After riding the first 300 metres on a 701 I totally got it Power difference to other dual sports is obvious but the handling and light weight with 74hp is hard to describe I’ve been on one for 3 years now and I can’t imagine a better bike (and I’ve owned a few)
Gas Gas 700 ES owner here. It is a true 50/50 Bike that can do everything but nothing particular well. If you can only afford one bike, this would be the bike. For a 75 HP bike the new euro 5 models are lean off the bottom but will be more fuel efficient then the DR at 4.2 litres per 100 km. The down sides are the purchase price but a Gas Gas 700 can be bought for thousands less than the the KTM and Husky models. Reliability is still a question mark and if I was to take this bike in remote areas, a DR or DRZ would be my preference.
Yeah it's crazy the Gas Gas supermoto version is basically the same as the Husky and KTM but up to 5K cheaper. I think branding has a lot to do with it, people don't recognise Gas Gas easily or know that they are basically a KTM. Cheers Poita.
@@ogasi1798 Basically the same meaning not exactly the same but built off the same frame with the same engine, swingarm same power and torque etc. Different specs with brakes, wheels and some electronics but it's the same bike.
KTM 690 Enduro R owner here. Curtis, nice channel. Good content. You seemed to enjoy the 701 test ride. I rate the 690/700/701 highly, if used for its intended purpose. Each model is basically same-same. The 700 may have some slightly lower spec components, if I'm not wrong (unconfirmed). I've owned a 690 outside Australia for the last couple of years, In the Middle East, where I cannot think of a better bike for the type of riding that I do here: Sand dunes, sand flats, wadis (boulder strewn dry creek beds), steep mountains, single track, 4WD track, long road miles, touring/camping and proper adventure riding exploring the backcountry. It's an adventure rider's heaven (excluding the heat!). My steed is loaded with all the bells and whistles and full Rade Garage fruit, plus other doodads. I've ridden several ADV/MX bikes, so I have some reasonable benchmarks. I'm no expert by any means. Just a weekend warrior like most of us. Take this as empirical feedback from a 690 real-world user. To provide some feedback on your comments regarding your viewer's comments: Don't buy a single cylinder if comfort is your priority. Though, if willing, you can still put serious miles on it. The longest trip that I've done on my 690 was 4,400km over 2 weeks (solo). The longest day was almost 1,000km (a travel day that was as straight as an arrow and I decided to keep pushing on through). You need to be committed and really want to do it. It's doable but I can think of dozens of other bikes I'd rather do a 1,000km day on. Tuck your head in and grind away the miles. In that situation it's just a means to an end. The bike did not miss a beat. Not even engine oil burnoff. My biggest gripes were the fuel range and the fuel tank cap position. This requires you to undo luggage when refilling every 200km or so. Somewhat inconvenient. However, I'd still do that trip again on a 690/700/701. Seat (OEM) is fine, but maybe that's just me. There's no denying that a Seat Concepts upgrade is cushier. However, I'm used to discomfort after +50 years on this planet. Your butt goes numb pretty quick and you forget about it. Focus on the beautiful scenery and not hitting that random camel. The 200km stops help to walk it off for a few mins. Lower dry weight is a huge benefit in technical terrain or sand. Loved it relative to other ADVs. My experience riding the top heavy and tippy T7 scarred me for life. There are a few 690's in my riding group and they are often the only bikes that do not require some form of assistance from others when it gets gnarly. But make no mistake - It's still heavy. I've dropped it at walking speeds plenty of times and it's stood up well. Nomad pannier racks, barkbusters and adventure foot pegs complete the triangle of support (crash bars for good measure). Try doing a 170kg single leg press once it starts tipping. Let it go. Step away. Lay it down. If that's the type of riding that you'll do, then get a proper Enduro/MX bike. Horses for courses but the 690 can accomplish that better than most other ADV bikes. Head shake at high speed was evident until I installed the Scotts steering damper. This comes with bar risers. Best money ever spent for high speed runs, sand, deep gravel beds etc. Worth every cent of its expensive entry price. I run some high speeds, as road speed limits go up to 160km/hr around here. Fuel burn is massive at that speed but it can be done. Comfort level is up to about 120 km/hr. 140 km/hr is normally the open road speed that I limit myself to. +160 km/h gets a bit full-on for extended periods. However, that's not what this platform was designed for - Get a GS or 1290 SAR instead. They eat miles for breakfast. I've run TKC80's and Hidenau Scout K60's. I prefer the former to the latter but the K60's were chosen for the long trip based on good wearing and hard carcass for puncture resistance. Yes there's road noise on a motorbike with nobbies. That likely has more to do with helmet and ear plug selection. Select the right tyres for the right task. Motoz receive positive comments from others. The LC4 engine is well proven, long lasting and a solid power plant. As you point out, "Ready to Race" requires giving it some throttle to put the LC4 into the powerband sweetspot. Don't be shy. It likes to be ridden hard. Suspension I have found to be top rate. Even with
@@onthebackwheel I wasn't sure whether to post my feedback on this video's comments section or your test ride video's. You may find that not all viewers roll from one to the other. I don't want to clog your space (though it does help the YT algos). Let me know and I can cut and paste there as well.
