Mythical Gravel Unicorn? KTM 690 Enduro R
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ย. 2023
- Quick Ride Episode 4
Complete series: • Quick Rides
Thank you KTM Nordic for providing the test bike: / ktmnordic
CORRECTION: Because I'm a .. moron.. I have converted height to my video directly to FT!!.. I'm actually 5 ft 8.5" (174cm).
I know some of my quick impressions might be a bit controversial but it's just what I feel during these rides so don't take them too seriously. We all have different taste when it comes to these things.
I really like both the 701 and 690 for what they are. To me this bike would be probably the perfect 'unicorn' territory bike if there ever is one. I could load this bike up with all my luggage for a 3 month trip and still would have a light setup with lots and lots of offroad cabability and power.
Interesting to see what I do come next season but this is definitely one candidate to appear in my garage when we get to 2024 so stay tuned ;-)
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Love these machines, I have a Husky 701 Enduro.
Over here in 'Merica, we can still get away with tuning these things. The off idle part throttle snort really comes alive with the exhaust of your choice teamed with an O2 sensor delete dongle and Power Commander with Rottweiler's map on it to get rid of the crazy lean Euro 5 compliant stock fueling that makes it run hot. Running a Yosh RS-4 can with spark arrestor insert on mine, it sounds fantastic.
I am in the minority in the opinion it seems, but I find the stock gearing is too short. I went with 16/45 sprockets and now it really has legs, pulling nicely gear to gear, and cruising calmly at 70 MPH (or around 115 KPH for our more civilized friends in the rest of the world). I also added a Puig windscreen which takes the wind off my chest, leaving the helmet in clean air. That little screen makes extended riding at 70/115 tolerable. I live in Colorado and we have some wide open spaces.
The unexpected thing is I like it off road better with the taller gearing. The stock 1st gear is strange, it feels tall at a walking pace, then runs out pretty quick. I found myself between 1st and 2nd a lot. With the taller gearing the slow speed difference isn't a big deal thanks to the excellent clutch and loads of off idle power, especially after tuning it. 2nd is super fun on faster two track roads, I feel like there is more control while hanging out the rear end. 2nd gear power wheelies are easier too - the big single likes to pull a load.
Another mod I love is swapping stock .59 kg/mm fork springs to .65, which better matches the firm .72 rear shock spring. I forget I'm on a 350 pound bike and ride my 701 pretty aggressively off road at speeds and over terrain that would break a Tenere 700 in half. I live in Colorado, and we have lots of rocky rough 4x4 trails.
My only remaining complaint is the seat. It is fine for awhile, then it destroys my rear end. I'm on the waiting list to have Renazco Racing re-do the seat. If I can get the seat to be reasonably all day street comfortable, this really will be the ultimate dual sport and light Adventure bike.
I love this engine, the right hand is so connected to the rear tire, with smooth but plentiful power. I owned an '83 Honda XL600 as a young guy back in the late 80s, the 690 platform is as good as my fond rose colored and inaccurate "good old days" memories of my old XL 😆
Мужик, привет из России! Ты крутой!
Thanks for taking the time to add your input. I'm on the fence getting one to replace my XR650R, and I appreciate your perspective.
@@doghouseriley8696 You will miss kick starting that XR650R, for sure. I had a SC620 Lc4 that was street legalized and kick start only, the crank was so light it would stall easily at times........and would wheelie thru 3rd at the drop of a hat...............if it wasnt kicked just right there I would sit. Especially when it was really hot.
I geared it to do 100mph and rode it clear around Baja, the vibration by end of day would be making my eyeballs spin in their sockets. Feet would be numb, hands were getting there.
What a fun bike though!
I added bark buster bar weights to my 2021 690 and they eliminate the bar vibrations. Small KTM screen for $140 also really helps wind protection. For a small extra cost you can make this bike substantially better for road use between the trails. No problem doing long trips on this bike with a few minor mods. Two years and 20,000 km later I’m still Lovin it.
I did the same to my 2022 KTM690 I can’t believe how smooth this bike rides I can 5 hours road trip easy
Same here - pretty good on the open road for my uses. I added an adjustable steering damper as well which helped both on and off pavement when running more aggressive front rubber. Awesome bike! I also have a 23 890 Adv R (also a great bike...) ... but prefer the 690 for sure unless I'm going longer distances on the pavement.
@@breeno59 funny you also have the 890 as I’ve been thinking about trading in my 690 for an 890, but still unsure. The 690 is just so versatile and more suited to my area, plus quite ok on the highway for a few hours getting to the trails. so I will probably keep the 690 another year or so. Does the 890 feel a lot heavier? Cheers
@@glossblack1098 there is no denying that extra weight of the 890, but you mostly feel when picking up / turning around - it carries it very well when moving. Ido prefer how easy it is to pop the front on the 690 compared to the 890 which requires the proper technique (as it normally just spins up the tire) to pop up over obstacles. 690 is for sure my unicorn!
