked up a little windshield that keeps most of the blast off my chest, but ditch it as soon as I can once I hop off the highway.
For me it's a close to the unicorn light weight ADV bike I have found. It's definitely not for everyone, and neither was the 640 Adventure. I appreciate your honest review.
I appreciated your honest feedback, sounds pretty accurate to me.
KLR with a slip-on and a 16 tooth has just been a treat for highway and off-road.....love it everyday
what gen tho lol?
I’m still riding my 2017 690 enduro r and it still makes me grin whenever I throw a leg over it. It’s vibey at high speeds. It’s kinda expensive to maintain but it’s got plenty of power and so much fun both on and off-road. It’s found a forever home in my garage next to my 2004 GSXR750 and my 1995 Harley springer softail
Whats that much expensive to maintain? Asking because I am looking into getting one, and kinda scared about that part.
@@fvpaquetqc Probably in relation to other brands (i.e. Japanese). Like other than being a pain, CRF450L doesn't cost that much per maintenance than the rest of Honda stable. You just do it two or three times as frequent. For KTM the cost per maintenance is going to be higher, and you do it about as often as CRF450L due to being high performance Enduro. So in comparison it would cost so much more compared to ordinary motorcycle.
@@fvpaquetqc I have no idea why people would think they are expensive to service, in Australia it is $25 for 2 filters and it uses 1.7 litres of oil per 10.000 kms.. I change every 5000kms, whats a 450 L every 1000kms ?? with oil and filters.
I sold mine and bought a used DR650 and a Wr250r.
It was fun but too advanced for me and my riding.
The traction control saved me from going wide at high speed.
In the DR I never get in that situation as Im not going so fast.
Your assessment is pretty accurate dude.
Do you feel the DR and WR are different enough and each serve a purpose? I have a WR which I love, but want to add a DR for more highway ability. I am just worried they are too close in real world use. I also don't want more weight than a DR. Thanks for any insight,
There’s a ton of crossover.
I have both so that friends can come join me on rides.
Plus my wife rides too.
I don’t need to tell ya that the WRR feels agile and playful whereas the dr650 has highway legs and eats FSR’s for breakfast.
I had a 690 a few years ago and tried to talk myself into really loving it. It never happened. Buzzy as hell on the highway, too much power on the gravel roads, horrific to change oil on and fuel pump issues. I have a fully farkled 300L that's smoother on the highway, more controllable on the gravel or off road, and have $5000 less in it.
Reassuring to see your comment. I'm getting close to buying a 300 Rally . Dealer tried to talk me into a es700 gas gas, but I'm keeping my T7 as well. I know I need to spend a bit on the rally. But really if you want Japanese reliability, fuel injection, great fuel range, comfort on road and long service intervals, out of the box, its the only thing available.
@@jethrowingnut13 klx300 is an excellent (if not better) option
@@claytonware7540 Unfortunately not available in Australia. They dont meet our Australian design rules. If they dont have ABS, that will be it. It's a real pain, Ive been riding for 52 years, dont think I need ABS to control a bike. They do it to protect learner riders. Cheers for the reply.
@@jethrowingnut13 I have a 300l and have been very happy with it. Check out TH-camr Shonky Productions regarding his CRF 300l. Cheers
@@jethrowingnut13 That's a real bummer. I suspect the whole ABS thing is more about the insurance companies like it is in the EU.
I have filmed a few rides on the KTM 690 recently and have nothing but excellent things to say. From streets & highways, to single track and hard enduro riding.. The bike is MORE than capable of doing it all, comfortably. I think you need to give it a second chance
That's why i like my DR650. It's not fast, but fast enough and i can pick it up easy, because i suck at off roading in sand (FL) and cost less.
It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow!
I rode an “adventurised” 2019 690 in the US over 4,200 miles of road, TAT and BDR over 23 days. I’m 65 with mostly road miles as it happens. This bike worked fantastically for me. Sure, it’s a handful if you let it but the TC and ABS were superb and kept me safe with very few near misses. I loved it so much I bought a 701 in the UK where I live. Each to their own!
I went to that dealership's website. I saw something I'm interested in and asked for a quote. I told them that you sent me. I hope that your good relationship with them continues and improves! Great videos!
OK, Dork has given his honest opinion about the 690 platform.
Is he right? Probably yes, because he has his mindset, background and riding abilities. So he clearly states that it's his personal view and not an objective review he gives.
Is he wrong? And this time, definitely yes. Because a lot of people do not listen carefully enough and will take this clip for an objective review.
I may clarify the latter statement with some examples.
My background: I started riding 3 years ago at 56. I'm not really fit, compensating missing fitness by will and endurance. Started on an 790 Adventure that I sold 8 weeks later and got a 701 Enduro. As beginner, I had to have it detuned to 40 hp for 2 years after passing my A2 license. Now I passed the full licence on June 4th and my 701 has the full 75 hp available.
So where is Dork wrong in my view:
- Power: the 690 has a bit too much power for technical riding, so one has to change the sprockets. I reduced mine by 9% and now I can just chug along in 2nd gear over quite rough terrain (mule trails). Did it help that my bike was restricted to 40hp, especially offroad? Not really, as offroading is mostly between 2-4000rpms where torque and HP are identical.
