Like the style of the video! Very entertaining. But the noice at 2:21 is not the normal engine sound. It is the chain in the engine. when the oil is hot the pressure goes down quick and when you start it again the chain needs a few seconds to tense. For ABS and TC to be ready you have to drive for a few meters. In that time they start up and after that they are easy to turn off. When you stand. TC is way more usefull on the street than on the dirt. It limits ur wheelies and limits break outs of the rear when its slippery. So you can go full bonkers with no worries. Map 1 and 2 have the same poweroutput. Only the first few RPMS are different. Map 2 brings right at the start the full torque on the ground which is great until it rains and ur cornering. TC cant save you there. Then Map 1 is great because it smoothes out the powerburst at the beginning. The string for the seat can be easily put in the FUEL CAP. Just make ur bike naked one loose screw and one hole and you have a key system for ur seat. Its now stock for the 2021 model by the way. A lot of guys hate elektronics. personally i find it worse to crash because of panic breaking but what ever. One cable cut behind the mask and you can say bye bye to TC and ABS.
This comment was REALLY useful man! Thanks for all the details and good ideas (loved the seat string thing!). I pinned this comment so others can learn from your experience ;)
06:15 As a owner of a 690, let me just correct one thing: actually you can turn off the TC before start riding. The light won't flash (like it does with the ABS) but the TC will turn off. Just be sure to hold it down for EXACTLY five seconds. You'll have confirmation after riding about 5 meters and the light didn't go off (it stays on when the TC is off).
Thanks so much! I am not 100% happy with the review cause in the end I failed to show how amazing this bike is off-road, which is its strongest suit of course. I only had the bike with me for 48h, so I didn't have time to polish the script well enough... oh well, I am very happy to know you enioyed it =)
@@OFFroadOFFcourse it's a KTM. They're absolute monsters off road, but definitely have there issues. I used to sell them for a living, so I know their problems quite well, but still love them for the way they can make every ride feel like a Dakar stage.
in regards to it being passenger capable, I can attest that it is more than capable. Myself at 195lbs and my partner 220lbs as passenger went up and down some of the local dirt/rocky roads in the mountains and the bike was more than up to lugging us up. 3000+ rpm and there is no sense of it even working hard. Going down just as good engine braking and the front brakes are just stellar! I love my 2018 690!!
Hey there Jamie! Thank you for your feedback! Well, with almost 70hp (the 2018 version) it definitely has no problem pushing 2 people up a mountain. What i meant is that when compared to "proper" adventure bikes the passenger has much less space/comfort. Bigger bikes make it really comfortable for the pillions (except the T700 actually..) One thing i regret about this review is focusing so much on "is it an adventure bike?" When in fact i should be asking "is this the king of dual sports?"...which probably it is :D Maybe one day i will retire de XT660 and get one of these ;)
@@OFFroadOFFcourse there are things that other bikes do better for sure! That seat is definitely not the most comfortable but it suits the bike, rugged and easy to clean. I have the same back rack installed on my bike as well and it unfortunately eliminated the passenger hand brackets. I don't think it was meant to be a 2 up bike though although it can definitely do it; further I don't know of another bike in it's class that would be much better for 2 up adventure riding. I wonder what The Riding Reporters would say about it as they have ridden their bikes loaded to the tits all over south America. I'm definitely not a fan of how tall the bike is either but my 6' manages, I wouldn't want to be any shorter.
First time on your channel, but I will be back. I like your sense of humor and the accent (still, very good English in my humble opinion). Where are you from? Oh, right, it's a video with motorbike content, but I liked that too. Informative and well constructed. Thanks!
Welcome aboard! I am from Portugal, and although I would like to say that the accent is on purpose... it is not :P Actually, from all my reviews (CRF250L, T7, and PR7 next week) I think this is the one I like the least, for the simple fact that I had the bike only for 48h, and I got so focused on the bad things (from an Adventurers perspective) that I completely forgot to stress how amazing this bike is overall. I feel that I didn't make justice to it, which is a shame! And thank you very much for the comment ;)
Love the video! Finally someone not just gushing how great a bike is all the time. Since you mentioned in the comments you only had the bike for 48 hours-hope you get a chance to revisit someday-perhaps even a comparison to the supermoto version, or better yet an enduro to supermoto conversion!
Right on! I had the bike only for a little bit, and to be honest, I think this review was unfair for the bike since I kept focusing on the "not-adv points" and almost forgot to praise how good this bike is overall. It was a bit of a negative review, when in fact I loved the bike!
To be fair, I found out later that that bike in particular was missing a bit of oil, so the noise was louder than it shoud. Also, my microphone doesn't capture a 100% real sound so... But eyeah, KTMs are always a bit... well, they sing they song of their people, its just how it is
I have the same thoughts about electronical aids as you have, but I bought a Husky 701 two days ago, and I’m going to give the electronical package a real chance. I’ll report back with my findings, full transparency.
So I'm back with an update to this comment. The TC is as you say pretty good, but I'd still want the option to buy the bike without it, for less money. Same goes with the quickshifter, cool tech but I'd rather spend less money and be without it.
The 690 definitely has its place on the Dual Sport to ADV spectrum. The bigger bikes like T7 are 50 kg heavier or even more, and too much to handle in the really rough stuff. The smaller bikes like DRZ400 or WR250R are not nearly as good on the highway. I don’t own one (yet) but new model looks mint.
My "review" was mostly about the upgrades, and not the bike itself... cause there was a lot more to be said about this awesome machine. I feel indeed that the 690 (along with the 701 I guess?) are the unicorn people like me want. They are super performant off-road, and on the road they are almost just as fun. With this 2019+ model I was very happy on the highway at 145km/h (90mph), and I can live with that definitely ^^ The 50kg less are very very welcome ^^
totally unplaned... it was the dry season, I never thought there would be like 30cm (1 foot) of murky water with 50cm of goo underneath.... so I entered the puddle/pond at very low speed, thinking I wouldn't even get the bike dirty (I thought it would be like 10cm deep) ... no bueno xD
Good call! To be honest I had to rush this review, I only had the bike with me for about 48h :/ I'm also sad that I didn't talk a bit better about its off-road capacities.. I focused only on the bad stuff and that is unfair for this awesome off-roader :o
Excellent video. I am considering myself getting an AJP PR7 which is very much like this KTM 690R, it would be a great comparison for you to consider. No doubt these bikes are more dirt oriented that a Tenere 700, but hey, they are also on-road capable. May be the biggest problem could be vibrations, but I guess you get used to that. Well done, keep it up!!
Yeah, the T7 is much smoother on the road, but I must say the cruise speed is about the same on both bikes (130-140km/h?) The difference is, with one you feel pleasure (t7) and with the other you are just getting the job done :) I am yet to test a PR7... but I am anxious to =)
Awesome video!, I enjoyed my KTM 690 R on the back roads of Vermont the roads here Are 75% dirt roads. And it was great on rocky powerline sections but of course the weight prevented it from doing anything more serious that I used to do on my KTM 300 obviously. I’m surprised KTM is still using the same design which is been around since 2008 but great video nonetheless love it!
Very cool rides, Peter! This review was more about the updates than the bike itself (around since 2008, like you said), cause there would have been a lot more to say about this fantastic machine! its funny... you guys, used to KTMs 300 and other enduro/light dual-sports always look to the 690 as the "fat alternative", but for us, the so called adventure riders, we are used to 200-240kg bikes so we always look at the 690 as the "light-weight alternative" :D Nevertheless, when its time to ride fast you guys always know how to do it better :P
@@OFFroadOFFcourse I love that Fairing, Of course mine had that weak headlight that was not much better than a candle, and the wind resistance without a fairing got to be old real fast.
As a 2019 owner, I hate the TC. I turn it off as soon as the asphalt ends. If you use the ignition switch to turn bike off and not the key the TC mode stays where you set it.
Good tip! I was ready to hate the TC, but i kept an open mind attitude and just like i said on the video: "its not helping, but its not slowing me down either." I prefer it off, but unlike the ABS, i could live with it
I did watch a few of your videos .. u make fun to watch content ..though I am from India where adv means Himalayan and 390 but it's fun to watch .. keep up the vids ..
I am a big fan of smaller bikes! I think here in europe/USA we went too far with the big bikes... they are tall touring bikes nowadays =( I never tried the Himalayan but I don't think I will like it... I mean, my XT660R (used and old) has almost 3 times more power, weights the same (or a little less), and has better suspensions... I don't know... the Himalayan is cheap (compared to a new bigger bike) but its expensive (and not so good) as a nice old dual-sport from 1990-2005
😂“Meah” ist the right comment! My brother’s Husqvarna 701 (basically the same bike) needed to be trailered to service (nothing worked at all) four times (!) within the first 2.000 km. He sold the bike when it broke down for the fifth time at 2.300 km, one week after he picked it up from the dealers workshop, where it spent almost one month for diagnosis and waiting for parts. Excessive use of electronics is a BAD THING, especially in an off-road bike. Buy motorcycles you can handle without a computers help, people!