I've been a die-hard 701 owner for the last 4 years, so I might be able to add a bit. For the longer trip vs the DR650 question, I might be able to help since I've done long days (+800km) on both. Stock seats, the DR650 wins hands down, so you need to upgrade the seat if you're wanting the ability to long days without contemplating riding off a cliff edge after 4 hours. The engines for the current 690/701 are faaar better at that kind of riding. Far smoother with the balancer of course, but also doesn't have to work as hard when highway speeds, meaning you're dealing with less buzz in general. For the 701 vs Vstrom question, there isn't a week that goes by where I didn't wish I had a T7 or 950 in my garage. I also have a small 250 for technical stuff, and the middle point of the 701 just isn't the same as a bigger bike for longer distance or road riding. It's a big single so it will drink a bit of oil over long distances, and will never be the same as a twin. It IS the best middle of the road, one bike to do it all option though, and it is a VERY fun bike. It's fun factor is the main reason I probably the main haven't sold it yet.
I‘ve done 600km+ in one day on my Gasgas 700ES with the stock seat on the Autobahn/Highway twice. It wasn‘t really fun but it worked anyway. The GSA1250 is much more comfortable on the road but the Gasgas much more able off tarmac.
Hey mate, how much oil does your bike consume? Do long distance rides really contribute to oil consumption? My started to consume oil after hard offroad rides. On my last long trip on some days nothing and on others suddenly the small engine case window was almost empty. Really strange
@@Dontortellini3 Worst I've had is probably 200-300mL in 1000km, and it's the same as you, some periods where it doesn't burn anything and some where it guzzles it. I think there's a few triggers: - Running it hard or at high rpm seems to do it, and I'm not certain if you need to do it for extended periods. I've had it happen with 25 minute commutes blasting down the highway at 6000rpm. I'm unsure yet if it's specifically high RPM, or hard accelerations, since I've had some long riding days where it hasn't drunk any. - Apparently, the oil will steadily get more and more fuel contamination building up in it, which then makes the oil more prone to being burned off. If you do anything to correct the stock lean Euro4/5 mapping, it facilitates it. PirateRacing did a video about it, and in short, oil changes at 3000km, 5000km max, are recommended since we don't have a massive amount of oil.
12:52 As I said to you I run the 733 cc kit on my LR and you use the rear tank first keeping the front tank for weight blast ye ,and I have no problems with my LR
Great review and with you on your comments. I’ve just ridden a 4,200 mile trip in the US over 23 days on the TET and BDR on a 2019 KTM 690 Enduro R. The essential mods that were on the bike when I bought it were a Nomad rally tower, Seat Concepts seat, Kineo tubeless wheels, a Rade Garage range extender fuel tank, Vanasche foot pegs, Vanasche fuel cap and a variety of dongles. I added R&G engine protection covers, Fatbar 605 bars to give more pullback and 1” bar risers. It performed faultlessly and a staggering 3.6 litres per 100km. Our mix of riding was 50:50 on/off road. The TC kept me on the bike with very few dabs and I didn’t drop it. Tempting though it was to switch of the TC I simply don’t have the skills to tame that sort of power on the loose surfaces we encountered. On the road it was excellent. The screen is taller than some but for my 5’8” it kept the wind blast down and no buffeting. I used Anakee Wild tyres. The front came back looking unused. The rear was done at 2,500 miles and replaced with a Metzler Enduro 3 Sahara which while less off-road was excellent on and proved to be good off-road despite this. 6 to 8 hours in the saddle each day was perfectly doable. I have a 701 at home in the UK and this has persuaded me to make it the bike the KTM is. Excuse the waffle….. Ian
@@onthebackwheel No worries. Epic is exactly what it was. My old buddy was on a Tiger 900. I’m 65 and he’s 60 so not spring chickens but so pleased we did it.
