You'll be hearing from my lawyers. All jokes aside, quite funny to see my channel referenced in a video for a bike I'm looking to buy for myself! Nice upload.
Rode my 690 all the way from Anchorage Alaska to Ushuaia Argentina with not one problem or issue. Rally Raid tank adaptor on the front and a stronger rear spring we’re the major alterations for the journey. Handled long tarmac roads and off road equally well. Easy to service on the road. One of the best bikes I’ve ever owned 👍
Even the Husqvarna tc85 or ktm85 have those hydraulic clutches I have a 2014 with it let alone my 2022 bikes. You explained it like it’s a cutting edge thing. Sigh you gotta be new to the brand or something
I have a '21 690, absolutely love the thing. I found out about them when I was out riding trails a couple years ago on my 300 and we ran into a guy on a 690 who decided to tag along. I figured it would be like a typical 650ish dual sport, not able to keep up and crashing all the time, but he had 0 trouble. Last year I was thinking about getting a XR650r, but remembered the guy on the 690 so I tracked one down. It is the overall most capable bike I have ever ridden. Single track, enduro, MX, freeway, twisties, it will do it all, and do it decently. True it is not as good at anything as a bike that is purpose built for that specific style of riding, but it will do anything just fine. The only issues are unavoidable, it doesnt handle well in sand(rake), and gets buffeted pretty bad by oncoming semis on 2-lanes roads(weight). Finding tires that are as equally capable is not possible, so I settle on 75% dirt, 25% pavement DOT knobbies. They wear out fairly fast, but arent too bad. I actually want to try out pure desert tires at some point, something that can handle the weight and power in dirt. Where it really shines is on big hills, twisty pavement, or open dirt roads, nothing competes with that LC4. 75ish HP on a 330lb bike is just a blast. The only caveot is that you do not get this bike to learn the different riding styles on, it is the bike you get after you have learned to do it all.
Just bought a new Husky 701. No local KTM dealer so made decision easy. Loving it , my new adventure bike . Handles road miles easily and perfect for the 100 of kms of gravel trails near home
I had a 690 I bought it 2008, I put 62000 miles on it in SW. I road to work and back, every weekend I was off road. Average weekend ride would be approx 400 miles or more. Had no trouble with the bike ever, bullet proof but I did the maintenance religiously. I sold it and regretted it since. I now ride a 700 Tenera.
I have a 2017 Ktm 690 enduro r that is a great city bike. I use it to commute to work as much as possible. It handles the rough city roads with ease and makes the trip to work a lot of fun.
I have 22,000 miles on my 2016 KTM 690 and I will have to agree is is a great bike. It's no EXC. But it is the ideal BDR and Baja bike, especially if you are not carrying any camping gear. It is a great motorcycle for the job.
I saw the footage of the guy riding the 2012 Enduro R so i looked up his channel... His name is Sullivan Van Way and he died in a plane crash not long ago. RIP
I ride with a guy who sold his Honda AT and bought the 690. He loves it and put 15k miles on it the first year. He did break the rear subframe, but he packs too much stuff. Cheers
I agree with every point -the greatest dual-sport out there. But the only issue is reliability.. my Honda riding mates are out there riding while I'm waiting for spare parts. Here's what's broken so far in 18,800km on my 2014 690 SMC-R. I would pick a Honda or Yamaha for touring the world instead! -8,000km rocker arms failed -10,000km front brake master cylinder failed -12,000km clutch started slipping, took 1 year to diagnose (scored push rod) -14,000km stator fried, flywheel scored -15,500km 6th gear disappeared, some ball bearings failed in the shifting mechanism
Just want to point out that that's a hydraulic clutch, not pneumatic. Pneumatic is air, hydraulic is liquid. Besides that though, I'd love a 690, my only worry is the exposed plastic tank hitting the ground (and being right on top of the exhaust). Other than that I'm glad you enjoy yours
Yeah, I misspoke and didn't catch my mistake before uploading. The rear tank/subframe is actually pretty strong. Typically people might have issues when they mount luggage racks to it. They can crack at the mounting points if they get overloaded or crash.
