For the ABS look up dirt bike Jesus 701 ENDURO ABS DONGLE MOD. He outlines a mod to add a switch to the ABS dongle so you dont have to unplug it to get full ABS (front rear) I have my 701 set up this way and for long travel days I just turn the dongle off so I have full ABS. At the trail I turn it on for rear only ABS. You do need to turn the bike Off/on so its not exactly an on the fly adjustment but obviously much better than physically removing or installing the dongle.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing this. I looked it up and the mod is quite simple. Including link below and pinning this comment in case it is useful for others. www.dirtbikejesus.net/701-enduro-abs-dongle-mod/
Good video! I have the white version. It started as my hardcore dual sport but later I changed it up to do adventure riding. I’m using the Rade Garage under seat air filter/aux fuel tank. I’m using Outback pannier racks and use hard luggage when I’m on a long trip. I use a Swiftkicker adjustable stand and a bunch of other stuff. I rode from Portland to the Arctic Ocean 2 years ago. I’m 75 now and need to lower it a couple of inches so I can ride it into into my 80’s.
Dang…Portland to the Arctic is a bucket list trip. Good thing you have that rade garage aux fuel tank as I bet range would have otherwise been limiting. If my bike hadn’t already come with the Rottweiler air-box, I would have gone with the rade garage so I could get that auxiliary tank. I hope to still be riding at 70! Keep it up.
what a fantastic review. i have just recently purchased a 2015 690 enduro r. i think its the perfect off road/trial bike for me. i went from a honda crf 250L to a ktm excf 350 6days enduro to the 690. i just love mine. i have documented my endeavours on my channel. great to have found your channel. greetings from the uk
I'm not sure if the 701 is THE unicorn but it's certainly my unicorn. I don't think there's ever going to be a unicorn bike because it's so subjective. I need the weight of my 701 but my buddy is a very talented rider who can ride his 890R in harder stuff faster and safer than me. For him the 890R is his unicorn because he has the skills to ride it that way. I think the beauty of the 701 is that it's really a unicorn platform that you can build into whatever you want. Super awesome and underrated bike.
After riding motorcycles for 50 years, and owning many KTMs dirtbikes from 1999 onwards and was so impressed with KTMs handling, so I bought the 2021 690 Adventrure R, first day out I got the speed wobbles on a dirt road doing 50mph, so fitted 25mm bar risers as felt i was leaning to far forward over the front but still no good, so then looked at many other KTM dirtbike images and found that the steering headstem on the 690 sits level with seat and comparing that to all other KTMs they sit much higher than the seat, so I fitted a set of WP 300mm forks and now has finally fixed the steering wobble headshake on my 690, problem is totally gone, bike now super stable at any speed how a KTM should feel and how i believe they should have come from factory not with a super motard 250mm front end to save costs....
I bought one and it is my favorite for long haul trips. I bought it for a 2800 mile ride. 50/50 dirt/back road. Canada to Mexico. Cascade and Sierra Nevada range. Kinda following the Pacific Crest trail. My KTM 500 exc could do it but not very well. My KTM790 adv. S. out of the picture. Way to massive for the dirt sections. Lot of mods include Rade Garage 1.5 fuel tank. It is a large dirt bike. Expert rider in my 60's now.
Sounds like an epic ride! I do think the Rade Garage aux fuel tank is a critical mod. If this bike hadn't already come with the rottweiler airbox, I would have gotten the Rade Garage one with the extra fuel tank.
Great video! I’m going through the same. Started in a KTM 390a, then a T7, and now a Tuareg 660. But lately I’ve realized I want a lighter but capable bike.
My garage is identical to yours. I have had the Africa Twin for two years now. It is a DCT which I loved to begin with but have soured on it. I have also soured on the weight at 540lbs. It kills my confidence and since I ride solo quite a bit, I have turned around when things get even remotely sketchy. Enter the KTM. Feels like a motorized mountain bike. It is brand new to me, but I am immediately much more confident on the bike. The bike seems to be fast enough, refined enough (low standards), and comfortable enough to make me question if the Africa Twin stays in the garage or not.