I hear this all the time in FB groups about 701s having complete failures from new. But I never hear the same about the 690s. Even though they’re the same bike more or less.
You are wise my friend :D But I have to admit, I loved the 690. It's only problem is that it lets you ride too fast, and when something goes wrong (and it will some day), its gonna hurt :D
I had a 701 (2019), I forgot about how the bike when you turn it off, it resets. Went down a big hill, very very very fast off road, way faster than I had ever gone on a bike (motocross or supercross) down something this steep. I was OK, but man, that sucked big time. I was always starting to second guess myself wait, the light is on, does that mean it is on or is it off when it is off oh crap... I ditched the stock exhaust for a Yoshimura system, got rid of the heat problem and you are not wrong it is stupid hot. The Yoshi system wasn't loud obnoxious either, highly suggested.
If I bought one of these I would need one of those "dongles" to innactivate the ABS permanently or something... but it just sounds wrong. Buying a 12k € dirt bike and then immideately after needing to buy some stupid dongle (even the name is stupid) just to fix a problem created by some stupid legislation... gah! Sorry for the rant :P Nice time about the exhaust though... especially if you say the noise didnt become too loud. I like quite bikes =) thanks for commenting
@@OFFroadOFFcourse Exactly, needing a dongle is just dumb. I don't really fault KTM for this, more of a government thing, they want us to be super safe, as we ride off road remotely...
@@gilvietor1918 thats cause legislations are written but people who dont know anything about the activities they are regulating. It should be mandatory to have experts on board (maybe it is, but they are certainly not doing their job)
@@OFFroadOFFcourse , no but I have a couple of friends that have one, they face a lot of the problems that you highlighted. I like the bigger screen of the older 690, I like that I have a dongle that keeps ABS turned off at the rear wheel, and I like that I don't have any traction control. First thing that I changed was that rear can!!
Finalmente una prova bella, divertente, e non comune..... Complimenti decisamente interessante. 👍👍🥇 Perfect test, much interesting and not usually, Perfect mix about Technology end free Time use in off road. Compliments!!!!
Congratulations for your channel, I love it! Can I ask you something? As I'm planning to buy back a KLR after 20 years (I'm now 40....) I'd like to ask you more or less how many times did you fall from the bike before becoming the good adventure pilot you are? Just to prepare my bones...
Hahah, hello! Its a hard question.. i usually get away with very slow speed tumbles, very rarely have i had an hard crash at "decent" speeds. The KLR is a classic, and congratulations for now trying to go back to the offroad with a huge heavy bike, but my advice is to seek some instruction, if you are worried about the bones (and want to maximise your time and joy with the bike). Doesnt matter how much it costs, it will be cheap :D
@@OFFroadOFFcourse ahahah thank you I will search for an offroad instructor here for sure! Why do you say the klr is very heavy? The one I had got lighter after a bit of "Italian touch" :)
The only thing I didn't like about the 690 is the fact that I would get hurt eventually :P The bike lets you do a lot of thing at very high speeds... the bike isn't dangerous per se, but whenever something goes wrong, it will go wrong fast :o
Another great review. What about a video with your opinion of to have a offroad lesson or not. Just for rookies or midlle offroad riders. To have or not to have there is the question...😁😁
So since you have ridden both: 690 Adv vs Tenere 700, what are the pros and cons? Obviously the 690 will be better offroad, but for a offroad noob like me, how much easier is it? Contrary, on the road, how much better / comfortable is the t7? Keep the content up ;)
Awesome question! So..I don't think either of the bikes are ideal for a new rider, one is too heavy, the other is too "ready to race". With a little bit of training you can enjoy either of them, but for the first few months I would recommend something cheaper, lighter and weaker. My advice to everyone is to try out the offroad with an used bike from the 90s. DRZ400, DR650,DR350, XT600, NX650, NX250, XR400, TT600, etc etc Buy it, use it, learn as much as you can (not only off-road techniques, but also about what makes you happy in this environment) and then sell it for the same price and go buy something that you really need. Both the T7 and the 690 are great, but they are not for the same person. So first you need to know "who you are". If these were the only 2 motorcycles in the world, then I think the 690 is more adequate to learn offroad cause its lighter (but it can be VERY fast, so you need a calm and responsible head on your shoulders ;) )
@@OFFroadOFFcourse Previous response is absolutely correct. I have a 2020 690 Enduro R. Chose it over the Tenere 700 cause it is almost a 100 pounds lighter, meaning I can pick it up without help if I drop it. It has too much power for casual single-track and beginning riders. For most off-road, gravel, dirt, you will use 5% - 30% of available power. It is easy to get out of control if you dial in a bit too much throttle. Load it with 100 pounds of luggage and hit the interstate highways, then that horsepower comes in handy. It will easily cruise at highly illegal speeds and accelerate like a bat out of hell, even fully loaded going up a mountain road and passing slow traffic. I have been riding since 1969, still learning, but definitely not a beginner.
@@OFFroadOFFcourse What I think is funny, is some guys use an 890R to learn the ropes dirt riding...............which is like using the Queen Mary to go water skiing. 890R is a great bike, I love mine but its a beast on any real dirt riding.
@@bradsanders6954 yeah i agree! Worst than a 890r is any other adv bike (at least the 210kg of the 890r have a low CG and feel like 180kg or something xD). I never tried the 890, but i rode a Norden for 3500km so i have an idea ^^
I like this video a lot! Very informative, while being entertaining. I never felt the question of "is it a good adventure bike" was really addressed though.... Maybe in a future video, you could review what it takes to make it a great adventure bike? Since it's already better in the dirt, than most "true adventure" bikes - I guess some focus on making it good for roads / some luggage / etc?
You are absolutely right... the video is informative and fun but I really feel that I failed to answer my own question. I guess I got lost amongst the so many things I wanted to say! Also, I spent so much time trying to criticize the few shortcoming of the bike that I didn't properly explain how AWESOME the bike is, in general. Its a GREAT improvement over the previous models and an incredible dual-sport. Eventually I want to make another video about it =)
Hey man, thank you! I think the PR7 is a bit easier to ride than the 690. Feels more intuitive and more "small adv bike feeling" (the ktm is more of a "big enduro feeling"). On the road i prefer the 690 though..more power, top speed, etc :)
Nice review, I like your approach. I would like to get your opinion about 690.vs T7. It's clear that the 690 is way better than T7 off road (at least in single tracks and similar scenarios). I'm wondering how it compares on-road. Even if I got from your video that highway cruising is good, I would have appreciated some more insights about the behavior of the 690 in the twisties. Road manner is fairly important for an adventure motorcycle. What do you think? Thank you
This whole review was more about the 2019 updates and not an overall review of the 690. I feel the bike would deserve a much better video, if that was the case =) Hmmm... T7 vs 690... Both are excellent machines, but both for meant for different kinds of people, I think. On the road the T7 will make you happier. It is naturally a good bike to travel around (2 cylinders), its bigger, it has more structure, and even though its not the best bike for travelling with 2 people, it will be better than the 690 (I suppose). The 690 is single-cylinder, so although it will take you on the highway effortlessly, I don't think it will be a pleasure. Just tolerable and efficient. Cruise speed is about the same on both bikes though... 130-140km/h... Offroad they are very different. Despite its awesome performance, the T7 still feels like a heavy responsibility under your legs, and you can't shake the thought that it only takes a silly mistake for you to be struggling. The 690 is much different...you never think about the weight or the size of the bike (unless of course you come from a 450cc enduro bike, and in that case it will feel very heavy), you will try/do anything without thinking too much about crashing or breaking something... you only fear for yourself, (cause the bike will let you go very fast very easily)...so when something goes wrong, it can be dangerous. So, the my final thoughts would be: The T7 is better for road, long distance travelling, easy off-road, fuel economy, etc...its more of a traditional motorcycle in every sense. The 690 is somewhere between 2 worlds... its a very big enduro bike that will handle the road comfortably, but its a bike that can only be truly appreciated if you ride like a hooligan (on or offroad).
I've had both, (still have the 690).. To me the 690 is better at pretty much everything, lower weight, better power, better components, more fun and so on.. Both excellent bikes tho.
@@OFFroadOFFcourse "The 690 is somewhere between 2 worlds... its a very big enduro bike that will handle the road comfortably, but its a bike that can only be truly appreciated if you ride like a hooligan (on or offroad)." That last sentence hit home for me (2019 690r w 16k miles already) For tooling around casually will not make you like this bike. I do alot of gravel roading, a good bit of trails and road in Colorado as well during summer. It wants to be opened up. Have previously owned 99 640 and 07 690 sm. This bike far surpasses either of them. It is a hooligan's dream.