- Suspension: Dork did not adapt the suspension to his weight and riding style. So his opinion is probably quite biased and does not do justice to the full abilities of the WP suspension.
- Tyres: first of all the stock TKC80's are a compromise between old and crap. Get some proper 50/50 tyres and you'll feel a completely different bike!
- Tyres again: how can Dork give a judgement about the bike's offroad behavior riding street tyre pressure?
- The workout aspect: there, it absolutely depends where you come from. To me, the 701 is just light enough for offroading and quick enough for street riding. It's the lightest "adventure" bike I could find. All others were over the magical 400lbs limit. So I chose the weight and got the torque and power. It seems to me that Dork rather looks at torque and power first and weight comes in second. But what I clearly can confirm is that it is well possible to drive a 690/701 slowly and not feeling exhausted - I did it in my offroad beginners days. Now, after 8 trainings and 45 dayd of offroading in 15 months, I certainly did get used to it and ride faster by now. But still within two thirds of my abilities, the rest I keep for emergency situations. So the biased judgement here is that a one or two-hour testdrive is simply too short to really know if that bike is for you.
- Comfort/travel ability: I think that a 690/701 is a solid platform as travel bike if you can own just one bike and still want to travel in- and offroad. My longest travels were 5000kms in 17 days, and my longest single day travel were twice 700kms, once on highway only (had to catch a pre-booked ferry down in Italy) and once a pleasure ride over 10 mountain passes in the Alps (including the Stelvio) to steam off some work overload. Never felt pain, never was exhausted. You simply grow into it.
- And a last word about reliability: as newbie and as bike commuter, I did 55tkm on the 701 until I had my first serious problem. The starter engine was dead, and it got replaced on the extended warranty I had purchased. According to the voices on the Internet, my wallet should have been emptied by frequent breakdowns and the bike should have been more at the mechanics than on the road. Because, after all, it's "just another KTM in white/blue livery". Well, 2.5 years, total days at mechanic for unforeseen repairs: 3 days - and that includes a weekend!
I think Dork does great reviews, just this one seems to have been a bit off-target.
The sound and feel of my KTM (cough), I mean 701, has always really thrown me off. After riding bikes like my KLR, DR, & XR it's just so different. That being said, after you spend a lot of time on it and get a better understanding of the throttle, engine sound and what it takes to spin the rear, it's an amazing dual sport! As for the uneasy feeling, if you lowered one like the PO did with mine, I'd bet it would have a similar affect to what lowering my XR just did for me. Ground clearance is great, but not if you can't trust the bike in the corners!
Sound wise, all it needs is a slip on 😊
Your first impressions are spot on. I have a 701 Enduro; I initially thought I had made a mistake. The bike has very tall gearing. I changed the sprockets to 14/47 and added a Rottweiler Fueling Dongle to smooth out the on/off throttle, and it is a different bike. It still has plenty of top end to uncomfortably cruise at 70 mph if you're into riding a bike like this on the highway.
My 2 cents as I just left the dealership 2hrs ago because of the notorious slave cylinder problem. I bought it about two months ago and has 1000 miles on it and 2 days ago it pumped all the DOT 5.1 in my crankcase. I bought the bike just for a CDR - "The Hard Way", trip next month instead of taking my DR650 that I have full 100% trust in. Or several other bikes I have that is 100% ready to roll on the trip. Research the dealer reputation on warranty repair, or any repair for that matter. You will need and use it. I thought I had a good dealership, I was wrong. The 690R is a hot rod for real, but I'm concerned with its reliability for a BDR, 3000 miles from home. At the moment I'm leaning to my DR.
I feel yeah, been the achilleas for years, lots failed due to install, mine failed in a few hundred riding the TWAT on a MY2020. I had to redo that trip because of and also was hesitant. Let the dealer replace and make them do a oil change! Order the Oberon slave then put that new one in a bag and carry it but doubt you will need it. Or you can carry the seals you need for it and brake fluid. I had a Husky 701 SM before this 690r Enduro and rode that all over on road adv trips with, 20k + miles no issues, with ultra light weight no spares setup. Rode 690 on many week plus trips since my slave failed, no issues. I do bring some common spares but have not needed so far and I do lug the new factory slave around. Is it ultra reliable, no probably not, need a carb bike with little to no electronics to meet that requirement then they have not been updated for decades. * but up to you
Most people travel with a spare fuel pump…it’s not good that you have to, but that’s the reality. At least they’re small and light. My 690R has done 29,000km of mainly hard core desert riding in NW Australia, very remote, very very hot. Never had a problem. Not the fuel pump, not the rocker arms. It just goes. I have a rally replica kit, 30l fuel in 3 tanks…it just goes.
Thanks very much, Ben for reviewing this bike. I had the same feeling that you had while riding. I have not written it, but I imagine it’s just a beast with a pile of power. Thanks for the review. Looking forward to your next ride.
"A mans got to know his limitations" - DH
@@ridemfast7625 I realy respect The Dork Side when he disclaimers his riding style and admits that he is a sight seer rider and not a hard core rider. I love my 17 690 for even pure off roading, so I figured that he would have liked it, but it just goes to show that we riders are not all the same. Great review.
