Thanks for this video man - my 450 EXC shifter arrives today! Question - did you keep and use the original 690 lock washers? I have mine but I also ordered 450 washer and screw JIC (it looks like a mm difference but they use different washers). I can't wait to get a real shift pedal on there! Cheers man, keep it up!
Mike V I believe just the shifter. It’s been working flawlessly for 7,000 miles now? I’m confident you’ll love it. If it didn’t help, there would be a lot of flaming comments on here 🤣
John Howerton now that is what should have come with the bike! I’m loving it man! This bike rips and the shifting is so much more sure-feeling with this lever. Thanks again for the tip!
Man you made pulling the trigger on my new (to me) 690 soooo much easier. I have watched hours of your 690 videos and not only do you ride the snot out of it but know your stuff about bikes as well. I can't thank you enough for making these videos John!
chad clair Haha. Thanks! Appreciate you watching them ✊ #Braap I hope to have the 690 out in the dirt again soon. Schedule hasn’t allowed for it lately.
John, thank you. This shifter is a huge improvement. I also installed the factory pro shift kit with ceramic bearing. I’ve had one false neutral since, but I was shifting lazy at the time. These bikes like a deliberate input for sure.
Fitted this shifter 2 days ago on my 701, OMG the shifts are so much more direct and positive. Much thanks from the UK, thanks for posting... Legend..👌🏻
Have same shifter on my 300EXC it’s great . About to make this change on my 701 as the stock one is rubbish I miss gears often . Never even think about a gear change on my exc .
I drive a KTM 690 SMCR 2016. Fitted this shifting lever (see partnumber in description) today, and it solved all my shifting problems! no more false neutrals, or hard to put into first gear. A must upgrade i'd say! thanks for this! :D
Alright, putting this to the test. Just mounted this shifter on my 2016 690 Enduro. Fixing the internal lever and spring on the clutch side will be the final attempt at correcting 690 shifting problems (that'll be this winter, when I'm doing valves, too).
Searching for 6th Gear it seems to be working pretty good for people. If you don't have many miles on the bike, be a little patient, those straight cut gears need a little time to love each other. If you haven't ordered a shifter already, I saw one or two used ones for a good price on eBay recently.
I did this exact replacement which you recommended and I definitely notice an improvement. It was worth the cost. I will use the OEM as a spare when I am in the woods because breaking this is easy to do and makes for a bad day. Good recommendation. 👍
Great! Yes, it works flawlessly for me. I recently blew out my shift star and and was inside replacing it and didn’t opt to upgrade the detent like most people do, because I really don’t have any problems with shifting. Every great blue moon while being lazy and romping under power I’ll find a neutral between 5-6, but it’s not often. Would probably care if I was racing Supermoto or street on a Duke, but not for an everyday enduro bike.
I can definitely see your problems there. I went through very similar struggles with the KLR shifter(too short), and aftermarket IMS shifter (still too short, and a sharp weld point underneath). I ended up going with a Happy Trails extended shifter.. shown in my video if interested.
Rob Rides Carolina for sure. Once I did the footpeg brackets on the KLR the shifter was way out there. Almost too far, but would have been perfect had I been riding in MX boots instead of my running shoes 🤦♂️
My shift lever was never an issue. On my bike the "quick shifter" was the culprit. I preload the shifter just before shifting and the "quick shifter" would try to make the shift before I actually meant to and since my pressure was somewhat light I would find false neutrals. Since I did not want the no start feature on the clutch lever (in case I would break it in a fall) and also because I put on Mountain Engineering short levers, I disabled the "quick shifter". This was done by cutting and reconnecting the wire to the clutch lever. Now my bike always thinks the clutch is pulled in, it starts no matter what and the quick shifter is disabled. The bike shifts perfectly now - never a false neutral. I also disabled the side stand switch so that it couldn't break or short out.
Yeah KTMs in general like to be muscled into gear. This old rubber tip shifter didn't help that cause any. I's thought about disabling that side stand switch, but it's only given me a problem one time and I just beat it back into place if I remember. correctly.
@@JohnHowerton137 More like it moves around and I think doesn't get the correct torque on the lever arm. I only ride with my boots on, and every now and then it really does hurt (off roading). I would think to myself, what sort of wuss nonsense is this?! But I think you're spot on about what is going on.
Gil Vietor no, you're not a wuss. My foot was bruised. After a few rides, I limped 🤣 The spring is weak and the angle isn't right for the engines tilt. I've ridden hundreds and hundreds of hours on the same shifter (KTM pre-17) without the rubber in other bikes without any problems. It's actually a good shifter, just not good on the 690. I can't imagine there aren't more of us out there, so I wanted to solve the problem. Funny enough I rarely miss a shift now (operator error) and dont need to buy the detent 🤔😉 ... and my foot isn't sore no matter the footwear.
@@JohnHowerton137 that is good news, I seriously was completely confused. Sure I'd have a missed shift sometimes with my 520, but it was very rare and I didn't have foot pain from a shifting...
Gil Vietor same. I ride my 350 a couple times a week. Zero issues. Thought about getting one for the 350 because that mud free design is awesome, but I’ll just wait until it’s worn or damaged.
I'm curious to know if this fix will work in my 23 701 or if i need to order a different year exc shifter. I have the same problem with the sharp edge. Don't think it'll fix the nasty chunky clunky shifting though. I have the same oem shifter style on my 2020 300 xcw and love it.
Yes. The bottom end of the bike is the same. Take the one off your 300XCW and try it. It’s probably just a little shorter/longer than the 4-stroke version, but everything should the same. Might give you a good enough idea. It should help with the clunky feeling shifting too, but that will soften with time. Straight cut gears.
is the arm the same, cause I have case savers that stick out alot and wondering if the new one will still clear, SMProject ones I have. Thanks again.....
