Відео

I'm riding a T7 for four years and love it ! Main use is commuting (20km one way) and going on TET Trails / single track trails. BUT i hate the weight of it. Riding solo most of the time, picking it up is a/my nightmare. 3 times a day is more than enough for my (physically) condition 🙃 Therefor i'm considering a change to 690R/701. For riding trails i mostly have to to 1 hour on highways, go on trails for about 4-5 h and than again 1h back. Even on the T7 stressfull/exhausting. I have no idea atm if this is capable on the "small" dualbike ... i'm perplexed what to do 🙅‍♂

Do you have a recommendation for 2up riding? I mostly do dirt riding, but would love to bring my significant other along. I havent found many adventure riders going 2up.

Great review! I have 2023 and have done very similar mods to yours. I am 200lbs and feel like I need to dial in the front suspension. You mentioned working with yours. Any advice on adjusting it? I feel it mainly in more technical riding especially if I get into softer ground. I feel like the front end dives on me too easily. I initially regretted buying this bike. It wasn't a great dirt bike and wasn't a great adventure bike. After riding it for a while and modifying it I have fallen in love with it. It can go BDRs my 350 can't and I have the confidence to solo more technical rides that my old T7 couldn't. Plus I have shit eating grin on my face everytime I ride it. I do wish the gears were not so tall. I am going to throw a 48 tooth on the rear this week and see how that feels.

I am deciding between those exact two bikes for adventouring. The idea is to make those multi-day trips, thousands miles and few luggages and tent. The idea is NOT to sit on a highway, but rather go in exotic offroad routes all over the world. I know very well how to ride a bike on road (i actually even trackday on a decent level with my RSV4) but NEVER did off-road. I have been said that starting with the T7 could be hard due to its weight (even though it looks like the more suited for the purpose i have in mind) so i was searching for something lighter and so i started to look at this KTM. What would you recommend?

This video helped me to make the decision to buy one of these bikes 2 years ago. I was wondering what happened with yours. Did you sell it? In the video, you mentioned you were going to lower the bike. Were you able to do that?

Would a Suzuki DR650 be a good bike for a beginner

Hey, I recommend Puig windshield for T7, the stock one just redirect all the wind in your face which is arguably worse than not having a windshield at all.

Absolutely SPOT ON...wen u said "DEAD RELIABLE"! ❤❤❤❤

I would be interested in the maintenance and repair costs of both...

The AJP PR7 Doma looks like a much better choice than the KTM 690. I would love to read your comparison after riding a PR7. ua-cam.com/video/U3xS0-DTheo/v-deo.html&pp=ygUOZGlydCBiaWtlIHRlc3Q%3D

Great job on the video!!!! I feel very educated now on the bike! Well Done!!!

Definitely the best video on the 690 iv seen im gonna watch the rest of your videos soon keep the content coming 👌

I'm lookin for some SENDABILITY! 😂😂😂

Great job! I own the 701 / 2023 model. Super fun.

Till 2008 was bloody servo brakes! If you dont need abs,you can buy gs 2004-2008

I am in this exact issue since months !!!! The big issue for me is here in France it's impossible de try a 690 adventure R. So it's difficult to set my mind. Actually I have a 2024 T7 World Raid and I like this bike but it's not a very fun one. I'm coming from a 2023 Hayabusa and the motor is nice but lack of a fun part on this heavy bike. As you said my main issue is a don't want to change tires all time. I need tires that grips reaaaally well in the winter on the road because I commute everyday to work with it and here we have snow, freeze and a lot of rain ^^ For that the T7 WR is good but it's sooooo heavy offroad... The capability of this bike is gigantic when you're name is Paul Tares BUT it's not my case... ^^ I ended up thinking maybe the best is to keep my T7 and add a cheap WR250R or something else like DRZ400 and play with that on the week-end. I think the one bike for everything is finally not reachable without a lot of modding (like on the 690 enduro R) and a lot of tires change to meet the necessity of the field you're going on and the weather.

"This is like a barrel of monkeys... you sit on and twist the throttle and make sure you point it in the right direction when you do it" 💀💀💀 A quote for the ages. I love my new-to-me gen 2 690 Enduro R. Absolute beast. Doing the TAT with her as we speak!