@@breeno59 thanks for your reply. I agree it’s good to be able to pop the front over obstacles. Great you have both 890 and 690. I have Husky 300 two stroke and the 690. Cheers
Thanks for the review. You answered some questions for which I couldn't find answers elsewhere.
Though expensive, the single best vibration mod is the Mako 360 by XC Gear. Bar mounts with softest polymer eliminate metal to metal contact through the bars. I installed ODI clamp on grips and then put inexpensive foam overlays over them.
I like the foam overlays so much I don't wear gloves in warm weather.
Nice review. I have the 690 Duke and I love it! Easy to work on, spareparts online or at the dealer. Done 61 000km now and only fun!
Good to hear!
I had one and loved the grunt, but it was exhausting on the freeway as it is quite light and easily destabilized on bad tarmac at high speed.
It was also unreliable due to a faulty air sensor. Pre 2017 models had a terrible turning angle, and it's a lot heavier than a 500 exc off-road on tight trails.
I replaced it with a Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC (and a klx 250 for trails). The Triumph is insanely torquey, good looking, c I mfortable and much more pleasant on fast roads and long rides. It also handles very well off-road...very balanced and easy to get feet down. The Triumph is so good off-road, i hardly ever take the klx out.
Thank's for this review! This hear lot's same that my 2014 but thats must shake even more i think😂
That power is so nice when you let it rev up🎉
"Mitä pienempi tie sitä parempi mieli" kuvastaa hyvin tätä pyörää.
Very true! I come from a T7 so the smooth delivery is of course very noticeable. But as many have stated you get used to the vibrations.
Nice review! I had a 2009 690r and kept it for four years. Perfect for a northern Baja ride I did. Sold it and went the adventure bike route for a lot of years. Now back to a 2023 690r because I do a lot of solo off road riding and my beastly KTM 890r was becoming too heavy as I have aged. I just do day trips and off road is not too far away so the 690r fits the bill perfectly for me.
Very nice! I wouldn't dare to call these 'reviews' but thanks 😊 I'm still thinking this might fit the bill for Tenere 700 replacement next year.
I need to ride a few more bikes for this channel before I make my mind 😅
Had to change rocker arms on my 2016 at 50k...had quite a hard life...underwater once and Spain to Turkey and Uk couple of times.
I feel You. Though I am fan of T7...this one could take me places.
I'm really happy with my 2020 690. That's my second 690, third LC4, and I have had zero issues with them. Since I haven't owned any other type of bikes than supermotos and enduros, I don't even notice the vibrations haha. I just love the aggressive pull when you let the power out! Still, I can totally see why people dislike this bike compared to others.
Right on! You are fully invested in thumpers then 🫡 😁
Exactly when you don't know better. 690 is not vibrating at all 😅
The only bike that I really regret selling... it really made the adventure riding FUN!
Didn't even know you had a 690 :) Why the swap to bmw?
@@PatchedBandit I was in quite bad accident and didn't enjoy riding after that. But already next spring I bought first dr650 and was riding that few months and then in august 2018 bought the XChallenge...
I had the 690 2013 model, and that had some issues with vibrations. it got much better in the newer versions, but for adventure touring I keep the t7, but for light and fun, I rather have the Honda 300 (same as you) But your next bike is your best bike, it is always like that 🙌🏻
Tough to find just the right one 😊 For me the biggest doubt about the 690 is the weight. It's not quite light enough for me to ride in the Finnish winter and also not quite substantial enough to travel like I do with the T7. It's a compromise both ways.
I'm pretty happy about my Honda for what I use it for but the next step on replacing it is probably the EXC lineup of full on race bikes.
I also like using very rough offroad tyres on my 'dirtbike' so it's never gonna be perfect on road... How do people survive with only 1 bike 🤣
These are very pleasant problems to have 😅
I could live with this bike very easily
I put on gel grips, Acerbic guards, and vibe was noticeably better to me. I wouldn't mind adding bar weights too. Tires have a lot to do with freeway manners. I have 50/50 tires now, but I expect them to suck on most sand, dirt and gravel. I think I like it better than I liked my Hypermotard on the road. Then again that had so much lean surge it ruined any good attributes. Of course my 701 is Euro4.
Nice review, Finland looks gorgeous and ideally suited to the 690 Enduro R.