Orfeas Kalafatis I dont have a problem with false neutrals. The problems was positive engagement. Just like in running, I look for problems with mechanics to fix discrepancies before doing surgery. I have no doubt the detent is better than the stock one, but I’ve only missed like two shifts in thousands of miles since installing a better shift lever. And now my foot doesn’t hurt 😁
Orfeas Kalafatis right, I think it’s been a problem with enough people that the design shows flaw. This shifter improves the interaction between man and machine. I like it because it’s one bolt and cheap 😆 ..and.. I hated that stock shifter!
Yes, my order is in for this, i have had most false neutrals downshifting. I think it must be the problem you described. However I have also had the bike drop out of the gear and down from third to second. Drives me nuts. Not fun when your trying to pass cars in a narrow space..
@@JohnHowerton137 its better, but at the 10k service the dealer changed something called a shift star somewhere. I also had the problem that i shift up and it dropped down a gear again.
Yes, it should be the same shifter. The easy way to tell, is yours should have the rubber tip looking old style shifter, and the new one is a smooth barrel "mud free" design.
@@JohnHowerton137 Yeah, in the vid you have both lever next to each other and the 450 lever looks thinner where the toe piece attaches. Tusk has a 450 toe piece for only $11. Grinding and thinning the end of the 690/701 lever looks possible per your posting. Thank you!!
Okay. (1) I am getting EXC 450 shifter. I went riding with a group this weekend and guy spilled and broke is shifter. Bad, long day. I will keep the OEM as a spare in my kit (2) The next day I went for 180 mile ride and 60 miles was on part of the WA BDR. Lots of standing and shifting and I kept thing about this video. I shifted ok but it was work; I kept looking for it. It did not feel right. I will let you know how it goes.
Thx John. I have a 21 690 and the shift lever is really really close to the case. I am concerned I'll have the same issue you did on the brake side. Is this lever further from the case? Hey also what waxy product are you running on the chain? Noticed it in the 10000 mile review vid. Thx again love the channel!!!
Grind the teeth off the I side of the pedal and get the Alum cover ASAP. I've broken the lever 3-4 times and punched holes in the case 2-3 times. If it was the white chain... it was Bel-Ray Superclean amzn.to/3MXEokr I love it, but it's a total PITA to get it shipped to Hawaii. It's not gooey and it stays on forever. Also makes the chain look like it's new from the box.
@@JohnHowerton137 Thx John. I changed my stock lever with the stiffer Vanashe brake lever. So are you saying, even after changing to a new lever your still having the issue with case damage? Also, I was going to just get a case cover but was told not to because they will make the engine run to hot. I'm in AZ so maybe that is just a bigger issue hear.
Sorry, found this in the spam folder. Yes, I’m saying you could, albeit less likely. That cover sticks way out. I’m in the Hawaiian sun/desert and the terrain is rocky and slow. It’s pretty f-ing hot here. I can’t say it made any noticeable difference in engine temp. If you’re having problems with cooking over, a thermostat change and switching to something like Evans coolant might help.
John Scott - I have a 2021 690. Did you install the 2017 450 EXC shifter on your 2021 KTM 690 Enduro R? If yes, was it a plug and play installation or did you have any interference problems. Please let me know your results. Thanks
Interesting Do you know by any chance if this would fit 2014 690 duke? I’m having problems with miss shifts 4-5 5-6 down lower seems ok But the same time the sharp edge is eating the top of my boots quickly Very pour design
It should. Same lever as the Enduro in this video 👍 The design is actually good enough that's it's become the aftermarket industry standard, but on this particular engine the lever sits at a different angle. If it still misses shifts after this, you'll be purchasing a detent.. but at least your boots will be happier 🙂
What I saw from the beginning of your video is that the shift lever was not held tight to the splines on the shift shaft. The wobble comes from a loose screw, which affects your shifting. You have to make sure you assemble the screw with blue loctite. Once it becomes loose and you stomp on the shifter, (which you should never do) the splines on the soft aluminum shifter opens up (by design). Putting a new shift lever will always make the shifting seem more positive. the 2019+ is a totally different animal and will mess with your head with its clutchless quick shift feature. I went from a 2015 690 to a 2019. BTW, my lever on my 2015 fell off in Baja because there was no loctite on the screw, and once more on the NMBDR. I carry a spare now. The lever I got in Mexico was from a 450/500 xcw as well. th-cam.com/users/telerover
The lever was loose for the sake of taking it on and off for the video. I locktight most bolts on a bike... having raced in the 2-stoke days. Rode and sold KTMs before they were cool 😎
New viewer here. So did your shifting problems entail a false neutral between 5th and 6th gear and/or something else? I have a brand new 2020 that is only 2 days old with 50 mi on it and I just experienced a couple of false neutrals between 5th and 6th gear. I'm hoping it clears up over the break in period but it doesn't seem like that will do it.
damachine3 this took care of basically any issues except for maybe the occasional lazy shift. The shift detent in the bike is not quite up to snuff, which is probably your 5-6 issue, but honestly the stock shifter is not the right one for this bike. The stock shifter is a good shifter (on every other KTM offroad bike for decades), it’s just not a good shifter for this bike. It’s at the wrong angle. Couple things are going on here: 1 the bike is new, 2 the shifting intricacies of this bike are new to you, the shifter is goofy, and the detent. Replace the shifter first. Easiest and cheapest. I bet it’ll make a difference. I was probably in and out of 5th & 6th gear 60 times yesterday. Not one missed shift (in any gear).
@@JohnHowerton137 Outstanding, thank you for the thorough response! So you are suggesting I get the same part that you mentioned in the description for my 2020?
damachine3 yes. It’s exact same one for your machine (OEM fitment 2017-21 450-500 dirtbikes). Decent chance your dealer has one in stock. Your 690 shifter has been the same since 2007. I confirmed. This one will work just fine. Only get the OEM KTM shifter listed here, or you’ll have the same problem. Most of the aftermarket shifters are model off the old KTM shifter which is the same as your stock one (minus rubber tip). Hope it works for you... I suspect it will. Worse case you have a nicer shifter and still and up putting the resonably priced aftermarket detent in. Either way it’s not something bad you’ll have to live with. Enjoy your new big bad bitch. Look for a new video tomorrow you might like 👍
Not really. I usually order from my local dealer or Amazon for stuff they can’t get etc... I look up parts on KTMPartsPro.com sometimes. The prices look good, but I’ve never ordered so no idea about shipping.