Absolutely agree with everything you say. I will publish a video comparing the bikes soon but here my thoughts on tradeoffs: I find the KTM to actually be more twitchy both off road and in the twisties. Off-road, the AT just chugs along like a tractor. Unless you really push it, it has a steady, predictable response and the suspension (Ohlins, not stock) eats up even the rockiest obstacles with ease. The KTM is much more aggressive by design but also much twitchier - the brakes, the suspension and the steering are all rougher and it makes for a less plush ride and I find my weight being knocked around a lot more. Much of this would probably be alleviated by more experience with the bike, but there were definitely offroad scenarios where I found the AT preferable. You can see that in episode 2 of the Lassen serries linked below the video. On balance though, the KTM is clearly the bike I would chose for solo off-roading. In the twisties, the AT holds a line like it is on a rail (again after changing the forks to Ohlins), the KTM tends to require a bit more correction mid turn. The other, more significant thing, is that the KTM is made by, well, KTM. My model has already lived up to KTMs reputations for less than stellar reliability. If Honda made this bike, I think that would be the end of the conversation. But taking this thing into the back-country, especially, solo will always make me nervous. Sure, I will be able to pick-it up on my own if I drop it. But will I be able to start it when I wake up in the middle of nowhere? In my experience, that is not a given like it is with the Honda.
I'm considering the 690/701 and just came across your video. Lot of great information presented in a mature, sensible manner, thank you very much for taking the time to do this. Coincidentally, I recently owned a '17 Africa Twin as well, loved it but just found the size/weight too much for me. Downsized to the 390 but now looking to possibly move over to the 690/701. Your video has given me some great information to help with this decision. Also, thanks for showing you sitting on it. I'm around the same size and have wondered about the seat height, seems like it should be fine. Thanks.
If I win the lottery I'll build one but the 390 adv R is right up my alley. Somewhat less power but not a big deal to me. Had a DR650 and it was quite good as well. Might even go mod one up again. There are some options, but right now it takes a lot of money in mods to get em to where they should be.
Thanks for watching. Totally agree. The 390 R is definitely the ticket (at leas based on what have seen of the specs and reviews) and if it was around 18mo ago when I started the 690 build, I think I would have gone with that. The only thin that turns me off about it (but this is true for most bikes these days) is all the electronics. The 2021 690 is still a pretty basic bike and I like that. As for the DR650 (and some of its Japanese brethren) if they would just put ABS and EFI on it, it would be an amazing bike. No question.
Bought a used 2020 701 with all the goodies already installed. Seriously considered 790/890, AT, 850... Two years of riding the 701 and I would buy again!
@@DiscoveryMotoADV One problem. The gear shift sensor got some dirt behind it causing stalling issues. Took me awhile to figure it out. Cleaned sensor, sealed so no more dirt, and its been running perfect! Their is a magnet on the trans that moves when changing gears. The sensor sends signals to ECU. The sensor misreading/poor signal due to dirt caused it to stall intermittently...
Really awesome walk thru of your mods at the 690. Had a 2014 for 5 years. No significant issues. This build definitely makes it a agile ADV rig. Would love to try out how the Rade Garage fairing feels like. Definitely a sub to your channel, Happy Trails!
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. And welcome aboard. The 690 is definitely a unique platform and a very fun bike that ticks almost all the boxes. unfortunately my specific unit has already lived up to the KTM reputation for reliability. 🤣 lots of people say theirs have had no issues. I think you just have to get a little lucky and get one of the ‘good units’. I wish this bike was made by one of the Japanese brands. This level of performance with Japanese reliability would be unstoppable.
@DiscoveryMotoADV I had the common problem with a electric wire connection assembled to close to the radiator, from factory. That made a hole in the radiator, when rubbing. I got a new radiator installed in no time on warranty. The thing is, that this wasn't known issue but KTM never made an improvement in the assembled line. Would have been so easy. Other than that, no issues. This kind of problems could ofc be fixed from start when getting familiar with the new bike and eventual custom build. Would i buy one again? H*ll yes! Awesome bike. Several of these have made really long distances. I would say it is mechanically reliable. Fuel pump/lines needs attention on very long distance adv's (RTW).
If KTM would modify the internal gear ratios in order for it to have a low enough 1st and 6th that allows lower rpm’s when doing longer highway rides, this would take a decent all around bike and make it incredible. It has 74 hp, it will pull a tall 6th gear. It would be nice to be able to lope along at 75mph at around 4500 rpm.
