Thanks for this video (and the others you do)! The best review on this bike on YT, love my 690 as well. You ride this beast in the most aggressive way I've seen so far on YT. That's cool, we like that. At rally roads I could recognize my self in your riding somewhat but not on pure offroad and MX tracks. Ofc You are worth a subscription for this great riding and reviews. 👍💪
Mattias Eriksson thank you. Appreciate you watching. Stay tuned, spilling the beans a little, but I'm going to have a cool giveaway soon! Rubber side down my friend 🤙
Tread if you're shorter than 6' and a more timid personality, no. It's a powerful bike with a tall stance. Not unmanageable power, but could be very intimidating to a beginner. The engine doesn't lug very well at low RPM like your typical big bore 4T. This causes the rider to use more clutch control or ride in higher RPM which aren't particularly beginner rider friendly at lower and non cruising speeds. Frequent stalling and dumps get expensive. The XR650L would be an example of a traditional tractor engine... with 1/2 the horsepower. My typical prescription would be... if you think you're in this dual-sport thing for the long haul, buy a used 250cc dual sport and ride it around for a season. The 250 is still a heavy (relative) to deal with, but the power, engine characteristics and stance will be a lot more friendly to a total beginner. After 1 season you'll be throwing rocks at the 250 and ready to roll with the 690. All that said: 1) If you dropped a Rekluse Auto clutch into it, the power management would be a whole lot less of an issue. That's going to set you back more than $1k [IF] you installed yourself (if a proficient mechanic). 2) If you're strong 6'3"+ and like 260lbs+ the dynamic changes again. You'd have the girth to fight back. The bike wont feel so big. Hope that helps give you a few things to think about.
@@JohnHowerton137 ya man it really does help. I figured the best thing to do would be get a 250 learn to ride and see if its something i can/want to do. Im only 5'9 180 so that 690 would prob kick my ass not knowing what im doing. But the ktm just seems like a real good deal and from what I've heard it is. So kept going back that in my head. Anyways i really do appreciate it man thanks.
I bought my 2018 690 enduro r on 21 Nov 2018, I dropped it the same day doing u- turn after getting fuel because of the dang steering stop lol.. almost getting hit by a speeding truck. Being 5'4" with a 29 inch inseam I'm used to not being able to touch with anything more than one big toe with that said I love my 690 it is well balanced so I rarely have to put my foot down it is by far the best dual sport I ever had in stock form.
Lol.. yes I'm short I have been riding 31 years on/off road and dirt only since I was 5 years old till I was 16 years old. So all my riding was done on bikes too tall for me so I adjusted by learning how to really balance at traffic lights. But truthfully I have dropped my 690 6 times when I couldn't jump off in time.
juan73rd That my fear. With it off road, and having to quickly get off. Also, I’ve had some negative ownership experiences with KTM from a warranty stand point...... It looks like things are changing for the positive though on that front. Also, their sales numbers are strong here in the US
@@sarahdell4042 as with any manufacturer no bike comes from the factory perfect they all need some tweaking to personalize. I would like to lower mine about 2 inches since I don't ride as aggressive as I did when I was younger. I haven't had to use the warranty yet but I hope if I do they honor their warranty.
Have you guys considered chopping your seat foam down? When I was at the moto shop that’s what we did for the short kids on superminis and such. 690 has a real deep seat pan, but I bet you could chop a pretty good chunk out of it.
Really a comprehensive rundown. Good job! You said your weight but didn't mention your height or inseam. The important thing to us 5'8 or 5'9" guys is that seat height and how comfortable it is for us to ride an Enduro. Most tend to be tippy toes or balls of the feet touch. Have a great time ridding and be careful. 👍
@@JohnHowerton137 That figures.. happy review for someone 6' tall. I want to see that gleaming sort of boasting from a dude 5'8" . No offense, I don't want to take away from your experience.. but it's not gonna be that same fun happy experience for us 30" inseamers.
Kevin Nash I have another one of the reviews where there's a comment thread about it. Think one of the women is like 5'2 or something. Dig around my other videos. Might be the 3,000 mile one. One of my best friends is 5'6"? He has a 200 (lowered), 300 (lowered), 530, 1190R and about 5 other bikes that aren't lowered. He does just fine. No offense, but many of the best riders in history have been small. Look at Ricky Carmichael... knee high to a grasshopper. Shorter legs, the center of mass is low and makes for easy foot dabbing in gnar off-road terrain too. Long legs are mostly nice in big whoops and traffic lights 🤣 ... but don't tell Josh Hill they are better in whoops ✊ I started riding big bikes full time at 13. Mostly mud and with bald tires being a broke teen. I was only 5'. I do know what it's like. When I started riding full size 3 wheelers (200X) at 8yo, I was barely tall enough to reach the pegs. I wasn't tall enough to lean over far enough in corners and also fully reach the handlebars in a lean, so it would roll over me all the time. Even got sucked through the wheel well once 🤣
The MX Guru I know, sorry man. I'm just a guy who likes to ride his motorcycles and carries a phone like everyone else 🤣 Looking to upgrade the gear, but my wants list outpaces my income. I'm sure you and nearly everyone else can understand. Appreciate you watching.
Mine came with ktm ergo seat already installed and I would have to agree with you and say the stock seat is better lol. Great review, thank you for all the 690 content!
The '19 SMCR has the new electrical bells and whistles and a little upgrade to the engine. Supposedly a new balancer and some changes to give it another 5hp. But the traction control, and ride modes should be worth the extra penny. I cant wait to feel the difference between the supermoto calipers also. The enduro and smcr fronts are night and day difference. I cant ger a single ktm dealer to get me a price, kind of frustrating but I'll have to wait.
Spyderbuilt right. That traction control stuff makes a lot more sense on the street and probably works well. On dirt that like more of a pain in the ass than anything. About to buy myself the dongle to disable the ABS so I don't have any more near death experiences in the dirt... It's like having a loaded chamber indicator on a pistol 🤣 I always leave it in the aggressive map, so I have no need for that either.
Spyderbuilt probably. Dealer port for firmware updates or something. I guess it could be an accessory port to run devices. That would actually be pretty cool.
Interesting to see this review when your heat is with the EXE, good perspective for an honest review. I have the remus exhaust - it came with the bike ;) the Bark is great!
Yeah, I love the EXC, but the 690 will stick around I think. Different animals. Those Remus seem nice. I want the Ti Beowulf can, but they don't make a spark arrestor for it. Grr
Thanks for your advise on the 690. I pulled the trigger on a 2021 and so far have really love the bike. Decided to go newer and spend the extra $$$ mostly to get the updated tech. Still not sure if that was the best call. One thing I thought I really wanted was the quick-shift but at this point I wish there was a way to disable it. If you want the power w/o the 450+lbs the 690/701 is the only way to go. Thanks again. BTW I went for the 1" lower pegs and I am always placing the ball of my foot on the part of the peg that slopes down. The part that lowers the peg near the hinge. Really wish I would have just got the pegs you currently have. Thx again.