I had one for around 18 months here in NZ, specifically to do some hard core ADV riding. Found out that it was too fat for true off road (compared to my TE300 granted), and too ‘agricultural’ for long distance on road. Interestingly I thought it was at its best for heavy traffic urban commuting, super nimble and the bars are far higher than wing mirrors, though the SMC version would be ideal.
Bad things: Price, significant vibration, sketchy at high speeds, and the seat is crippling after more than 60 minutes.
Good things: POWER, good ergo’s for a tall rider, resale/residual was very strong.
Painfully strong! These things are crazy expensive in the used market 😅 Thanks for the insight!
@@PatchedBandit Its funny, a 690 same year as an 890R, they both bring about the same price used.
890R is around 18K out the door..............a lotta guys sell a 690 once they ride it a little while.
It wasnt what they thought it would be. Its a dirtbike but not a trailbike. 100lbs too heavy for a trailbike.
Not really a hiway bike, not a real dirtbike. A specialty item.
The handlebar vibrations can be reduced for zero cost by just loosening up the rubber mounts slightly. Give it about 1 mm of free play, front-back by sanding down the rubber spacers. You won't notice the added play when riding.
Interesting tip. I would not mind the vibrations too much but they are there for people to decide for themselves if it is a problem or not.
Many riders do a lot of miles with these little powerhouses but some people are more strict about the comfort :)
I'm still thinking about buying one come next season
@@PatchedBandit How were the footpeg vibrations? This can matter on a long day.
One of our group had a new GasGas ES 700 = KTM 690 Enduro R. Light, agile, powerful. He had no technical issues which prevent me of ordering one 😉 Günter/Nürnberg
Ha 😆 Tinkering is a hobby in it self ✌️
@@PatchedBandit Well, sort of... yes.
what if tenere is going to re design the engine in to single cylinder given with the same body geometry of the bike.with a 12:1 compression ratio.
I had the 2023 model and is perfect
Ok I can stay on channel as I can agree with you that on the tarmac roads I would not like to ride whole day... I could do it if needed, but if there is option to go gravel roads I will choose those even it would add some extra km to day trip. And as seen those who are using bike for longer trips are Adding better seat and some navigation tower or other shield. But there is also the fun factor that this bike can give you.
Well said! This bike is in a very unique position as it doesn't really have a lot of direct rivals in what it does. I'm not over the 690 that's for sure. But me included people need to consider that it's not like the heavy twins on the marketplace.
I don't think it's even completely fari to compare this to a T7 or some other heavy bike. This is it's own unique thing and I see the appeal for sure.
I'm still on the fence if it is too heavy as a winter bike for myself though... I would love to drop 20kg off the CRF300 too 🤣
Had this bike for a short time together with my T7. It's a beast and a lot of fun on the road and offroad, but it was too offroad focused and uncomfortable to have as an only bike, so I kept my T7 at the end. For a 1 bike solution the T7 is just way more versatile, there is just no doubt.
This one would be a perfect "second bike" to take on offroad trips and such, but not the best for day to day riding. At least for me.
I might actually prefer to have this as the supermoto version to hoon around on locally.
i love my Tenere so much
Supermoto 690 would be a beast!
T7 and any of the EXC's would be a great pair.
I have owned one for 3 days !
(Husqvarna 701 2024)
I can’t stop thinking about it ! It’s amazing in tarmac and on trails !
Good luck with the new bike 🙌
I spend lots of time in Baja.. and mostly Northern Baja peninsula and people will ship bikes from their country to the port of LA or Seattle..ride to Alaska and the most adventurous go to Patagonia.. but many ride from LA to Los Cabos( Cabo San Lucas) and my data set is nothing but have seen multiple KTMs w LCD screen issues.were it craps out or srarts giving faulty information and different electrical issues..water pump issues.. and an issue you see on big dual sports which is super funny is kickstand kill switch.. which you don't need or want for riding in the desert.. but I will bet that thousands of them were bypassed by twisting some wires together..In Baja Honda is a standard.. that said the Baja 1000 was won on a KTM that the punk kid bought used in San Diego and won the race!!!!
vibrations go away at 120kmh, i put Fatbar handlebars on mine filled them with silicone and it's fantastic now.
Tnx for a good review 😊
Any time ✌️😊
the E07 tires have lots of vibration on Tarmac so it could be part of the problem.
I have racing tires on my honda crf300 and it doesnt vibrate as much. i also rode the Husqvarna 701 at this event with different stock rubber and it was about the same. It’s not the tire.
Im a little (lot) addicted to my 21 890R, its a great roadbike/back road bike and can do dirt just fine.
But I always know Im on something big.