@@sil3ntpro965 rockymountainatvmc.com then click OEM Parts, then select the make and model, and then the "shifter assembly" parts fiche. Great site, great prices, I order everything from there.
Aloha, Just had my 690 smc r delivered to Oahu from Kiser. Was going to purchase a hammerhead shifter (90$) from Rottweiler until watching your video. Thoughts? Please send part number as a previous owner of a 16 690 enduro I am familiar with mis-shifts. Mahalos 🤙🏼
Hammerhead utilizes the old design (pre-17 dirtbike). It’s more of the same as stock. That said, I feel that the added rubber damper and it’s increase in diameter plays a roll in the poor shifting of the older design. I can only say that the new design offers great feel with the foot and more or less fixes the poor engagement of most shifts. Mine more or less shifts perfectly. I can’t vouch for any other shifters on these bikes, but as I explain in the video I feel the angle in which the shifter sits on the riders foot creates poor performance. I’ve shifted the old style shifter possibly millions of times on dirtbikes and never had a problem like I did with the 690. On the whole I think it’s a better design than the Japanese ever produced and the accessory industry the past decade seems to feel the same. Buy the new shifter is my vote. I always list all important video info (like part numbers) in descriptions 🤙 Aloha Buy my throttle fix too. Another stellar 690 upgrade.
Maybe your splines are damaged? The shifter is aluminum and the shaft is steel. If it came loose, it's easy to damage the shifter. Maybe a washer is missing? The shifter should have threadlock on the bolt.
John Howerton okay I am going to order the 2017 Ktm 450 exc lever for my 2009 Ktm 690 and hope I can manage to fix it if not then am just take it to a dealership or mechanic cheers and thanks for reply
John Howerton sorry one more time so basically swapping to this lever helped fixed your miss shifts and you have more leverage to shift now as am a size 13 you think this will be a good fix I was also browsing online for these hammerhead Cnc levers and they list even your shoe size but that’s worth a 100$ per lever but it’s specified for the 690 any input btw how much was this lever and thanks
big A it's more the tip shape IMO. The aftermarket may be longer but the tip is the same shape so I didn't risk it. With the smooth barrel on the 450 shifter I have a lot more positive engagement with the shifter. Doesn't seem to matter on my 350, 250SX or any of the other 30 KTMs I've ridden. I think it's just the angle/height this lever comes out of engine. Since swapping it out, I don't even notice it,'s there... which to me means it's fixed. I only miss shifts due to me being sloppy. Boot size 12.
John: Do you still feel this shifter is a good solution and mod? I see the last comment from Mike V asking about the bolt and washer for it. Is that necessary or do the original 2020 690 bolt and washer work? You had given me great feedback right before I went to Fresno to buy my bike and ride it 700 miles on asphalt home to Phoenix. I took an Atlas throttle lock with me and installed it on the bike for the ride. That was it. Just a joy. A zillion mods as well as quite a few custom machined parts coming. Shawn Phoenix
100% Shawn. Made all the difference in the world for me and you can see in the comments, and I’ve had people praise it in DMs. This shifter just allows for more positive interaction with the foot so it clicks into gear much cleaner. I’m sure the new detent works great too, but after installing this shifter I’ve had virtually no issues. Whatever parts are on the stock lever... just install with the new lever. Basically the only difference in the shifters is the “mud free” tip.
Perfect! Thank you. I don't have 5% of your dirt skill level but have done 60,000 miles of adventure travel on a 2015 Tiger 800 XCX. With my skill set, it's just not a lot of fun trying to take risks on the Tiger, alone, thousands of miles from home on dirt. I just got off the bike at the end of September. A whole month, 7,000 miles and only one night in a hotel room. We'll see how successful I'm transforming the 690 so hopefully I can do half the miles on dirt and still be able to camp comfortably.
You’ll enjoy it except in fast heavy headwinds. That said... you do get use to it, just takes a while if you’re use to hiding behind a fairing. It’s very capable off-road as you can see by the videos. It will go about anywhere, you just need to slow it down a bit. Once she starts going down, you’re going with it. It’s just a little too much weight to hold up with one outrigger. Few tips; if you intend on being on road or mostly easy cruising double track dirt, get a 16T counter sprocket. This is what the Dukes use and you will cruise 70mph with no buzz. 15T stock is ok for most everything, but if you know you’re going to be off the path in tight stuff and rarely over like 55-60mph... go with a 14T. Counter sprockets are like $15 and very simple to change. Putting in 1st gear will be much more pleasant with the 14T. If you want off-road performance, always go with the most aggressive tire you can and still tolerate on the road. I never felt like the knobby stuff handled that bad on the dry street, but the braking performance is pretty reduced. Especially on wet pavement. The stock MT21s are actually pretty decent, but if you ride like me, they only last a few hundred miles 🤣
That shifters not what's on my bike it looks nothing like it it has I mean it's zero it's not my bike even it's not set up the same way or nothing That's weird why is my bike so different I picked it up used
@@John-o6v4h Lots of people put weird shit on their bikes. Usually cheap Chinese parts that were never even made for the machine.. they're just anodized orange so that means they're KTM 😜 If you have a 690 and you order the part number in the description, you'll be happy. My personal 20,000 miles with it and many happy comments on this video are testimony. Enjoy the ride 🤙
fixes the issue ceramic bearing one best & i also use a Hammerhead shifter +10 tip www.factorypro.com/Prod_Pages/prodKTM,690.htm i.postimg.cc/d1M5xdnJ/IMAG0110.jpg i.postimg.cc/50vR4pjH/IMAG0108.jpg
Nothing helps :( guilt? They are fools with ktm !!!! they are not engineers !!!!! The new bikes are the same. KTM is scrap, the problem I know concerns ktm 690, husqvarna 701, KTM DUKE790. Change the brand and buy a motorcycle from people who know how to build it :)
@@JohnHowerton137 And these are interesting fairy tales you tell :) 2-year-old husqvarna and a cracked oil ring on 78 pieces of buahbuhabhua, the clutch is broken, gears are scrap, lag liquid after 5000 km :). I don't tell fairy tales when you just tell the facts haha what I fixed after a year of using this scrap metal. And that's it. And you trade this scrap metal that you defend it as much as you defend independence? today I am struggling with the lack of abs does not work the counter. The service gave up because the computer does not see the motorcycle !!!! When they asked for support from the factory, they wrote that they must see the motorcycle :) some fucking idiots :) best regards
Bado I was parts manager at a shop for 8 years. You aren't going to say anything to me that I haven't heard 20 times. I also managed a computer store. All brands have lemons. They're called Monday bikes. I could rant endlessly about all the unaddressed problems with Japanese bikes I've seen. I'm sorry your dealer can't figure out your problem and KTM isn't offering you the help you want. What I've found from 23 years of customer service is; you will never be satisfied. At this point KTM could hand you a brand new bike from the showroom and you'd still be unsatisfied and bash the brand. They know that. I'm entertaining you by replying... most would just be rolling their eyes. In the industry you're known as a JRL customer. "Just riding along." While sometimes the customer is in fact just riding along when problems arise, when you get a hot head... very few people are going to give you the time of day. So my question to you... what do you want from KTM? Or do you just want to wander around the internet and comment on every KTM video you find and try to convince everyone they're all junk? Good luck with that... there are 10s of thousnads of us who have seen mind blowing reliability from KTM. The brand has the highest customer loyalty in the industry, that's why they're dominating it. Sounds to me instead of being a KTM contrarian, you just need to get a lawyer and pursue a Lemon law.