This vid may have just saved me from buying the "wrong" bike - the trade offs with the DRZ400, CRF300L, CRF450L are all slightly bumming me out. KTM690 to the rescue???
Literally in the same predicament I’ve taken both crf450L & Drz400 for tests but can’t find a dealer with a demo 690. I wish Yamaha did a tuned down WR to compete against the crf450L
Yer crazy homie. . . nothin' beats the KLR 650 for pure DS work. The king of bling. . .milk-cratin' and hatin', with over 30 years of pro-creatin'!! You say obsolete, I see easy and cheap! 5 speed grindin', 17-inch windin', over all terrains you'll find 'em, leadin' out the pack with a stack of 40's in the back. . . milk-cratin' baby, milk cratin'. . .packin' all the malt liquor with tha milk cratin'. Man, a 690 lookin' stoopid with a milk crate. KLR, it's all natural baby!! Get the girls goin' with da six-fiddy!
It's time to let old things die. I can appreciate the classic KLR, but Kawasaki has ruined it since the 2008 remodel. And you'd think if they're going to redesign it they could at least fix the doohickey.
Excellent video mate! I just picked up a 2014 690 with 7000km so it's hardly broken in. Mostly has stock parts, so I'm looking to upgrade it to be more offroad capable and suited to me. I had an africa twin before this (which I luckily sold for a great price the day after getting the 690) and I used to offroad with it a lot. Since I'm using to whipping around the big weight of the AT, I am hoping to have tons of fun with my 690. This video has me excited for all the great things to come with this KTM! Thanks again
I've been riding Dualsport motorcycles since 1987 (first was the 1983 Honda XL600) and I entirely agree with you. I currently have a 2017 Husqvarna 701 and it is the best DUALSPORT motorcycle I have ever owned. Second place is the KTM 640 Adventure. I think what surprised me the most about the 701 is how much fun it is on the pavement and that's because of the insane motor that is way more than I ever need on the dirt. But on the pavement! OMG! It also can be set up as a very capable midsize ADV bike for full on moto camping trips.
Had a 2009 690r and really enjoyed it but traded for a 500EXC then sold the 500 for a 1290 Adventure R then sold the 1290 for a 790r Adventure then sold that for a Husky FE501s. I have a problem I think:) I was after an 890r Rally for 2022 but no Rally bike in the lineup this year so am still considering a 690r or 701. I think in the end I will just keep my FE501s and not worry about putting road miles on it. Just ride. I geared my 501 slightly higher and that works fine for short highway use. A slightly bigger tank gives over 200 mile range. I would be much happier if the 690r was designed more like the 500EXC or FE501. I never liked that under seat tank much. That 690r engine is a monster though and would be the one thing that might make me sell my 501. Edit 11/17/2023. For the last year and a half I have been riding an awesome but heavy KTM 890r Adventure, but lately have gotten tired of the weight and of those gut busting moments when I have to lift it off road. Traded it for a 2023 690r yesterday. Good move for my riding habits. Guess I had to go through the process with the 890r to realize the 690r was the best fit.
Agree. It's the best dual sport ever made, however from 2019 onwards the changes and reliability take it to another level. I can't sell it because there is nothing to replace it with. It's a unicorn...
@@MattPerry I've had no issues apart from the slave clutch which was replaced under warranty. No rocker arm, fuel pump etc like the older models. The bike has been a joy since owning more than 2 years.
I had BMW G650x - The KTM 690 Enduro was the one I really lusted after. Unfortunately the rocker arm issues at the time put me off for a 10,000 mile tour. Not the BMW was faultless. Shock snapped in half twice.