For anyone considering this bike, one important thing to carry or do is the sidestand dongle or just rewire the sidestand switch. It uses a magnet based sensor system that you cannot just wire around on the trail if you lose the magnet(you will eventually). The magnet is kinda flimsily screwed on and it will wiggle itself out of alignment or just fall off the bike entirely and leave you stranded. The dongle bypasses this if you want the safety of still having a switch. Or you can just tape a magnet to the sidestand switch and rewire it under the seat for less that $5 or free like I did.
Yes, 100% agree. I actually do have the kick-stand bypass dongle and I think the fact that this is such a common failure point that this dongle is a well selling item, is a testament to terrible design and quality on the part of KTM. At least when it comes to the kickstand. I had meant to include some comments on this in the video but forgot and was too lazy to go back and re-record that segment. Thanks for bringing it up.
Hi Great video. I have pretty much the same bike and set up but have the rade garage airbox and storage. I also have a power commander and didn't realise that you could have duel maps. Do you think it's worthwhile. How much more mpg do you get with the economy map. Cheers 👍
I haven't done enough back to back comparison to tell how much of a difference the fuel economy map makes. But even running fuel economy mode, in mixed riding I have seen the tank go dry after only 133mi! Since you have the Rade Garage airbox, I might invest in the aux fuel-tank thank is compatible with it to address the short range (if range is a concern for you). That said, I imagine the extra fuel map and switch would be a cheap addition from Rottweiler so might be worth it.
Very nice review, thanks for taking the time to run through the bike and all of the mods you've made. One question, you mentioned dialing in your steering damper to eliminate the headshake - what settings did you land on?
Thanks for watching and the kind feedback! Glad you enjoyed it. The gizmo is called a Cumpan gauge and it is made by a German company called Berotec. Link below: berotec.de/product/cumpan-universal/?lang=en
You know, I am not sure I like them that much. They feel a little in the way of my boots (sidi crossfire). They may have been kind of helpful before I got the ergos dialed in but now I think they are more annoying than helpful.
@@DiscoveryMotoADV I've had them on all my bikes before the 690 and found they took a lot of stress off my hands. I haven't put them on this bike yet but I am considering it. I find the 690 a little too narrow to grip well with my legs so I was thinking they may help.
The two things that I found most helpful with regard to gripping the “tank” were (1) getting the ergos right (for example lowering the pegs put my knees in better contact with the bike) and (2) adding the grip pads which are much better than naked plastics.
I honestly never found a need for cruise control on a motorcycle. I could see it being helpful for folks that have arthritis or something but I am thankfully able to knock out long days without any wrist discomfort. Thanks for watching!
@@DiscoveryMotoADV 78 year old rider here with 16,000 cross country miles logged on my 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R set up for moto-camping. I recently added the Veridian cruise control due to severe wrist cramping. The Veridian works great plus replaces the off road dongle. Highly recommended.
Great Adv build video ! I found myself in a similar situation last year with my 1250GS on some remote gnarly trails and got an 890R - super happy with it ! Did you consider an 890 ? I know it’s about 50lbs heavier than the 690 but the low tank is great at hiding that weight when handling the bike.
Thanks for watching! I did consider an 890 / 790. Indeed, I briefly owned one. It was pretty awesome but felt too jerky and unsettled to me. In retrospect, I think I needed to make some of the same ergo adjustments I made on this bike + perhaps a throttle tamer. Ultimately, all the bikes I try have to unseat my AT which is a pretty high bar given how well that thing performs post all of the mods I made to it.
Good vid - well structured, informative. I did keep thinking the AJP PR7 already mostly ticks those boxes - including a rear steel subframe for luggage and an accessible gas cap.. 😁 tho understand it's not road registrable in most of the USA 😮
Not according to the manual or KTM’s website which says: “the drive mode only influences the throttle response. In drive mode 2, the traction control allows more slip and rise of the front wheel”. Nothing about ABS. Perhaps they changed this in the most recent model? Thanks for watching!
The bike actually had a larger front sprocket when I got it which I did not like. Switched back to stock and am quite happy with it for my mix of riding. Thanks for watching!
I find it to be acceptable. The previous owner had larger front sprocket to make it a little taller for the freeway but I found this to be problematic off-road and even in tight, slow speed twisties. So, I went back to stock and this has worked well for my type of riding.
@@DiscoveryMotoADV Stock gearing is OK except for first gear which is too tall for tight alpine pass switchbacks unless you like slipping the clutch a lot. Yes, a wide ratio aftermarket transmission is available, but the kit alone is over $2000 and requires total tear down of the engine to install. Unless you do it yourself for free labor, the installed cost will end up in the range of $4K - $6K.