Good and fair review of the 701/690. I got my 23 701 for $14K as an ex-Husky Trek bike with only 3000k's on it. Pretty much brand new. The bike is euro 5, so this affects the power down low for emissions, a remap(~$600) and a new exhaust will fix it. The rage garage front tank is great and I can get over 350kms out of it. I do mostly multi-day adventure rides on mine. Yes the seat could be better, but its way better than the EXC seats. The front wobble is annoying and I've had it on most of the fronts I've run, so its probably a design issue. Some tyres are worst than others. Currently on the Motoz Dual Venture and its really bad on this tyre. Never noticed it as much on the E09 front. The Motoz will last ages, the E09 doesn't, but its a more confidence inspiring tyre for my riding. This bike is for people who want a dirt bike that can do road sections (70%+ dirt). Not people that adv ride on roads (70%+ roads) and want to do the occasional dirt section. If you want a big bore 700cc dirt bike that scares you in the dirt, then its the bike for you, else get the DR or anything else. 🙂
I had a 690 for the last 3 years and just sold it. I'm now trying a bigger ADV bike for a while but they are just so heavy when you hit the harder rocky trails like Mt Mee in your video. Miss my 690 so much already. I'll probably go back to a 690/701/700 one day. I did 22,000 km on my 690 and not a single mechanical issue. Best money I've ever spent. Cheers
I just bought a 23' 701 with 350 miles on it. So. Cal. USA. The guy sold it because it was to high, even after installing a lowering link and dropping the forks. I'm 6"2" so I went the other way and bought the stock link and a Seat Concepts comfort with 1" more foam. Got the aux tank by Rade and a heavier rear spring if needed. Puig small wind screen. Came with Acerbis (bark busters) and side guards. Going to use it for a Canada to Mexico 2 week ride on dirt back roads in August. Pacific divide route, Cascades and Sierra Nevada ranges with So Cal Desert to Mexico. I have a KTM 790 Adv S model but I don't like it on dirt. Have a KTM 500exc-f 2023 I was going to use before I bought the 701 but that bike might be a little to hard core for this ride. I even bought a new rear wheel with the Haan Cush drive hub for the ride, 500exc-f, O'well. I read the 701 is 80lbs. heavier than the 500exc-f and 100lbs. lighter that the 790 Adv.
@@travishimself1973 the WR is a great little bike! I have one and love it, a KTM500EXC would be pretty sweet in the garage as well haha. I do a few highway kms on my WR and definitely miss my Vstrom at times but it's awesome offroad and great to be able to ride there without worrying about trailers etc :)
I own a gasgas and the seat is wider and higher. The suspension feels somehow harsher. I have stalling issues from the very beginning. One time in a corner at 30km/h it stalled in 2nd gear and I almost highsided. My bike consumes oil and I have some issues with false neutral between 4th and 5th gear. Cheers
Did you mention the slipper clutch? I ran across an interesting discussion and video on blipping before downshifts, even with slippers. I've noticed lately, that I've been blipping quite a bit on my WR250R. Had a 390 adventure prior to the 250, and was shocked at how much I was sliding the rear on the 250 (on pavement). It's not a technique I really knew much about though. Just something I find I'm doing naturally.
@@onthebackwheel For sure, I didn't appreciate it, till I changed to the WR. I saw a discussion, someone claimed you could still bump start the 690's, but with the caveot of a steep hill or fast pushing. The clutch on the 701 is power assist too. I never felt this on the 390, though it was surprisingly stable accelerating at speed on loose gravel. Way better than what you would expect with the TKC70 tires. "The Power Assist Slipper Clutch (PASC) by Adler allows for greater speeds .... coming out of corners by maximising rear wheel grip under hard acceleration...." Cool video!
It just seems for the price I can totally trick out a XR650L and still have money leftover. Or I can trick out a 450RL and get close enough for the same price, both new and used.
450 is a dirt bike engine with cable throttle. Has no TC, ride modes, quick shift, or cruise control (aftermarket). Will be super buzzed out for highway use.
Love your videos! I have a crf300l with some mods wich i love for the tight tracks around here. Looking to get a bigger bike to go along with it and been looking at the 800DEbut we also have the tenere extreme here in sweden and man i do like the looks of it. Do you get that in AUS? Would love to hear your take on it.