@OFFroad-OFFcoure 1. Did you experience any false neutrals? 2. Do you know if the owner had any reliability issues? 3. Have you driven the Fe 501 and 701 Enduro? You seemed to like the Husqvarna Fe450 ㋛ 4. Ideas for OO's future rew´s/adventures on Dsb's WR450F, CRF450L, FE501, 500 Exc, SVM RE500, Excelle 450 Rally (Press Launch) 5. Omni-sports bikes (long intervals) that are missing on the market: mod.WR450F (inspiration Le Motographe) Gpx 450 Rally, flyweight Husqvarna 501, 601 Enduro + Norden vers, 2 + 2 year warranty. Without clutch slave cylinders and false neutrals that haunts
Hello! 1 - No false neutrals...I dont think so (dont remember) 2 - Not that I know of (up to the point of hte video) 3 - I didnt try the "500s" yet. The 701 is just like the 690, I really dont notice any particular difference. I have been riding the FE350 and I find it a fantastic bike (better than the 450 cause its so much smoother and easier for someone who is not an enduro expert :P ) 4 - I will try to get my hands on some of those :P 5 - I am very curious for the KTM490...its supposed to be a twin cilinder... lets hope they make it "propper" for offroad, and not just another "meh" 390 adventure :D Regarding the Norden... I love that bike. In my opinion, the KTM890R and the Norden are the best (easiest, more capable and most performant) adv bikes I ever tried :) thank you very much for watching my stuff :D
@@OFFroadOFFcourseThanks for the reply. Always a pleasure to watch your episodes! You seem to be more free and have more fun with your OFFroad skillz on the Fe350/450, DR350 and Dr650 than on heavier ADVs. There aren't really any bikes between the CRF300L and the 690/701 Enduro. After the drought at Eicma some options are road legal WR450F 16-18, 500 Exc/ Fe501 2020, 701 Enduro 18-20. Just add a enduro Lv8 tower from "Adventure Men Cave" on any of them. The 490 you mentioned would fill the 500-600cc DS need perfectly! Curious if you had a chance to ride the WR250R and the older G650X Challenge [Efi, Abs]? A long range 501 Enduro single would be worth the investment! In the meantime, you could hard enduro pimp your XT660R :->. ua-cam.com/video/c5id2sgHzPU/v-deo.html Cheers mate!
Great video ! Where can I find this rally tower with the actual Ktm factory windshield ? The only kit that I have found using this screen is from rebelX Sport, but it costs a lot more than I am willing to pay for a fairing since I don’t do rally 😁
As far as I know they model didnt suffer any significant changes since 2019. Maybe a minor detail here in there and a new graphics kit to make it look fresh but nothing that is worth mentioning :) There is a big difference between pre-2019 and post-2019 due to the introduction of the engine refinements, but since then no significant changes have occured (not that I know of).
Now you can say what you want about electronics in modern motorcycles... What I don't understand is why this bike is still not having an electronic ignition lock. This makes it also very popular for thieves, which is reflected in the insurance rates you need to pay here in Sweden. Just bring a big screw driver and a few minutes later... That ABS and traction control reset themselfs is not only annoying, it can be righteous dangerous if ABS kicks in at street mode offroad. Other KTM bikes keep the settings, just look at the 790/890/901. And there the offroad ABS is REALLY great - and it stays in that mode, once activated.
Glad you enjoyed it! It was mostly about the updates, and not the bike itself though... Its a great machine and it deserves another video one of these days ;)
Fantastic video, I really enjoyed it, and it had me laughing my ass off at times. The 690 platform really is a 50/50 deal and as such it sucks equally on road and off, or it is broadly capable, it all depends on one's point of view. I have a '23 701 with Rottweiler goodies to tune the engine and a Yosh can to get rid of the nuclear hot stock exhaust. Power is not a problem, the bike is absolutely fierce with tire churning power off idle and relentless pull to the rev limiter. Post fueling fixes all I can say is what an engine - good God. It is a shame they can't simply sell it this way. The XPLOR suspension is very good with lots of control, but it is unbalanced as the forks are sprung way soft with a .59 spring vs. the rear shock with it's .72 spring. I put 2 step stiffer .65 fork springs in it and twiddled the rebound clicker tighter to control them, and the suspension is pretty amazing, allowing me to ride it more like and actual dirt bike and forget just how heavy the bike is until I drop it or get in a deep and soft dirt situation, then the reality sets in, much like it did 30 seconds into your video. Post engine mods I was able to go with a 16T front sprocket, which hurts it off road but helps t greatly on the road if cruising at 70 MPH (110ish KPH for the rest of the world) is on the menu. Gearing is tall with the 16T front off road, but with the stronger off idle thump handles it fine, and with the better suspension, I just ride it a little faster to compensate. In stock form it would not handle 16T off road well, but with the fueling fixed the beefy engine handles it fine, the question is can I handle it 😆 I live in Colorado, this platform is pretty ideal for my environment. It can do trails and it can rip up a canyon road. Fortunately I have both close enough to me to simply ride the bike to. My next mod is a Seat Concepts saddle. The stock seat looks nice but it is a weapon of ass destruction...
What part of Colorado? I'm thinking about buying some land out there. I'm currently near New Orleans and desperately want to live closer to better riding
@@archibaldmurrayiv1851 I'm south of Denver. Everybody from CA has moved here which sucks, but for now we still have riding, although the current Admin is doing all it can to shut it down on BLM land...
My pleasure! But I'm not 100% happy with it... i only had the bike for 24h, and in the end I didn't have time to make it proper justice. I focused on the "bad" things and didn't leave time to say how much of a great dual sport it is. I am sorry for that :o
@@OFFroadOFFcourse dont feel bad, its better to know the bad things. The good things im going to find out myself on a test ride next week, if all goes well im going sell my T7 and purchase me a 690. I kinda feel that the T7 is too heavy and clumsy when want to go really fast on different terrains.
Its a great bike! I feel that this review didn't quite capture my overall feelings about it. I would rather have a KTM690 (2019+) than my beloved (and well upgraded) XT660R
I was using Motoz Rallz. The bike was not mine, so i cant talk a lot about those tires (never used them personally), but they seemed good! On a bike like that i'd use tires like Pirelli MT21, Mitas MC23, Michelin Starcross, Mitas e13, MC360, maybe anakee wild, etc.. it depends what you want to do with the bike :) if you need tires send me an email, i have good prices and send for free to all europe :) (info@offroad-offcourse.com)
I have never understood the 690 Enduro. As you say it’s not ready for adventure riding and to big for real single track enduro. Ktm had the 640 Adventureit was a perfect setup between off-road and adventure riding. With great suspension and long range. Why didn’t Ktm build a 690 adventure?
I am not sure... but I think all brands are very afraid to creat dual-sports that REALLY compete wiht the BIG adv bikes...thats where all the money is :(... bastards
@@dualsportscandinavia353 No, 490 is an Indian made parallel twin. Heavy and street oriented. What people want is a lightweight single cylinder adventure bike with real off-road capability and a large fuel tank.
@@Checkyoursix77 it's not a hoon bike! It could be a bush bashing "Enduro R" aka "Adventure R" Flyweight, spoke wheels 1 cylinder engine. Manufactured in India IF team orange has the same construction and quality control as the big4
Like a lot your videos! Thank you for that =)! have you tried the CRF 450 L (or similar)? If that bike prepared with kit rally etc...how would you compare them? Im in between them. TIA !!
Hey man, thanks for commenting! The KTM690 (or almost any big ~600cc thumper) will be better on the road, maintaining a fair degree of comfort for a long time at high (~120-130km/h) cruise speeds. The KTM excels in this, as it was comfortable up to 150km/h (still, less comfortable then a bigger twin cilinder bike like the AT or the T700.) The smaller dual sports (CRF450L, DR400Z, etc) are even better for the offroad, since the weight 20-30kg less, and that makes a hell of a difference, however, even with all the effort put into the crf450L, they will be less stable/powerful/comfortable on the road, so you will get bored a bit faster (and probably comfortable cruise speed will be closer to 110km/h, even if the bike can reach like 150 or something). Because i am used to bigger bikes, and i travel/explore, i dont almost never do "hard enduro", and sometimes i carry my girlfriend on the bike, i prefer the ~600cc range of dual sports. But maybe you live in a "hard enduro area", or maybe your friends are crazier than mine, or maybe you never owned a bike bigger than the 690.. in that case maybe consider the 450L. I dont feel like i said anything relevant xD
I am considering buying this motorcycle. Right now i am riding a big supermoto so i'd like to know how does it handle riding on the road ? Is it agile ? Can it handle twisty roads ? I know it is a little weird because you are an offroad-oriented rider, but i would like to know your thoughts. Seems like a really good bike for all season riding.
Hey, thanks for watching! My first advice is to never buy a motorcycle before you test it ;) The ktm690 is basically a supermoto bike with bigger wheels, so overall i think it will feel light and powerful like you are used to :) I dont really know what else to say... Its and incredibly powerful and lightweight motorcycle :D
@@OFFroadOFFcourse my friend owns the supermoto 690r model and he will lend it to me this weekend so i can try it out. Thank you for the reply, i was riding only on road for the past 4 years but your videos inspired me to start ADV riding again.
Yes, I agree! And I feel that in a way I failed the bike with this review..I focused too much on the "bad" things and didnt leave enough room to talk about the GREAT things :o
To be fair, lately i noticed the bike was indeed low on oil. After feeling it up the sound tunned down a little bit (and the sound from my mic also makes it sound a bit more "trebble" than it actually is. But yeah, its a KTM, they always have a particular sound to them... :)
Great video. Thanks...... BYW audience.... That sound is NORMAL for that bike. Stop getting hung up on it.... It last about 30 seconds and goes away. So what.... It's a great bike.