Oh your foot is hitting the peg mounting bracket or something? In general I like my feet lower and further back because I like my center of mass lower and further back and my upper body lower and over the front of the bike. Think of a more road race laying down position. In general that position is not a dirtbike position. I'm not sure if that's because of the development rider's size, if it's a frame geometry thing, or both. I'm not the greatest rider in the world or an engineer, but my mind functions like an engineer's and it seem like anyone over 5'10" would benefit from this geometry change. Must be a dongle or wire you can pull to turn off the quick shift? Why don't you like it? The general response I've seen has been good. They've even added it to the new 250/450SX now.
@@JohnHowerton137 Re: the foot pegs. If you picture an "L" with the short leg vertical and longer leg horizontal as the orientation of the peg. I am constantly placing the ball of my foot on the top of the vertical short part of the "L", so my foot is not flat on the the peg. If the peg did not drop down like yours it is one big flat surface. I would never have guessed this would be a problem but it is really annoying. Re: the quick-sifter. When you tough the shift lever with your foot it revs the rpms even if the shift doesn't happen. This is really problematic at time because you think the shift happened with the rev but it didn't. Second, it really doesn't work any different than clutchless shifting. In lower gears feels like you are really jamming the gears, not smooth at all. I can really clutch less shift much better with a standard setup because I control the engine rpm, (no auto rev). I now just use the clutch with the auto rev. Third, the bike really jumps in low gears because the rev and speed don't match if you are just casually accelerating. My be better if you are going full out, not sure. You will understand what I am saying if and when you are able to ride one. Maybe mine is not adjusted correctly, or maybe I just suck at using it, but at this point I really don't understand the hype.
Thanks for the review, Great idea on grinding the lever. Fell mine once and it scratches the engine cover and break the hand lever. I cant afford to crash it more. Changed to road tires and the speed tops at 183kmh with limiter kickback. Owned it almost a year and still not brave enough to take it off road. Plan on getting a smaller klX to learn offroad trailing. Cheers
I have lots of videos for you my friend. You may be up all night! 🤣 Find my 690 playlists. It's quite capable off road, but for an inexperienced off-roader it could be a bit of a handful. The KLX is a great idea. If you don't need street legal, a lighter pure dirt bike is even better. Less weight, cheaper parts.
@@JohnHowerton137 yeah, im scrolling it right now (in my office 😂). I tried playing around in the sandy beach, and i cant tame the beast. Right now its mostly a highway cruiser, riding among harleys.. For now. Thanks for the reply 🤟
@@MALBACHinc getting paid to watch my videos... even better 🤣👌 Sand is a whole other beast. The fork is too soft for sand stock. The bike is heavy (relative to true dirtbikes) and it stands a bit stink bug. This will cause the front to easily push and dive in sand. Drop the forks flush, stiffen them up and maybe speed up the rebound, drop the rear sag to 100mm+ and soften the rear some, maybe even on the high speed adjuster. Get on the balls of your feet, ride over the back of the seat a bit more, pop that thing off the rev limiter and go fast with finesse. She doesn't like jerky movements. It's still big, but getting it on top the sand especially in the front will make a huge difference. Sand was my specialty. Exponentially better in sand than I ever was on dirt. Miss sand so much 😭
@@JohnHowerton137 my first time on offroad riding on rented klx took me an hour and a half to complete the 4km trail. 2nd time following week on same track witihin 20 minutes with lesser body ache after ride. Then the pandemic started. Ride my enduro to only work everyday and some highway until the tire Metzeler Sahara worn off. Changed the road tires but i get excited whenever i watch offroading videos. In Malaysia mostly dry mud or rain mud. Ive tried them both. And i think i love the thrill. The 2 hours ride was in the middle of rain. The guide did ride the bike 😅😅 for me on certain terrain especialy steep hill climb. Now im hooked but i need an easier bike to handle. If you got time, you can watch this race called Rimba Race (forest raid) th-cam.com/video/-uyibOOfHL8/w-d-xo.html The guy who raced it met dakar rider and he said it was a totally different game. Stay safe bro. May the pandemic ends faster so we can ride more 😁😁😁
@@MALBACHinc in that terrain find yourself a KTM 250EXCF 👌 You'll be in heaven. The later model 350EXCF would work too if you cant find a 250. Ride of of those and you'll throw rocks at the KLX 🤣 Good off-road tires are a must if off-roading the 690. Heavy duty tubes and run the pressure low. I feel like I was usually around 8-9psi... and get rimrocks!
Hey John, I know this is an old video, and I think on one of your other videos you said you put 30mm handlebar risers on your bike, but did you also replace the handlebars with a handlebar that has a taller bend so it was higher for when you are in the standing position?
So... I have mixed things around a bit since then. My riding style has fundamentally changed so my current setup reflects that. I used the stock bar with the risers at one point. I do believe I had a tall bar on the bike, but I think that was before the risers. On to current. I use the stock bars and the stock risers. My bars are rolled back a little past parallel with the fork (80's MX style). My 690 is ridden in the seated position a lot. This setup keeps my posture and elbows in a nice position while cruising. When I ride the 690 hard, I ride in a very aggressive attack position (watch some of my (fast videos) very low and into the bike and steer more from the back with hips because the front pushes more on the heavier bikes. Sustained standing at moderate speeds (more like I used to ride in the days of this video) risers helped for general comfort. My 450 is the bike more ridden like that now, so I found the risers to help on that bike. Hopes that helps-ish.
@@JohnHowerton137 Thank you John! I watched a bunch of your vids and they were great so I subscribed. Im a tall guy. 6’2” and I thought about maybe a tall handlebar on 30mm risers. Do you think that would throw the geometry way off and make it handle bad or is it doable. I ask you because I just dont have a bunch of experience with this at all. My background is street bikes. Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it!
@@papaduck2443 that part is probably still ok. Plenty of people get that rise on bikes with steering stabilizers. I feel like the risers in the 1st clamp position (fwd/fwd) should probably be enough to open up your ergos? A problem to keep an eye on with changing a bar on a bike like this, if you're not really careful on the selection, you'll lose your controls mounting space and sometimes the brake/clutch lines end up being too short.
@@JohnHowerton137 Great point! Man am I glad I talked to you first! Thank you man, you have totally earned my subscription! Really appreciate your response! Im hoping you have new videos coming out soon! Ride safe and may God bless you!
@papaduck2443 thank you. Yes, I hope to get back to producing more and better videos once I get settled into a new place and my new job (prob about 3-4 months though). Hopefully I'll have some shop space to do more technical stuff 👍
I use the stocker for mostly street riding because the engine is so much quieter, but any time I know it's going to get more exciting than some gravel, I have a this big bad battle tank from Adventure Spec. www.adventure-spec.com/default/bashplate-protection-crashbars-adventure-spec-bashplate-ktm-690-e-r.html I highly recommend it and looked very carefully at options before deciding on it. It protects the vulnerable rear brake master cylinder as well! It's taken monster hits! The other benefit is the large flat area underneath. Makes a very stable surface when the bike is on a stand.