470+ lbs ready to do a long day ride is no joke on dirt. Ive got the seat that suits me on it and a 450 mile day is easy. But the last Lc4 I had was a SC620. A plated dirtbike with KTM's super-moto tuned engine.
A snarling beast. Vibration was insane, footpegs and bars were angry. I may need a new 690.
690 needs a real seat, some sort of shield, and bar weights, maybe rubber inserts in pegs in the rally pegs if your not going mud riding. KTM builds animals, their bikes arent set up mushy soft like so many japanese bikes are.
A whole different thing.
True. Buyer be aware should come with the receipt 😂 JK. They are great bikes. My own issue with 690 is that it's too big as a dirbike and too uncomfortable as the only tourer in my garege. It falls in the middle where it can't be my only bike for now at least..
This being said 690 doesn't really have much competition so if this is something a buyer is looking it's a strong pick for sure. AJP PR7 and KOVE 450 Rally are good alternatives to test out though.
@@PatchedBandit In real life on a real scale, a 300 Honda L isnt all that much lighter than a 690.
Honda really knows how to build with heavy cheap steel. 300 isnt that much faster than a bicycle if your used to a real thumper. AJP or a Kove are a little experimental. Ive never seen one. Never seen a dealer.
Ive put 50,000 miles on a DR650, it will cruise happier at 80mph than it does at 70mph.
But after putting 20K on the 890R the DR is being parted out. No way to sell it with 50K miles on it.
They part out really well though.
Almost +20kg is a lot on top of what as you said is already a heavy bike like CRF300L. I'm more interested in the KTM EXC series to replace my Honda one day 😊
I've had to push and pull both CRF300L and KTM 690 Enduro R in the snow.. Both are heavy but 690 is heavier 😅
I had a 690 for a bit I only had was problems nothing can beat yamaha reliability
Try the AJP PR7. 600ccm, less power, similar weight but less vibration. I don't feel any vibration on the handle bar, only on the pegs on extended highway trips (1,5+ hours). Also it comes with a rally tower and 17l fuel tank.
AJP is a very interesting bike for sure. Local dealer near me just got some bikes in so come spring time I will try and get one for a test.
@@PatchedBandit Hope you make a video!
I will definitely! Next summer I'm gonna try and get my hands on so many new bikes that will come out too. BMW gs F900 and 1300 plus the new africatwin and many more.
@@PatchedBandit Trying to sell a used AJP can be a real trick. KTM dealers and parts are all over the place.
Ive never seen an AJP, never seen a dealer.
Somewhat like selling a Moto-Guzzi, cool bikes but a VERY limited audience.
Mid size bikes are only heavy if you get one with a high COG. Coming from a 1200GSA I ripped off road, the 2023 890 ADV R was a significant improvement, losing 150lbs or so while maintaining super low COG. The reason why I never bought a 690 was the lack of the subframe support. The lighter you go, the less support you get for luggage... kind of like a tail wagging the dog kind of effect from many 690 riders who reported using their 690's adventure style. It really depends on what type of riding you are doing and want to focus on heavily, and what you are willing to put up with as a draw back.
Yep. There is no perfect one tool solution for anything in life. 890 AR is a great bike. I think it's the most 'ready to race' mid size adv bike out there straight out the box. I am a bit tired of the top heaviness of my T7 when I want to do some tougher tracks with it but I love riding the ting so it's a tough call 😄
That being said no matter the COG heavy bike is a heavy bike when it's stuck somewhere.
@@PatchedBandit Agreed. If she's a heavy gal... it'll eventually catch up to you. I am a big fan of the dirt stuff and live in the SW US now. So, a bit of wind helps me cool off on the highway 🤣
A 690 is like, a back packing bike. I would load it super light for going camping for a few days.
Minimal as can be.
Great video 👍The issue Im having is that I think all of the 'middle weight' adv bikes are too heavy.. all of them. I want something no heavier than say 170kg dry. I have at least 1 hrs highway ride from my home before I can do dirt trails. You say the 690/701 has too much vibrations, what else should I look at? The only other option I could see was the old DRZ 400, but they vibrate plenty on the highway too. Am I looking for a bike that doesn't exist?
Usually when we talk about gravel and road cabable bikes there is always some amount of compromise needed. The best is to ask in what areas are you as an individual ready to make those compromises.
If riding on trails is important I would personally be willing to copromise on a lot of the highway comfort and vise versa.
1h on the highway is not bad on the 690/701 but its also never going to be "the best" on those trails eiher. Then if we talk about superlights like KTM EXC series of enduro bikes they are going to be quite bad on the highway and you are going to need a lot of maintenance to do 2h of highway to get to the trails and back..