“It will ride you if you don’t ride it”… I love that part when I’m going up a nasty rocky hill.
@@calvinbryant7954 Agreed.
These bikes are amazing when they're not breaking down and snapping in half, I remember being completely blown away by the suspension the first time I tried one off road (coming from a 300L).
I have a 2022 690 enduro R, I had the suspension adjusted to my weight (260 pounds), switched the intake and dongle from rottweiler, added a power commander, arrow exhaust... all those mods made it smooth as hell at any speed. I agree that it was twichy stock but now it's the best dual sport for
me. I had a tiger 900 rally pro for a couple of years and it was great but this is way easier to handle. I've been riding for around 6 years now and it's a bike I think will make me a better rider and I don't think I will outgrow it.
I go on group rides in my Transalp and on tough offroad rides these 690s always do the best. For me I would rather get a crf250f as a complimentary bike but for riders that only want one bike I feel like the 690 might be it
I own a 690 and love it. For me, it has done everything that I need and have asked of it. Not always elegantly but it gets the job done. Your assessment is insightful and on target. To get the most out the experience, you need to ride it hard, not fast, just within it's power band. It's not for everyone. Horses for courses.
Know and understand your requirements and intended use. I wish more riders would take note of your criteria for bike selection, instead of buying machines that are not fit for their riding purpose. I see a lot of poor buying decisions made out there.
Nice content Dorkster. Keep up the good work.
I love your videos and I see you posted this and told myself not to watch it because I knew you would dog it. I just bought a KTM 690 Enduro R and I agree with some of your comments, the bike likes to be rev'd high, it doesn't like to be chugged down low like most dual sports. But saying you can't do technical stuff, or slow speed trails and need to keep it flat out... I think you over exaggerated this statement by a long shot. Now before I go further, I own a KLR650, a bike known for being a tractor. Yes, off road you need to keep the speed up but that is the thing. the KTM 690 is perfect for those that are looking for the next step up. Those that have the skill level that outperforms their current bike. A lot of people look at your advice to make decisions, so making the ktm not sound capable of being able to do hard offroad work is a shame.
I ride a DR650. I have a buddy with a 690. It’s a beast. I can’t keep up with him - he just walks away from me. Which is actually kind of a good thing. That way I can stop and pick up all the bits that keep falling off his bike. Literally. 😂😉
LOL 🤣🤣
I replaced my 690 with a T7. No regerts.
my 701 weights 50 kg less than a T7. No regrets.
What made you switch?
@@jarrod1687 better bike to travel on, more comfortable, more reliable.
My 701 owns. I agree with some of the commentary but not all. Glad you got to take one for a rip.
Unexpected review but appreciate your honesty. I bought an Africa twin, then 500 excf, but had a gap for a bike that I could ride at 90 mph, and kill it in single track that I. Can turn around on single track. I bought gas gas 700 with recluse clutch. It’s my unicorn-ish bike. Also with the traction control and the two fuel mapping, it gives me some advantages over the 500. But every bike is great in its own way.
I have a highly modified 2014 690. It's definitely a beast, not for everyone. It definitely needs the first two gears to be lower. Another annoying point the kickstand is way too long from the factory, makes it difficult to put up with even a slight left side grade.
The older ones definitely need a power commander, from the factory it was very lean under 4,000 rpm, then turned into a beast after that very abruptly. With the power commander the power is always on tap.
I've been riding for about 2 years, I would call myself an intermediate rider. I have a 701 and I love it. I wouldn't consider myself to be the go fast and crazy always kind of person and I do think this bike is perfect for me. It doesn't have any direct competitors. People will say well there's the DR650, and honestly it's not even a competition. The 701 platform is better in every single way. I had a DR and I loved it but this bike is in a league of it's own.
I do think this bike is a unicorn, but it doesn't come from the factory as one. It's a unicorn platform to build into what you want. I'm 6'3 and I don't have a tower or windscreen on my bike and I think it's totally fine below 75mph. I expected way worse hearing what people say but it's really not bad. It does have a lot of HP and torque which can be a lot, but once you get used to the engine I feel like it can be ridden pretty mildly offroad. This bike is really really good for the people who want to do ADV/Dualsport riding but can only have one bike to do it all. I don't haul my bikes ever, and I'm not a good enough rider to do harder stuff on a 450lb bike. This thing is perfect for people like me.
I don't think I'd suggest it as a first bike but I also don't think I agree with the conclusion that this bike is for people that only want to ride aggressively. I think it can be ridden pretty mildly and I know that cause I do it. My previous bikes were a 250l rally and a DR650, I feel like I've learned more on my 701 than the other two. The 701 makes me want to ride more than any other bike I've had. I've put like 5k miles on mine in 4 months. I definitely don't think I'm capable of harnessing the bikes full potential, but I do feel like I can grow with it and it genuinely gives me a lot of confidence.
I'm not sure how I feel about what you said about needing to be good about body position on this bike. I guess it's true but I try to be good about that regardless. All I can say is that my 701 is my unicorn, and it really pushes me to learn and grow as a rider. I never thought I'd be able to afford one but I managed to snag my 2019 with 2k miles for $7500. I'm not sure what it is but I also feel like I have more trust in this bike than any other bike I've had. Maybe it's cause it's my first bike with decent suspension. It's a really good platform and I hope you get the chance to try one on a more long term basis.