@@JohnHowerton137 What do i want I look forward to !!!!! For $ 11,000,000 of quality !!!! And they give somehow :( What broke for my bike is some kind of misunderstanding !!!!! The number of failures is a joke !!! every 400 km repair !!!! Husqvarna has already cured me of its brand :) And don't tell me ktm is an engineering miracle buahbuhabhubahb clutch scrap, counter scrap, rings scrap, Yes, I thought you were not objective :) You defend this brand at all costs and in all fairness you have to say that something is underdeveloped !!!!!! best regards The price of motorcycles, be it 690 smc or 701 with such a frequency of breakdowns or the prices of their service, are undefendable !!!!!!! Do you know who is said about them in the city or near the house? so you don't have to go far with the tow truck hahahah And do not write to me about a hot head because the service gave a shit holding the motorcycle for a month informing me that they repair mechanically and not electrically fucking idiots !!!!!! I have nothing personal to you, buddy, so no offense :) Fire on the pistons best regards
Bado the quality is fine. There are 10s thousands of these out there with millions of KMs. Not saying that I wouldn't be upset also. I'd probably quite upset. All a guy wants to do is ride! Maybe you need to try a different dealer. Good mechanics are hard to come by these days as the job is getting more technical and not very well paying. Many of the Husky dealers are new because the rebirth of the brand is pretty recent. Find a Lemon lawyer for a consult also. Don't be too sour on the brand and the machine. Both are great. Sounds to me most of your issues come from the dealer level. Find a different dealer and keep a VERY cool head. If I was the guy on the other side of the counter and you had a cool head and treated me with respect, I would sympathize with you and do what I could to help! Be kind to the dealer and a lot of the time they will go to bat for you! I myself have, and have seen many bosses play hardball with manufacturers to make things right for customers. Fixing this problems starts with your attitude... remember that. That's my experience and advice. Best of luck to you ✊
Thanks for this video man - my 450 EXC shifter arrives today! Question - did you keep and use the original 690 lock washers? I have mine but I also ordered 450 washer and screw JIC (it looks like a mm difference but they use different washers). I can't wait to get a real shift pedal on there! Cheers man, keep it up!
Mike V I believe just the shifter. It’s been working flawlessly for 7,000 miles now? I’m confident you’ll love it. If it didn’t help, there would be a lot of flaming comments on here 🤣
John Howerton now that is what should have come with the bike! I’m loving it man! This bike rips and the shifting is so much more sure-feeling with this lever. Thanks again for the tip!
Mike V awesome! Glad to hear it worked well for you too. Ride on! 🤙
Man you made pulling the trigger on my new (to me) 690 soooo much easier. I have watched hours of your 690 videos and not only do you ride the snot out of it but know your stuff about bikes as well. I can't thank you enough for making these videos John!
chad clair Haha. Thanks! Appreciate you watching them ✊ #Braap
I hope to have the 690 out in the dirt again soon. Schedule hasn’t allowed for it lately.
John, thank you. This shifter is a huge improvement. I also installed the factory pro shift kit with ceramic bearing. I’ve had one false neutral since, but I was shifting lazy at the time. These bikes like a deliberate input for sure.
Happy to hear it worked for you too! Seems be the overwhelming trend on here.
The folding rubber tip steals all the deliberate from your foot! 🤣
Fitted this shifter 2 days ago on my 701, OMG the shifts are so much more direct and positive. Much thanks from the UK, thanks for posting... Legend..👌🏻
Thanks for reporting back. Glad it worked for you too ✊
Did you install the entire lever with toe shifter piece or only the shifter toe piece onto the 690 lever?
Full lever which made a big difference when shifting 👍
Have same shifter on my 300EXC it’s great . About to make this change on my 701 as the stock one is rubbish I miss gears often .
Never even think about a gear change on my exc .
I drive a KTM 690 SMCR 2016. Fitted this shifting lever (see partnumber in description) today, and it solved all my shifting problems! no more false neutrals, or hard to put into first gear. A must upgrade i'd say! thanks for this! :D
Happy it worked for you too 🤙
Alright, putting this to the test. Just mounted this shifter on my 2016 690 Enduro. Fixing the internal lever and spring on the clutch side will be the final attempt at correcting 690 shifting problems (that'll be this winter, when I'm doing valves, too).
Searching for 6th Gear it seems to be working pretty good for people. If you don't have many miles on the bike, be a little patient, those straight cut gears need a little time to love each other.