I can tell you, the first LC4 engine was a lot different from the modern one. I worked at a KTM dealer back then as a mechanic, they were really shitty engines in means of reliability. When they ran they we're strong engines but super heavy. In those days I rode Honda's myself and swore I would never ever ride a KTM mx bike myself... Guess that was around 1990... Now 2022, think me and my son have had around 20 ktm's in the past years... Awesome bikes, great engines, motocross and road bikes.
Its a blast on the road. Proper hooligan bike. I could ride it a lot harder off-road if it had better suspension and wide gearbox. But i think you are correct, its a classic that a lot of people will always go back to, particularly if they sold one and regret it. Similar the mystique of the 990 and 950SE that will always re-sell
I love my 2020 690 on dirt roads and on twisty pavement. The motor is amazing. Smooth. Powerful. Responsive. Very linear. It's a great bike for exploring new roads with it's long range but it is horrible on the trails. It does not act much like a dirtbike. That's ok since I have two smaller dual sports. If I could afford only one bike, I would stick with a 450/500 and live with its shortcomings on the highway. The 450's and 500's are true do-it-all dual sports if you spend anytime on tight trails. I agree with the others on the 6th gear. First thing I did was swap the 46t for a 44t rear sprocket, and it works great.
Love my 690. Fixed the clutch with a $0.40 O-ring, still I can't believe it made your rationale for why it's the best dual sport. Yes, it's great. Yes, it's a known failure point... But, as a former KLR guy, spending the time to do a $0.40 mod is nothing.
For the tall person with room for only one bike, and the budget, you are totally correct about the upsides. The opposing argument that I followed is that I got a new WR250R with a suspension tuned to my limited skills and inseam, and a 4 year old Tracer 900 for about the same price as a 690. The other realistic competitor to the 690 is the 500 EXC class of bikes. Realistically, the dual sport riders of the world are totally spoiled for choice, and it has never been a better time to be a motorcycle buyer! Cheers!
That's quite the deal you got on those bikes. Not sure I'd call the 500 a close competitor to the 690 though. It's extremely dirt biased and has very short maintenance intervals (500 miles per oil change). I had a 450L before the 690 and I traded it in for those same reasons. I didn't want a dualsport that only does one thing well, and that's pretty much why I think the 690 is the best you can get in a single bike.
I know this sounds trivial. But I hate the new dash board! The one from a few years ago, with a proper rev clock, gave it so much more character. It was meatier and made it feel more Dakar like. Like a proper bike, not a toy. Which is good considering they've advertised it under the 'adventure' category with long service intervals etc etc. I hate the new, tiny, hardcore enduro clock on it. It's boring and doesn't suit the character of the bike. It just makes it feel like you're buzzing down the road on a 250 enduro. Not a 690.
I’ve had my 690 for 2 years and I LOVE it!! But, I do have a few gripes. Mainly, the floating engine. With nothing under it to protect it, it’s easy to damage your engine case. Even with a skid plate, you’re still putting a lot of pressure on the engine case if you’re doing hard enduro riding on it. Also, the rear gas tank is a plus and a minus. The rear gas tank makes the bike very controllable in the twisties. But, the rear gas tank also makes the wheelie balance point a bit harder. Over all though, I LOVE my 690.
love my smcr too. As an engineering student I've thought about why the balance point is so difficult to decypher. The reason is the near perfect 50/50 weight distribution and the main bulk of the bike being so low to the ground. This creates the nimbleness we all love but results in a very low rotatonal inertia about the "wheelie" axis resulting in the same feeling wether you are at a 10 o'clock wheelie or 12 o'clock. I have very skilled friends that can wheelee anything all day long that struggle with the 690 for this very reason.
The KLX is fine at 70mph, which is the speed limit on our interstates, but I always take the back roads and rarely go over 60. Maybe one day we'll see a KLX650 with ABS. The KLR is a proven bike but it's a small adventure bike, we want big dual sports.