Suscribed, since you asked so nicely. I’m a bit puzzled by the suspension; you call it firm, but then you harden the rebound to improve that? Why not soften the compression? Just curiosity, trying to learn something here. Cheers.
Haha thanks mate. I didn't have the time to set it up (only had it for a day and it's a friend's). I thought it was too busy so I changed the rebound. I was happy with how it was handling the big hits so I just left it. Would love to try one set up over time
Just asking your opinion on a side issue , do you think a 21 inch front knobby tyre on say a 300 rally , is safer than a 17 inch 80/20 front road tyre on a Versys 650….on damp slimy bitumen on back roads?…when applying front brake prior to cornering?
of course you lose some gip at the front by tyres like Anakee wild or k60 ranger have plenty of grip i can keep up with my 701 with street bikes quite good and trash around on the street :)
I have the dv tubeless on the 800de now, and . my take. Is there are difference between the tubeless and tube type? Yes. Is the tube tupe better offroad? Yes, slightly, but on road it is noticeably worse than the tubeless. The tubeless is a tiny bit less grippy offroad, but more than makes up for it onroad. It is literally barely noticeable offroad, even pushing. Caveat: the differences offroad are more noticeable the worse the terrain gets. For the DE, I'll always use the tubeless.
Tubed tires is the only thing that's holding me back buying an 800DE. Not sure what you mean by "dv tubeless". Have you taped the wheels and are using tubeless tyres or are you using tubeless tyres with tubes? Cheers.
It's definitely overpriced, but it's the best 50/50 only have one bike. It looks like the only competition might be from Ducati if they make an enduro version of their 698 Mono. Would love to see a Japanese competitor, but it's a slim to none chance, and I don't think it would have the tech that makes the 690/701 a great all-rounder (like ride by wire which allows for cruise control).
How can you compare 701 and Dr, the first is more expensive in two or three times, the first is a modern model, but the second can be left to your great-grandchildren when the first "dies" and you bury it twice. The 701 is a weekend bike. It is difficult to imagine that you will take and ride it 5000-10000 kilometers for a month without preparing the motorcycle, and if you prepare it comes at a price like a regular bmw or ktm, but not the fact that it will be better for traveling....
But how does it wheelie? 🤣 I think we know the answer to that one. 👍 I'm going to look a a 2016 Royal Enfield Classic 500 today. I'm looking for a Distinguished Gentleman's Ride bike to add to the garage. Maybe a bike I can handle into my late 70's when all they'll be making is electric. Plus the guy has lost his vision and I feel like helping him out.
@@onthebackwheel Yeah, I dig the retro look. I bought the bike and it could use some TLC. Ended up being a 2017. It has an aftermarket pipe on it and while the bike is a little rough in areas it sounds great and runs well.
After riding the first 300 metres on a 701 I totally got it
Power difference to other dual sports is obvious but the handling and light weight with 74hp is hard to describe
I’ve been on one for 3 years now and I can’t imagine a better bike (and I’ve owned a few)
Nice mate. They've got some poke!
Gas Gas 700 ES owner here. It is a true 50/50 Bike that can do everything but nothing particular well. If you can only afford one bike, this would be the bike. For a 75 HP bike the new euro 5 models are lean off the bottom but will be more fuel efficient then the DR at 4.2 litres per 100 km. The down sides are the purchase price but a Gas Gas 700 can be bought for thousands less than the the KTM and Husky models. Reliability is still a question mark and if I was to take this bike in remote areas, a DR or DRZ would be my preference.
Yeah it's crazy the Gas Gas supermoto version is basically the same as the Husky and KTM but up to 5K cheaper. I think branding has a lot to do with it, people don't recognise Gas Gas easily or know that they are basically a KTM. Cheers Poita.
Mate I think the Gasser SM looks shit hot with those black rims too. Wish they did that on the ES too
@@CRFLAus diff spec bikes make no mistake
@@ogasi1798 Basically the same meaning not exactly the same but built off the same frame with the same engine, swingarm same power and torque etc. Different specs with brakes, wheels and some electronics but it's the same bike.
@@onthebackwheel black rims are the cancer..
I own a 701 and love it, did have headshake when I first got it and it was only suspension setting.
Good to know mate
KTM 690 Enduro R owner here.
Curtis, nice channel. Good content. You seemed to enjoy the 701 test ride.