Also, why would anyone jump or race with ABS/Traction control on? I is a pain to turn if off each time, but you really should off-road with that stuff on.
A vibrating machine is never a sign of healthy mechanics...to me, thats the main reason. I cannot fully relax or trust a bike that is rough and noisy, and i think there is a bit of sense in this :P
Hello! Just wanted to point out that 180cm isnt 5'9''. 180 would be around 5'11''. There was probably some confusion since 180cm is 5.9 feet which is not the same as 5'9'' (5 feet 9 inches). Imperial system is stupid.
hehe, thanks Paul :P I dont really like this review though... I missed some points, and overall I failed to explain how great this bike is (its actually one of my favorites!...the only bike (and the Husk 701) that I would get instead of the XT660R.
@@OFFroadOFFcourse yep I couldn’t agree more and that’s why I own one. I do disagree with you though. You were very thorough and to the point. Not sure what you could’ve missed in this review. Over all I give this review two thumbs up and a hearty handshake to you. Be safe out there!
Yep, TC can also give a false feeling of security and make you ride above your skills. I think KTM/Husqvarna has an agreement with aftermarket-exhaust-companies.
Yeah, almost everyone replaces the stock exhaust. Now I know why :P Riding above your skills is something the 690 provides constantly... I think its the main reason why I dont want one :P I think i could get myself killed
E depois de todas as explicações sobre modos, TC e ABS... A solução está no dongle (e com outra ligeira mod, dá para desligar o dongle). Memoriza a configuração antes de desligar a chave (TC/ABS) e liga o modo offroad para o ABS (ABS só à frente, atrás sem ABS) Essa mota obviamente, tem isso em falta
@@axellness yeah, and the spanish say "Jajajaja", its very interesting! What is most interesting to me is how "LOL" kind of died... After having its peak in the point where even orally people were saying it :D
Everyone considering an adventure bike should pay attention to it stuck in the mud. Even something as small as a 690 required to be towed out by an SUV. Furthermore, many videos show these adventure bikes, going at very high speeds off road, inches from deadly washouts. It may look dramatic, but it’s just not safe on these heavy powerful bikes. the 500 EXCF you could probably pull out of the mud by yourself.
ahaha, thanks man! To be honest this is probably the video I am less proud of... its fun, but I kinda missed my own point xD I loved the KTM690 and somehow this review sounds like I didn't like it. From all my videos, I think this is the only one I'd like to re-edit (maybe some day =) )
Im considering trading my 2007 GSX-R 750 for an enduro.... I used to do freestyle MX had a KTM 300 2- stroke and loved it, The whole 170 down the highway dodging cars street bike thing is no longer fun with hospitals n bs 😅... Want something like the 300 thats street legal..
Well, the KTM690 or the Husq 701 sound like the perfect bike for you... but they will bring out that "hooligan" gene of yours, so be careful :P These things really like to go fast (on or offroad) I don't feel this review was fair though....i stand by evverything I said, but I feel that II didnt stress well enough how good the bike overall is :o
Yes.... It needs modifications in order to work as an adventure bike... Because it's NOT an adventure bike. You can't give a bike poor marks because it needs to be modified to do something it's not specifically designed for.
Hello David! Thank you for commenting =) I do regret focusing so much on the "bad" things, and not leaving enough time to stress how great the bike is offroad. It deserved a bit more love on that department, for sure! However, I believe that if you pay atention to the whole video, you will see that I said several times (including the title) that I am reviewing this bike for adventure purposes (cause adventure/trail/dual-sport is what I do and know how to evaluate). In the last few minutes I even show a picture from KTM website where I point out the bike is classified as "Enduro", not adv or something else. What I mean is... this is not a general review, it is a "adventurers perspective review". And in that sense, I don't really regret the things I said. I talked about the specs, talked about how the felt to me, gave my personal opinion... now people can transalte that to their own realities and see if the bike suits them or not =)
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Like the style of the video! Very entertaining. But the noice at 2:21 is not the normal engine sound. It is the chain in the engine. when the oil is hot the pressure goes down quick and when you start it again the chain needs a few seconds to tense.
For ABS and TC to be ready you have to drive for a few meters. In that time they start up and after that they are easy to turn off. When you stand.
TC is way more usefull on the street than on the dirt. It limits ur wheelies and limits break outs of the rear when its slippery. So you can go full bonkers with no worries.
Map 1 and 2 have the same poweroutput. Only the first few RPMS are different. Map 2 brings right at the start the full torque on the ground which is great until it rains and ur cornering. TC cant save you there. Then Map 1 is great because it smoothes out the powerburst at the beginning.
The string for the seat can be easily put in the FUEL CAP. Just make ur bike naked one loose screw and one hole and you have a key system for ur seat. Its now stock for the 2021 model by the way.
A lot of guys hate elektronics. personally i find it worse to crash because of panic breaking but what ever. One cable cut behind the mask and you can say bye bye to TC and ABS.
This comment was REALLY useful man! Thanks for all the details and good ideas (loved the seat string thing!). I pinned this comment so others can learn from your experience ;)
Great to know these assists can be removed with ease as that's been the biggest turn off from buying a modern bike for me.
It's better to disable TC and ABS by spacing out the rear sensor by 10mm, saves cutting wiring and very easy to do/undo.
The humor made this video 100x better 🤣
meh...
ah, but make no mistake, this channel is mostly about the humor (or tries to)... everything else is a byproduct :D
@@OFFroadOFFcourse cool channel, subbed 👍
Explanation "meh" is my favorite 😂
Possibly a thing to use again in future videos :D
Thanks for the comment, Lejla ;)
@@OFFroadOFFcourse yes please. I love that "meh" 🙂
06:15 As a owner of a 690, let me just correct one thing: actually you can turn off the TC before start riding. The light won't flash (like it does with the ABS) but the TC will turn off. Just be sure to hold it down for EXACTLY five seconds. You'll have confirmation after riding about 5 meters and the light didn't go off (it stays on when the TC is off).
ohhhh... that makes sense! now its too late to test it, but yeah, that could be the problem :O
thanks for the comment!
Took me a while to figure it out, but you are correct. Can also turn it off in motion if not giving it throttle
The intro had me howling! Love this review.
Thanks so much! I am not 100% happy with the review cause in the end I failed to show how amazing this bike is off-road, which is its strongest suit of course. I only had the bike with me for 48h, so I didn't have time to polish the script well enough... oh well, I am very happy to know you enioyed it =)
@@OFFroadOFFcourse it's a KTM. They're absolute monsters off road, but definitely have there issues. I used to sell them for a living, so I know their problems quite well, but still love them for the way they can make every ride feel like a Dakar stage.
Great review. You and Ryan (Fortnine) have the best review.
Love your “meh!” Keep it up
I am sure the "meh" will be a very used thing on this channel :P
love how you're coming along. these videos are getting better and better
I appreciate that! Thanks for taking the time to comment ;)
in regards to it being passenger capable, I can attest that it is more than capable. Myself at 195lbs and my partner 220lbs as passenger went up and down some of the local dirt/rocky roads in the mountains and the bike was more than up to lugging us up. 3000+ rpm and there is no sense of it even working hard. Going down just as good engine braking and the front brakes are just stellar! I love my 2018 690!!
Hey there Jamie! Thank you for your feedback! Well, with almost 70hp (the 2018 version) it definitely has no problem pushing 2 people up a mountain. What i meant is that when compared to "proper" adventure bikes the passenger has much less space/comfort. Bigger bikes make it really comfortable for the pillions (except the T700 actually..)
One thing i regret about this review is focusing so much on "is it an adventure bike?" When in fact i should be asking "is this the king of dual sports?"...which probably it is :D
Maybe one day i will retire de XT660 and get one of these ;)
@@OFFroadOFFcourse there are things that other bikes do better for sure! That seat is definitely not the most comfortable but it suits the bike, rugged and easy to clean. I have the same back rack installed on my bike as well and it unfortunately eliminated the passenger hand brackets. I don't think it was meant to be a 2 up bike though although it can definitely do it; further I don't know of another bike in it's class that would be much better for 2 up adventure riding. I wonder what The Riding Reporters would say about it as they have ridden their bikes loaded to the tits all over south America.
I'm definitely not a fan of how tall the bike is either but my 6' manages, I wouldn't want to be any shorter.
I love your style and sense of humour, keep it up!
I will try to! Thanks for the comment :)
Terrible Titanic Tune made me LMAO. You have a good sense of humour. Great vid as usual, informative and entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for taking the time to comment, Robert!
First time on your channel, but I will be back. I like your sense of humor and the accent (still, very good English in my humble opinion). Where are you from? Oh, right, it's a video with motorbike content, but I liked that too. Informative and well constructed. Thanks!