I traded my KTM 1290 in for a 701. I liked the 1290 but the 701 is more fun and a lot lighter for the way I like to ride. I'm not a long distance rider.
bankruptcy doesn’t necessarily mean they will disappear as a company. They will likely restructure, sell off brands, shrink and refocus as a business, move even more production to Asia. They may come out better on the other side. Who knows….But, yeah, in my biased opinion, these days you buy KTM despite the brand, not because of it.
I did consider it briefly. It has very limited availability in the US and, consequently, a limited dealer support network and part availability when traveling. It is also not street legal here yet (at least last I checked) though hopefully this will change. Also, it does not have ABS which is a deal braker for me. Thanks for watching!
Yes fuel pumps failures are common enough than many people carry a spare. This model had bad master clutch cylinders. There is currently a massive controversy around faulty rocker arms (for newer models on the bigger KTM ADV bikes). Older models have electrical issues. This particular bike failed to start on two out of three mornings of our back country trip even though it is basically brand new. Luckily my buddy was there to help push start. Also, this model is know for kickstand switches that fail easily and can not be fixed by the usual cut and splice job. Its common enough that KTM sells a kickstand bypass Dongle just for such emergencies. KTMs brand is generally regarded as high performance / low reliability. Depending in which of those elements is more important to you, you may be willing to sacrifice on the other. Personally, I am willing to sacrifice some performance for bulletproof reliability.
@DiscoveryMotoADV thanks for this. I've the same dilemma; I have a T7 but it's just too heavy for the Trans European Trail stuff I want to do but I don't want to break down when riding solo in northern Norway, etc. I've been offered a great price on a zero miles 2024 at my local dealer. Should I jump ship? 😂
In my view, it’s a bit of a gamble but as you say there are many owners out there that report no issues. You could be one of the lucky ones. That was my rationale when I bought the KTM….Maybe ill get one of the trouble free units. The previous owner had already replaced the clutch master cylinder which was a know issue for this model year. Unfortunately for me, I did not get completely lucky (see above comment about bike not starting). So, my experience with this bike added to my prior bias about KTM reliability. It doesn’t help that it has started perfectly since then so I can’t diagnose or fix the problem. I just have to live with the unsettling fact that it could just randomly happen again at some unfortunate time when I am some place remote and by myself. If you want to take the gamble, I would look for a low mileage used one so you let someone else take the depreciation hit. Then, if you aren’t happy with it, you can sell it on without much of a financial loss. Even better if you can find one that is already pretty built up (if you are planning to do mods) since again, the prior owner will be taking the depreciation hit on the upgrades. You can expect to get them at half of what they would cost if you did it yourself. Overall, the performance of this bike (with the modifications) is really excellent. It really is a unicorn. But the reliability remains a concern….
In that instance, we were pushing the bike because the gas station (actually two gas stations in a row) were closed and the KTM ran out of gas before we could make it to the next one. So it was really more of a fuel capacity issue than a low octane issue. If I was going somewhere that I knew had limited access to high octane gas (baja for example), I would bring octane booster.
Hah! That’s exactly how we ended up rescuing that situation. I rode up ahead 10 miles to get a GL bag full of gas and brought it back. Would have worked better to have the bag full before we ran out but we did not expect two closed gas stations.
For the ABS look up dirt bike Jesus 701 ENDURO ABS DONGLE MOD. He outlines a mod to add a switch to the ABS dongle so you dont have to unplug it to get full ABS (front rear) I have my 701 set up this way and for long travel days I just turn the dongle off so I have full ABS. At the trail I turn it on for rear only ABS. You do need to turn the bike Off/on so its not exactly an on the fly adjustment but obviously much better than physically removing or installing the dongle.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing this. I looked it up and the mod is quite simple. Including link below and pinning this comment in case it is useful for others.
www.dirtbikejesus.net/701-enduro-abs-dongle-mod/
Good video! I have the white version. It started as my hardcore dual sport but later I changed it up to do adventure riding. I’m using the Rade Garage under seat air filter/aux fuel tank. I’m using Outback pannier racks and use hard luggage when I’m on a long trip. I use a Swiftkicker adjustable stand and a bunch of other stuff. I rode from Portland to the Arctic Ocean 2 years ago. I’m 75 now and need to lower it a couple of inches so I can ride it into into my 80’s.