I rate the 690/700/701 highly, if used for its intended purpose. Each model is basically same-same. The 700 may have some slightly lower spec components, if I'm not wrong (unconfirmed).
I've owned a 690 outside Australia for the last couple of years, In the Middle East, where I cannot think of a better bike for the type of riding that I do here: Sand dunes, sand flats, wadis (boulder strewn dry creek beds), steep mountains, single track, 4WD track, long road miles, touring/camping and proper adventure riding exploring the backcountry. It's an adventure rider's heaven (excluding the heat!). My steed is loaded with all the bells and whistles and full Rade Garage fruit, plus other doodads.
I've ridden several ADV/MX bikes, so I have some reasonable benchmarks. I'm no expert by any means. Just a weekend warrior like most of us. Take this as empirical feedback from a 690 real-world user.
To provide some feedback on your comments regarding your viewer's comments:
Don't buy a single cylinder if comfort is your priority. Though, if willing, you can still put serious miles on it. The longest trip that I've done on my 690 was 4,400km over 2 weeks (solo). The longest day was almost 1,000km (a travel day that was as straight as an arrow and I decided to keep pushing on through). You need to be committed and really want to do it. It's doable but I can think of dozens of other bikes I'd rather do a 1,000km day on. Tuck your head in and grind away the miles. In that situation it's just a means to an end. The bike did not miss a beat. Not even engine oil burnoff. My biggest gripes were the fuel range and the fuel tank cap position. This requires you to undo luggage when refilling every 200km or so. Somewhat inconvenient. However, I'd still do that trip again on a 690/700/701.
Seat (OEM) is fine, but maybe that's just me. There's no denying that a Seat Concepts upgrade is cushier. However, I'm used to discomfort after +50 years on this planet. Your butt goes numb pretty quick and you forget about it. Focus on the beautiful scenery and not hitting that random camel. The 200km stops help to walk it off for a few mins.
Lower dry weight is a huge benefit in technical terrain or sand. Loved it relative to other ADVs. My experience riding the top heavy and tippy T7 scarred me for life. There are a few 690's in my riding group and they are often the only bikes that do not require some form of assistance from others when it gets gnarly. But make no mistake - It's still heavy. I've dropped it at walking speeds plenty of times and it's stood up well. Nomad pannier racks, barkbusters and adventure foot pegs complete the triangle of support (crash bars for good measure). Try doing a 170kg single leg press once it starts tipping. Let it go. Step away. Lay it down. If that's the type of riding that you'll do, then get a proper Enduro/MX bike. Horses for courses but the 690 can accomplish that better than most other ADV bikes.
Head shake at high speed was evident until I installed the Scotts steering damper. This comes with bar risers. Best money ever spent for high speed runs, sand, deep gravel beds etc. Worth every cent of its expensive entry price. I run some high speeds, as road speed limits go up to 160km/hr around here. Fuel burn is massive at that speed but it can be done. Comfort level is up to about 120 km/hr. 140 km/hr is normally the open road speed that I limit myself to. +160 km/h gets a bit full-on for extended periods. However, that's not what this platform was designed for - Get a GS or 1290 SAR instead. They eat miles for breakfast.
I've run TKC80's and Hidenau Scout K60's. I prefer the former to the latter but the K60's were chosen for the long trip based on good wearing and hard carcass for puncture resistance. Yes there's road noise on a motorbike with nobbies. That likely has more to do with helmet and ear plug selection. Select the right tyres for the right task. Motoz receive positive comments from others.
The LC4 engine is well proven, long lasting and a solid power plant. As you point out, "Ready to Race" requires giving it some throttle to put the LC4 into the powerband sweetspot. Don't be shy. It likes to be ridden hard.
Suspension I have found to be top rate. Even with
Great comment mate and lots of good information here for everyone. Tuareg is a great choice, I think it's the pick ATM
@@onthebackwheel I wasn't sure whether to post my feedback on this video's comments section or your test ride video's. You may find that not all viewers roll from one to the other. I don't want to clog your space (though it does help the YT algos). Let me know and I can cut and paste there as well.
@@GrinningApe all good mate appreciate the comment. You've obviously got a ton of experience with the bike and know your stuff
I've been a die-hard 701 owner for the last 4 years, so I might be able to add a bit.