Glad you're enjoying it. I only had an hour with the bike so it's hard to tell how it would be after getting used to it. That's why this is just an impressions video and not a review ;)
@DorkintheRoad hope you get the chance to test one long-term. They take some getting used to.
@michael... I really like that you took time to share your opinion with more then a sentence! It's so rare these days.
@ben... I think you found a "1st impression" that will keep the keyboards clicking!!
I would've loved to seen you actually take it of road and do some single track with it. I've had my 701 since 2016 and I call it the lounge chair on wheels. I personally think it's the best of both worlds. I currently own 2017 husky 701, and a husky 401, 2016 triumph 800xcx , 2022 yz450f, 2018 yz450fx. Yes, it is a beast and you have to respect the power as it will get you into trouble if your unaware. I have been thrown plenty of times on the dirt and got many xrays to prove that respect is required...😂. I'm a heavy rider 110kg and I have been known to reach speeds on the dirt at 170kmh and handles the speed well. I personally love this bike for what it was made for.
If you want to ride tight single track at high speeds I'd go with something smaller as it can be a handful if not experienced, that's why I have the yz450f and fx, but if your not racing your mates and happy to do things at a slower pace it is more than capable. I use mine for mainly trail riding and over the 8 years it hasn't missed a beat as long as you do regular maintenance and inspections. It is pretty tall and has had me reaching out for sky hooks a few times when on unlevel ground.
Like Ben said, it's not really comfortable on the highway but would assume that should be improved by adding a tower with a windshield and suspension upgrades to counter the extra weight.
The ktm 690/husky 701 are amazing bikes and built tough with pretty good periods between servicing. There is a awesome clip on the 701 from MAD TV on TH-cam here in Australia. Ben has mentioned them before in regards the honda 300 rally. They do an awesome review on the bike.
Once again, I would like to thank you Ben for you honest reviews. I would like to see you do another review on the new 2024 honda africa twin.
Thanks again Ben, and many more safe journeys ahead
Andy
Bought my 701 recently.
Came from a 900 roadbike.
Done a bit of dirtbiking in my younget days .
Went for my first dirt ride on it today , gravel , mud .
Handfull but cool fun .
Love it.
I have a 2017 and it is used for mostly exploring country roads. Every time I get home from a long ride I just think about how much I love this bike. I am fortunate to have a few others as well but if I only could have one this would be it.
The problem with the TKC80 is not necessarily that it is a 50/50 ADV tire.
The problem is that it is a 20 year old 50/50 ADV tire ;)
These days there are just much better tires in the same segment (same offroad performance but much better on the road and better mileage).
But luckily Conti is currently testing prototypes for the TKC80 successor, so it won't be long until they have a competitive offering in that segment again.
That being said: yes, of course you would want a more aggressive kind of tire on a hard enduro like this.
As a 701 owner I think this is a fair assessment. I like to ride somewhat aggressive and I am a heavy guy. The suspension is great from the factory, I just needed to go with a higher rate rear spring and get the sag set and I can be pretty aggressive off road. It does get a little buzzy on long trips but I did 530 miles in one day on the way back from the Giant Loop ride last week and it did better than any other dual sport thumper I've ever owned, full loaded down with me + gear 75 mph most of the way was no problem.
I find myself stopping more and going slower on it compared to an adv bike. Which isn't a bad thing. I kind of prefer it in the twisties. It's so much fun with that power to weight ratio.
I picked up a 701 a couple months ago and will likely never touch my CRF Rally ever again. I too wasn't exactly 100% smitten with the 701 at first, but after a few hundred miles of gravel road and some time spent learning the bike, I can honestly say that I think you'd feel completely different about the 690 with some additional riding time. My biggest complaint with the bike is that the fuel tank under the seat and it's weight definitely become a noticeable issue. Anytime the rear wheel locks under hard braking, the bike tends to want to swap. It's particularly noticeable and bad on steep descents. Ultimately, having the fuel under the seat is worth it though. I've ridden KTM LC640 Adventure off road quite a bit also, and that bike is 100% chore to steer because of the weight of the fuel up front. 701/690 definitely not a bike for those with poor throttle control for sure. The bike can be ridden quite happily being short shifted and ridden slowly, once you have a solid technique. The fact that there's ALWAYS more power available makes this bike an absolute blast to ride.
I waffled between this and the 500 EXCF and 2 days ago got the 690. The 2 ride modes, TC, more forgiving maintenance schedule, and larger fuel tank won it over for me. The icing on the cake was purchasing it for far less than MSRP, including tax, setup, and doc fees.
What did you pay?
I had a 690 and don’t love it for the same reasons. It hates to go slow in technical stuff, and it’s just too much of a workout for me off road. I switched to a KTM 350 exc-f and love that bike. But I’m old and kind of out of shape, so maybe that’s my problem.
But the 690 was damn fun on the road, and loves to lift the front wheel.
On the subject of reliability and KTM’s sounding like a ‘box of rocks’….