If you haven't ordered a shifter already, I saw one or two used ones for a good price on eBay recently.
Thanks, John. Just over 6,000 miles. I’m the second owner. Picked it up with 5,600 on it. How’s recovery?
I did this exact replacement which you recommended and I definitely notice an improvement. It was worth the cost. I will use the OEM as a spare when I am in the woods because breaking this is easy to do and makes for a bad day. Good recommendation. 👍
Great!
Yes, it works flawlessly for me. I recently blew out my shift star and and was inside replacing it and didn’t opt to upgrade the detent like most people do, because I really don’t have any problems with shifting. Every great blue moon while being lazy and romping under power I’ll find a neutral between 5-6, but it’s not often. Would probably care if I was racing Supermoto or street on a Duke, but not for an everyday enduro bike.
Made this change today and really pleased with it. Many thanks for the video, your time researching this and the part number.
Happy to hear! I’ve never looked back.
I can definitely see your problems there. I went through very similar struggles with the KLR shifter(too short), and aftermarket IMS shifter (still too short, and a sharp weld point underneath). I ended up going with a Happy Trails extended shifter.. shown in my video if interested.
Rob Rides Carolina for sure. Once I did the footpeg brackets on the KLR the shifter was way out there. Almost too far, but would have been perfect had I been riding in MX boots instead of my running shoes 🤦♂️
Thank you for the tip.👍👍No more shifting problems The stock shifter is realy crapp.!! Thank you from Sweden. 690R -2024
Excellent! 6 years and counting on this hack and still going 👍
Fitted an EXC lever to my SMC-R. Noticeably better. Thanks very much.
Excellent. Happy to hear!
Great tip, thanks for sharing! Never thought of it but fully understand it.
My shift lever was never an issue. On my bike the "quick shifter" was the culprit. I preload the shifter just before shifting and the "quick shifter" would try to make the shift before I actually meant to and since my pressure was somewhat light I would find false neutrals. Since I did not want the no start feature on the clutch lever (in case I would break it in a fall) and also because I put on Mountain Engineering short levers, I disabled the "quick shifter". This was done by cutting and reconnecting the wire to the clutch lever. Now my bike always thinks the clutch is pulled in, it starts no matter what and the quick shifter is disabled. The bike shifts perfectly now - never a false neutral. I also disabled the side stand switch so that it couldn't break or short out.
Yeah KTMs in general like to be muscled into gear. This old rubber tip shifter didn't help that cause any. I's thought about disabling that side stand switch, but it's only given me a problem one time and I just beat it back into place if I remember. correctly.
I thought I was the only one with this problem. Size 13 shoe here, I am going to try this out, thanks!
Does the stock one dig into the top of your foot like an ice pick too?
@@JohnHowerton137 More like it moves around and I think doesn't get the correct torque on the lever arm. I only ride with my boots on, and every now and then it really does hurt (off roading). I would think to myself, what sort of wuss nonsense is this?! But I think you're spot on about what is going on.
Gil Vietor no, you're not a wuss. My foot was bruised. After a few rides, I limped 🤣
The spring is weak and the angle isn't right for the engines tilt. I've ridden hundreds and hundreds of hours on the same shifter (KTM pre-17) without the rubber in other bikes without any problems. It's actually a good shifter, just not good on the 690. I can't imagine there aren't more of us out there, so I wanted to solve the problem.
Funny enough I rarely miss a shift now (operator error) and dont need to buy the detent 🤔😉 ... and my foot isn't sore no matter the footwear.
@@JohnHowerton137 that is good news, I seriously was completely confused. Sure I'd have a missed shift sometimes with my 520, but it was very rare and I didn't have foot pain from a shifting...
Gil Vietor same. I ride my 350 a couple times a week. Zero issues. Thought about getting one for the 350 because that mud free design is awesome, but I’ll just wait until it’s worn or damaged.
Got mine about month ago and I love it. 🤙🏻
Thank you so much for this tip! I have a KTM power part lever that is to loose! Cheers from Norway
I'm curious to know if this fix will work in my 23 701 or if i need to order a different year exc shifter. I have the same problem with the sharp edge. Don't think it'll fix the nasty chunky clunky shifting though. I have the same oem shifter style on my 2020 300 xcw and love it.
Yes. The bottom end of the bike is the same. Take the one off your 300XCW and try it. It’s probably just a little shorter/longer than the 4-stroke version, but everything should the same. Might give you a good enough idea. It should help with the clunky feeling shifting too, but that will soften with time. Straight cut gears.
Wow thats Nice , Thank you for this Nice Video . Greetings from Germany ✌
is the arm the same, cause I have case savers that stick out alot and wondering if the new one will still clear, SMProject ones I have. Thanks again.....
The pedal tip might be about 5mm longer. Don't have the old one to measure. Just a guess.
You could easily go see one at the dealer. Every full size KTM dirtbike has this design attached to it sitting on the dealer floor.
I think you should try the Factory Pro transmission detent arm, and be done with the false neutrals!
Orfeas Kalafatis I dont have a problem with false neutrals. The problems was positive engagement. Just like in running, I look for problems with mechanics to fix discrepancies before doing surgery. I have no doubt the detent is better than the stock one, but I’ve only missed like two shifts in thousands of miles since installing a better shift lever. And now my foot doesn’t hurt 😁
OK makes sense then, i was shifting in neutral very often with my 2017 690 and the arm solved it. :)
Orfeas Kalafatis right, I think it’s been a problem with enough people that the design shows flaw. This shifter improves the interaction between man and machine.
I like it because it’s one bolt and cheap 😆 ..and.. I hated that stock shifter!
Got a link for the detent kit?
www.rottweilerperformance.com/factory-pro-690-701-shift-kit/
Can't wait to try your trick!! Thanks!!
Seems to be working for people. I haven’t had a problem since. Much more positive engagement with the shifter.
Yes, my order is in for this, i have had most false neutrals downshifting. I think it must be the problem you described. However I have also had the bike drop out of the gear and down from third to second. Drives me nuts. Not fun when your trying to pass cars in a narrow space..