It does seem a bit neglected, not just by people in general, but even by KTM itself. They barely have any media or promotional material for it. As for riders it might just boil down to price. Maybe KTM boys come off as snobbish? They hate us cuz they ain't us.
Coming from a drz 400 to a 690 the biggest thing for me was to be able to cruise 70 when I had to. To build a drz to pull of that feat it would be built to the ragged edge of reliability. I was a big ktm hater until I got a 690 with ever even having sat on one. Absolutely no regrets, except my clutch slave cylinder went out the second ride….but yeah…no regurts.
I have had a 701 since 2016 and I totally agree with your assessment but the biggest down fall of the 690/701 on trails is the steering lock. My R1200gsa can turn full lock almost twice as sharp as my 701.
Try an 890R,not only can I not reach the ground @6' tall,there is hardly any steering lock,and it weighs 470lbs. The slightest mis cue and it is going down.
My 2016 701SM can do a full lock turn using one lane. I have a 2021 701E as well, It's not that much better on gravel roads than the SM, the SM is actually quite fun on gravel, assuming you have the right tires. Stoked with both bikes.
Great review. But I just completely disagree. The XR650L is a time tested, field repairable low tech machine. Exactly what a guy wants way out in the middle of no where. On board computer, throttle by wire, numerous sensors, no thanks! While the performance of the 690 is light years ahead of the XR, the high tech aspect of the bike will be your enemy 10 to 12 years down the road. The vibration, dust, water and elements will take their toll on the electronics. My XR650 is a 2002, still runs awesome and is as reliable as an anvil. I carry a spare throttle cable, clutch cable and a CDI box on long rides. Also a spare clutch lever. My only complaint,ain’t is the lack of a kick starter on them. But replacing the battery every three years seems to be the ticket to always starting. I’d like to see a modern fuel injected bike in 20 years and see if I’m wrong.
Thanks for the video. I'm mostly happy with my CRF450L but I've looked hard at the 690 Enduro R. I did have to get a stiffer shock spring, and even with a Seat Concepts seat it's still pretty uncomfortable. I'm one of those people who lives close enough to the trails that it works for me, but I wouldn't want to ride it much further than the 10 or so miles I do on the street to get to the trails. It's not fun on the highway. If I had the opportunity to trade straight up for a 690 I'd probably do it.
The farthest I ever rode on my 450L to get to a trail was 60 miles. The trails were at least fun, but then there was the ride back afterwards as well. It made for a very long day and that's when I decided that I needed to upgrade.
The KTM 690R is in a league of it's own only the Husqvarna is it's brother, my feelings are their worth the money because their great Dual sport motorcycles, I did a few upgrades & completed it to be more usable & comfortable, wings exhaust, rally pegs,and a seat concepts low edition seat, but a amazing motorcycle for sure, spend the money you won't regret it
@@ebhkkc1 no doubt about the Honda reliability, I had a 2007 XR650L & only changed one battery & two sets of tires in 13 years of ownership, of course oil changes but Honda didn't put any effort into refreshing the 650L & didn't like the 450L so I chose the KTM ENDURO 690R 2020 & though expensive, you get what you pay for & reliability has been excellent knock on wood lol.
Correction..the 950 super enduro...is a force to be recon with..close to the husky 701 nowadays. I guess..but would love to get the ktm 950 SE-R..but they stop making it in 2009..now it's all electronic bs...just more to fail...for now iam gonna have to rough it on my 07 ktm 950 SM-R..araka exhaust itg intake, jet kit..pushing about 110./112 hp..gotta be doing 120 mph to get it into 6th gear..too bad they stop making them..but all in all they r all awesome bikes..👍👍👍ride safe everyone..
I always thought the 950 was really cool. The only issue I had with it was that it's too heavy to be a true dualsport. Probably around 450 lbs wet. As a supermoto or light ADV I bet it's awesome.