Dang…Portland to the Arctic is a bucket list trip. Good thing you have that rade garage aux fuel tank as I bet range would have otherwise been limiting. If my bike hadn’t already come with the Rottweiler air-box, I would have gone with the rade garage so I could get that auxiliary tank. I hope to still be riding at 70! Keep it up.
what a fantastic review. i have just recently purchased a 2015 690 enduro r. i think its the perfect off road/trial bike for me. i went from a honda crf 250L to a ktm excf 350 6days enduro to the 690. i just love mine. i have documented my endeavours on my channel. great to have found your channel. greetings from the uk
I'm not sure if the 701 is THE unicorn but it's certainly my unicorn. I don't think there's ever going to be a unicorn bike because it's so subjective. I need the weight of my 701 but my buddy is a very talented rider who can ride his 890R in harder stuff faster and safer than me. For him the 890R is his unicorn because he has the skills to ride it that way. I think the beauty of the 701 is that it's really a unicorn platform that you can build into whatever you want. Super awesome and underrated bike.
After riding motorcycles for 50 years, and owning many KTMs dirtbikes from 1999 onwards and was so impressed with KTMs handling, so I bought the 2021 690 Adventrure R, first day out I got the speed wobbles on a dirt road doing 50mph, so fitted 25mm bar risers as felt i was leaning to far forward over the front but still no good, so then looked at many other KTM dirtbike images and found that the steering headstem on the 690 sits level with seat and comparing that to all other KTMs they sit much higher than the seat, so I fitted a set of WP 300mm forks and now has finally fixed the steering wobble headshake on my 690, problem is totally gone, bike now super stable at any speed how a KTM should feel and how i believe they should have come from factory not with a super motard 250mm front end to save costs....
Where did you find the WP 300mm?
Got a set off a 2021 300cc sherco and took them to a suspension guru who swapped the fork feet over was easy and cheap @@WorldCommander
I bought one and it is my favorite for long haul trips. I bought it for a 2800 mile ride. 50/50 dirt/back road. Canada to Mexico. Cascade and Sierra Nevada range. Kinda following the Pacific Crest trail. My KTM 500 exc could do it but not very well. My KTM790 adv. S. out of the picture. Way to massive for the dirt sections. Lot of mods include Rade Garage 1.5 fuel tank. It is a large dirt bike. Expert rider in my 60's now.
Sounds like an epic ride! I do think the Rade Garage aux fuel tank is a critical mod. If this bike hadn't already come with the rottweiler airbox, I would have gotten the Rade Garage one with the extra fuel tank.
Really nice presentation
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video! I’m going through the same. Started in a KTM 390a, then a T7, and now a Tuareg 660. But lately I’ve realized I want a lighter but capable bike.
My garage is identical to yours. I have had the Africa Twin for two years now. It is a DCT which I loved to begin with but have soured on it. I have also soured on the weight at 540lbs. It kills my confidence and since I ride solo quite a bit, I have turned around when things get even remotely sketchy. Enter the KTM. Feels like a motorized mountain bike. It is brand new to me, but I am immediately much more confident on the bike. The bike seems to be fast enough, refined enough (low standards), and comfortable enough to make me question if the Africa Twin stays in the garage or not.
Absolutely agree with everything you say. I will publish a video comparing the bikes soon but here my thoughts on tradeoffs: I find the KTM to actually be more twitchy both off road and in the twisties. Off-road, the AT just chugs along like a tractor. Unless you really push it, it has a steady, predictable response and the suspension (Ohlins, not stock) eats up even the rockiest obstacles with ease. The KTM is much more aggressive by design but also much twitchier - the brakes, the suspension and the steering are all rougher and it makes for a less plush ride and I find my weight being knocked around a lot more. Much of this would probably be alleviated by more experience with the bike, but there were definitely offroad scenarios where I found the AT preferable. You can see that in episode 2 of the Lassen serries linked below the video. On balance though, the KTM is clearly the bike I would chose for solo off-roading. In the twisties, the AT holds a line like it is on a rail (again after changing the forks to Ohlins), the KTM tends to require a bit more correction mid turn. The other, more significant thing, is that the KTM is made by, well, KTM. My model has already lived up to KTMs reputations for less than stellar reliability. If Honda made this bike, I think that would be the end of the conversation. But taking this thing into the back-country, especially, solo will always make me nervous. Sure, I will be able to pick-it up on my own if I drop it. But will I be able to start it when I wake up in the middle of nowhere? In my experience, that is not a given like it is with the Honda.