I am a long time Honda fan. My wife and kids ride Hondas. Honda crf 450r converted me forever to 4 stroke high performance off road riding. I still love buy, fixing , and riding all Honda 4 stoke dirt bikes.
After riding KTM racing 4 strokes, I became converted to KTM, not just because of power or off-road gains….but because of reliability and durability; something that Honda was suppose to be known for.
Now that I have rebuilt mine and others’ KTM’s and have had the opportunity to be in many engines, quality is not something they lack. I am continually impressed by how their machining on the inside and how many other are putting extensive amount of miles on there’s with only a few simple problems. My favorite color is red, but all of my big boy bikes are orange, and will always be in the future.
My 690 and 525 will always be in my garage….unless ktm brings out something else better.
I rode an XR400R for 20 years. Now I have a 2017 690 and it rips everything. I did a weekend of Sierra trails at Foresthill (yes I did trail 5) and I was not having issues keeping up with a Husky 300 and SurROn Ultrabee. This bike rips, I think it'll do everything but MX. (not a dare for Ivan Tedesco, iykyk)
Dork, you nailed this review. I own the Husky 701 and also a KLR 650. I have a lot of off road experience being an A level Enduro and Hare Scramble racer. Couldn’t agree more that this is not a beginner bike. Thought I was going to immediately sell my KLR when I got the 701 but decided to keep it as they are polar opposites and like both. I tell people the 690/701 is a thoroughbred race horse that is only happy all out. On easy non technical gravel roads I will chose my KLR all the time. Two tools for different jobs.
I have owned a T7 great bike , I’ve owned a FE501 light adv with ecu /exhaust/cush hub , it was nice enough for most travel , now I have a GasGas ES700 , exhaust/Coober LM and a 14tooth front sprocket, so far it’s way better than the 501 and nearly as nice on the hwy as the T7 was, but the T7 was better on road for sure.
Had two buddies that had these a few years back. Both had engine issues. I think this is one of the bikes that got KTM on the bad reliability radar. Good review
in 2019 they made some changes that addressed the weak points on the LC4 motor. My 701 has been flawless so far and I beat on it pretty good
20,000 care free miles on my 2016 701. Just sayin.
I have 46000 miles on my 2016 I just Replaced the cam, timing chain & tensioner water pump and oil pump. The rest of the engine is still stock in a great condition
@@larryhosek6554all those being preventative maintenance? Or the cam and oil pump broke?
And then you'll learn that's actually one of the most reliable KTMs 😂😂😂
Ktms are in their own category. Every owner who ridden it more than 20k and it didn't fall apart completely feels like it's flex and need to tell this on the internets like it's some amazing engineering accomplishment🤣
I had the same experience. The biggest complaint I had was the amount of vibration. Thanks for the review!
hey Fella , thats interesting what you say about the KTM . Yes i own one , and Yes its not a learners bike , yes it will eat most 450L s up , with 74 Bhp stock its a fun bike to ride , on and off road , riding a bike is only part of it as you will be aware , the bike is a big trail bike , and does need some setting up to cover what riding you want to do with it .the KTM build a bike for ready to race , so if you want to just ride buy a TW200 as it does take you anywhere and very slow . my list of past bikes are , rm250 , yzf400, yzf450, XR600, XR400, Ktm520sx, crf450, KTM 525exc, KTM450exc, KTM250exc, KLX450r, KXF250, KTM 390adventure, and Now on the 2023 KTM 690 enduro R , and 2005 yamaha TW200 . looking at the KTM1290 r , for longer travel . so yes it is a good bike for the people which have a use for this style of bike . ohh im now 65 year old . lol still riding , see you out there one day , awesome channel keep up the great work .Steve/Australia
I rode a 701 with every farkle on it from front and back suspension, to rally tower and you know what, I much preferred my DR650 which was very well sorted. I regret selling the 650.
After watching you ride off road "you are that guy" i am not suprised you didnt like it. Thank you for riding off rode bikes off road.
What did you mean by "exhausting" to ride on the highway? Like because it doesn't have fairing or because the throttle is twitchy or ??? Like the CRF450L needed remapping to be comfortable to ride.
I've owned a KTM 350 EXC-F. I have several rides on a KTM 500 EXC-F. To me, the vibration on the 500 was intolerable. What is it like on this 690?
Llove your videos I truly enjoy them. Keep them coming thanks
Hey Dork FYI I just bought the KTM 790 Adventure and switched for the KTM 690 lol. I'm experienced and it was not the move for me. The 790 adventure is so fun off road and has more dynamic for less money.
Timely video my friend. I’ve been looking at the Husky 701 and the 690. Leaning towards the Husky for the extra year of warranty. I think you’re spot on with the review. Getting one or the other before the fall! Ditching the heavy ADV scene!
A fair and well balanced video. In my opinion the 690 platform is truly a 50/50 dual sport. Most people want their bikes to be tilted more towards street or dirt, so a true 50/50 bike may not be for them. Being a 50/50 bike is this platform's greatest strength or weakness, depending on one's point of view. The 690 platform is unusual though as it brings a big dose of tech, power and expense to a segment dominated by the KLR, DR and XRL.