I think the 690 family is a good middleground but you are going to compromise some amount of performance and/or comfort no matter where you ride.
Why not tow a proper dirt bike? When you get there it will be loads more fun.
@@jeffnabers9180 I did think about that but Id have to buy a trailer and also a vehicle to tow it as my current car is not suitable. Unfortunately Im not made of money.
What’s the ride height for these 690.
I’m only a 30” leg so a short arse..
No issues on the road but on off road tricky stuff..
Height becomes a issue
You can get factory lowering kits for these bikes so I would assume you can get the bike dialed in for you just right.
Also I find that the 690 is MUCH easier to ride for a shorter rider than for example Tenere 700 even though the seat height on the KTM might even be taller on paper. That's because the bike is A: Very light B: Very narrow.
I definitely recommend going to the closest dealer to sit on the bike so you get a feel on how it is. Also notice that new bikes on dealer floors usually don't have any fluids in so the bike feels a bit lighter.
thanks for the review.. i own this bike. and the problem that bothers me the most is that it gets too hot :(
On your legs or just that it can't cool the engine enough? 🤔 Never heard about that with these
@@PatchedBandit The stock 690 muffler is like a plug, so the heat builds up in it big time.
Wings muffler @ 500.00 is the usual fix. The Wings muffler on my 890 is as quiet as stock, but at least it sounds like a motorcycle.
I really miss my 701 from time to time. But my 901 expedition is by far the best bike i have owned. To bad it is so complicated and expensive. On the 701 i felt like i could solve most of the problems that could occur, but on the 901 it is just overwhelming. Maybe i need both..
Both. Answer is always both 🤣
.. Or maybe buy one of the EXC series bikes as a secondary? 😊
@@PatchedBandit Tried a 500 but they vibrate like crazy and when i go riding offroad is is usually 1-2h transport first.
You just need a VAN too 😇
A perfect motorcycle
For many it is :)
The Tenere is more of a.....Cruiser??
Now THAT is one take I've not heard pertaining to the T-7 lol. 😅
Gravel cruiser 😄 Pol Tarres is made from a different tree. For most people Tenere is a travel machine. Sometimes as I do my videos just talking out of my ass in second language I might not explain myself too clearly.
What action camera you use in the video?
Dji osmo action 4
It all comes down to weight for me, i had the T7, great motor, good on the highway. Off road i was hesitant to get into anything difficult in fear of getting stuck, very top heavy. IMO its suited to gravel twin track and road riding. Now i have a 21 690 which is not as good on the highway (being lighter) but offroad it is much much better. The power is similar in HP but much less weight.
On a recent high country ride it performed beyond my expectations, sure it won't slice singletrack like a 500 (there was plenty on this ride) but it does it with ease compared to the T7 and on the 4wd tracks it's so much fun. If the 500 had 10k oil change intervals it would be my choice. I have a 300 xc for singles and a bit of moto so it's a great combo.
I feel the same way. But as I also ride during winter the 690 is still a bit heavy for my use case (to me) as I'm not the biggest or the storngest rider. I have pushed the 690 in the deep snow and it is still a tough case to get loose in a tough spot alone.
These things get very nyanced as the use cases for different riders are not the same.
For me this bike would be a good alternative to the T7 but not my lighter winter bike which is the CRF300L at the moment. Even the CRF is too heavy and I might swap it to one of the EXC models come next season..
The 690 has what? 1.7L of oil? 10.0000kms is pushing it a lot! No matter what KTM says. I have a 2012 500 EXC and it takes 1.5L oil in it. That's just 200ml less than the 690.
The owner's manual says 15h oil changes but it doesn't tell you who they think is the rider of those 15h.
I have reasons to believe that those 15h are Toby Price hours, not your average rider's.
So I change the oil at about 40h (and it still looks good - while I ride quite fast). Not to mention that it's a breeze to change oil in the 500. Really a 20 minute job, of which 5 is for warming the oil up. That 10000kms figure doesn't make sense to me.
@@PatchedBandit Ive watched a lot of reviews on the 500 EXC, almost the first thing that comes up is vibration.
Which doesnt matter off road, but on road it can be near crippling. Ive had 2 plated 400 EXC's, and a 530 plated and even a 525. For sure not good on road, not much. Local trails they are all too big, all get really hot on tight trail.
So really no use for me to have one. 2 strokes are what works on tight trail for me.
Tough to compare anything to a 300L for vibration, unbelievably smooth motor for a single. It's interesting that you commented on how nimble the 690 felt compared to your Tenere. I had the opposite experience going to it from my 450L. It was surprising how slow the low speed handling was comparatively. The weight gap isn't that large either as my Honda comes in around 150kg with a full tank.