@@doomermotorsports nothing like it..👍👍👍at the time it was the lightest in its class at 421 pounds and 98 rwhp ..was lighter than my 08klr 650..its a beast..stay well👍👍👍
I AGREE. THE K.T.M 690 ENDURO R MOTORCYCLE IS THE BEST "DUAL SPORT" MOTORCYCLE AVAILABLE. I AM ON MY 2ND K.T.M 690 ENDURO MOTORCYCLE. A DISTANT SECOND PLACE WOULD BE THE SUZUKI DRZ 400 /650, OR HONDA XR650L. THERE'S JUST NOTHING ELSE AVAILABLE UNLESS YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERY WEEK.
Não podia estar mais de acordo contigo. A 690 é um unicórnio para quem procura uma verdadeira dual-sport capaz de vencer a difícil barreira do off-road mais duro que uma Adventure-bike não consegue, naturalmente. Troquei a minha Teneré 700 pela 690 e estou muito, muito satisfeito. A mota que procurava. Sempre quis ter uma KTM e acho que acertei em cheio. A Teneré era uma mota interessante mas nas partes mais técnicas dos trajectos off-road era um pesadelo pela própria arquitectura da mota, muito top-heavy. Andava sempre a medo de danificar a mota e de me magoar também. A 690 tirou esse medo e dá-me uma confiança muito grande pela sua enorme capacidade para devorar as trilhas por onde a meto.
I also found it's a unicorn platform. I take the same bike around town, to the beach, to group hooligan rides, SoCal canyon runs, and can still ride up the dirt road to the top of a mountain. I can do 200 miles of 2-track dirt roads around Pahrump and from LA-Barstow to Vegas. It just won't do long distance touring very well nor hard enduro very well...but that's the point: it's as close as you can get with one bike; aside from that you need 2 separate bikes. My gripes, however, are the KTM reliability: at 6k miles an in-tank fuel filter failed, and the dealer diagnosed it as a top end. $2,300 later the top end was done and it still ran like shit. replaced the in-tank fuel filter with a fuel pump rebuild and it finally ran smooth. 2 rides later it kept stalling on the road. back to the dealer. it kept stalling again, so back to the dealer a 2nd time. They said it was a loose TBI connector, loose terminals, and fouled spark plugs. It runs now, but stranded 3 times makes me nervous about when it'll die again. A rack bolt insert is spinning in the gas tank and a replacement tank would be $1,800.
What year is it? I just hit 5k of relatively hard riding and it's been fine knock on wood. And I beat the absolute snot out of my 250sxf to the point the honing was completely gone on the cylinder and it ran fine without burning oil
I own a 2019 , love it ! ideal trail or every day local hooligan bike I’m no mx rider but love a day on the trails and the power and quick shifter always make me smile. Weight makes tyre choice more important knobbles r a must here in the UK Difficult Warranty claim has ruined it for me , ktm suck as a company but the bikes great.
Yes I’m sure I’m one of many angry customers I bought it brand new and had done less then 2000 miles , they refused to cover it as I missed my 2nd service date (my bad) , I had to reluctantly pay for it , then month later got the recall letter from KTM for clutch slave cylinder , I asked for a refund , they refused same as before. I wouldn’t drop it after several complaints , long phone calls and threats of trading standards they refunded me , very disappointed all over £200 I will not put money in ktm’s pocket again
@@bengreenwood9202 that really sucks. They make great bikes, but it's a shame they don't want to take responsibility for their own mistakes. I'm honestly a little nervous about where the company is headed, especially with their plans to build some models in China.
Have a DRZ, and want something better after a year of trails. Was thinking a KTM 500 for the trails, and turning my DRZ into an adventure bike. If money were no object, I'd love a 350/500 EXCF and a 690R combo.
Just keep in mind that the 500exc is a maintenance queen. KTM wants you to change the oil every 500 miles or thereabouts, and check the valves every 1000. Another reason I chose a 690 is because of the much lower service intervals. But if that doesn't bother you then I'm sure either a 350 or 500 would be incredible as a dedicated trail bike.
