KTM 690 Enduro

[bbdig]

Just looking for opinions about the KTM 690 as a dual sport bike. At my age the 305lbs is a real positive.

Thanks, jack

 

[Bungie]

Just looking for opinions about the KTM 690 as a dual sport bike. At my age the 305lbs is a real positive.

I test rode one a few weeks back (local sale). Great bike except for one thing, I've never been on a bike that vibrated so bad (and I've had some big thumpers in the past). You could use that thing to settle gravel. At least that's the case with one I tried.

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

Great bike

Too expensive

Sparse dealer network

perfect if you are rich, live in a large metropolitan area and stay close to home

 

[dcarver]

I'd love to have one. You should buy it then post back what you experience is with it.

 

[Mr Bill]

Just looking for opinions about the KTM 690 as a dual sport bike. At my age the 305lbs is a real positive.

 

Thanks, jack

 

And with 60hp it performs almost as good as the FJR. I really like my 690R.

 

This thing is just barely street legal and compared to the other dual sports is like comparing the FJR to a GoldWing.

 

It needs a couple of mods.

 

I replaced the seat with a corbin and added an inch to let my legs stretch out. The original seat feels like a plank wrapped in barbed wire.

 

New exhaust slipon by FMF, you need to let the engine idle for 15 min to reset itself for the new pipe. This pipe has the same sound as stock, but you loose a ton of weight and heat from the old cat converter.

 

And there are two wires that need to be removed to tell the computer it's in 2nd and 3rd gear. The computer cuts power by 30% in these gears to pass US emissions. Unplug these two wires and your good to do wheelies easily in 1st-3rd gear.

 

You have a really good dealer nearby with good prices too.

 

Cliffs

 

[MojaveFJR]

KTM 690R :yahoo:

Think that about wraps it up. Love mine...

 

[Bustanut joker]

We should encourage the elders here I do agree.However Jack is pretty old and might in fact not remember posting this today.. :dribble:

I'd suggest we just agree with him and hope like hell his wife see's this before he actually buys something without training wheels..

Seriously?

Go for it Jack

 

[dcarver]

Screw the fat pig Super Tenere. This bike is the real deal.

Looks like a Ducati framed monster dirt bike.

I gotta get one.

I hate you guys.

 

[Fred W]

I would say that it depends Jack. It depends on what you intend to do with it. I thought very hard about getting a Katoom ADV bike. But then I realized that I need to ride several miles of pavement just to get to the dirty stuff, most of what I'd be riding is dirt roads (Class V and VI), not single track and I don't really need a trail bike to do that. And I'd much rather ride my bike than to be working on it all the time.

The real deal breaker for me was I was envisioning taking a bike across some major transcontinental dirt trail. What would I do if I broke down in Manitoba on a KTM?? Reliability and parts availability are important on and ADV bike, IMO

 

[No One]

Great bike

Too expensive

Sparse dealer network

perfect if you are rich, live in a large metropolitan area and stay close to home

X 2 of what you said.... Exact same thing I was going to write...

 

[bbdig]

I would say that it depends Jack. It depends on what you intend to do with it. I thought very hard about getting a Katoom ADV bike. But then I realized that I need to ride several miles of pavement just to get to the dirty stuff, most of what I'd be riding is dirt roads (Class V and VI), not single track and I don't really need a trail bike to do that. And I'd much rather ride my bike than to be working on it all the time.

The real deal breaker for me was I was envisioning taking a bike across some major transcontinental dirt trail. What would I do if I broke down in Manitoba on a KTM?? Reliability and parts availability are important on and ADV bike, IMO

I have this fantasy of doing the Trans Am Trail and the 74 DT250 is not the bike for that. A friend suggested a Honda XR650 but they don't make them anymore. Of course I have to find both a bike and someone who has the time and inclination to do the trail. Probably just something to dream about.

Then there is the wife issue, as my fishing friends say I hope to God my wife doesn't sell my fishing equipment for what I told it cost.