Welcome aboard! I am from Portugal, and although I would like to say that the accent is on purpose... it is not :P
Actually, from all my reviews (CRF250L, T7, and PR7 next week) I think this is the one I like the least, for the simple fact that I had the bike only for 48h, and I got so focused on the bad things (from an Adventurers perspective) that I completely forgot to stress how amazing this bike is overall. I feel that I didn't make justice to it, which is a shame!
And thank you very much for the comment ;)
Your style is a breath of fresh air....subscribed!
Ahah, thank you man! Welcome aboard!!
Id say this guy really worth subscribing. And commenting. And all other things
Best comment! Thank you for noticing my brilliance :P
I hope never to let you down!
Great review of the 690. Enough facts and laughs to keep me watching through to the end and put this bike on my short list of must haves.
Wow that was a lot of fun to watch and had all needed information as well! YOur reviews are always sooo enlightning!
Love the video! Finally someone not just gushing how great a bike is all the time.
Since you mentioned in the comments you only had the bike for 48 hours-hope you get a chance to revisit someday-perhaps even a comparison to the supermoto version, or better yet an enduro to supermoto conversion!
Right on! I had the bike only for a little bit, and to be honest, I think this review was unfair for the bike since I kept focusing on the "not-adv points" and almost forgot to praise how good this bike is overall.
It was a bit of a negative review, when in fact I loved the bike!
Great review and the three jabs you threw at the engine sound had me laughing 🏆🏆🏆
To be fair, I found out later that that bike in particular was missing a bit of oil, so the noise was louder than it shoud. Also, my microphone doesn't capture a 100% real sound so...
But eyeah, KTMs are always a bit... well, they sing they song of their people, its just how it is
😀👍
I have the same thoughts about electronical aids as you have, but I bought a Husky 701 two days ago, and I’m going to give the electronical package a real chance. I’ll report back with my findings, full transparency.
Please do! I think you eventually get used to it and then either like it or just ignore it... so its not hat bad :D I just dont like paying for it :P
So I'm back with an update to this comment. The TC is as you say pretty good, but I'd still want the option to buy the bike without it, for less money. Same goes with the quickshifter, cool tech but I'd rather spend less money and be without it.
your comments are of very good quality, greetings from Chile
Thank you man! The comments cone from the heart 😁
The 690 definitely has its place on the Dual Sport to ADV spectrum. The bigger bikes like T7 are 50 kg heavier or even more, and too much to handle in the really rough stuff. The smaller bikes like DRZ400 or WR250R are not nearly as good on the highway. I don’t own one (yet) but new model looks mint.
My "review" was mostly about the upgrades, and not the bike itself... cause there was a lot more to be said about this awesome machine.
I feel indeed that the 690 (along with the 701 I guess?) are the unicorn people like me want. They are super performant off-road, and on the road they are almost just as fun.
With this 2019+ model I was very happy on the highway at 145km/h (90mph), and I can live with that definitely ^^
The 50kg less are very very welcome ^^
That video intro was excellently done :-)
totally unplaned... it was the dry season, I never thought there would be like 30cm (1 foot) of murky water with 50cm of goo underneath.... so I entered the puddle/pond at very low speed, thinking I wouldn't even get the bike dirty (I thought it would be like 10cm deep) ... no bueno xD
Very enjoyable review. I missed a part that shows a bit more how it functions on the road and street for daily use.
Good call! To be honest I had to rush this review, I only had the bike with me for about 48h :/
I'm also sad that I didn't talk a bit better about its off-road capacities.. I focused only on the bad stuff and that is unfair for this awesome off-roader :o
"It sings the song off they`re people" I Lovit
Its not a problem, its a feature :D Thanks for commenting
Excellent video. I am considering myself getting an AJP PR7 which is very much like this KTM 690R, it would be a great comparison for you to consider. No doubt these bikes are more dirt oriented that a Tenere 700, but hey, they are also on-road capable. May be the biggest problem could be vibrations, but I guess you get used to that.
Well done, keep it up!!
Would also like to see a review of the AJP PR7 or any AJP really as there not many about.
Yeah, the T7 is much smoother on the road, but I must say the cruise speed is about the same on both bikes (130-140km/h?) The difference is, with one you feel pleasure (t7) and with the other you are just getting the job done :)
I am yet to test a PR7... but I am anxious to =)
I am working on it :)
You can add KTM OEM offroad dongle, so the settings for TC, ABS and MAP are always saved.
I know, I know... but its my job to complain about the electronics, hehe :P
Awesome video!, I enjoyed my KTM 690 R on the back roads of Vermont the roads here Are 75% dirt roads. And it was great on rocky powerline sections but of course the weight prevented it from doing anything more serious that I used to do on my KTM 300 obviously. I’m surprised KTM is still using the same design which is been around since 2008 but great video nonetheless love it!
Very cool rides, Peter!
This review was more about the updates than the bike itself (around since 2008, like you said), cause there would have been a lot more to say about this fantastic machine!
its funny... you guys, used to KTMs 300 and other enduro/light dual-sports always look to the 690 as the "fat alternative", but for us, the so called adventure riders, we are used to 200-240kg bikes so we always look at the 690 as the "light-weight alternative" :D
Nevertheless, when its time to ride fast you guys always know how to do it better :P
@@OFFroadOFFcourse I love that Fairing, Of course mine had that weak headlight that was not much better than a candle, and the wind resistance without a fairing got to be old real fast.
As a 2019 owner, I hate the TC. I turn it off as soon as the asphalt ends. If you use the ignition switch to turn bike off and not the key the TC mode stays where you set it.
Good tip!
I was ready to hate the TC, but i kept an open mind attitude and just like i said on the video: "its not helping, but its not slowing me down either."
I prefer it off, but unlike the ABS, i could live with it
Great review!
🤣👍 keep going !!! Dont stop!
Looking forward to many more!
If Borat did bike tests, this is what it would be like. Good job though and I sure need one of these next to my 890R.........
Borat? Ahahaha xD
Thanks for watching brad :p
I didnt test the 890 but i did test the Norden. Some of the traits are very similar
Dude, what a nice video ahah love your humor
"This thing [muffler] gets hot beyond any possible comprehension" ... lol. Straight out of hell. That made me laugh!
I have my moments! :D
Thanks for commenting, Johnny ;)
I keep thinking Latka from Taxi.
Very good video!
Latka...omg... oh well, as long as yu guys enjoy it :P
I did watch a few of your videos .. u make fun to watch content ..though I am from India where adv means Himalayan and 390 but it's fun to watch .. keep up the vids ..
I am a big fan of smaller bikes! I think here in europe/USA we went too far with the big bikes... they are tall touring bikes nowadays =(
I never tried the Himalayan but I don't think I will like it... I mean, my XT660R (used and old) has almost 3 times more power, weights the same (or a little less), and has better suspensions...
I don't know... the Himalayan is cheap (compared to a new bigger bike) but its expensive (and not so good) as a nice old dual-sport from 1990-2005
Honest review from an adventure point of view.
😂“Meah” ist the right comment! My brother’s Husqvarna 701 (basically the same bike) needed to be trailered to service (nothing worked at all) four times (!) within the first 2.000 km. He sold the bike when it broke down for the fifth time at 2.300 km, one week after he picked it up from the dealers workshop, where it spent almost one month for diagnosis and waiting for parts. Excessive use of electronics is a BAD THING, especially in an off-road bike. Buy motorcycles you can handle without a computers help, people!
Totally agree. First thing I would do is start hacking and ripping all that junk off.
I hear this all the time in FB groups about 701s having complete failures from new. But I never hear the same about the 690s. Even though they’re the same bike more or less.
You are wise my friend :D
But I have to admit, I loved the 690. It's only problem is that it lets you ride too fast, and when something goes wrong (and it will some day), its gonna hurt :D
You make an interesting point... I will investigate a bit on this :o
@@leandroflaherty I have 17k miles on 2019 without an issue, other than self inflicted. That is riding it like I stole it most of the time.
I had a 701 (2019), I forgot about how the bike when you turn it off, it resets. Went down a big hill, very very very fast off road, way faster than I had ever gone on a bike (motocross or supercross) down something this steep. I was OK, but man, that sucked big time. I was always starting to second guess myself wait, the light is on, does that mean it is on or is it off when it is off oh crap...
I ditched the stock exhaust for a Yoshimura system, got rid of the heat problem and you are not wrong it is stupid hot. The Yoshi system wasn't loud obnoxious either, highly suggested.
If I bought one of these I would need one of those "dongles" to innactivate the ABS permanently or something... but it just sounds wrong. Buying a 12k € dirt bike and then immideately after needing to buy some stupid dongle (even the name is stupid) just to fix a problem created by some stupid legislation... gah! Sorry for the rant :P
Nice time about the exhaust though... especially if you say the noise didnt become too loud. I like quite bikes =)
thanks for commenting
@@OFFroadOFFcourse Exactly, needing a dongle is just dumb. I don't really fault KTM for this, more of a government thing, they want us to be super safe, as we ride off road remotely...
@@gilvietor1918 thats cause legislations are written but people who dont know anything about the activities they are regulating. It should be mandatory to have experts on board (maybe it is, but they are certainly not doing their job)
Very like your reviewing style. Continue it that manner. Thanks
Thanks man! And thank you for the comment ;)
Great review and humour, I've a 2014 690 which I love for day trips.