For the longer trip vs the DR650 question, I might be able to help since I've done long days (+800km) on both. Stock seats, the DR650 wins hands down, so you need to upgrade the seat if you're wanting the ability to long days without contemplating riding off a cliff edge after 4 hours. The engines for the current 690/701 are faaar better at that kind of riding. Far smoother with the balancer of course, but also doesn't have to work as hard when highway speeds, meaning you're dealing with less buzz in general.
For the 701 vs Vstrom question, there isn't a week that goes by where I didn't wish I had a T7 or 950 in my garage. I also have a small 250 for technical stuff, and the middle point of the 701 just isn't the same as a bigger bike for longer distance or road riding. It's a big single so it will drink a bit of oil over long distances, and will never be the same as a twin. It IS the best middle of the road, one bike to do it all option though, and it is a VERY fun bike. It's fun factor is the main reason I probably the main haven't sold it yet.
Great comment mate
I‘ve done 600km+ in one day on my Gasgas 700ES with the stock seat on the Autobahn/Highway twice. It wasn‘t really fun but it worked anyway. The GSA1250 is much more comfortable on the road but the Gasgas much more able off tarmac.
Hey mate, how much oil does your bike consume? Do long distance rides really contribute to oil consumption? My started to consume oil after hard offroad rides. On my last long trip on some days nothing and on others suddenly the small engine case window was almost empty. Really strange
@@Dontortellini3 Worst I've had is probably 200-300mL in 1000km, and it's the same as you, some periods where it doesn't burn anything and some where it guzzles it. I think there's a few triggers:
- Running it hard or at high rpm seems to do it, and I'm not certain if you need to do it for extended periods. I've had it happen with 25 minute commutes blasting down the highway at 6000rpm. I'm unsure yet if it's specifically high RPM, or hard accelerations, since I've had some long riding days where it hasn't drunk any.
- Apparently, the oil will steadily get more and more fuel contamination building up in it, which then makes the oil more prone to being burned off. If you do anything to correct the stock lean Euro4/5 mapping, it facilitates it. PirateRacing did a video about it, and in short, oil changes at 3000km, 5000km max, are recommended since we don't have a massive amount of oil.
@@Dontortellini3 There was no relevant oil loss due to the long distance Autobahn. The bike gets new oil now just with the next regular service.
12:52 As I said to you I run the 733 cc kit on my LR and you use the rear tank first keeping the front tank for weight blast ye ,and I have no problems with my LR
Great review and with you on your comments. I’ve just ridden a 4,200 mile trip in the US over 23 days on the TET and BDR on a 2019 KTM 690 Enduro R. The essential mods that were on the bike when I bought it were a Nomad rally tower, Seat Concepts seat, Kineo tubeless wheels, a Rade Garage range extender fuel tank, Vanasche foot pegs, Vanasche fuel cap and a variety of dongles. I added R&G engine protection covers, Fatbar 605 bars to give more pullback and 1” bar risers. It performed faultlessly and a staggering 3.6 litres per 100km. Our mix of riding was 50:50 on/off road. The TC kept me on the bike with very few dabs and I didn’t drop it. Tempting though it was to switch of the TC I simply don’t have the skills to tame that sort of power on the loose surfaces we encountered. On the road it was excellent. The screen is taller than some but for my 5’8” it kept the wind blast down and no buffeting. I used Anakee Wild tyres. The front came back looking unused. The rear was done at 2,500 miles and replaced with a Metzler Enduro 3 Sahara which while less off-road was excellent on and proved to be good off-road despite this. 6 to 8 hours in the saddle each day was perfectly doable. I have a 701 at home in the UK and this has persuaded me to make it the bike the KTM is. Excuse the waffle….. Ian
Great comment mate and appreciated it. Sounds like an epic ride too
@@onthebackwheel No worries. Epic is exactly what it was. My old buddy was on a Tiger 900. I’m 65 and he’s 60 so not spring chickens but so pleased we did it.
Good and fair review of the 701/690.
I got my 23 701 for $14K as an ex-Husky Trek bike with only 3000k's on it. Pretty much brand new.
The bike is euro 5, so this affects the power down low for emissions, a remap(~$600) and a new exhaust will fix it.
The rage garage front tank is great and I can get over 350kms out of it.
I do mostly multi-day adventure rides on mine. Yes the seat could be better, but its way better than the EXC seats.
The front wobble is annoying and I've had it on most of the fronts I've run, so its probably a design issue. Some tyres are worst than others. Currently on the Motoz Dual Venture and its really bad on this tyre. Never noticed it as much on the E09 front. The Motoz will last ages, the E09 doesn't, but its a more confidence inspiring tyre for my riding.