You might need the dentent too, but this will be a good start. As you can see in the comments, it worked for others too.
What is dentent?
Tom Erik Brauer www.rottweilerperformance.com/factory-pro-690-701-shift-kit/
Tom Erik Brauer any updates on how it worked for you?
@@JohnHowerton137 its better, but at the 10k service the dealer changed something called a shift star somewhere. I also had the problem that i shift up and it dropped down a gear again.
I took your advise on my 20189 690 Duke and really like it. Thank you!
Excellent! Enjoy 🤙
Great video. Do you know if this mod would work with the 2020 model SMC-R?
Yes, it should be the same shifter. The easy way to tell, is yours should have the rubber tip looking old style shifter, and the new one is a smooth barrel "mud free" design.
Will the 450 toe shift lever piece fit on the 690 lever? Prefer not to by the entire lever, only the toe part of the shifter.
Probably not as it’s not based on the post 2017 mud free design.
@@JohnHowerton137 Yeah, in the vid you have both lever next to each other and the 450 lever looks thinner where the toe piece attaches. Tusk has a 450 toe piece for only $11. Grinding and thinning the end of the 690/701 lever looks possible per your posting. Thank you!!
@ridemfast7625 well I’m clearly a tinkerer so I wont discourage you from that 😆 ..but try at your own risk.
Okay. (1) I am getting EXC 450 shifter. I went riding with a group this weekend and guy spilled and broke is shifter. Bad, long day. I will keep the OEM as a spare in my kit (2) The next day I went for 180 mile ride and 60 miles was on part of the WA BDR. Lots of standing and shifting and I kept thing about this video. I shifted ok but it was work; I kept looking for it. It did not feel right. I will let you know how it goes.
Much more positive engagement with the foot. You’ll love it.
Thx John. I have a 21 690 and the shift lever is really really close to the case. I am concerned I'll have the same issue you did on the brake side. Is this lever further from the case? Hey also what waxy product are you running on the chain? Noticed it in the 10000 mile review vid. Thx again love the channel!!!
Grind the teeth off the I side of the pedal and get the Alum cover ASAP. I've broken the lever 3-4 times and punched holes in the case 2-3 times.
If it was the white chain... it was Bel-Ray Superclean amzn.to/3MXEokr I love it, but it's a total PITA to get it shipped to Hawaii. It's not gooey and it stays on forever. Also makes the chain look like it's new from the box.
I haven't had a problem with the shift side case. This shifter is the bees knees. The brake side is the problem side. Address that immediately!
@@JohnHowerton137 Thx John. I changed my stock lever with the stiffer Vanashe brake lever.
So are you saying, even after changing to a new lever your still having the issue with case damage? Also, I was going to just get a case cover but was told not to because they will make the engine run to hot. I'm in AZ so maybe that is just a bigger issue hear.
Sorry, found this in the spam folder.
Yes, I’m saying you could, albeit less likely. That cover sticks way out. I’m in the Hawaiian sun/desert and the terrain is rocky and slow. It’s pretty f-ing hot here. I can’t say it made any noticeable difference in engine temp. If you’re having problems with cooking over, a thermostat change and switching to something like Evans coolant might help.
John Scott - I have a 2021 690. Did you install the 2017 450 EXC shifter on your 2021 KTM 690 Enduro R? If yes, was it a plug and play installation or did you have any interference problems. Please let me know your results. Thanks
Interesting
Do you know by any chance if this would fit 2014 690 duke?
I’m having problems with miss shifts 4-5 5-6 down lower seems ok
But the same time the sharp edge is eating the top of my boots quickly
Very pour design
It should. Same lever as the Enduro in this video 👍
The design is actually good enough that's it's become the aftermarket industry standard, but on this particular engine the lever sits at a different angle.
If it still misses shifts after this, you'll be purchasing a detent.. but at least your boots will be happier 🙂
@@JohnHowerton137 great I will definitely replace it then with this one
Thank you 👍🏻🍻
Did this on my '21.... helpful
Sweet! Great vid.
What I saw from the beginning of your video is that the shift lever was not held tight to the splines on the shift shaft. The wobble comes from a loose screw, which affects your shifting. You have to make sure you assemble the screw with blue loctite. Once it becomes loose and you stomp on the shifter, (which you should never do) the splines on the soft aluminum shifter opens up (by design). Putting a new shift lever will always make the shifting seem more positive. the 2019+ is a totally different animal and will mess with your head with its clutchless quick shift feature. I went from a 2015 690 to a 2019. BTW, my lever on my 2015 fell off in Baja because there was no loctite on the screw, and once more on the NMBDR. I carry a spare now. The lever I got in Mexico was from a 450/500 xcw as well. th-cam.com/users/telerover
The lever was loose for the sake of taking it on and off for the video. I locktight most bolts on a bike... having raced in the 2-stoke days. Rode and sold KTMs before they were cool 😎
Would this also work on a husky 701?
Should. If you have a Husky Dealer nearby, just get a 2017 FE 501 shifter.
New viewer here. So did your shifting problems entail a false neutral between 5th and 6th gear and/or something else? I have a brand new 2020 that is only 2 days old with 50 mi on it and I just experienced a couple of false neutrals between 5th and 6th gear. I'm hoping it clears up over the break in period but it doesn't seem like that will do it.
damachine3 this took care of basically any issues except for maybe the occasional lazy shift. The shift detent in the bike is not quite up to snuff, which is probably your 5-6 issue, but honestly the stock shifter is not the right one for this bike. The stock shifter is a good shifter (on every other KTM offroad bike for decades), it’s just not a good shifter for this bike. It’s at the wrong angle. Couple things are going on here: 1 the bike is new, 2 the shifting intricacies of this bike are new to you, the shifter is goofy, and the detent. Replace the shifter first. Easiest and cheapest. I bet it’ll make a difference. I was probably in and out of 5th & 6th gear 60 times yesterday. Not one missed shift (in any gear).
@@JohnHowerton137 Outstanding, thank you for the thorough response! So you are suggesting I get the same part that you mentioned in the description for my 2020?