Good review. I have a '17 and love it.
I'm considering the 690/701 and just came across your video. Lot of great information presented in a mature, sensible manner, thank you very much for taking the time to do this. Coincidentally, I recently owned a '17 Africa Twin as well, loved it but just found the size/weight too much for me. Downsized to the 390 but now looking to possibly move over to the 690/701. Your video has given me some great information to help with this decision. Also, thanks for showing you sitting on it. I'm around the same size and have wondered about the seat height, seems like it should be fine. Thanks.
Thanks for watching and the kind feedback! Glad the video was helpful. The 690/701 is definitely a unique platform and an option worth considering.
If I win the lottery I'll build one but the 390 adv R is right up my alley. Somewhat less power but not a big deal to me. Had a DR650 and it was quite good as well. Might even go mod one up again. There are some options, but right now it takes a lot of money in mods to get em to where they should be.
Thanks for watching. Totally agree. The 390 R is definitely the ticket (at leas based on what have seen of the specs and reviews) and if it was around 18mo ago when I started the 690 build, I think I would have gone with that. The only thin that turns me off about it (but this is true for most bikes these days) is all the electronics. The 2021 690 is still a pretty basic bike and I like that. As for the DR650 (and some of its Japanese brethren) if they would just put ABS and EFI on it, it would be an amazing bike. No question.
@DiscoveryMotoADV agreed.
Bought a used 2020 701 with all the goodies already installed. Seriously considered 790/890, AT, 850... Two years of riding the 701 and I would buy again!
Curious how the reliability has been?
@@DiscoveryMotoADV One problem. The gear shift sensor got some dirt behind it causing stalling issues. Took me awhile to figure it out. Cleaned sensor, sealed so no more dirt, and its been running perfect! Their is a magnet on the trans that moves when changing gears. The sensor sends signals to ECU. The sensor misreading/poor signal due to dirt caused it to stall intermittently...
Really awesome walk thru of your mods at the 690. Had a 2014 for 5 years. No significant issues. This build definitely makes it a agile ADV rig. Would love to try out how the Rade Garage fairing feels like. Definitely a sub to your channel, Happy Trails!
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. And welcome aboard. The 690 is definitely a unique platform and a very fun bike that ticks almost all the boxes. unfortunately my specific unit has already lived up to the KTM reputation for reliability. 🤣 lots of people say theirs have had no issues. I think you just have to get a little lucky and get one of the ‘good units’. I wish this bike was made by one of the Japanese brands. This level of performance with Japanese reliability would be unstoppable.
I'm looking at a used 2014 for more tight and technical riding than my T7 is comfortable doing.
@DiscoveryMotoADV I had the common problem with a electric wire connection assembled to close to the radiator, from factory. That made a hole in the radiator, when rubbing. I got a new radiator installed in no time on warranty. The thing is, that this wasn't known issue but KTM never made an improvement in the assembled line. Would have been so easy. Other than that, no issues. This kind of problems could ofc be fixed from start when getting familiar with the new bike and eventual custom build. Would i buy one again? H*ll yes! Awesome bike. Several of these have made really long distances. I would say it is mechanically reliable. Fuel pump/lines needs attention on very long distance adv's (RTW).
If KTM would modify the internal gear ratios in order for it to have a low enough 1st and 6th that allows lower rpm’s when doing longer highway rides, this would take a decent all around bike and make it incredible. It has 74 hp, it will pull a tall 6th gear. It would be nice to be able to lope along at 75mph at around 4500 rpm.
For anyone considering this bike, one important thing to carry or do is the sidestand dongle or just rewire the sidestand switch. It uses a magnet based sensor system that you cannot just wire around on the trail if you lose the magnet(you will eventually). The magnet is kinda flimsily screwed on and it will wiggle itself out of alignment or just fall off the bike entirely and leave you stranded. The dongle bypasses this if you want the safety of still having a switch. Or you can just tape a magnet to the sidestand switch and rewire it under the seat for less that $5 or free like I did.