Watched two videos from your channel (other was the 690 vs T7 one) and subscribed very quickly after the first based on the 'visceral' descriptions/comparisons. It's also just your calm, thoughtful, thorough, detailed delivery of the same. I've got a 990 Adventure but if I ever sold that I'd get a Tenere 700, probably a World Raid if they ever sold it here, but even the regular one or an Africa Twin but I apparently have a thing for the Tenere. Like the Africa Twin they really are beautiful looking bikes too, much more so than the admittedly better 790/890 or even the Norden 901.

Hi, many thanks for review. I am relatively new rider. I received my driving license 4 years ago and in those years I was able to ride distance of 70kkm (44k miles). On and off road. I do own 1250 GSA. I am 189cm in height and approx 100kg in weight. After my last trip to Iceland 8000km in 2 weeks solo (4000km off road) I decided too look for something which will helps me to develop new off road skills as well as continuing to stay relatively comfortable on the road. I did as well full Costa Rica off road ( 3300km in 2 weeks solo) on 300cc Honda XRE (25 bhp). This bike was absolutely great, tucked me everywhere in the jungle, mountain tracks etc so power on T7 it's not a problem at all. I am looking forward to try T7 anytime soon and get my impression on it. Greetings from 🇨🇭

Depends if it's taken care of, I got two r1200gs now because I got a parts bike. The best windshield is the givi airflow, wind goes over my head and I'm 6,2

Great video. I have a ‘23 T7 and a ‘18 690R……so much fun. I agree with your comments. I upgraded my suspension to my weight.on the T7, huge difference. I will be keeping both while able!

I’m considering down sizing from a Tuareg 660 to a 690/701 because because I want something lighter and more capable of riding aggressive terrain. But I have two concerns: increased vibrations and wind protection vs the Tuareg. Thoughts?

Another great video with great advice.

Fantastic overview! I’m considering selling my Tuareg for a 690/701. I realized I want something lighter, smaller, but with some guts for more aggressive riding that can hang on the highway.

My 14,000 mile - 2016 ❤️ GSA Rocks. At $15,555 the poor Bro’ who lost out to CoVid 🦠 should rest in peace, knowing his steed is in a good place / warm garage ❣️

Great video, Im leaning to the 690, is it ok on highway at around 80mph?

My first dual sport bike was a dr600 next a dr800 and now a 125 cc lifan 😂. I have GSXR1100R and a yzf600r. Never had so much fun as on the 125 running in the woods. Easy learning. Likely will buy a 250 or a dr400 later on. Low weight is what you need to learn properly. Good video.

Sorry to be that guy, but how does this compares to SMC R (if you have tested it) on tarmac roads? I am in between the two (99% public road racer) but i do like the freedom of having fun off road or just riding carelessly over damaged roads etc. My two concerns are: A. Are there any really sticky tyres for 21", prefferably radial, safe enough to ride aggresively on tarmac B. Is SMC R too stiff so if you don't ride it race style it becomes sluggish when turning? Main playground is very tight mountain roads with super sharp, low speed hairpins with varying tarmac (from ultra grip to slippery, some small dirt patches). I ride pretty agressively but not always 100% front trail braking, so a very nimble bike is of importance. I ride a KLX 250S which i laughed upon but proved an exciting toy in these roads but, while it is fun drifting both wheels concurrently going 70 km/h, i would prefer better tyres than the ie. Metzeler Tourance i wear. They are mediocre on road and pretty nothing off road too. Long comment!

Which bar risers did you go with?

I have a 690 Enduro R from 2012, the last model free from electronic shit, I ride on gravel roads mostly and I love it, very well balanced and no problems at all in my opinion, bougt it new, 30 000 kilometers on the meter , all by me

Headed to the shop this morning with my one owner ‘13 oil cooled. I’ve got a sinking feeling it’s a blown main rear seal at 27k. Wish me luck.

Hi, I bought the second bike just to alternate onroad and offroad trips buying the 690, a wonderful bike that gives me a lot of fun. I have two questions, what tires do you use? and how many km do you do with those tires in the video? (km because I'm Italian :) )

This was the best context setting, no bullshit review/comparison I’ve seen for the 690. Great job. And seemingly one take (at least I didn’t notice any editing on the audio).