Thanks, I'll take your "heart" as a "yes". I will look into that part number with my dealer tomorrow. Thanks again!
damachine3 yes. It’s exact same one for your machine (OEM fitment 2017-21 450-500 dirtbikes). Decent chance your dealer has one in stock. Your 690 shifter has been the same since 2007. I confirmed. This one will work just fine. Only get the OEM KTM shifter listed here, or you’ll have the same problem. Most of the aftermarket shifters are model off the old KTM shifter which is the same as your stock one (minus rubber tip).
Hope it works for you... I suspect it will. Worse case you have a nicer shifter and still and up putting the resonably priced aftermarket detent in. Either way it’s not something bad you’ll have to live with. Enjoy your new big bad bitch. Look for a new video tomorrow you might like 👍
@@JohnHowerton137 Outstanding! Subscribed! Looking forward to it. Thank you again!
Hey John been following you for a lil bit can you give a good website that i can buy after market parts for my 690 enduro? Thanks
Not really. I usually order from my local dealer or Amazon for stuff they can’t get etc... I look up parts on KTMPartsPro.com sometimes. The prices look good, but I’ve never ordered so no idea about shipping.
John Howerton Thanks
@@sil3ntpro965 rockymountainatvmc.com then click OEM Parts, then select the make and model, and then the "shifter assembly" parts fiche. Great site, great prices, I order everything from there.
Aloha, Just had my 690 smc r delivered to Oahu from Kiser.
Was going to purchase a hammerhead shifter (90$) from Rottweiler until watching your video. Thoughts? Please send part number as a previous owner of a 16 690 enduro I am familiar with mis-shifts.
Mahalos 🤙🏼
Hammerhead utilizes the old design (pre-17 dirtbike). It’s more of the same as stock. That said, I feel that the added rubber damper and it’s increase in diameter plays a roll in the poor shifting of the older design.
I can only say that the new design offers great feel with the foot and more or less fixes the poor engagement of most shifts. Mine more or less shifts perfectly. I can’t vouch for any other shifters on these bikes, but as I explain in the video I feel the angle in which the shifter sits on the riders foot creates poor performance. I’ve shifted the old style shifter possibly millions of times on dirtbikes and never had a problem like I did with the 690. On the whole I think it’s a better design than the Japanese ever produced and the accessory industry the past decade seems to feel the same.
Buy the new shifter is my vote. I always list all important video info (like part numbers) in descriptions 🤙 Aloha
Buy my throttle fix too. Another stellar 690 upgrade.
@@JohnHowerton137 Thanks John. Ordered. Found on eBay 80$ delivered on island. 🤙🏼
why is it loose though mine came completely loose yesterday would an aftermarket one fix the problem ?
Maybe your splines are damaged? The shifter is aluminum and the shaft is steel. If it came loose, it's easy to damage the shifter. Maybe a washer is missing? The shifter should have threadlock on the bolt.
John Howerton okay I am going to order the 2017 Ktm 450 exc lever for my 2009 Ktm 690 and hope I can manage to fix it if not then am just take it to a dealership or mechanic cheers and thanks for reply
big A just take your time, torque it properly and maybe even use a new bolt. You'll love the shifter.
John Howerton sorry one more time so basically swapping to this lever helped fixed your miss shifts and you have more leverage to shift now as am a size 13 you think this will be a good fix I was also browsing online for these hammerhead Cnc levers and they list even your shoe size but that’s worth a 100$ per lever but it’s specified for the 690 any input btw how much was this lever and thanks
big A it's more the tip shape IMO. The aftermarket may be longer but the tip is the same shape so I didn't risk it. With the smooth barrel on the 450 shifter I have a lot more positive engagement with the shifter. Doesn't seem to matter on my 350, 250SX or any of the other 30 KTMs I've ridden. I think it's just the angle/height this lever comes out of engine. Since swapping it out, I don't even notice it,'s there... which to me means it's fixed. I only miss shifts due to me being sloppy. Boot size 12.
John:
Do you still feel this shifter is a good solution and mod? I see the last comment from Mike V asking about the bolt and washer for it. Is that necessary or do the original 2020 690 bolt and washer work?
You had given me great feedback right before I went to Fresno to buy my bike and ride it 700 miles on asphalt home to Phoenix. I took an Atlas throttle lock with me and installed it on the bike for the ride. That was it. Just a joy. A zillion mods as well as quite a few custom machined parts coming.
Shawn
Phoenix
100% Shawn. Made all the difference in the world for me and you can see in the comments, and I’ve had people praise it in DMs. This shifter just allows for more positive interaction with the foot so it clicks into gear much cleaner. I’m sure the new detent works great too, but after installing this shifter I’ve had virtually no issues.
Whatever parts are on the stock lever... just install with the new lever. Basically the only difference in the shifters is the “mud free” tip.
Perfect! Thank you. I don't have 5% of your dirt skill level but have done 60,000 miles of adventure travel on a 2015 Tiger 800 XCX. With my skill set, it's just not a lot of fun trying to take risks on the Tiger, alone, thousands of miles from home on dirt. I just got off the bike at the end of September. A whole month, 7,000 miles and only one night in a hotel room. We'll see how successful I'm transforming the 690 so hopefully I can do half the miles on dirt and still be able to camp comfortably.
You’ll enjoy it except in fast heavy headwinds. That said... you do get use to it, just takes a while if you’re use to hiding behind a fairing. It’s very capable off-road as you can see by the videos. It will go about anywhere, you just need to slow it down a bit. Once she starts going down, you’re going with it. It’s just a little too much weight to hold up with one outrigger.
Few tips; if you intend on being on road or mostly easy cruising double track dirt, get a 16T counter sprocket. This is what the Dukes use and you will cruise 70mph with no buzz. 15T stock is ok for most everything, but if you know you’re going to be off the path in tight stuff and rarely over like 55-60mph... go with a 14T. Counter sprockets are like $15 and very simple to change. Putting in 1st gear will be much more pleasant with the 14T.