Just keep in mind that the 500exc is a maintenance queen. KTM wants you to change the oil every 500 miles or thereabouts, and check the valves every 1000. Another reason I chose a 690 is because of the much lower service intervals. But if that doesn't bother you then I'm sure either a 350 or 500 would be incredible as a dedicated trail bike.
I would trade my T7 tomorrow for a 690, If there was no undenying reliability issues with ktm. I've known so many friends who had ktms and suffered issues.. having all of 'this' fun and being on the bleeding edge of technology can't justify a weekly/monthly trip to the garage fixing stuff..
Best is still the Suzuki DR650, add a 790 kit and you have a bullet proof 360 lb dual sport, withy the gas tank where it belongs so you don't have to shift all you luggage to get gas
I mean, installing a big bore kit is honestly quite a heavy modification. Besides, if we start comparing modified bikes, there would be no end to the arguments that could be made. In any case, you're still stuck with a 5 speed, a carb, and zero modern tech. You may like your DR650 more, and that's just fine, but I don't think it's objectively better.
@@doomermotorsports In terms of reliability, which is critical for people that ride a lot, the DR650 objectively has a much better track record. I've literally stopped looking at 690s because of the horror stories and atrocious KTM support. Maybe they improved the newer models and sure, there are plenty of people tired of the bush pigs carb and 5 speed, but the gear ratios of the 690 and steering lock are called out just as much. Barry (cross training adventure) sold his 690 3 months in and went back to a DR. I personally want to try the AJP PR7 before the DR but glad you're having fun on the 690 since that's an expensive bike to be disappointed with.
Nice list. KTM, being the focused company it is, also offers their 500 EXC to counter any potential opposition in the street legal dirt bike market. I agree though, the 690 is the truest definition of a high performance dual sport available today. A dual sport really has to be reasonably capable on road and off, and on road capability means being able to handle significant sustained highway travel. I like the 500 a lot, but ya really don't want to do a lot of highway travel on an EXC. I own a Husky 701 and love it - the 701 sits between a 300 XC and a Super Tenere. For me that stable about covers it! The biggest problem I have on my 701 is behaving on the street. Turning the TC off, riding it like a dirt bike and ripping wheelies is all to easy 😆
I have the 501. Last night I was driving around and saw this guy on a 701 with his girl on the back, mini faring, taking the highway at 60. It looked incredible. I just can't get the high tarmac miles in on the 500 without worrying about the the motor, or just feeling unstable at sustained speeds. I end up trucking the thing half way to the destination just to cut down on the street time. Any problem or years to look out for? I'll probably get it next season. I wonder if the 24's are going to be redesigned in a meaningful way.