T7 is way to big and heavy for any real offroad the 690 will do easily and also the t7 is wayyy to slow and weak and uncomfy on the road compared to the bigger adv bikes. It’s a weird in between bike that isn’t good at anything. just get a dual sport and a big adv. done.

merci beaucoup pour votre simplicité

So which one would you take to complete the TAT from NC to OR all in one go non-stop and camping as much as possible along the way?

First I'd say they're slightly different niche... the T7 is middleweight ADV. The 690 as shown is lightweight ADV... so they're sort of shooting at different users (and the stuff below is as much about the differences in the niche as it is in the bikes themselves). I have the 701e and IMO the decision between these two is based on what kind of riding you want to do, what other bikes you have and how hard you ride... and your budget. - If you prefer easy comfortable rides and are OK going slower but being more comfortable than I'd steer folks toward the T7 or 890. - More offroad would push you toward the 690 because 100lbs is HUGE offroad. - Cost would push you toward the T7 since my 701 cost me $20k to buy and get configured for TAT/BDR use, I could have done the same thing to the T7 for $6k less or maybe even more. - If you have a Heavyweight adv bike (I have the Multistrada) then I'd suggest the 690/701 is a better compliment. - If you ride hard on dirt then that would push you toward the 690 since it's as close as you're going to get to a true dualsport but with some ability to handle tarmac squirts in relative comfort and with reasonable service intervals for ADV use. For example: I rode the 7000 miles of the Transamerica trail on the 701... in 19 days (which is moving along), and the plan all along was to haul. If I'd been planning to take 6 weeks to ride the TAT I'd have been leaning T7. So the answer to which is better is... it depends. and oh yea... if you worry about reliability you're probably not looking at any ktm anyway but I'd absolutely say T7 without reservation. For me it would still be the 690/701... but I'd NEVER fault anyone for saying "yea no yea I'm going T7"

I have a 2014 honda cb500x and im trying to get sm more light and nimble, ive been offered multiple 690s as a trade. The cb has almost never let me down, so im afraid of the reliability of ktm. Is it a good trade?

Have you heard any rumors about the new Husqvarna 901SM?

Have you rode the vstrom 800DE? If so, would you still buy a pre-2013 GS

What size Vstream is that?

I’ve been looking at a used 2017 with 30,000 miles on it. Did mileage concern you at all when purchasing used?

Thank you. Good work

Would you suggest a small ADV or a small dual sport for a first bike? I was thinking Honda CRF 300L because I like the idea of being able to explore, go anywhere and know the bike can do it esp. at slower speeds, but I will likely be on roads more often. I do want to learn both styles of riding though, and one bike is ideal. A lot of people seem to say the 300L or the KLX's are the perfect first bikes, but Honda reliability is hard to say no to. Without any riding experience, the ADV bikes seem way to street biased and heavier (KTM 390 ADV, BMW 310 GS, etc.), and I know more weight is not fun off road. Doing all my research I'm so surprised to see people with even 700cc bikes off road loaded with like 100 pounds of crap.. That seems like it would be a nightmare to manage/work when riding, not to mention pick up if you drop it. Also, unrelated question, but I've heard people say things about KTMs and them being quirky or difficult mechanically to maintain. Is that actually a thing and if so why?

The 690 and T7 are two different categories of bikes, so you can’t really declare one is better thank the other overall. BUT you can evaluate them in different categories of riding. Obviously the T7 is generally better on the street and the 690 is better in the dirt.

I was on the fence to buy this model for 10 years but height of bike stopped me over and over. I ended up with a KLX300. Although fun its just not enough power on road to satisfy me

I’m looking to upgrade from my Kim duke 390 to include more gravel and dirt in my road trips. I’m looking at a 2012 990 adventure. The only thing turning me off the 690 enduro is the luggage rack options for soft luggage. Is this really an issue....i

Very good video mate.

Great video! I built a killer Husky 501 for BDR's but my arthritic hands just can't handle the vibes at 65-70 MPH when I am doing road work. How are the vibes on your hands on your 690 at 65-70 MPH?

What centimeter that KTM windscreen from bottom of that lamp to the top?