Thanks for commenting Paul, it means a lot ^^
have you tried the newer 690?
@@OFFroadOFFcourse , no but I have a couple of friends that have one, they face a lot of the problems that you highlighted. I like the bigger screen of the older 690, I like that I have a dongle that keeps ABS turned off at the rear wheel, and I like that I don't have any traction control. First thing that I changed was that rear can!!
Great review and good humor… really enjoyed it…
Glad to hear it! thanks for watching :D
Finalmente una prova bella, divertente, e non comune.....
Complimenti decisamente interessante.
👍👍🥇
Perfect test, much interesting and not usually, Perfect mix about Technology end free Time use in off road.
Compliments!!!!
Thank you very much for your comment =D I am glad you enjoyed it!
Great review. Funny and honest.
Congratulations for your channel, I love it! Can I ask you something? As I'm planning to buy back a KLR after 20 years (I'm now 40....) I'd like to ask you more or less how many times did you fall from the bike before becoming the good adventure pilot you are? Just to prepare my bones...
Hahah, hello!
Its a hard question.. i usually get away with very slow speed tumbles, very rarely have i had an hard crash at "decent" speeds. The KLR is a classic, and congratulations for now trying to go back to the offroad with a huge heavy bike, but my advice is to seek some instruction, if you are worried about the bones (and want to maximise your time and joy with the bike). Doesnt matter how much it costs, it will be cheap :D
@@OFFroadOFFcourse ahahah thank you I will search for an offroad instructor here for sure! Why do you say the klr is very heavy? The one I had got lighter after a bit of "Italian touch" :)
You had me at the first riff!
ahaha, thanks! And thanks for the comment ;)
Another awesome review!
I’m not a big fan of the 690, so I rejoiced all your “meh”! 😈😂😈
Keep up the good work!! ; )~
The only thing I didn't like about the 690 is the fact that I would get hurt eventually :P
The bike lets you do a lot of thing at very high speeds... the bike isn't dangerous per se, but whenever something goes wrong, it will go wrong fast :o
@@OFFroadOFFcourse no bike is dangerous, without someone on top of it...
; )~
You are a funny man with funny English. But you still explain well.
Another great review. What about a video with your opinion of to have a offroad lesson or not. Just for rookies or midlle offroad riders. To have or not to have there is the question...😁😁
Ah yes, but I would have to invite a special guest, to make the video more interesting :P
So since you have ridden both: 690 Adv vs Tenere 700, what are the pros and cons? Obviously the 690 will be better offroad, but for a offroad noob like me, how much easier is it? Contrary, on the road, how much better / comfortable is the t7? Keep the content up ;)
Awesome question!
So..I don't think either of the bikes are ideal for a new rider, one is too heavy, the other is too "ready to race".
With a little bit of training you can enjoy either of them, but for the first few months I would recommend something cheaper, lighter and weaker.
My advice to everyone is to try out the offroad with an used bike from the 90s. DRZ400, DR650,DR350, XT600, NX650, NX250, XR400, TT600, etc etc
Buy it, use it, learn as much as you can (not only off-road techniques, but also about what makes you happy in this environment) and then sell it for the same price and go buy something that you really need.
Both the T7 and the 690 are great, but they are not for the same person. So first you need to know "who you are".
If these were the only 2 motorcycles in the world, then I think the 690 is more adequate to learn offroad cause its lighter (but it can be VERY fast, so you need a calm and responsible head on your shoulders ;) )
@@OFFroadOFFcourse Previous response is absolutely correct. I have a 2020 690 Enduro R. Chose it over the Tenere 700 cause it is almost a 100 pounds lighter, meaning I can pick it up without help if I drop it. It has too much power for casual single-track and beginning riders. For most off-road, gravel, dirt, you will use 5% - 30% of available power. It is easy to get out of control if you dial in a bit too much throttle. Load it with 100 pounds of luggage and hit the interstate highways, then that horsepower comes in handy. It will easily cruise at highly illegal speeds and accelerate like a bat out of hell, even fully loaded going up a mountain road and passing slow traffic. I have been riding since 1969, still learning, but definitely not a beginner.
@@OFFroadOFFcourse What I think is funny, is some guys use an 890R to learn the ropes dirt riding...............which is like using the Queen Mary to go water skiing. 890R is a great bike, I love mine but its a beast on any real dirt riding.
@@bradsanders6954 yeah i agree! Worst than a 890r is any other adv bike (at least the 210kg of the 890r have a low CG and feel like 180kg or something xD).
I never tried the 890, but i rode a Norden for 3500km so i have an idea ^^
Cool style man, I like it, something new ✌
Yay, thanks! The trick is not to take yourself too seriously xD
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I like this video a lot! Very informative, while being entertaining. I never felt the question of "is it a good adventure bike" was really addressed though.... Maybe in a future video, you could review what it takes to make it a great adventure bike? Since it's already better in the dirt, than most "true adventure" bikes - I guess some focus on making it good for roads / some luggage / etc?
You are absolutely right... the video is informative and fun but I really feel that I failed to answer my own question. I guess I got lost amongst the so many things I wanted to say!
Also, I spent so much time trying to criticize the few shortcoming of the bike that I didn't properly explain how AWESOME the bike is, in general. Its a GREAT improvement over the previous models and an incredible dual-sport.
Eventually I want to make another video about it =)
I really like your reviews,first of all they are honest!a quick comparison with the AJP PR7?cheers from Greece!!!
Hey man, thank you!
I think the PR7 is a bit easier to ride than the 690. Feels more intuitive and more "small adv bike feeling" (the ktm is more of a "big enduro feeling").
On the road i prefer the 690 though..more power, top speed, etc :)
Nice review, I like your approach.
I would like to get your opinion about 690.vs T7. It's clear that the 690 is way better than T7 off road (at least in single tracks and similar scenarios). I'm wondering how it compares on-road. Even if I got from your video that highway cruising is good, I would have appreciated some more insights about the behavior of the 690 in the twisties. Road manner is fairly important for an adventure motorcycle. What do you think? Thank you
Yes please
The 690 is a blast in the twisties. Remember this is the sibling of the supermoto with larger wheels. And this one is lowered 40mm so it turns better.
This whole review was more about the 2019 updates and not an overall review of the 690.
I feel the bike would deserve a much better video, if that was the case =)
Hmmm... T7 vs 690...
Both are excellent machines, but both for meant for different kinds of people, I think.
On the road the T7 will make you happier. It is naturally a good bike to travel around (2 cylinders), its bigger, it has more structure, and even though its not the best bike for travelling with 2 people, it will be better than the 690 (I suppose).
The 690 is single-cylinder, so although it will take you on the highway effortlessly, I don't think it will be a pleasure. Just tolerable and efficient.
Cruise speed is about the same on both bikes though... 130-140km/h...
Offroad they are very different. Despite its awesome performance, the T7 still feels like a heavy responsibility under your legs, and you can't shake the thought that it only takes a silly mistake for you to be struggling.
The 690 is much different...you never think about the weight or the size of the bike (unless of course you come from a 450cc enduro bike, and in that case it will feel very heavy), you will try/do anything without thinking too much about crashing or breaking something... you only fear for yourself, (cause the bike will let you go very fast very easily)...so when something goes wrong, it can be dangerous.
So, the my final thoughts would be:
The T7 is better for road, long distance travelling, easy off-road, fuel economy, etc...its more of a traditional motorcycle in every sense.
The 690 is somewhere between 2 worlds... its a very big enduro bike that will handle the road comfortably, but its a bike that can only be truly appreciated if you ride like a hooligan (on or offroad).
I've had both, (still have the 690).. To me the 690 is better at pretty much everything, lower weight, better power, better components, more fun and so on.. Both excellent bikes tho.
@@OFFroadOFFcourse
"The 690 is somewhere between 2 worlds... its a very big enduro bike that will handle the road comfortably, but its a bike that can only be truly appreciated if you ride like a hooligan (on or offroad)."
That last sentence hit home for me (2019 690r w 16k miles already) For tooling around casually will not make you like this bike. I do alot of gravel roading, a good bit of trails and road in Colorado as well during summer. It wants to be opened up. Have previously owned 99 640 and 07 690 sm. This bike far surpasses either of them. It is a hooligan's dream.
I own 2021. Best bike I have ever ridden. I owned 20 bikes.
I re-watched this video (that I saw when it was released) and I laughed now even more! 🫵👍
@OFFroad-OFFcoure
1. Did you experience any false neutrals?
2. Do you know if the owner had any reliability issues?
3. Have you driven the Fe 501 and 701 Enduro? You seemed to like the Husqvarna Fe450 ㋛
4. Ideas for OO's future rew´s/adventures on Dsb's WR450F, CRF450L, FE501, 500 Exc, SVM RE500, Excelle 450 Rally (Press Launch)
5. Omni-sports bikes (long intervals) that are missing on the market: mod.WR450F (inspiration Le Motographe) Gpx 450 Rally, flyweight Husqvarna 501, 601 Enduro + Norden vers, 2 + 2 year warranty. Without clutch slave cylinders and false neutrals that haunts
Hello!