This bike is for people who want a dirt bike that can do road sections (70%+ dirt). Not people that adv ride on roads (70%+ roads) and want to do the occasional dirt section.
If you want a big bore 700cc dirt bike that scares you in the dirt, then its the bike for you, else get the DR or anything else. 🙂
Thanks for the comment mate, good to hear some an owner
I had a 690 for the last 3 years and just sold it. I'm now trying a bigger ADV bike for a while but they are just so heavy when you hit the harder rocky trails like Mt Mee in your video. Miss my 690 so much already. I'll probably go back to a 690/701/700 one day. I did 22,000 km on my 690 and not a single mechanical issue. Best money I've ever spent. Cheers
Good to hear mate, you're not the first person to say theirs has been rock solid
I just bought a 23' 701 with 350 miles on it. So. Cal. USA. The guy sold it because it was to high, even after installing a lowering link and dropping the forks. I'm 6"2" so I went the other way and bought the stock link and a Seat Concepts comfort with 1" more foam. Got the aux tank by Rade and a heavier rear spring if needed. Puig small wind screen. Came with Acerbis (bark busters) and side guards. Going to use it for a Canada to Mexico 2 week ride on dirt back roads in August. Pacific divide route, Cascades and Sierra Nevada ranges with So Cal Desert to Mexico. I have a KTM 790 Adv S model but I don't like it on dirt. Have a KTM 500exc-f 2023 I was going to use before I bought the 701 but that bike might be a little to hard core for this ride. I even bought a new rear wheel with the Haan Cush drive hub for the ride, 500exc-f, O'well. I read the 701 is 80lbs. heavier than the 500exc-f and 100lbs. lighter that the 790 Adv.
It's always a compromise isn't it. Sounds like you've got some good set ups
I read that as "the guy sold it because he was too high" and had to re-read it! California eh...!
Great answer😂! 701 or the 501 is the one bike solution. If you have 3 bikes then it doesn't make sense!
3 bikes would still be pretty sweet 😂
I've got a 500 excf, a 1250gsa and a wr250r. Still kind of interested in adding a 701 for hard stuff that I can log miles on
@@travishimself1973 the WR is a great little bike! I have one and love it, a KTM500EXC would be pretty sweet in the garage as well haha. I do a few highway kms on my WR and definitely miss my Vstrom at times but it's awesome offroad and great to be able to ride there without worrying about trailers etc :)
I own a gasgas and the seat is wider and higher. The suspension feels somehow harsher. I have stalling issues from the very beginning. One time in a corner at 30km/h it stalled in 2nd gear and I almost highsided. My bike consumes oil and I have some issues with false neutral between 4th and 5th gear. Cheers
I've heard of the false neutral issue before too 😔
Did you mention the slipper clutch?
I ran across an interesting discussion and video on blipping before downshifts, even with slippers.
I've noticed lately, that I've been blipping quite a bit on my WR250R. Had a 390 adventure prior to the 250, and was shocked at how much I was sliding the rear on the 250 (on pavement). It's not a technique I really knew much about though. Just something I find I'm doing naturally.
They are a great thing hey? I didn't notice it except when I stalled it and tried to clutch start!
@@onthebackwheel For sure, I didn't appreciate it, till I changed to the WR. I saw a discussion, someone claimed you could still bump start the 690's, but with the caveot of a steep hill or fast pushing.
The clutch on the 701 is power assist too. I never felt this on the 390, though it was surprisingly stable accelerating at speed on loose gravel. Way better than what you would expect with the TKC70 tires.
"The Power Assist Slipper Clutch (PASC) by Adler allows for greater speeds .... coming out of corners by maximising rear wheel grip under hard acceleration...."
Cool video!
Dam good review brother 👊. Covered virtually everything that could be. Thanks for the update
No worries bud
It just seems for the price I can totally trick out a XR650L and still have money leftover. Or I can trick out a 450RL and get close enough for the same price, both new and used.
Why an L when you can get a 650R
450 is a dirt bike engine with cable throttle. Has no TC, ride modes, quick shift, or cruise control (aftermarket). Will be super buzzed out for highway use.
I get it. That 450RL is pretty good value
I have the 701 LR and can't seem to find a sweet spot for the front forks. What suspension settings are you guys using, how many clicks out?
thanks for the detailed reply to my question on is it worth it 😊
No problem bud
Great vid and review mate :) Love it!