If you want off-road performance, always go with the most aggressive tire you can and still tolerate on the road. I never felt like the knobby stuff handled that bad on the dry street, but the braking performance is pretty reduced. Especially on wet pavement. The stock MT21s are actually pretty decent, but if you ride like me, they only last a few hundred miles 🤣
So how has it been working for ya??
Chinook Super Truck it works killer. Pretty much forgot about it, so that good 👍
That shifters not what's on my bike it looks nothing like it it has I mean it's zero it's not my bike even it's not set up the same way or nothing That's weird why is my bike so different I picked it up used
@@John-o6v4h Lots of people put weird shit on their bikes. Usually cheap Chinese parts that were never even made for the machine.. they're just anodized orange so that means they're KTM 😜
If you have a 690 and you order the part number in the description, you'll be happy. My personal 20,000 miles with it and many happy comments on this video are testimony.
Enjoy the ride 🤙
Im ordering one !!! 😁
Great! Hope it helps. I've only done a few short rides, but I'm still loving it!
Stein Tore Vangsnes how’d it work out for you?
Plus your shifter is all messed up anyway it shouldn't be loose like that
It’s not loose. Everything was new. Just the angle causes the spring to fold easily. The shifter went onto a different older KTM MX model.
Hope this shifter fits my 2020 690 !
R W should. Don’t think any of those parts have recent updates.
John Howerton Thanks for the reply John, went with the 2020 model shifter to be safe lol glad I found your channel
R W 2020 450? It would likely be the same part number.
R W just checked. 2017-2020, all 450-500 models, all exact same part number.
John Howerton Beautiful, thanks man!
Cost of shifter?
chiptaxfree retail is about $80. Dealers online selling it for less I'm sure and there's probably a few on ebay used. Part number: 79434031100
fixes the issue ceramic bearing one best & i also use a Hammerhead shifter +10 tip
www.factorypro.com/Prod_Pages/prodKTM,690.htm
i.postimg.cc/d1M5xdnJ/IMAG0110.jpg
i.postimg.cc/50vR4pjH/IMAG0108.jpg
Nothing helps :( guilt? They are fools with ktm !!!! they are not engineers !!!!! The new bikes are the same. KTM is scrap, the problem I know concerns ktm 690, husqvarna 701, KTM DUKE790.
Change the brand and buy a motorcycle from people who know how to build it :)
Bado LOL! Who you going to change to, Japanese? 🤣 Their engineers are still back in the 90's somewhere.
@@JohnHowerton137 And these are interesting fairy tales you tell :) 2-year-old husqvarna and a cracked oil ring on 78 pieces of buahbuhabhua, the clutch is broken, gears are scrap, lag liquid after 5000 km :). I don't tell fairy tales when you just tell the facts haha what I fixed after a year of using this scrap metal. And that's it. And you trade this scrap metal that you defend it as much as you defend independence? today I am struggling with the lack of abs does not work the counter. The service gave up because the computer does not see the motorcycle !!!! When they asked for support from the factory, they wrote that they must see the motorcycle :) some fucking idiots :)
best regards
Bado I was parts manager at a shop for 8 years. You aren't going to say anything to me that I haven't heard 20 times. I also managed a computer store. All brands have lemons. They're called Monday bikes. I could rant endlessly about all the unaddressed problems with Japanese bikes I've seen.
I'm sorry your dealer can't figure out your problem and KTM isn't offering you the help you want. What I've found from 23 years of customer service is; you will never be satisfied. At this point KTM could hand you a brand new bike from the showroom and you'd still be unsatisfied and bash the brand. They know that. I'm entertaining you by replying... most would just be rolling their eyes. In the industry you're known as a JRL customer. "Just riding along." While sometimes the customer is in fact just riding along when problems arise, when you get a hot head... very few people are going to give you the time of day.
So my question to you... what do you want from KTM?
Or do you just want to wander around the internet and comment on every KTM video you find and try to convince everyone they're all junk? Good luck with that... there are 10s of thousnads of us who have seen mind blowing reliability from KTM. The brand has the highest customer loyalty in the industry, that's why they're dominating it.
Sounds to me instead of being a KTM contrarian, you just need to get a lawyer and pursue a Lemon law.
@@JohnHowerton137 What do i want
I look forward to !!!!!
For $ 11,000,000 of quality !!!!
And they give somehow :(
What broke for my bike is some kind of misunderstanding !!!!!
The number of failures is a joke !!! every 400 km repair !!!!
Husqvarna has already cured me of its brand :)
And don't tell me ktm is an engineering miracle buahbuhabhubahb
clutch scrap, counter scrap, rings scrap,
Yes, I thought you were not objective :)
You defend this brand at all costs and in all fairness you have to say that something is underdeveloped !!!!!!
best regards
The price of motorcycles, be it 690 smc or 701 with such a frequency of breakdowns or the prices of their service, are undefendable !!!!!!!
Do you know who is said about them in the city or near the house? so you don't have to go far with the tow truck hahahah
And do not write to me about a hot head because the service gave a shit holding the motorcycle for a month informing me that they repair mechanically and not electrically fucking idiots !!!!!!
I have nothing personal to you, buddy, so no offense :)
Fire on the pistons
best regards
Bado the quality is fine. There are 10s thousands of these out there with millions of KMs.
Not saying that I wouldn't be upset also. I'd probably quite upset. All a guy wants to do is ride! Maybe you need to try a different dealer. Good mechanics are hard to come by these days as the job is getting more technical and not very well paying. Many of the Husky dealers are new because the rebirth of the brand is pretty recent.
Find a Lemon lawyer for a consult also. Don't be too sour on the brand and the machine. Both are great. Sounds to me most of your issues come from the dealer level. Find a different dealer and keep a VERY cool head. If I was the guy on the other side of the counter and you had a cool head and treated me with respect, I would sympathize with you and do what I could to help! Be kind to the dealer and a lot of the time they will go to bat for you! I myself have, and have seen many bosses play hardball with manufacturers to make things right for customers.
Fixing this problems starts with your attitude... remember that. That's my experience and advice. Best of luck to you ✊
Nice one dude, thanks for the share👍