Yes, 100% agree. I actually do have the kick-stand bypass dongle and I think the fact that this is such a common failure point that this dongle is a well selling item, is a testament to terrible design and quality on the part of KTM. At least when it comes to the kickstand. I had meant to include some comments on this in the video but forgot and was too lazy to go back and re-record that segment. Thanks for bringing it up.
It's original equipment.
It's manual, everything is high tech now.
Very informative video thank you.
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it.
My 2017 has a dial under the seat for bad fuel.(Low octane)
Interesting! Original or aftermarket? No dial on this 2020.
Hi Great video. I have pretty much the same bike and set up but have the rade garage airbox and storage. I also have a power commander and didn't realise that you could have duel maps. Do you think it's worthwhile. How much more mpg do you get with the economy map.
Cheers 👍
I haven't done enough back to back comparison to tell how much of a difference the fuel economy map makes. But even running fuel economy mode, in mixed riding I have seen the tank go dry after only 133mi! Since you have the Rade Garage airbox, I might invest in the aux fuel-tank thank is compatible with it to address the short range (if range is a concern for you). That said, I imagine the extra fuel map and switch would be a cheap addition from Rottweiler so might be worth it.
Very nice review, thanks for taking the time to run through the bike and all of the mods you've made. One question, you mentioned dialing in your steering damper to eliminate the headshake - what settings did you land on?
Beautiful 690 ER build. Who makes that square gizmo on dash that show gear, oil temp, etc.? GREAT job reviewing build on video.
Thanks for watching and the kind feedback! Glad you enjoyed it. The gizmo is called a Cumpan gauge and it is made by a German company called Berotec. Link below: berotec.de/product/cumpan-universal/?lang=en
How do you like the Stegz Pegz on this bike?
You know, I am not sure I like them that much. They feel a little in the way of my boots (sidi crossfire). They may have been kind of helpful before I got the ergos dialed in but now I think they are more annoying than helpful.
@@DiscoveryMotoADV I've had them on all my bikes before the 690 and found they took a lot of stress off my hands. I haven't put them on this bike yet but I am considering it. I find the 690 a little too narrow to grip well with my legs so I was thinking they may help.
The two things that I found most helpful with regard to gripping the “tank” were (1) getting the ergos right (for example lowering the pegs put my knees in better contact with the bike) and (2) adding the grip pads which are much better than naked plastics.
What do you think about the Veridian cruise control, have you considered it?
I honestly never found a need for cruise control on a motorcycle. I could see it being helpful for folks that have arthritis or something but I am thankfully able to knock out long days without any wrist discomfort. Thanks for watching!
@@DiscoveryMotoADV 78 year old rider here with 16,000 cross country miles logged on my 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R set up for moto-camping. I recently added the Veridian cruise control due to severe wrist cramping. The Veridian works great plus replaces the off road dongle. Highly recommended.
Digging the channel..new sub✌️
Thanks for watching and welcome aboard!
Great Adv build video ! I found myself in a similar situation last year with my 1250GS on some remote gnarly trails and got an 890R - super happy with it ! Did you consider an 890 ? I know it’s about 50lbs heavier than the 690 but the low tank is great at hiding that weight when handling the bike.
Thanks for watching! I did consider an 890 / 790. Indeed, I briefly owned one. It was pretty awesome but felt too jerky and unsettled to me. In retrospect, I think I needed to make some of the same ergo adjustments I made on this bike + perhaps a throttle tamer. Ultimately, all the bikes I try have to unseat my AT which is a pretty high bar given how well that thing performs post all of the mods I made to it.
@@DiscoveryMotoADV yep, agree. I had to do quite a few similar mods to my 890 for it to perform on road and offroad the way I needed it to.
Good vid - well structured, informative.
I did keep thinking the AJP PR7 already mostly ticks those boxes - including a rear steel subframe for luggage and an accessible gas cap.. 😁 tho understand it's not road registrable in most of the USA 😮
Map 2 does change the ABS.
Not according to the manual or KTM’s website which says: “the drive mode only influences the throttle response. In drive mode 2, the traction control allows more slip and rise of the front wheel”. Nothing about ABS. Perhaps they changed this in the most recent model? Thanks for watching!
Did you not change the gearing stock way to tall
The bike actually had a larger front sprocket when I got it which I did not like. Switched back to stock and am quite happy with it for my mix of riding. Thanks for watching!
How is the stock gearing? A lot of owners have mentioned the narrow range of gear ratios. There is even a wide ratio transmission available.