I live in Hilo and will be purchasing the supermoto version of this bike from Kiser next week. I’m 6’2” and am wondering where you got your handlebar risers from?
I have several sets, but the first set was ebay to see if I liked them. They bend bolts pretty easy in a spill. This bike now bike has fairly expensive TrailTech riser that is braced and stronger. Kiser can order you up several kinds likely. Enduro Engineering makes some I know they can get. You’ll also prob get a nice discount on accessories the day of the bike purchase at Kiser. Congrats, you’ll have a blast!
Great review man. At the moment I can't decide between this or something a little more off road biased, like a 500 EXC. Planning on riding around Australia with it. I like the idea of the 500 but the service intervals would be a major pain.
kingcrumpet if you're going to haul a lot of stuff I think the 690 is probably where it's at. Its also really nice on high speed road. If you're traveling spot to spot to ride gnarlier single and double track and like to toss a bike around, get a 500. I have a 350 too and love it. Both are rad. Just different animals. Appreciate you watching 🤙
@@JohnHowerton137 Yeah I think you're right. 690 would probably fit the bill better. I was encouraged to hear that you can take the 690 everywhere, just slower and perhaps more carefully! I will be getting a dedicated off road bike too, thinking the new Beta RR 200. That would be my single track weapon with the 690 as the adventurer!
kingcrumpet perfect. With the 200, get the 690. Another thing to consider... 690 you can go 2-up. Chick's dig vibrating motorcycles 😎 Watch some of my other 690 videos. It's pretty capable offroad.
I am in the market for a new bike. I currently ride a crf 250 and love it. But the interstate is a no go. Which is fine I like backroads. But after riding trails all day and being tired it would be nice to take the hour long route home rather then the hour and a half route. I’m looking at a 690r or a crf450. I plan on keeping the 250 because it is awesome
They are a set of these: www.ebay.com/itm/Folding-mirror-Rear-Mirrors-Motorcycle-Universal-Scooter-Rearview-Side-Mirror/322182003255 The only thing I don't like is the little rubber boots. If you turn them at a sharp angle they pop off the mirror. Zip tie fix ;)
I bought a 2016 KTM Enduro R with 2800 miles on it. This is my FIRST bike. Thanks for your videos, although they are more off road centric, I do enjoy your insights. My intent for off road is forest service/BLM roads, no single track MX stuff. My "Total Control" CMSP instructor told me that to be CA legal, the rider has to be able to have both feet flat on the pavement when seated on the bike. So I bought a Kuoba Link KTM8-1 to lower it 1." I have a 34 inch inseam, so I'm close but not quite. I'm 6'1," broad shouldered. What vibration reducing riser would you recommend and how do I determine the ideal handlebar height?
G. Leet G you might have too much proload in the shock spring. I'm 6', 33" inseam and either touch flat or am pretty close to it. Have someone help you set the sag. Ride it some and see if you get used to the vibrations before you do the dampers. Mine are hard mounts. All I did was foam rally grips. If you ride sitting down a lot you might NOT need rise to the bars. Its only cramped when standing. To get you pretty straight when you stand up, you either need to get lower footpegs (promoto billet rally) or 30mm risers. For stock mounts, get the Ricky Carmichael "609" bend bars.
G. Leet G not any one in particular. Its the same on nearly every dirtbike made though, so watch any/multiple vids really, look up the specs and call that brother for help. Loosening the shock collars is the trickiest part. You can lift the 690s subframe and use a spanner, or you can spray some WD-40 and cringe while you hit it with a drift. Once the top collar is loose, if you're lucky, and while the bike is on a stand... the spring can be turned by hand. Sometimes its a bitch and you have to turn by hand and tap on the collar. KTM also makes a fancy quick adjust collar. Seems its like $190 or something.
G. Leet G just verified that I can touch flat. New riders typically sit too far back on the seat, so if you do, try sitting middle-front. In motocross short riders shave the seat foam with a bread knife so the suspension can stay the same.
@@JohnHowerton137 The seat position certainly makes a difference. I am conscious of your comments not recommending the KTM 690 as a first bike, so I am taking tremendous precautions with the bike while I put in the hours to build fundamental riding skill. I watch all of your KTM 690 vids. Thanks for sharing your valuable insights
Thank you for this review. I plan on selling my seadoo jetski and purchasing one this spring (probably a discounted 2018 model, because i dont like the digital gauge thingy on the 2019.) I used to ride motocross casually, and ive rode alot of motorcycles and dirtbikes since i was a kid. But this will be my first new bike. With their high mileage service intervals compared to other brands 600~ mile oil change services with less reliability. I'm a stocky 6'1" and 260lbs so i figured this would also be better than a 250 or 450 enduro bike. Would you recommend doing anything to the stock suspension? It wont ever be motocrossed, but drove on-road, gravel road, and mild to intermediate trail riding occasionally. Thanks John!
bumpnthump05 welcome. At 260 you will appreciate the 690s ability to pull you around. If you plan on riding it aggressively at all you will probably have to spring both ends. When that day comes, call the Guys at Enduro Spec for a recommendation. I'm about 170 with gear on and I find it under-sprung, but you can see in other videos its not really old lady on Sunday riding either. Haha
@@JohnHowerton137 Yea man I have already been looking at their website to see which route I am going to go. I think the 690 is a good all-rounder for the BI. I have a long history of riding and used to road race. Moving back to the BI i really want to hit all the back roads, trails, beaches, etc ....
Stephen Pangle its a bit of handful in the rocky crap (lots of it around here) but it’s great for the long stretches to/between spots. If you ever plan or have the option to truck/trailer to many of your off-road rides, grab an EXC. Get street legal though.
@@JohnHowerton137 I looking the 690 or something similiar wr250r crf450l as a daily motorcycle which i can also take out exploring. So it would def need to be something with some pretty high maintenance intervals. I am shipping my truck out but i dont want to daily it.
Stephen Pangle I think Kiser might have all 3. The only thing that would suck about the WR would be power at altitude and long stretches... and there's lots of that here.
Stuart Turner looking at the Motobau I think they’re called? 3cm lower. Might be too much, so in haven’t decided yet. Make a decision in the next week or two probably.
You really should tell people your view comes from a dirt bike guy. I come from an adventure pig. And my take on the 690 is, super light, incredible suspensions and quite tall 😂.
Andre Borges in fairness, I have like 75 videos for this bike. I can't cover everything all the time. It's not super light, but it is lighter than anything in the same class.
@@fcalin21 new news to me. I worked at the #1 KTM dealer in my state (Washington) for 8 years and don't recall ever seeing one. Must be a India model thing. Yes, the 790 (second year?) and the models based on the 390 engine are India bikes. I owned a 390 too and it didn't leak. That said, that bike didn't have many miles.
Hi john. Loved the video. Congrats. I’m considering this as my first bike. :D I’m not a kid (41) and I perfectly know how to ride a bike, but still what’s your opinion on this being a first bike? Love the enduro style, road use mainly and ocasional light tracks with my brother. Is it too powerful? Will it be dangerous? All the best, keep up with the good videos
If you know how to ride, it'll be fine on the road. First dirtbike or bike in general? It's got power, but it's not like a super light switch or anything and the clutch is nice, light and predictable. If the tracks are wet, it'll be a handful for a beginner. If you have a decen't amount of road miles on her before you hits those tracks I think you'll manage.