Tenere is top heavy. It feels like a tank. CRF300L on the other hand feels way more nimble relative to its weight.
690 is slower to react if compared to the little 300cc honda of course due to weight and smaller engine mass.
But Tenere is a slow lump of steel..
@@PatchedBandit I wonder how much the slower handling of the 690 is strictly related to the extra rotating mass? The handling of the 701 I rode reminded me a lot of an XR650R. Still a very capable bike no doubt but the handling felt dated.
With the short ride it's tough to do compare directly to anything else than these 2 bikes that I own. And any further detailed analysis would absolutely require way more riding than what I did here 😁 I do these "quick rides" just to have an initial impression of the bikes.
I would love to do a review series separately but honestly I just don't have the access to these bikes to do anything more in depth... yet.. I hope that will change.
I nearly bought one, but my knees ain’t that great. So I grabbed a Tenere 700. Knees got worse, now I’m on a Vstrom 1050XT - love it! Except for off road, the VStrom is better in every way v the Tenere. Gearbox on the T7 was a bag of dicks, how smooth it was depended on what mood it was in.. engine heat up to temp, one day it was great, another day a notchy pile of crap. 1000km service, full synth, no difference. False neutrals etc. the most erratic temperamental gearbox I’ve ever used. Day one on the Strom, perfect. Butter smooth changes… if my knees get sorted, I’ll get the 690 as the second bike….
I have a T7 and ktm500exc, have considered selling both and getting a 690/701. But I can’t bring myself to part with either bikes 1st world problems 😂
Very true. Good problems to have. I am becoming more and more sure about the fact that I can't have the 690 for my use case especially for winter riding (too heavy) and I can't ride my CRF300L on the road 100% of the time to replace my T7.
There is no bike that does everything for me so the minimum is set to 2 bikes 😊
690 can replace the T7 and be the only bike but it's a compromise especially in some long 'touring' trips abroad. Also I much rather take a pillion on the T7 than the 690.
.. And I have a van to take the smaller bike closer to the tracks which helps 😄
Hoping for a review of (my bike) KTM adv 790 R 😊
I have a video on the works but let's see if it is good enough to upload 😅
I cannot agree on the vibrations, I have ridden all over the world and in particular the 7,400 mile TAT in the USA and cruised all day at 80 MPH (140kph) with no issue at all. In fact to me my Tiger 900 Rally Pro vibrates more on the highway.
Well you are right in the fact that you and many others get used to the vibrations. Many people report having 0 vibration and this bike would be the first big thumper in the world to have 0 vibration if that were the case.
What I will say is that all of us experience the vibrations differently. For some people it is no big deal and some are so used to bikes vibrating they barely even notice it.
This is exactly why I urge people to ride the bike before they buy one at the end of the video :)
And let's be honest here. I have never ridden a bike with 0 vibrations. Even the newest 1250 GS vibrate. It's just minimal in comparison.
170 indicated you feel pretty comfortable on this bike
How are the vibrations on the highway…55-75 mph?
Very noticeable. At least many say they get used to it. My 650 GS also had vibration and it didn’t bother me after riding it a while.
It’s very personal thing but the mid size twins are definitely more comfortable.
@@PatchedBandit Thanks. I’ve ridden a vibey bike before and for me a deal breaker.
T7 and 690 are very different bikes and imo not even comparable. I have both
True. But then again 690 doesn't have many bikes it compares to. So we are left to compare it to some other bikes over and under it's weight class.
Beautiful handling bike, light, powerful, however I’ll stick with the Tenere, iv had two KTM,s new, both we’r a reliability nightmare and would stay at the dealer months at a time for warranty work, waiting for parts is a joke! I’m so torn cos I really like KTM.
Ive had over 15 KTM's, not a one has broke. My 890R has been great.
I have the T7 and I have setup perfect for me, don't get me wrong it is fun to ride and sound awesome but I feel it whats to hurt me, it so fun to turn that throttle, feel and hear That motor, I rode a couple of KTMs light, fast but there just insane to ride, you just cant ride them slow and I know they will definitely hurt me
Adrenaline is a crazy drug.. I know what you mean. Just hurt myself with the small CRF300 just because I put on some descent tires so I rode it waaay too fast trusting the new rubber.
Very close to braking bones and can't ride right now.. got lucky.
And I agree on the sound of that T7 engine. I still stand by the opinion that the CP2 on that Yamaha is the best sounding adventurebike on the market.. maybe even motorcycle on any segement. It just sings the songs just like I like them. Especially with the CPCorse pipe I have in.
I ride my 890R pretty sensibly off road, I know what a bike that big can do.