I find it to be acceptable. The previous owner had larger front sprocket to make it a little taller for the freeway but I found this to be problematic off-road and even in tight, slow speed twisties. So, I went back to stock and this has worked well for my type of riding.
@@DiscoveryMotoADV Stock gearing is OK except for first gear which is too tall for tight alpine pass switchbacks unless you like slipping the clutch a lot. Yes, a wide ratio aftermarket transmission is available, but the kit alone is over $2000 and requires total tear down of the engine to install. Unless you do it yourself for free labor, the installed cost will end up in the range of $4K - $6K.
I traded my KTM 1290 in for a 701. I liked the 1290 but the 701 is more fun and a lot lighter for the way I like to ride. I'm not a long distance rider.
Remember KTM is on the verge of Bankruptcy
bankruptcy doesn’t necessarily mean they will disappear as a company. They will likely restructure, sell off brands, shrink and refocus as a business, move even more production to Asia. They may come out better on the other side. Who knows….But, yeah, in my biased opinion, these days you buy KTM despite the brand, not because of it.
Did you consider the AJP PR7?
I did consider it briefly. It has very limited availability in the US and, consequently, a limited dealer support network and part availability when traveling. It is also not street legal here yet (at least last I checked) though hopefully this will change. Also, it does not have ABS which is a deal braker for me. Thanks for watching!
💥💥💥💥
Why is reliability such a big issue? I've heard of odd things going wrong (fuel pump, etc) but most seem not to have problems.
Yes fuel pumps failures are common enough than many people carry a spare. This model had bad master clutch cylinders. There is currently a massive controversy around faulty rocker arms (for newer models on the bigger KTM ADV bikes). Older models have electrical issues. This particular bike failed to start on two out of three mornings of our back country trip even though it is basically brand new. Luckily my buddy was there to help push start. Also, this model is know for kickstand switches that fail easily and can not be fixed by the usual cut and splice job. Its common enough that KTM sells a kickstand bypass
Dongle just for such emergencies. KTMs brand is generally regarded as high performance / low reliability. Depending in which of those elements is more important to you, you may be willing to sacrifice on the other. Personally, I am willing to sacrifice some performance for bulletproof reliability.
@DiscoveryMotoADV thanks for this. I've the same dilemma; I have a T7 but it's just too heavy for the Trans European Trail stuff I want to do but I don't want to break down when riding solo in northern Norway, etc. I've been offered a great price on a zero miles 2024 at my local dealer. Should I jump ship? 😂
In my view, it’s a bit of a gamble but as you say there are many owners out there that report no issues. You could be one of the lucky ones. That was my rationale when I bought the KTM….Maybe ill get one of the trouble free units. The previous owner had already replaced the clutch master cylinder which was a know issue for this model year. Unfortunately for me, I did not get completely lucky (see above comment about bike not starting). So, my experience with this bike added to my prior bias about KTM reliability. It doesn’t help that it has started perfectly since then so I can’t diagnose or fix the problem. I just have to live with the unsettling fact that it could just randomly happen again at some unfortunate time when I am
some place remote and by myself. If you want to take the gamble, I would look for a low mileage used one so you let someone else take the depreciation hit. Then, if you aren’t happy with it, you can sell it on without much of a financial loss. Even better if you can find one that is already pretty built up (if you are planning to do mods) since again, the prior owner will be taking the depreciation hit on the upgrades. You can expect to get them at half of what they would cost if you did it yourself. Overall, the performance of this bike (with the modifications) is really excellent. It really is a unicorn. But the reliability remains a concern….
@@DiscoveryMotoADV much appreciated. Many thanks indeed.
holding TCS + ABS buttons for 3 mississippis = no abs and no tcs
This review is not bad but if you are pushing a bike because you refuse to put lower grade gas you have missed the point.
In that instance, we were pushing the bike because the gas station (actually two gas stations in a row) were closed and the KTM ran out of gas before we could make it to the next one. So it was really more of a fuel capacity issue than a low octane issue. If I was going somewhere that I knew had limited access to high octane gas (baja for example), I would bring octane booster.
@@DiscoveryMotoADV Gotcha- I use the GL gas bag on my 701 and its handy
Hah! That’s exactly how we ended up rescuing that situation. I rode up ahead 10 miles to get a GL bag full of gas and brought it back. Would have worked better to have the bag full before we ran out but we did not expect two closed gas stations.