John Howerton thanks for the reply. First bike ever! I haven't ridden for 20 years or so, therefore my concern about this bike. Although it's so nice! Thanks again
@@filipemorais6382 Well if it's within the budget to get a learner bike first, I might recommend you do a used WR250, KLR250, or maybe a DRZ400 for 6mo to 1 year first. I'd hate to see you buy this bike and have it ruin the learning experience for you... and potentially riding in general. I could see the 690's power being a little to much for a someone so green. Especially off-road. I sold bikes for about 4 years, so that tip comes from a bit of real world experience. It is a little like buying a Ferrari for your first car. You could, but maybe not the best idea. Better to have fun beating up a Honda Civic or Corolla first.
John Howerton sounds like good advice. Is there a KTM in between the 690 and de wr250r? Something that I could learn with, get experience and with more longevity riding than a 250? And with high mileage maintenance? Perhaps the KTM 500exc?
Filipe Morais are you a decent sized guy? If you left the 500EXC totally stock with the buttplug and all that stuff in it, you’d probably be fine. They are fire breathing dragons, but they come so corked off for emissions. The drawbacks are you lose the passenger pegs and like 80lbs of weight which helps on the highway runs. The oil changes are a lot more frequent, but if you can afford a 500EXC that’s probably not an issue. The valve inspections are more frequent also, but from the sounds of my friends who are all long term KTMers and A class riders, stuff is rarely out of spec with good oil and air filter maint. The off-road ability of the 500 is much better. That’s not saying the 690 sucks, just that the 500 is basically a detuned race bike and a lot more maneuverable because of the weight. Parts are a lot cheaper when you crash too. Not trying to sway you either way, just throwing the information out there so you can make a decision based on your needs. In a nutshell, if you’re going to be by yourself on the street a lot the 690 is probably great. If you want to get into off-road you have a group of friends who does it already... get a used 250 and beat/crash the piss out of it for a while learning and trying to keep up with friends. That would destroy a pretty new 690. 500 could be an ok compromise for a best of both worlds, but it’s not really the brainless pavement pounder that the 690 is, not that it sucks or anything. I’ve ridden my 350EXC on the road a lot. I like it in the twisties better than the 690 probably. Makes me feel like a hero 🤣
I too almost dumped mine on the way home due to steering stop adjustment. Why?! I asked would KTM spec that dimension for stop? Or were these dealers who decided to set so far out? Anyway - love my 690 very much, but it's not the off-road solution I hoped it might be.
Brian LaFollette take 5,000 miles challenge. After 3,000 miles I pretty much fell in love with it. I think it’s one of those bikes that takes a little time to appreciate what it is.
John Howerton I have 6,000 mi, still love it and great bike for BDR’s and atuff like Co/UT TAT (which I did on a KLR650A at the time, WISHING I had a 690!). I’ve ridden it on single track, but my 250 is such a pleasure by comparison. 690 WILL do it, but more work IMHO. Nice video btw.
Brian LaFollette fork springs made a WORLD of difference on the 690 off-road, so consider those. The front end rides so low in the travel its a lot of work. On road, stock is fine.
Wiffy Cliffy well blame Apple, GoPro and Garmin because those are the cameras I use. I specifically made the video away from the ocean where IT WASN’T WINDY (you can hear the wind and waves at the beginning). And the problem is... you don’t know until you are done and go to edit. I’m not going to carry around fancy cameras and one of those fuzzy kitty cat microphones with me everywhere I go until I get paid for this 😉
"cruises nicely at 60mph" See and there is why I don't think a 690 will cut it for me .....I need to cruise at 80 and that takes multi cylinder dang it ...seems I just can't have it all ....sigh....ANOTHER hundred pounds for a multi 790 or whatever ...but if your "adventure riding" way more than dual sport/enduro? Then by far most miles are highway...
Speed is not a problem, the 690 will do 105mph easily. I put Perelli Scorpions on my 690 Enduro and rode 1,200 miles fully loaded with gear to the Grand Canyon mostly on the interstate. I averaged 75 to 80mph for several hundred miles a day, no problem.
Have you ever tried to talk to someone who is in a window spot and the background wind is so annoying you just want off the phone. Well this is one of those moments. I only got through about 5 minutes and had to go.
gunnguy12 right. Well complain to Apple, because it seems to be a problem with phones. Remember back in the land line days when you could actually hear people on phones? No wonder everyone texts now. All that said, it’s not really that bad to listen to on my iPad.
![The Do-It-All KTM 690 Enduro [Full Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bK28naP9zyM/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Do-It-All KTM 690 Enduro [Full Review]](/img/tr.png)
Thanks for this video (and the others you do)! The best review on this bike on YT, love my 690 as well. You ride this beast in the most aggressive way I've seen so far on YT. That's cool, we like that. At rally roads I could recognize my self in your riding somewhat but not on pure offroad and MX tracks. Ofc You are worth a subscription for this great riding and reviews. 👍💪
Mattias Eriksson thank you. Appreciate you watching. Stay tuned, spilling the beans a little, but I'm going to have a cool giveaway soon!
Rubber side down my friend 🤙
@@JohnHowerton137 do you think this is good first bike for completely new rider looking to get into "dual sport" riding? I've never ridden before btw
@@JohnHowerton137 by the way its a used 2018 with 1250 miles
Tread if you're shorter than 6' and a more timid personality, no.
It's a powerful bike with a tall stance. Not unmanageable power, but could be very intimidating to a beginner. The engine doesn't lug very well at low RPM like your typical big bore 4T. This causes the rider to use more clutch control or ride in higher RPM which aren't particularly beginner rider friendly at lower and non cruising speeds. Frequent stalling and dumps get expensive. The XR650L would be an example of a traditional tractor engine... with 1/2 the horsepower.
My typical prescription would be... if you think you're in this dual-sport thing for the long haul, buy a used 250cc dual sport and ride it around for a season. The 250 is still a heavy (relative) to deal with, but the power, engine characteristics and stance will be a lot more friendly to a total beginner. After 1 season you'll be throwing rocks at the 250 and ready to roll with the 690.
All that said:
1) If you dropped a Rekluse Auto clutch into it, the power management would be a whole lot less of an issue. That's going to set you back more than $1k [IF] you installed yourself (if a proficient mechanic).
2) If you're strong 6'3"+ and like 260lbs+ the dynamic changes again. You'd have the girth to fight back. The bike wont feel so big.
Hope that helps give you a few things to think about.
@@JohnHowerton137 ya man it really does help. I figured the best thing to do would be get a 250 learn to ride and see if its something i can/want to do. Im only 5'9 180 so that 690 would prob kick my ass not knowing what im doing. But the ktm just seems like a real good deal and from what I've heard it is. So kept going back that in my head. Anyways i really do appreciate it man thanks.