I live in Colorado and can ride fun twisty canyon roads to trails, so for me a true 50/50 bike that can do it all if not do it all as well as more focused bikes is perfect. I have a '23 701, as a can't help myself modaholic, I did the following mods to it that made it better, and almost more fun than humans should be allowed to have:
1) Puig windscreen, spaced out a tad from the stock headlight mask to give the front brake line a place to go. It doesn't get in the way while off road and it takes the wind pressure off the torso while leaving the helmet in clean air.
2) Rottweiler deletes for charcoal canister and air injection. This removes a bunch of hoses and junk from the engine.
3) Yoshimura RS4 exhaust can. It sounds great, saves some weight and eliminates the incredibly hot running stock can, which contains a CAT in it. I chose the Yosh as it has a spark arrestor and it is longer than most so it clears the turn signal. It has a beautiful deep smooth DB killer free thumper tone, and it is not obnoxious unless you pin it and rev it, then it sounds like the world is coming to an end.
4) Rottweiler O2 sensor dongle. This allows removal of the O2 sensor and richens up the lean part throttle fueling. After experiencing better response with just the dongle and the Yosh can, I went to #5 below.
5) PC6 with Rottweiler map. Holy shit. It ran better with just the O2 dongle and the Yosh, but the Kraken is fully unleashed with the PC and map. The bike makes far more low end and midrange power with a bit more on top. The low end is phenomenally improved over stock, it chugs hard off idle like a friend's good running XR650R, but it has considerably more mid and top power than the XR does.
No need to clutch it while riding slow off road unless traveling very slowly below idle speed at 6 MPH or less. Just roll on the throttle off idle and spin the tire to get it spooled up, it is unboggable. Have also learned the beauty of TC off quick shifter assisted long wheelies. Oh my - must try to stay out of jail, the punchy big single is a bad influence for sure.
6) 80/85C radiator fan switch. The stock switch kicks the fan on at 215F and it is located in the bottom of the radiator which means the coolant at the top of the rad is probably around 235. Now it comes on at 185F. The fan rarely comes on while street riding, but it runs continuously while going slow off road. That is alright though, running the fan won't hurt anything and a cooler running motor is happier motor.
7) Twin Air foam air filter. Replaced the stock paper air filter with this washable unit. Trimmed the interior of the air box top to make the snorkel open to the filter along it's full length. I noticed no increase in intake noise. This might help flow a little, but more importantly it spreads the incoming air over the filter. The stock setup concentrates the air (and dirt) at the top of the filter.
8) .65 kg/mm fork springs. These are two rates stiffer than the stock .59 springs and a better balanced match to the .72 rear spring. The suspension on the 701 is good enough that I ride it more than a little like my 300 XC at times! The more supportive fork springs help when riding it faster off road than I probably should, I sometimes actually charge whoops on it, carrying/tapping the front wheel as it goes.
9) Cyclops LED headlight. Yes, the stock halogen headlight sucks. I wanted to keep the stock headlight shell and the Cyclops is much better and what it should have come with from the factory. There are brighter total replacement options, but for $60 or so the Cyclops works well and they have a good reputation for reliability.
10) Enduro Engineering bar risers. I had extra spacers with the requisite bolts laying around as I put this kit on my dirt bike. I like the stock bar's bend, but they are too low when standing. They are much better with a bit of lift while standing and not so high that they feel weird while sitting and riding on the street.
11) Raised the gearing from 15/46 to 16/45. What am I nuts? Everybody drops the gearing on these. The thing is, this gearing puts my Enduro on par with the SMC-R, which makes it much better on the street. 70-75 on the highway is smooth and nearly vibration free. The quickshifter works better and the transmission ratios feel perfect on pavement. The stock tuning would not handle the gearing change off road, but the abundant extra off idle power and throttle response handle the gearing fine on any trail I want to ride this heavy bike on. In other words, the stock gearing/stock bike with it's weak low end is blown away by tuned bike / taller gearing, even on tight trails.
12) Removed kickstand sensor and rear ABS sensor, tucked them under the seat. Why? Because the kickstand sensor is low and easily damaged by rocks. If a rock takes the sensor out it strands the bike, there is no trailside fix. As for the ABS sensor, ABS and TC are a disaster in the dirt, taking the rear sensor out of the equation turns both off full time. As a long time dirt bike rider/racer I greatly prefer this.
There is lots of other stuff like bigger footpegs, billet gas cap, etc but this diatribe is already way out of hand. Obviously I love my 701, but like any bike it can be personalized and made better.
One final comment - due to ride by wire, these bikes don't have a lot of engine braking which is good most of the time, but being in Colorado sometimes I point it down some very long and steep downhills. I found leaving the key on but killing the ignition with the handlebar switch shuts down the fueling / ride by wire, which creates a tremendous amount of engine braking. It also sounds a little like a diesel big rig with the Jake Brake on. This is handy when descending down a long steep 4x4 trail in the mountains. This doesn't hurt anything at all but it saves the brakes from getting toasted on extreme sustained long downhill runs. I do ride my 701 in some "stuff".