Ive had at least 4 friends who have broken body parts on dirt on either a Norden, or 890R.
They start thinking its a dirtbike and get bit. Have to be on your guard all the time. But great on pavement.
On dirt the 890R likes a certain pace, not slow, not really fast but a good pace, then the suspension works great.
Some never learn this. They spend 1000's trying to "fix" suspension when in fact the problem is them.
For the vibration I got the grip puppies for my 500EXC, which are basically a set of foamy sleeves that go over the grips and they did reduce the vibration sensation substantially.
Do they work with heated grips?
@@PatchedBandit I think they do but being somewhat related to Spartans, I scoff at those 1st world luxuries. Now please leave me alone I want to get back to my bubble bath!
😂 I ride in the Finnish winter so I need it to keep my fingers not dropping off 😂✌️
@@PatchedBandit In Sparta we don't need fingers. They are a luxury too.
I've ridden 12k miles all over the US on my adventurized KTM690 a few years ago. Everything from 12 hour days on the road to singletrack.
The vibes are definitely an issue, especially on the older ones, and especially at 50-60mph. When I rode it across the US my fingers were numb for a week afterwards. I've tried every solution and the best setup was foam grips with flexx bars. It was still noticeable, but didn't make your hands go numb.
It's also definitely not an actual enduro bike. It feels like a KTM enduro ergonomically, but once you start going slow two things really hold it back from proper gnar - it's long, tall, and top heavy, and the turning radius sucks due to the frame. It's pretty easy to pick up in a tip over, but it's too heavy to lift completely off the ground - so you're not dragging it out of a seat deep mudhole by yourself. That said, wider trails and gravel roads at higher speeds - there is probably no better bike. The bike is based on the old KTM Dakar bike and it shows - you can go as fast as you are brave over pretty much anything.
Super fun on pavement too, very linear engine that's really easy to ride.
Well put. I'm a bit conflicted with this bike myself. I have ridden the new Husqvarna 701 too and if I was planning on a 1 bike life one of these would most likely be my pick BUT.. as I also ride most of my rides alone and I ride during winter here in Finland I tend to get my bike stuck pretty bad sometimes.
Even the tiny CRF300L is too heavy at times as it's definitely not a bike one lifts straight up from a meter of soft snow.
And on the flip side my Tenere even though definitely far from perfect is a much more comfortable daily rider than the 690.
I'm probably gonna stick with the 2 bike garage for now and replace the CRF with some light and delicious EXC500 etc.. btw subscribed! :)
@@PatchedBandit the KTM 500 and 350s are sweet. I have a 350 myself for dual sport kind of stuff, and have definitely put some very long days on it.
After 60 km on road you cant feel your ass, after 100km you cant feel your arm and ass is going to rot, after 150km you wont go anymore on the road with this bike. 😃 Bro we need 2 bikes one for road with a girlfriend and one when you are alone and just do some action. The problem is that there is not money for two bikes + a girlfriend 😂
Can't agree about vibrations. Maybe my barkbusters take some away. Never riden my 2021 without them.
All thumpers vibrate.. even twins do. What is different is humans and how much they care or get used to it 😄
@@PatchedBandit could be the human factor :) Have gone through a lot of thumpers and maybe got used. Never does extended time of tarmac either.
That's the way to go with these. I've only owned 2 thumpers and the CRF300L is the smoothest I have ever ridden though.
I rode quite a lot with my G 650 BMW and it got smoother every month but I did lose some bolts from the bike sometimes so that tells me it did vibrate all the way until I sold it 😄 Loctite was a must with that bike 😅
You driving on the road with offroad map witch is map 2, on the road it's map 1.
Very possible 😅
Its a great engine if looked after, I have the 690 SMCR it pulls like a schoolboy very fast machine but mind you the after sales service is no where near as good as Yamaha or indeed any motorcycle manufacturer on the planet in the UK its rubbish in my experience I wont be getting another one.
Ive just finished a 8 days Pyreneese on the Tenere 700WR with a friend on a 22 KTM690R, its a great bike but i would not say its built for touring. Small fuel capacity, small seat, but great when you want to go off road.
By "TET touring" I'm talking mainly about traveling 99% off the asphalt roads. Tenere is much better on high speed travel on good to even slightly bad gravel roads.
But if and when the going does go rough the T7 is a handful for any rider. Especially when riding alone. With the 690 I could do a lot more even traveling with luggage alone than I can ever do with the Tenere 700.