I bought my 2018 690 enduro r on 21 Nov 2018, I dropped it the same day doing u- turn after getting fuel because of the dang steering stop lol.. almost getting hit by a speeding truck.
Being 5'4" with a 29 inch inseam I'm used to not being able to touch with anything more than one big toe with that said I love my 690 it is well balanced so I rarely have to put my foot down it is by far the best dual sport I ever had in stock form.
juan73rd Wow, 5’4” on one of these would be interesting! I’m a little bit taller, and years of experience riding. Still a bit too tall for me :(
Lol.. yes I'm short I have been riding 31 years on/off road and dirt only since I was 5 years old till I was 16 years old.
So all my riding was done on bikes too tall for me so I adjusted by learning how to really balance at traffic lights.
But truthfully I have dropped my 690 6 times when I couldn't jump off in time.
juan73rd That my fear. With it off road, and having to quickly get off. Also, I’ve had some negative ownership experiences with KTM from a warranty stand point...... It looks like things are changing for the positive though on that front. Also, their sales numbers are strong here in the US
@@sarahdell4042 as with any manufacturer no bike comes from the factory perfect they all need some tweaking to personalize.
I would like to lower mine about 2 inches since I don't ride as aggressive as I did when I was younger.
I haven't had to use the warranty yet but I hope if I do they honor their warranty.
Have you guys considered chopping your seat foam down? When I was at the moto shop that’s what we did for the short kids on superminis and such. 690 has a real deep seat pan, but I bet you could chop a pretty good chunk out of it.
great unbiased review of the bike
Thank you
Really a comprehensive rundown. Good job!
You said your weight but didn't mention your height or inseam. The important thing to us 5'8 or 5'9" guys is that seat height and how comfortable it is for us to ride an Enduro. Most tend to be tippy toes or balls of the feet touch.
Have a great time ridding and be careful. 👍
Kevin Nash 6ft, 33”. Touch is no prob.
@@JohnHowerton137 That figures.. happy review for someone 6' tall. I want to see that gleaming sort of boasting from a dude 5'8" . No offense, I don't want to take away from your experience.. but it's not gonna be that same fun happy experience for us 30" inseamers.
Kevin Nash I have another one of the reviews where there's a comment thread about it. Think one of the women is like 5'2 or something. Dig around my other videos. Might be the 3,000 mile one.
One of my best friends is 5'6"? He has a 200 (lowered), 300 (lowered), 530, 1190R and about 5 other bikes that aren't lowered. He does just fine.
No offense, but many of the best riders in history have been small. Look at Ricky Carmichael... knee high to a grasshopper. Shorter legs, the center of mass is low and makes for easy foot dabbing in gnar off-road terrain too. Long legs are mostly nice in big whoops and traffic lights 🤣 ... but don't tell Josh Hill they are better in whoops ✊
I started riding big bikes full time at 13. Mostly mud and with bald tires being a broke teen. I was only 5'. I do know what it's like. When I started riding full size 3 wheelers (200X) at 8yo, I was barely tall enough to reach the pegs. I wasn't tall enough to lean over far enough in corners and also fully reach the handlebars in a lean, so it would roll over me all the time. Even got sucked through the wheel well once 🤣
So much great information. If you had implemented a tripod and a real mic with dead cat, this would be one of the best 690 vids on YT. Thanks!
The MX Guru I know, sorry man. I'm just a guy who likes to ride his motorcycles and carries a phone like everyone else 🤣
Looking to upgrade the gear, but my wants list outpaces my income. I'm sure you and nearly everyone else can understand.
Appreciate you watching.
Mine came with ktm ergo seat already installed and I would have to agree with you and say the stock seat is better lol. Great review, thank you for all the 690 content!
Nice of someone to buy it for you. LOL
You're welcome. Thanks for watching Ian!
John Howerton Definitely so lol, mine had a few accessories from dealership that I knew I would probably never get after the fact. Enjoy the beast! 🏍
Hey John.. Thanks for posting your 690 videos. I'm looking at getting a 690 and building a light weight ADV bike with it.
Thanks for watching 🤙 Enjoy ✊
Decent review man, I'm looking into getting a new smcr so hearing the basics on yours fir upgrades and what not. 🤙
Spyderbuilt same bike. Thing rips on the street even with knobbies. You'll dig it 🤙
The '19 SMCR has the new electrical bells and whistles and a little upgrade to the engine. Supposedly a new balancer and some changes to give it another 5hp. But the traction control, and ride modes should be worth the extra penny. I cant wait to feel the difference between the supermoto calipers also. The enduro and smcr fronts are night and day difference. I cant ger a single ktm dealer to get me a price, kind of frustrating but I'll have to wait.
Spyderbuilt right. That traction control stuff makes a lot more sense on the street and probably works well.
On dirt that like more of a pain in the ass than anything. About to buy myself the dongle to disable the ABS so I don't have any more near death experiences in the dirt... It's like having a loaded chamber indicator on a pistol 🤣 I always leave it in the aggressive map, so I have no need for that either.
Is that what the USB port on the left side of the headlight is for?
Spyderbuilt probably. Dealer port for firmware updates or something. I guess it could be an accessory port to run devices. That would actually be pretty cool.
Interesting to see this review when your heat is with the EXE, good perspective for an honest review. I have the remus exhaust - it came with the bike ;) the Bark is great!
Yeah, I love the EXC, but the 690 will stick around I think. Different animals. Those Remus seem nice. I want the Ti Beowulf can, but they don't make a spark arrestor for it. Grr
Thanks for your advise on the 690. I pulled the trigger on a 2021 and so far have really love the bike. Decided to go newer and spend the extra $$$ mostly to get the updated tech. Still not sure if that was the best call. One thing I thought I really wanted was the quick-shift but at this point I wish there was a way to disable it. If you want the power w/o the 450+lbs the 690/701 is the only way to go. Thanks again. BTW I went for the 1" lower pegs and I am always placing the ball of my foot on the part of the peg that slopes down. The part that lowers the peg near the hinge. Really wish I would have just got the pegs you currently have. Thx again.
Oh your foot is hitting the peg mounting bracket or something?
In general I like my feet lower and further back because I like my center of mass lower and further back and my upper body lower and over the front of the bike. Think of a more road race laying down position. In general that position is not a dirtbike position. I'm not sure if that's because of the development rider's size, if it's a frame geometry thing, or both. I'm not the greatest rider in the world or an engineer, but my mind functions like an engineer's and it seem like anyone over 5'10" would benefit from this geometry change.
Must be a dongle or wire you can pull to turn off the quick shift? Why don't you like it? The general response I've seen has been good. They've even added it to the new 250/450SX now.
@@JohnHowerton137 Re: the foot pegs. If you picture an "L" with the short leg vertical and longer leg horizontal as the orientation of the peg. I am constantly placing the ball of my foot on the top of the vertical short part of the "L", so my foot is not flat on the the peg. If the peg did not drop down like yours it is one big flat surface. I would never have guessed this would be a problem but it is really annoying.