Oh, and it does sick 2nd gear wheelies, even with 62 y/o me on board. Click on my name and check my crappy little page 😆
Thanks for “other” review of the bike. In case of 690/701/700 dual sport means pavement and trail capable OR not pavement nor trail capable at 100%)) but this bike is in its own category not comparing with any other bike. You are right saying you can love it or hate it. Can never be neutral)
300 CRF has less HP than my lawnmower and as exciting. A 690 is a bike that loves to be ridden aggressive. If you ever develop a racer mentality, you will love a 690
Thanks for your honest opinion. I bought a 2023 KTM 390 ADV in February, on the way for 1st service I had the thought, what I really need is a 790, then I laughed, I like the lightweight and the 40 something HP of the 390. It's fun to ride.
Great video! 450 is the biggest I go on dirt bikes and I'm 230 lbs
A happy 2020 690 owner here. I totally get what you mean and I agree 100% with you. That's not a beginner bike, it is something different. For me, it is the perfect sweet spot. I have +20 years of riding on two wheels, and currently have my 3rd LC4, so I would say that it takes time to learn to love these bikes. I really like the description of "... I enjoy riding fast, but it's not the purpose of my riding, it's a byproduct that I enjoy". I really feel that, very well said. Thanks for the video!
Every time I sit on any other bike than lc4 I'm like "damn I can never be amazed enough how shitty those old KTMs are", every bike feels so good after it, it's really impressive how bad bike can be. They should get some award for doing the worst bike ever
@@Angry-Lynx Lol
Hey man, saw you at the BMW MOA national as I rode by on my 690 with Nomad fairing - I saw you checking it out. Now I see why you had probably just filmed this episode. Turned around to talk to you but you were busy. Anyway with a fairing and some luggage and a decent seat the 690 is absolutely a great lightweight touring rig. I rode mine to AK last year and did over 9000 miles. Rode to the MOA this year and then did 400 miles of the TAT fully loaded from Port Orford to Prineville. Just got home (Montrose, CO) yesterday and this trip was 3300 miles. Mine is a 2015 and I’m thinking of eventually getting the newer fully counterbalanced version so was disappointed that you didn’t care for it, but guess it saved your wallet. BTW I started my KTM love affair with a 2000 640 Adventure that I ended up putting 25k miles on.
Really aopreciate the honest review. It wasn't on my radar anyways, but it's still interesting to understand the characteristics of bikes that I won't ever own.
So which is your favorite dual sport for woods and commute?
I guess the CRF300L is my next bike / first off road bike after all. 😂
better to ride a slow bike fast than ride a fast bike slow, is the adage.. especially if it's a first offroad bike.
i didn't love my CRF300L Rally at first, but after engine break in i've started riding it hard and suddenly i'm really lovin the bike.
WR250R is a better bike. Find a 2020 with low miles.
My dude I appreciate you doing all these test rides for the perspective and comparison we can get watching but based on 6:42 and a couple times seeing your standing position in other videos I think your standing position needs some work. Always something to work on no matter who we are. Ride on!
That 690 I can say giving you awesome package but not making you into a high maintenance, I can enjoy off road more, I loving my ride each day, because I can grow with it trying new technical skills
@@andrewang17 grow along
Slightly de-tuned Adventure R with a fairing and TFT would be so awesome.
I have a 2010 Enduro R as my second bike and I can see why you would not like it, if you prefer a comfy bike that you can ride flat out everywhere. I was looking for a dirt bike with long service intervals and for that it fits the bill. Yes, it is more twitchy than it needs to and yes, 80mph on it is a proper workout, but on a dirt road, on tight, twisty tarmac, or just commuting with a poppy aftermarket exhaust on, it is incredible fun. I find myself riding it more than the Ducati lately
You kind of hit the nail on the head with the 690. Some pretty awesome riders I know all have the same comment, they started the design of the bike right then stuffed it when they put the tank in the rear. They are twitchy and vague to ride, just don’t handle well at all. They also have the worst parts of dual sport and adv and are too “in the middle”. I had one, now I have a 500exc and a 790 adventure r. They make an awesome motard with the SMC’s, that’s about it.
Was really interested to hear a trusted review from you on this bike. A friend was inspired seeing my Honda 300 Rally at work everyday and wanted to get into a dual sport. Being younger, more disposable income, and having more emphasis on "image", he bought a brand new KTM 500 EXC-F. 2nd time out he had to limp it 5 miles back in shame among buddies because of some reed thing that came loose in airbox. So he switched to his well used and abused 35 year old Honda CR 250 and it performed flawlessly. I have yet to hear a single rave review from him on the $12,500 bike which tells me its probably not what he expected and more like what your review indicated. As you say they have their niche where they shine but it requires some sacrifices in true dual sport riding in exchange for the raw power and suspension. Thank You! Peace!
Excellent review!!!! I was absolutely going to purchase one 2 years ago.........until...................I felt how heavy it is at the dealership! I realized that for ME...... and tight east coast single track...it would be a mistake... I MAY get one eventually.... I purchased a BETA 430RR S................................. off road it will run circles around this bike.... and about 60 ilbs less weight.....
how tall are you
I bought a 701 as my first off road bike and didn't like it but after owning it about 6mo now and learning how to control it off road I love it
It’s a blank canvas from the dealer, turn it into a supermoto, dual sport, or full on rally bike. It would be cool if you tried somebody’s already modded rally set up. It’s weird but it grows on you. But appreciate the honest opinion.