1 - No false neutrals...I dont think so (dont remember)
2 - Not that I know of (up to the point of hte video)
3 - I didnt try the "500s" yet. The 701 is just like the 690, I really dont notice any particular difference. I have been riding the FE350 and I find it a fantastic bike (better than the 450 cause its so much smoother and easier for someone who is not an enduro expert :P )
4 - I will try to get my hands on some of those :P
5 - I am very curious for the KTM490...its supposed to be a twin cilinder... lets hope they make it "propper" for offroad, and not just another "meh" 390 adventure :D Regarding the Norden... I love that bike. In my opinion, the KTM890R and the Norden are the best (easiest, more capable and most performant) adv bikes I ever tried :)
thank you very much for watching my stuff :D
@@OFFroadOFFcourseThanks for the reply. Always a pleasure to watch your episodes! You seem to be more free and have more fun with your OFFroad skillz on the Fe350/450, DR350 and Dr650 than on heavier ADVs. There aren't really any bikes between the CRF300L and the 690/701 Enduro. After the drought at Eicma some options are road legal WR450F 16-18, 500 Exc/ Fe501 2020, 701 Enduro 18-20. Just add a enduro Lv8 tower from "Adventure Men Cave" on any of them. The 490 you mentioned would fill the 500-600cc DS need perfectly! Curious if you had a chance to ride the WR250R and the older G650X Challenge [Efi, Abs]? A long range 501 Enduro single would be worth the investment! In the meantime, you could hard enduro pimp your XT660R :->. ua-cam.com/video/c5id2sgHzPU/v-deo.html
Cheers mate!
Great video ! Where can I find this rally tower with the actual Ktm factory windshield ? The only kit that I have found using this screen is from rebelX Sport, but it costs a lot more than I am willing to pay for a fairing since I don’t do rally 😁
This navtower is from Adventure Man Cave :)
Muy bueno el vídeo, por favor sigue subtitulando todos tus videos!
¡gracias por el comentario!
I love your review sir👌 You sing the song of your people😜🤣🤣
I feel that this bike deserved a bit better... but I only had the bike for 48h :(
Thanks for commenting :)
Love your review! 👌🏻😄Have you considered making a follow-up review for the models after the 2019 to see if they got better, and how they're different?
As far as I know they model didnt suffer any significant changes since 2019. Maybe a minor detail here in there and a new graphics kit to make it look fresh but nothing that is worth mentioning :)
There is a big difference between pre-2019 and post-2019 due to the introduction of the engine refinements, but since then no significant changes have occured (not that I know of).
@@OFFroadOFFcourse 2023 models are here with some changes
@@MrHellga I read that it is only a colour/graphics change for 23?
Great video. Keep it up 👍
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the comment ;)
Now you can say what you want about electronics in modern motorcycles... What I don't understand is why this bike is still not having an electronic ignition lock. This makes it also very popular for thieves, which is reflected in the insurance rates you need to pay here in Sweden. Just bring a big screw driver and a few minutes later...
That ABS and traction control reset themselfs is not only annoying, it can be righteous dangerous if ABS kicks in at street mode offroad. Other KTM bikes keep the settings, just look at the 790/890/901. And there the offroad ABS is REALLY great - and it stays in that mode, once activated.
Great review. Cheers mate
Glad you enjoyed it! It was mostly about the updates, and not the bike itself though...
Its a great machine and it deserves another video one of these days ;)
Another great review!
Thanks for taking the time to comment! it means a lot ;)
Fantastic video, I really enjoyed it, and it had me laughing my ass off at times. The 690 platform really is a 50/50 deal and as such it sucks equally on road and off, or it is broadly capable, it all depends on one's point of view.
I have a '23 701 with Rottweiler goodies to tune the engine and a Yosh can to get rid of the nuclear hot stock exhaust. Power is not a problem, the bike is absolutely fierce with tire churning power off idle and relentless pull to the rev limiter. Post fueling fixes all I can say is what an engine - good God. It is a shame they can't simply sell it this way.
The XPLOR suspension is very good with lots of control, but it is unbalanced as the forks are sprung way soft with a .59 spring vs. the rear shock with it's .72 spring. I put 2 step stiffer .65 fork springs in it and twiddled the rebound clicker tighter to control them, and the suspension is pretty amazing, allowing me to ride it more like and actual dirt bike and forget just how heavy the bike is until I drop it or get in a deep and soft dirt situation, then the reality sets in, much like it did 30 seconds into your video.
Post engine mods I was able to go with a 16T front sprocket, which hurts it off road but helps t greatly on the road if cruising at 70 MPH (110ish KPH for the rest of the world) is on the menu. Gearing is tall with the 16T front off road, but with the stronger off idle thump handles it fine, and with the better suspension, I just ride it a little faster to compensate. In stock form it would not handle 16T off road well, but with the fueling fixed the beefy engine handles it fine, the question is can I handle it 😆
I live in Colorado, this platform is pretty ideal for my environment. It can do trails and it can rip up a canyon road. Fortunately I have both close enough to me to simply ride the bike to. My next mod is a Seat Concepts saddle. The stock seat looks nice but it is a weapon of ass destruction...
What part of Colorado?
I'm thinking about buying some land out there. I'm currently near New Orleans and desperately want to live closer to better riding
@@archibaldmurrayiv1851 I'm south of Denver. Everybody from CA has moved here which sucks, but for now we still have riding, although the current Admin is doing all it can to shut it down on BLM land...
Great video,and info again! Thank you
My pleasure! Actually i feel that a there was a lot more to say, but... meh! :P
This time I only had 48h with the bike, so this is all I could do =)
Perfect review, thank you so much!
My pleasure! But I'm not 100% happy with it... i only had the bike for 24h, and in the end I didn't have time to make it proper justice. I focused on the "bad" things and didn't leave time to say how much of a great dual sport it is. I am sorry for that :o
@@OFFroadOFFcourse dont feel bad, its better to know the bad things. The good things im going to find out myself on a test ride next week, if all goes well im going sell my T7 and purchase me a 690. I kinda feel that the T7 is too heavy and clumsy when want to go really fast on different terrains.
Great bike for all seasons.Thanks.
Its a great bike! I feel that this review didn't quite capture my overall feelings about it.
I would rather have a KTM690 (2019+) than my beloved (and well upgraded) XT660R
The bike is only " MEHH" hahahahaha
But the video and your brutal honesty is just awesome!
Great review buddy 🤘
I think I was too harsh on the bike though... its and incredible machine, and I spent the whole video focusing on the bad things I think :/
It was a good review indeed
What tires do you have on the bike and do you recommend them?
I was using Motoz Rallz. The bike was not mine, so i cant talk a lot about those tires (never used them personally), but they seemed good!
On a bike like that i'd use tires like Pirelli MT21, Mitas MC23, Michelin Starcross, Mitas e13, MC360, maybe anakee wild, etc.. it depends what you want to do with the bike :)
if you need tires send me an email, i have good prices and send for free to all europe :) (info@offroad-offcourse.com)
Very funny, love that voice
Thank you very much for watching and for commenting :D
I have never understood the 690 Enduro. As you say it’s not ready for adventure riding and to big for real single track enduro. Ktm had the 640 Adventureit was a perfect setup between off-road and adventure riding. With great suspension and long range. Why didn’t Ktm build a 690 adventure?
I am not sure... but I think all brands are very afraid to creat dual-sports that REALLY compete wiht the BIG adv bikes...thats where all the money is :(... bastards
Better up : flyweight KTM 490 and 590 "Enduro R + Adventure R"
@@dualsportscandinavia353 No, 490 is an Indian made parallel twin. Heavy and street oriented. What people want is a lightweight single cylinder adventure bike with real off-road capability and a large fuel tank.
@@Checkyoursix77 it's not a hoon bike! It could be a bush bashing "Enduro R" aka "Adventure R" Flyweight, spoke wheels 1 cylinder engine. Manufactured in India IF team orange has the same construction and quality control as the big4
Like a lot your videos! Thank you for that =)! have you tried the CRF 450 L (or similar)? If that bike prepared with kit rally etc...how would you compare them? Im in between them. TIA !!
Hey man, thanks for commenting!
The KTM690 (or almost any big ~600cc thumper) will be better on the road, maintaining a fair degree of comfort for a long time at high (~120-130km/h) cruise speeds. The KTM excels in this, as it was comfortable up to 150km/h (still, less comfortable then a bigger twin cilinder bike like the AT or the T700.)
The smaller dual sports (CRF450L, DR400Z, etc) are even better for the offroad, since the weight 20-30kg less, and that makes a hell of a difference, however, even with all the effort put into the crf450L, they will be less stable/powerful/comfortable on the road, so you will get bored a bit faster (and probably comfortable cruise speed will be closer to 110km/h, even if the bike can reach like 150 or something).
Because i am used to bigger bikes, and i travel/explore, i dont almost never do "hard enduro", and sometimes i carry my girlfriend on the bike, i prefer the ~600cc range of dual sports.