50kg weight difference just is what it is. Comfort takes a huge hit but agility is completely different for sure :)
Get a GasGas700 instead of your Honda...I've seen crazy good deals in Europe...like €7k with not even 1000km - It's the same bike as the 690 basically
I'm pretty sure I will swap to a more roudy enduro come next season. But this winter I will still have fun with the Honda and enduro spikes 😁
1 cyl vs 2 , different class of bike but agree similar hp and 100pounds + lighter far better suspension/brakes and off road manners
Yep. Not smart to compare these two.
well i didnt mean it like that but that makes a huge difference in weight , i almost bought a husky 701 to do an adventure build instead when i bought the 901 im riding now , when off road most the time im wishing i had
A fun bike for sure, but I wouldn't want to sit and chewing miles on the highway with it.
It’s not ideal there thats true. I guess the point with these is they are not the best at anything but ok to mediocre at everything 🙂
We all are looking for unicorn, great at everything. Lightweight, nimble and easy to ride as CRF300L. Smooth power of twin cylinder. Comfort of big ADV bike.
But unicorns don't exist.
KTM690 is neither of that.
I own a CRF300L and its a great bike in many aspects. Very smooth for a single and very cabable with a few upgrades 🙌
Love that thing 😊
@@PatchedBandit I enjoy riding my CRF300L too. Using it for commuting, some backwoods exploring, etc. But it sucks at covering long distances. The comfort is not there. I've enjoyed TET Romania last year, 300L was perfect choice for that. Anything heavier would be too heavy for some sections. But the transit to there and back across Hungary was painful. That's where ADV bikes shine.
Check out my newest upload. Started a series where I build a rally tower for the 300L. Makes a huge difference in longer distances! :)
Tenere Killer?
hyperbole
Surely not reliable just like 701’s.
make a great motard tho💪
Wrong comparison,your pitching a true enduro against an adventure enduro,790 adv would have been a better comparison
I'm making comparisons to my own personal bikes because those I know best.
The 690 is definitely not an enduro bike. The 500 is an enduro(race) bike, 40kg lighter than the 690. I have both and I prefer my 690 for dual purpose riding due to it being a bit quieter, quickshifter, adjustable ABS and more stable at speed.
True. Sometimes as I do my videos just talking out of my ass in second language I might not explain myself too clearly. What I meant to say is that the 690 more resembles an enduro bike than a middleweight adventurebike as we are traditionally used to. Tenere 700, Tuareg 660 etc..
690 is a enduro bike.
Can i screnshot
Don't understand the question
Can i screnshot your ktm video?
Still don't know for what purpose? But sure go ahead. If you reuse material a tag of @patchedbandit would be nice though 😊
Thank you
If you buy one … don’t change the standard exhaust or seat until you’ve lived with the originals for a month ! They are *not* as bad as the keyboard warriors suggest !!
Very true for most mods to any bike. Very smart to ride a stock bike for a while before doing anything. I ended up buying the Tuareg 660 (more on the newest vid) and I'm sticking with the CRF300L as it's friend fro a while longer.
@@PatchedBandit Agree !
👍🏻 Most riders would be better off buying a dirt bike holiday (Morocco or similar) than buying a can and Seat Concepts seat for their 701 !
and everyone says that it's not vibes at all, _bastards_ ... -_-
one more drawback it is EURO5, so if you want nice sound and low-end power w/o stalling and overheat - you need spent 400 euro for the new ECU or make standalone ECU by yourself
Yep. Those Euro standards are making all the bikes worse than they should be :(
Its to bad politicians are ruining motorsports! Emissions are the destruction of our enjoyment! How pathetic to have extremely strict Emissions in a single cylinder engine!
On paper yes but reality no.
We could be hear all night but no1, it’s too tall for most.
I'm 175cm tall and I can ride it easier than my T7 because the bike is narrow. I think most adv riders are taller than me but yes under my height it could be a problem.
The ktm 690 is not as reliable as the honda... They squized every hp form that engine. It s a stresed engine. They leak a lot of oil, especially the enduro version. The engine feels agricultural opposite to honda. I had clutch failing me in the middle of no where... Parts are a disaster. I wait weeeks for a bloddy o ring... Maintenance wise... The ktm is not that great. Have that in mind! If u like to tinker and keep a clean bike, you can mange, otherwise... It a not an eazy bike to own
It's good remember that KTM win dakar rally 2001-2019 every year so they must known something reliability.
If you ride it hard plus never do any TLC any bike will bite you at some point...treat your bike well and you'll have a good time!
Anyone knows reliability of Husquarna 701?
New ones much better. No issues at all with my 2021 690 after 20,000 km.
KTM is a great bike for an enduro race. But you will never be able to take a KTM across the county and have peace of mind like you can with a Honda 300l. Two different machines. KTM destroys Honda in performance but Honda is king of reliability