I agree with you 100%!!!! I rode one at Touratech last year and felt exactly the same way.
I have a 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R that I bought new to replace my WR250R and DL650.
The bike has been very reliable and has great power and I have updated the suspension to the point where it is very well setup.
But you bring up a very interesting point about how the bike wants to be ridden. I notice that I ride it much harder than I have ridden any other bike and while that is fun there is a certain hollow feeling I get from it - it is less about the journey and more about the bike.
Recently I have been thinking about replacing it with a DRZ400. I had never ridden a DRZ400 until a month ago and I was surprised at how much fun the bike was to ride which just seems counterintuitive when you look at the spec sheet.
I know you had a DRZ at one point. What is your take on the DRZ versus the 690?
Looking forward to test riding one at Touratech Rally this year. It's always been on my list.
Would love to see you compare a modded DR650 to this.
Another great review from dork in the road. I do have to say that I disagree with you on a lot of your statements about the KTM 690 Enduro. I purchased the same bike in 2022 brand new and it was my beginner bike at 57 years old. I have logged 15,000 km of a lot of different kinds of train including highway, double track and single track. I Find this bike excels in all situations. I did however make some upgrades to the bike including the seat concepts XL seat better foot pegs and a 1 inch riser on the handlebar. I love this bike and I can take it pretty much anywhere even more so now that I've geared it down on the rear sprocket which doesn't affect its high manners whatsoever. This year I upgraded to a Husqvarna Norden 901 expedition and I am loving that bike. I wouldn't dream of taking the expedition the places I've taken my 690 though.
Its bike that could close the gap between adventure and dual sport world.
Instead it kinda sucks at both 😂
And its expensive. And its ktm 😢
Fortunately theres Kove800x and cfmoto 450MT
😂 “run out of power before I get myself in trouble”. I’m with you on that.
Hi Dork, everyone should know what kind of bike is for his liking. Fair enough if this is not your bike.
But from some 125.000 km with 2 690s you probably won't find out what you are missing out.
If there is one thing learned, I know that this bike will always get me out of trouble.
And for the usual critics: I never stranded with any of the two 690s.
Go light. Go far. Go fast. (Sounds familiar, does it?)
Great review! Would really like seeing that test ride you talked about possibly doing on the KTM 500 exc - f or even on a 350 exc- f. I believe they wouldn’t fill that great on road but would love to see how you like the exc-f off road. Especially having watched you develop your riding skills over the years. I am still using my CRF250L that I’ve had for 10 years but struggle a little with the weight off road on those more difficult sections. Love everything else about the bike and use an NC750X for road touring duties and well maintained gravel roads. Keep on crushing it!
I had a wr250r for several years and really liked it. We took a trip each year to do a different bdr . I got the bug that bigger is better so I bought a 690enduro r and did most of the mods needed. I regret the switch and miss the wr. The 690 IMO was the worst handling bike I've owned. I sold it and bought a dr 650 and I'm back to being happy.
WR is such an underrated bike. I wish they'd bring it back.
Same. DR XR all day.
I had a WR250R, sold it for a 690, and I am now back on a WR. Thinking about adding a DR for better highway chops but hanging onto the WR this time. My WR is actually nicer cruising on the highway than the 690, minus the passing power. I guess the grass is always greener . . .
I also owned a 701 and the handling was pretty terrible. Sold it for a CRF450RL and I’m much happier.
God damnit boys im on a wr and was eyeing a 701 enduro now you guys are making me question myself alot!!!
Great honest review with excellent perspective!
As soon as my 501 sells I'm in for the 690. Just need a bit more horses for the long highway miles. I'm hoping it's as close to the 500's as it can be with more hauling power.
I get what you are saying. However, I sold a 2014 a few years back and regretted that every day. If you are like me and have been riding for years, ride a couple of BDRs per year and ride single and double track in southern Oregon and like some technical challenges, the weight of the other adventure bikes eventually gets old, and I have owned quite a few adventure bikes. Yes, you are correct, it's not a comfortable ride because it's not an adventure bike, however, with a few tweaks and additions, it can be good enough and coming in 100lbs lighter than a mid-size adventure bike even when fully loaded on a BDR, never, ever gets old;) Nice review.
Having had both a 500 exc and now a ‘24 690 enduro r, the 690 is so much better on road than the 500 ever was. The 500 was buzzy and not pleasant to hit higway speeds. The 690 while not as comfortable as a more road worthy highway bike it does really well. Yes it needs a few items like a seat concepts seat and to drop a tooth or add a few in the rear.
You are right this is not a beginners bike, but for many this does fit that sweet spot of light adv bikes.
I have a 690 and a 501. The 690 is a road bike with off road capabilities. The 501 is a dirt bike with on road capabilities. …………….Your suspension should be set up before you go judge a bike. Also, you need to consider the versatility. By that, I mean modifications to taylor it to your likes. ……………If I had to choose between the two. It would be the 690. The bike I can pack up and leave from my house to go on an adventure on. I wouldn’t like doing that on my 501, knowing I may have to ride a lot of pavement. But, if I were riding really tough trails. I wouldn’t want to do it on the 690.