But maybe you live in a "hard enduro area", or maybe your friends are crazier than mine, or maybe you never owned a bike bigger than the 690.. in that case maybe consider the 450L.
I dont feel like i said anything relevant xD
I am considering buying this motorcycle. Right now i am riding a big supermoto so i'd like to know how does it handle riding on the road ? Is it agile ? Can it handle twisty roads ?
I know it is a little weird because you are an offroad-oriented rider, but i would like to know your thoughts.
Seems like a really good bike for all season riding.
Hey, thanks for watching!
My first advice is to never buy a motorcycle before you test it ;)
The ktm690 is basically a supermoto bike with bigger wheels, so overall i think it will feel light and powerful like you are used to :)
I dont really know what else to say... Its and incredibly powerful and lightweight motorcycle :D
@@OFFroadOFFcourse my friend owns the supermoto 690r model and he will lend it to me this weekend so i can try it out.
Thank you for the reply, i was riding only on road for the past 4 years but your videos inspired me to start ADV riding again.
Isn't ABS on the front only useful?
Yes, i am very ok with abs on the front. The rear one isnt safe for offroad in my opinion (unless we are talking of very basic/moderate offraod)
Yeah I was talking about riding mode 2, with ABS on the front only, thanks for the answer!
When you put some load on the engine the scary noises go away ahahahaha
they do, they do! :D
thanks for commenting ^^
"As much as I'd like to hate the traction control I can't " I like the honesty it's " meh" 😂
I was prepared to hate it...but its not that bad actually :P Its a shame its not tunable though... like you can on the KTM790 for instance :o
Lack of a steel rear subframe means no luggage capacity other than that it can’t be beat. More fun per kilometre than any other.
Yes, I agree! And I feel that in a way I failed the bike with this review..I focused too much on the "bad" things and didnt leave enough room to talk about the GREAT things :o
Like video style combined with honesty.. The KTM 690 engine sound really throws me off. Sounds like clacking valves in a little car needing oil....
To be fair, lately i noticed the bike was indeed low on oil. After feeling it up the sound tunned down a little bit (and the sound from my mic also makes it sound a bit more "trebble" than it actually is. But yeah, its a KTM, they always have a particular sound to them... :)
NICE REVIEW...
( 1.80 meters is 5 feet 10.8 inch )
Hehe, thank you man :D
Yeah i struggle with the conversions 😅
@@OFFroadOFFcourse 😄 nice Review anyway 👍
Hilarious, subscribed!
Welcome aboard! Thanks for the sub and comment ;)
ABS: there is a dongle which will permanently turn off ABS (some extra cost involved)
I should have mentioned the dongle, you are right. I was too busy complaining and feeling annoyed :P
@@OFFroadOFFcourse Abs dongle: Meh :)
no dongle required, i just put two washers on rear abs sensor and it did it's job!
Great video. Thanks...... BYW audience.... That sound is NORMAL for that bike. Stop getting hung up on it.... It last about 30 seconds and goes away. So what.... It's a great bike.
Also, why would anyone jump or race with ABS/Traction control on? I is a pain to turn if off each time, but you really should off-road with that stuff on.
I can’t stand when people complain about the bike being loud or vibrates a lot. Like do you want to feel like your riding a bike or a car?
A vibrating machine is never a sign of healthy mechanics...to me, thats the main reason. I cannot fully relax or trust a bike that is rough and noisy, and i think there is a bit of sense in this :P
Hello! Just wanted to point out that 180cm isnt 5'9''. 180 would be around 5'11''.
There was probably some confusion since 180cm is 5.9 feet which is not the same as 5'9'' (5 feet 9 inches).
Imperial system is stupid.
Its gibberish :p thanks for translating it correctly.. lets hope the ladies read this comment :p
@@OFFroadOFFcourse haha no worries!
Should I sub? “MEH” why not! Lmao!!!! Brilliant
hehe, thanks Paul :P
I dont really like this review though... I missed some points, and overall I failed to explain how great this bike is (its actually one of my favorites!...the only bike (and the Husk 701) that I would get instead of the XT660R.
@@OFFroadOFFcourse yep I couldn’t agree more and that’s why I own one. I do disagree with you though. You were very thorough and to the point. Not sure what you could’ve missed in this review. Over all I give this review two thumbs up and a hearty handshake to you. Be safe out there!
@@Phil4013 well, if it pleases an owner than it cant be that bad indeed :D Thank you for the awesome comments ^^
Yep, TC can also give a false feeling of security and make you ride above your skills.
I think KTM/Husqvarna has an agreement with aftermarket-exhaust-companies.
Yeah, almost everyone replaces the stock exhaust. Now I know why :P
Riding above your skills is something the 690 provides constantly... I think its the main reason why I dont want one :P I think i could get myself killed
I enjoyed the video, it is meant to be an enduro and not an adventure 😋
It is meant to let you make it whatever you want it to be 🤪
Mais um excelente vídeo! Fartei-me de rir com o "MEH" e do ABS :) 🤣🤣🤣
Obrigado pelo comment, Tiago! :D Ainda bem que curtiste
E depois de todas as explicações sobre modos, TC e ABS...
A solução está no dongle (e com outra ligeira mod, dá para desligar o dongle).
Memoriza a configuração antes de desligar a chave (TC/ABS) e liga o modo offroad para o ABS (ABS só à frente, atrás sem ABS)
Essa mota obviamente, tem isso em falta
A minha já tem 😇
devia ter levado a tua :P
devia ter mencionado isso... esta review saiu-me assim um bocado a meias carnes...
Obrigado pelo comment! ;)
@@OFFroadOFFcourse continua o bom trabalho. Que tens uma abordagem fresca às reviews
@@OFFroadOFFcourse Depois fazes outra review :)
5000 satanic rituals, so we can ride in peace" UAHAUHAU I like your Reviews.
thanks you very much for leaving a comment :P "Roda no ar!"
Is this how Brazilians laugh
@@axellness yeah, and the spanish say "Jajajaja", its very interesting!
What is most interesting to me is how "LOL" kind of died... After having its peak in the point where even orally people were saying it :D
Everyone considering an adventure bike should pay attention to it stuck in the mud. Even something as small as a 690 required to be towed out by an SUV. Furthermore, many videos show these adventure bikes, going at very high speeds off road, inches from deadly washouts. It may look dramatic, but it’s just not safe on these heavy powerful bikes. the 500 EXCF you could probably pull out of the mud by yourself.
Just to set fire on haters, next time use BMW key trinket for KTM motorcycle key! It works every time! :)
Thats an offense of the highest order :p
That bike is awesome! 🤣🤣🤣
Right?! One day you will have one just like this one :P
@@OFFroadOFFcourse I got an 2010/2011 690 Enduro (non-R), same MT 21's. Different software 8-), runs fine. Different air intake sound grumpy.
Merci Diogo !
Merci for the comment ;)
Bro I just found your channel. Your Fucken hilarious
ahaha, thanks man! To be honest this is probably the video I am less proud of... its fun, but I kinda missed my own point xD
I loved the KTM690 and somehow this review sounds like I didn't like it. From all my videos, I think this is the only one I'd like to re-edit (maybe some day =) )
@@OFFroadOFFcourse don’t feel bad. I think people got the essence of what you were trying to say about the 690
Ahaha the lc4 always sounds like it's got a bottom end knock from the factory lol
Im considering trading my 2007 GSX-R 750 for an enduro.... I used to do freestyle MX had a KTM 300 2- stroke and loved it, The whole 170 down the highway dodging cars street bike thing is no longer fun with hospitals n bs 😅... Want something like the 300 thats street legal..
Well, the KTM690 or the Husq 701 sound like the perfect bike for you... but they will bring out that "hooligan" gene of yours, so be careful :P
These things really like to go fast (on or offroad)
I don't feel this review was fair though....i stand by evverything I said, but I feel that II didnt stress well enough how good the bike overall is :o
@@OFFroadOFFcourse Ha good enough to convince me!!!
Damn, they really all sound like that at low rpms oO ?
Yes.... It needs modifications in order to work as an adventure bike... Because it's NOT an adventure bike. You can't give a bike poor marks because it needs to be modified to do something it's not specifically designed for.
Hello David! Thank you for commenting =)
I do regret focusing so much on the "bad" things, and not leaving enough time to stress how great the bike is offroad. It deserved a bit more love on that department, for sure!
However, I believe that if you pay atention to the whole video, you will see that I said several times (including the title) that I am reviewing this bike for adventure purposes (cause adventure/trail/dual-sport is what I do and know how to evaluate).
In the last few minutes I even show a picture from KTM website where I point out the bike is classified as "Enduro", not adv or something else.
What I mean is... this is not a general review, it is a "adventurers perspective review". And in that sense, I don't really regret the things I said. I talked about the specs, talked about how the felt to me, gave my personal opinion... now people can transalte that to their own realities and see if the bike suits them or not =)
@@OFFroadOFFcourse I did enjoy the video. Funny and informative
ABS dongle will eliminte all of the setting issues ypu deescribed.
Modern problems require modern solutions, I guess :D