Thanks bud!
Love your videos! I have a crf300l with some mods wich i love for the tight tracks around here. Looking to get a bigger bike to go along with it and been looking at the 800DEbut we also have the tenere extreme here in sweden and man i do like the looks of it. Do you get that in AUS? Would love to hear your take on it.
No we don't unfortunately. Looks right up my alley and woud love one!
Suscribed, since you asked so nicely. I’m a bit puzzled by the suspension; you call it firm, but then you harden the rebound to improve that? Why not soften the compression? Just curiosity, trying to learn something here. Cheers.
Haha thanks mate. I didn't have the time to set it up (only had it for a day and it's a friend's). I thought it was too busy so I changed the rebound. I was happy with how it was handling the big hits so I just left it. Would love to try one set up over time
Where do you ride usually mate? Looks really similar to the tracks around my area in northern NSW
Yeah it's pretty similar. Glasshouse mountains and mount mee are my closest loops
thanks
No worries mate, hope I didn't butcher your name
@@onthebackwheel You totalled it lol... But it's all good mate
@@asafnaot 😂
@@leighhill9185 🤣
Just asking your opinion on a side issue , do you think a 21 inch front knobby tyre on say a 300 rally , is safer than a 17 inch 80/20 front road tyre on a Versys 650….on damp slimy bitumen on back roads?…when applying front brake prior to cornering?
of course you lose some gip at the front by tyres like Anakee wild or k60 ranger have plenty of grip i can keep up with my 701 with street bikes quite good and trash around on the street :)
Ultimately you're getting more contact patch and grip. Both not really an issue IMO (unless you ride in wet conditions a lot and push hard)
I have the dv tubeless on the 800de now, and . my take.
Is there are difference between the tubeless and tube type? Yes.
Is the tube tupe better offroad? Yes, slightly, but on road it is noticeably worse than the tubeless.
The tubeless is a tiny bit less grippy offroad, but more than makes up for it onroad. It is literally barely noticeable offroad, even pushing.
Caveat: the differences offroad are more noticeable the worse the terrain gets.
For the DE, I'll always use the tubeless.
Tubed tires is the only thing that's holding me back buying an 800DE. Not sure what you mean by "dv tubeless". Have you taped the wheels and are using tubeless tyres or are you using tubeless tyres with tubes? Cheers.
@@richard3803 replying so I get notified of their response as well. Tubeless tires are the only thing holding me back as well.
The biggest thing is off road, you dent your rim and you are fine with tubes. Pain to change though plus the weight
It's definitely overpriced, but it's the best 50/50 only have one bike. It looks like the only competition might be from Ducati if they make an enduro version of their 698 Mono. Would love to see a Japanese competitor, but it's a slim to none chance, and I don't think it would have the tech that makes the 690/701 a great all-rounder (like ride by wire which allows for cruise control).
I think Ducati will, just when. Also $$$$
How can you compare 701 and Dr, the first is more expensive in two or three times, the first is a modern model, but the second can be left to your great-grandchildren when the first "dies" and you bury it twice. The 701 is a weekend bike. It is difficult to imagine that you will take and ride it 5000-10000 kilometers for a month without preparing the motorcycle, and if you prepare it comes at a price like a regular bmw or ktm, but not the fact that it will be better for traveling....
Because people consider many different bikes and are curious how bikes compare? Or to make references to older well known bikes? Or...
He was answering someone’s question!
I've gone on rides with people on both 701s and DRs, they are similar in a lot of ways. But yes, I can see your point!
I don't need 70 hp on my CRF300 Rally, but 40 would be real nice.
Agree, 40 would be amazing!
But how does it wheelie? 🤣
I think we know the answer to that one. 👍
I'm going to look a a 2016 Royal Enfield Classic 500 today. I'm looking for a Distinguished Gentleman's Ride bike to add to the garage. Maybe a bike I can handle into my late 70's when all they'll be making is electric. Plus the guy has lost his vision and I feel like helping him out.
Those are good looking bikes, love that style
@@onthebackwheel Yeah, I dig the retro look. I bought the bike and it could use some TLC. Ended up being a 2017. It has an aftermarket pipe on it and while the bike is a little rough in areas it sounds great and runs well.
a dr650 will still be going trouble free in 50 years
You know what, you're probably right