Re: the quick-sifter. When you tough the shift lever with your foot it revs the rpms even if the shift doesn't happen. This is really problematic at time because you think the shift happened with the rev but it didn't. Second, it really doesn't work any different than clutchless shifting. In lower gears feels like you are really jamming the gears, not smooth at all. I can really clutch less shift much better with a standard setup because I control the engine rpm, (no auto rev). I now just use the clutch with the auto rev. Third, the bike really jumps in low gears because the rev and speed don't match if you are just casually accelerating. My be better if you are going full out, not sure.
You will understand what I am saying if and when you are able to ride one. Maybe mine is not adjusted correctly, or maybe I just suck at using it, but at this point I really don't understand the hype.
Thanks for the review, Great idea on grinding the lever. Fell mine once and it scratches the engine cover and break the hand lever. I cant afford to crash it more. Changed to road tires and the speed tops at 183kmh with limiter kickback. Owned it almost a year and still not brave enough to take it off road. Plan on getting a smaller klX to learn offroad trailing. Cheers
I have lots of videos for you my friend. You may be up all night! 🤣 Find my 690 playlists.
It's quite capable off road, but for an inexperienced off-roader it could be a bit of a handful. The KLX is a great idea. If you don't need street legal, a lighter pure dirt bike is even better. Less weight, cheaper parts.
@@JohnHowerton137 yeah, im scrolling it right now (in my office 😂). I tried playing around in the sandy beach, and i cant tame the beast. Right now its mostly a highway cruiser, riding among harleys.. For now. Thanks for the reply 🤟
@@MALBACHinc getting paid to watch my videos... even better 🤣👌
Sand is a whole other beast. The fork is too soft for sand stock. The bike is heavy (relative to true dirtbikes) and it stands a bit stink bug. This will cause the front to easily push and dive in sand. Drop the forks flush, stiffen them up and maybe speed up the rebound, drop the rear sag to 100mm+ and soften the rear some, maybe even on the high speed adjuster.
Get on the balls of your feet, ride over the back of the seat a bit more, pop that thing off the rev limiter and go fast with finesse. She doesn't like jerky movements. It's still big, but getting it on top the sand especially in the front will make a huge difference.
Sand was my specialty. Exponentially better in sand than I ever was on dirt. Miss sand so much 😭
@@JohnHowerton137 my first time on offroad riding on rented klx took me an hour and a half to complete the 4km trail. 2nd time following week on same track witihin 20 minutes with lesser body ache after ride. Then the pandemic started. Ride my enduro to only work everyday and some highway until the tire Metzeler Sahara worn off. Changed the road tires but i get excited whenever i watch offroading videos. In Malaysia mostly dry mud or rain mud. Ive tried them both. And i think i love the thrill. The 2 hours ride was in the middle of rain. The guide did ride the bike 😅😅 for me on certain terrain especialy steep hill climb. Now im hooked but i need an easier bike to handle. If you got time, you can watch this race called Rimba Race (forest raid)
th-cam.com/video/-uyibOOfHL8/w-d-xo.html
The guy who raced it met dakar rider and he said it was a totally different game. Stay safe bro. May the pandemic ends faster so we can ride more 😁😁😁
@@MALBACHinc in that terrain find yourself a KTM 250EXCF 👌 You'll be in heaven. The later model 350EXCF would work too if you cant find a 250. Ride of of those and you'll throw rocks at the KLX 🤣
Good off-road tires are a must if off-roading the 690. Heavy duty tubes and run the pressure low. I feel like I was usually around 8-9psi... and get rimrocks!
Good Vid
Pulling the trigger on a 690 this new season..
First upgrade for me will be 2 or 2.5" internal lower kit. Reference Moto Lab
Great machine. I still love mine. Just spent 2 hours on it 😋
Hey John, I know this is an old video, and I think on one of your other videos you said you put 30mm handlebar risers on your bike, but did you also replace the handlebars with a handlebar that has a taller bend so it was higher for when you are in the standing position?
So... I have mixed things around a bit since then. My riding style has fundamentally changed so my current setup reflects that.
I used the stock bar with the risers at one point. I do believe I had a tall bar on the bike, but I think that was before the risers.
On to current. I use the stock bars and the stock risers. My bars are rolled back a little past parallel with the fork (80's MX style). My 690 is ridden in the seated position a lot. This setup keeps my posture and elbows in a nice position while cruising. When I ride the 690 hard, I ride in a very aggressive attack position (watch some of my (fast videos) very low and into the bike and steer more from the back with hips because the front pushes more on the heavier bikes.
Sustained standing at moderate speeds (more like I used to ride in the days of this video) risers helped for general comfort. My 450 is the bike more ridden like that now, so I found the risers to help on that bike.
Hopes that helps-ish.
@@JohnHowerton137
Thank you John! I watched a bunch of your vids and they were great so I subscribed. Im a tall guy. 6’2” and I thought about maybe a tall handlebar on 30mm risers. Do you think that would throw the geometry way off and make it handle bad or is it doable. I ask you because I just dont have a bunch of experience with this at all. My background is street bikes. Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it!
@@papaduck2443 that part is probably still ok. Plenty of people get that rise on bikes with steering stabilizers. I feel like the risers in the 1st clamp position (fwd/fwd) should probably be enough to open up your ergos?
A problem to keep an eye on with changing a bar on a bike like this, if you're not really careful on the selection, you'll lose your controls mounting space and sometimes the brake/clutch lines end up being too short.
@@JohnHowerton137
Great point! Man am I glad I talked to you first! Thank you man, you have totally earned my subscription! Really appreciate your response! Im hoping you have new videos coming out soon! Ride safe and may God bless you!
@papaduck2443 thank you. Yes, I hope to get back to producing more and better videos once I get settled into a new place and my new job (prob about 3-4 months though). Hopefully I'll have some shop space to do more technical stuff 👍
Good video thank You. I learned a lot.
You're welcome. Happy to hear 🤙 New one coming soon.
Thanks for the video John. What kind of skid plate do you have? Also, what kind of sales are you in?
I use the stocker for mostly street riding because the engine is so much quieter, but any time I know it's going to get more exciting than some gravel, I have a this big bad battle tank from Adventure Spec. www.adventure-spec.com/default/bashplate-protection-crashbars-adventure-spec-bashplate-ktm-690-e-r.html
I highly recommend it and looked very carefully at options before deciding on it. It protects the vulnerable rear brake master cylinder as well! It's taken monster hits! The other benefit is the large flat area underneath. Makes a very stable surface when the bike is on a stand.
@@JohnHowerton137 Thank you so much John! I've been looking around for a replacement for the stock and wanted to get your expert advice. Best regards!
David Oturf you’re welcome. It’s a massive piece of battle armor for your steed. Enjoy 🤙
I live in Hilo and will be purchasing the supermoto version of this bike from Kiser next week. I’m 6’2” and am wondering where you got your handlebar risers from?
I have several sets, but the first set was ebay to see if I liked them. They bend bolts pretty easy in a spill. This bike now bike has fairly expensive TrailTech riser that is braced and stronger. Kiser can order you up several kinds likely. Enduro Engineering makes some I know they can get. You’ll also prob get a nice discount on accessories the day of the bike purchase at Kiser. Congrats, you’ll have a blast!
Get a factory tall seat. A solid foot peg brand that can be set up 1in lower are all fastway pegs I recommend the adventure pegs.
Great review man. At the moment I can't decide between this or something a little more off road biased, like a 500 EXC. Planning on riding around Australia with it. I like the idea of the 500 but the service intervals would be a major pain.
kingcrumpet if you're going to haul a lot of stuff I think the 690 is probably where it's at. Its also really nice on high speed road. If you're traveling spot to spot to ride gnarlier single and double track and like to toss a bike around, get a 500. I have a 350 too and love it. Both are rad. Just different animals.
Appreciate you watching 🤙
@@JohnHowerton137 Yeah I think you're right. 690 would probably fit the bill better. I was encouraged to hear that you can take the 690 everywhere, just slower and perhaps more carefully! I will be getting a dedicated off road bike too, thinking the new Beta RR 200. That would be my single track weapon with the 690 as the adventurer!
kingcrumpet perfect. With the 200, get the 690.
Another thing to consider... 690 you can go 2-up. Chick's dig vibrating motorcycles 😎
Watch some of my other 690 videos. It's pretty capable offroad.
I am in the market for a new bike. I currently ride a crf 250 and love it. But the interstate is a no go. Which is fine I like backroads. But after riding trails all day and being tired it would be nice to take the hour long route home rather then the hour and a half route. I’m looking at a 690r or a crf450. I plan on keeping the 250 because it is awesome
690 if you’re the Adventure type, 500EXC if you like to go out and smash things.
Thank you. Appreciated.
If you get rid of your longer rally pegs what will you get to replace them? What brand makes a long peg that is lowered to open up with the cockpit?
chiptaxfree FASTWAY and MotoBau are the two main ones. I found some wicked awesome ones call Dirt Dox but they want an absolute fortune for them!
@@JohnHowerton137 got links?
amzn.to/2CUgsv1
$270 Done
motobau.de/product_info.php?language=en&info=p9_-bear-trap--3cm-lower-rallye-footpegs-for-all-ktm-690.html
$165 before shipping etc..
www.speedbasics.eu/shop/mxenduro-parts/dirtdox-fussrastenschwarz-kopie/
$399 before shipping etc..
I'm sitting with my 2013 is it really worth the upgrade to the 2018 or 2019
david cohen unless it's roached out.. probably not the 2018, but if you have the money.. possibly the 2019.
Great review, very informative ! Like to know more about the mirrors, where to get.
They are a set of these:
www.ebay.com/itm/Folding-mirror-Rear-Mirrors-Motorcycle-Universal-Scooter-Rearview-Side-Mirror/322182003255 The only thing I don't like is the little rubber boots. If you turn them at a sharp angle they pop off the mirror. Zip tie fix ;)
0-100 in 5 seconds. More than anything I'd ever need
I bought a 2016 KTM Enduro R with 2800 miles on it. This is my FIRST bike.
Thanks for your videos, although they are more off road centric, I do enjoy your insights. My intent for off road is forest service/BLM roads, no single track MX stuff. My "Total Control" CMSP instructor told me that to be CA legal, the rider has to be able to have both feet flat on the pavement when seated on the bike. So I bought a Kuoba Link KTM8-1 to lower it 1." I have a 34 inch inseam, so I'm close but not quite. I'm 6'1," broad shouldered. What vibration reducing riser would you recommend and how do I determine the ideal handlebar height?
G. Leet G you might have too much proload in the shock spring. I'm 6', 33" inseam and either touch flat or am pretty close to it. Have someone help you set the sag.
Ride it some and see if you get used to the vibrations before you do the dampers. Mine are hard mounts. All I did was foam rally grips.
If you ride sitting down a lot you might NOT need rise to the bars. Its only cramped when standing. To get you pretty straight when you stand up, you either need to get lower footpegs (promoto billet rally) or 30mm risers. For stock mounts, get the Ricky Carmichael "609" bend bars.
@@JohnHowerton137 Would you recommend a video instructing how to set sag on a 690 Enduro?
G. Leet G not any one in particular. Its the same on nearly every dirtbike made though, so watch any/multiple vids really, look up the specs and call that brother for help.
Loosening the shock collars is the trickiest part. You can lift the 690s subframe and use a spanner, or you can spray some WD-40 and cringe while you hit it with a drift. Once the top collar is loose, if you're lucky, and while the bike is on a stand... the spring can be turned by hand. Sometimes its a bitch and you have to turn by hand and tap on the collar.
KTM also makes a fancy quick adjust collar. Seems its like $190 or something.
G. Leet G just verified that I can touch flat. New riders typically sit too far back on the seat, so if you do, try sitting middle-front.
In motocross short riders shave the seat foam with a bread knife so the suspension can stay the same.
@@JohnHowerton137 The seat position certainly makes a difference. I am conscious of your comments not recommending the KTM 690 as a first bike, so I am taking tremendous precautions with the bike while I put in the hours to build fundamental riding skill. I watch all of your KTM 690 vids. Thanks for sharing your valuable insights
Thank you for this review. I plan on selling my seadoo jetski and purchasing one this spring (probably a discounted 2018 model, because i dont like the digital gauge thingy on the 2019.) I used to ride motocross casually, and ive rode alot of motorcycles and dirtbikes since i was a kid. But this will be my first new bike. With their high mileage service intervals compared to other brands 600~ mile oil change services with less reliability. I'm a stocky 6'1" and 260lbs so i figured this would also be better than a 250 or 450 enduro bike. Would you recommend doing anything to the stock suspension? It wont ever be motocrossed, but drove on-road, gravel road, and mild to intermediate trail riding occasionally. Thanks John!
bumpnthump05 welcome. At 260 you will appreciate the 690s ability to pull you around. If you plan on riding it aggressively at all you will probably have to spring both ends. When that day comes, call the Guys at Enduro Spec for a recommendation. I'm about 170 with gear on and I find it under-sprung, but you can see in other videos its not really old lady on Sunday riding either. Haha
I'm Moving back to the BI this month! I look forward to getting into the enduro scene once there!
Stephen Pangle Kiser has new and old 690s in stock. 350s & 500s, and the new Honda 450L too.
@@JohnHowerton137 Yea man I have already been looking at their website to see which route I am going to go. I think the 690 is a good all-rounder for the BI. I have a long history of riding and used to road race. Moving back to the BI i really want to hit all the back roads, trails, beaches, etc ....
Stephen Pangle its a bit of handful in the rocky crap (lots of it around here) but it’s great for the long stretches to/between spots. If you ever plan or have the option to truck/trailer to many of your off-road rides, grab an EXC. Get street legal though.
@@JohnHowerton137 I looking the 690 or something similiar wr250r crf450l as a daily motorcycle which i can also take out exploring. So it would def need to be something with some pretty high maintenance intervals. I am shipping my truck out but i dont want to daily it.
Stephen Pangle I think Kiser might have all 3. The only thing that would suck about the WR would be power at altitude and long stretches... and there's lots of that here.
almost lost hope that you were not going to show where you mounted the Kev's mod - nice
I have a full video for the gadget bro! LOL
John Howerton I'm sure I watched that...?
@@g000se99 th-cam.com/video/LZMZnlzJ8uc/w-d-xo.html
Did you end up finding a solid brand for the lowered foot pegs that are also wide?
Stuart Turner looking at the Motobau I think they’re called? 3cm lower. Might be too much, so in haven’t decided yet. Make a decision in the next week or two probably.
You really should tell people your view comes from a dirt bike guy. I come from an adventure pig. And my take on the 690 is, super light, incredible suspensions and quite tall 😂.
Andre Borges in fairness, I have like 75 videos for this bike. I can't cover everything all the time. It's not super light, but it is lighter than anything in the same class.
Any oil leaks ? Is it made in Austria or in India ?
No leaks. Don't know this to be a problem on any KTM? 690 is a Austria bike.
@@JohnHowerton137 Oil leaks are a known problem for KTM's.
I guess the 790 is made in India. (or they are planing to do that).
@@fcalin21 new news to me. I worked at the #1 KTM dealer in my state (Washington) for 8 years and don't recall ever seeing one. Must be a India model thing.
Yes, the 790 (second year?) and the models based on the 390 engine are India bikes. I owned a 390 too and it didn't leak. That said, that bike didn't have many miles.
Hi john.
Loved the video. Congrats.
I’m considering this as my first bike. :D I’m not a kid (41) and I perfectly know how to ride a bike, but still what’s your opinion on this being a first bike? Love the enduro style, road use mainly and ocasional light tracks with my brother. Is it too powerful? Will it be dangerous?
All the best, keep up with the good videos
If you know how to ride, it'll be fine on the road. First dirtbike or bike in general? It's got power, but it's not like a super light switch or anything and the clutch is nice, light and predictable.
If the tracks are wet, it'll be a handful for a beginner. If you have a decen't amount of road miles on her before you hits those tracks I think you'll manage.
John Howerton thanks for the reply. First bike ever! I haven't ridden for 20 years or so, therefore my concern about this bike. Although it's so nice! Thanks again
@@filipemorais6382 Well if it's within the budget to get a learner bike first, I might recommend you do a used WR250, KLR250, or maybe a DRZ400 for 6mo to 1 year first. I'd hate to see you buy this bike and have it ruin the learning experience for you... and potentially riding in general. I could see the 690's power being a little to much for a someone so green. Especially off-road. I sold bikes for about 4 years, so that tip comes from a bit of real world experience.
It is a little like buying a Ferrari for your first car. You could, but maybe not the best idea. Better to have fun beating up a Honda Civic or Corolla first.
John Howerton sounds like good advice. Is there a KTM in between the 690 and de wr250r? Something that I could learn with, get experience and with more longevity riding than a 250? And with high mileage maintenance? Perhaps the KTM 500exc?
Filipe Morais are you a decent sized guy? If you left the 500EXC totally stock with the buttplug and all that stuff in it, you’d probably be fine. They are fire breathing dragons, but they come so corked off for emissions. The drawbacks are you lose the passenger pegs and like 80lbs of weight which helps on the highway runs. The oil changes are a lot more frequent, but if you can afford a 500EXC that’s probably not an issue. The valve inspections are more frequent also, but from the sounds of my friends who are all long term KTMers and A class riders, stuff is rarely out of spec with good oil and air filter maint.
The off-road ability of the 500 is much better. That’s not saying the 690 sucks, just that the 500 is basically a detuned race bike and a lot more maneuverable because of the weight. Parts are a lot cheaper when you crash too.
Not trying to sway you either way, just throwing the information out there so you can make a decision based on your needs. In a nutshell, if you’re going to be by yourself on the street a lot the 690 is probably great. If you want to get into off-road you have a group of friends who does it already... get a used 250 and beat/crash the piss out of it for a while learning and trying to keep up with friends. That would destroy a pretty new 690. 500 could be an ok compromise for a best of both worlds, but it’s not really the brainless pavement pounder that the 690 is, not that it sucks or anything. I’ve ridden my 350EXC on the road a lot. I like it in the twisties better than the 690 probably. Makes me feel like a hero 🤣
I too almost dumped mine on the way home due to steering stop adjustment. Why?! I asked would KTM spec that dimension for stop? Or were these dealers who decided to set so far out? Anyway - love my 690 very much, but it's not the off-road solution I hoped it might be.
Brian LaFollette take 5,000 miles challenge. After 3,000 miles I pretty much fell in love with it. I think it’s one of those bikes that takes a little time to appreciate what it is.
John Howerton I have 6,000 mi, still love it and great bike for BDR’s and atuff like Co/UT TAT (which I did on a KLR650A at the time, WISHING I had a 690!). I’ve ridden it on single track, but my 250 is such a pleasure by comparison. 690 WILL do it, but more work IMHO. Nice video btw.
Brian LaFollette fork springs made a WORLD of difference on the 690 off-road, so consider those. The front end rides so low in the travel its a lot of work. On road, stock is fine.
wind noise !!! super annoying, shame because you make some valid points but gave up after 10 mins
Wiffy Cliffy well blame Apple, GoPro and Garmin because those are the cameras I use. I specifically made the video away from the ocean where IT WASN’T WINDY (you can hear the wind and waves at the beginning).
And the problem is... you don’t know until you are done and go to edit. I’m not going to carry around fancy cameras and one of those fuzzy kitty cat microphones with me everywhere I go until I get paid for this 😉
What year Bike
Rotor 2018
"cruises nicely at 60mph" See and there is why I don't think a 690 will cut it for me .....I need to cruise at 80 and that takes multi cylinder dang it ...seems I just can't have it all ....sigh....ANOTHER hundred pounds for a multi 790 or whatever ...but if your "adventure riding" way more than dual sport/enduro? Then by far most miles are highway...
Cruises at 80 no problem too. Put the 16T sprocket on it though.
Speed is not a problem, the 690 will do 105mph easily. I put Perelli Scorpions on my 690 Enduro and rode 1,200 miles fully loaded with gear to the Grand Canyon mostly on the interstate. I averaged 75 to 80mph for several hundred miles a day, no problem.
I cruise at 60 easy on my drz400sm lol this thing should be very easy to cruise at 80😂
Add a power commander, airbox and exhaust and change to taller sprockets
the seat rules! ive done 12 hr days too and i cant say the seat was at all a problem
#Tenderbutts 😂
Have you ever tried to talk to someone who is in a window spot and the background wind is so annoying you just want off the phone. Well this is one of those moments. I only got through about 5 minutes and had to go.
gunnguy12 right. Well complain to Apple, because it seems to be a problem with phones. Remember back in the land line days when you could actually hear people on phones? No wonder everyone texts now.
All that said, it’s not really that bad to listen to on my iPad.
0-100 kilometers pp er hour....which is like 80 miles per hour to be " politically correct"
Pam Simonson she's a slouch 😋