I doubt there will be any redesigns for awhile. They just added a 2nd balancer to the motor (up by the cam) and added XPLOR suspension over the last few years. The 690 will feel like a well suspended tank while riding off road compared to your much lighter 500. Yes you can make time on it, but ya really have to respect the fact that the bike is heavy. On the other hand, I was naughty and ripped right into the triple digits on my 701 the other night. That engine likes to rev and pulls hard. I have a Yosh RS4 and Rottweiler tuning on mine, it runs like a freight train, truly the motor from Hell 😄
Wanted to love it but my experience was that it: - ran too hot for slow speed techy stuff, or stopping and taking photos - too tall - terrible steering lock - unreliable - KTM support is aweful - parts are unavailable in much of the world - expensive - the power was fun but realistically would get me in some sort of legal trouble, it's pretty much impossible to not wheelie it everywhere - most of all I never trusted it, the constant KTM issues meant I would never trusted it like I do my WR
Mmmm I have had the exact opposite experience with my new 2021 model 690. Maybe you tried an older model 690 which are know for having more issues. I don’t find it runs hot. I don’t do much slow technical stuff as I also have a Husky 501 for that. Power is not that crazy. It lugs down low and power only kicks in higher revs so can keep it low revs off road then ride it like a super Moto in the twisties. No issues yet 8000 km. A friend has 2019 model 690 and just passed 35000 km no issues. KTM dealers in Australia are good. I live near Toby Price and his KTMs have served him well over the years. Yes 690 is more expensive but has superior suspension, better brakes, superb hydraulic clutch, better fuel range, ABS, TC, can pop front wheel over obstacles, etc. etc. I loved my little 250 for 3 years but it was time to move on. Cheers
@@glossblack1098 yeah mine was an older model, think they've come on a long way since. Unfortunately dealer support in the UK with warranty issues is synonymous with being pure shit. Fantastic bikes when they're running well
@@nyedavis922 yeh you need a decent dealer and good support nearby if something goes wrong. KTMs are very popular in Australia. Also Yamaha. T7 is most popular bike in Australia in 2021, but too heavy for my liking. A lot of people dislike Husky KTM and say they are unreliable. My 2015 Husky 501 has been fantastic. Approaching 200 hours, no issues yet. Time will tell.
Running hot is because of the O2 sensor leaning it out at low RPMs for smog, and the thermostat too hot. O2 delete and a 500/501 thermostat solves that problem. The Wings exhaust is a must (the cat is just dangerous offroad). And the off-road dongle is also a must.
I've never ridden the LC4 KTM 690, or any KTM. The only downside to a single is that they are not as finely balanced as a parallel twin, and they don't sound good. The new parallel twins sound absolutely beautiful. But 73 horsepower out of a single cylinder engine is just insane, and so I guess I need to add the KTM to my bucket list, just to see what it's like.
2017 and up Husky 701, and the 2019 and up 690, have a twin counter balancer on the crank, they're very smooth. Put a Wings pipe/silencer on it and they sound like a dirt bike, a real dirt bike shouldn't sound like a road bike. I own a 2016 701SM and a 2021 701E. Luv them both. I was going to sell the 701SM, but can't bring myself to do it. She's a keeper.
Oh man! Has there ever been a youtube video as reassuring as this one for someone who happened to buy this very same bike a couple of days ago? ahahahahah!!! Good job!
The only things that comes close is the XR650R, lol Honda totally missed the boat with such a great motor. The AJP PR7 which is a great bike the truest modern competitor, nearly got one but they have limited dealerships so 701 2 weeks ago. Out with the lard 1190R things are so much better now. Nice vid.
Not crapping on the 690. It's a fantastic machine. That being said. I can grab 2 CRF300Ls plus gear, new tires and a few extra goodies for the price of one 690 and my girl amd I can ride out. Plus....no one really wants that extra 30lbs plus. That's camping gear and for right there. Just made the 690 a tenere 700 when you add all the gear... Great machine thought. .
Yip you are right it is the best dual sport. Have owned 2 a 2012 and a 2017 . Have owned round 40 motorycles raced speedway mx enduro road racing and never had such an unreliable motorcycle as the 690 . So yes it is the best but at a very high cost
1000%… i feel like the market needs a mid sized bike. Kinda a rally bike. The anticipation for the husky norden is awesome but the rest of the brands or more road or more dirt theres nothing that ticks both well! Im looking for this market now! Either buy a road legal 450 and spend 5000$ to make it more road friendly
CRF450L is poorly sprung?... Undertuned?....As an ex MX racer I love the suspension on my 450L, and if wanted, it can be easy modified. The Vortex ecu solves all tuning, jerky throttle issues. The CRF is refined on the road and beast off as it's way lighter than the competition. I think looks are important also, so if you love orange then yeah get the KTM, I raced an SXF350, but I thing the 450L is a nicer looking bike - always subjective tho!
I also happened to own a 450L, but my experience was much different. I should note that I'm a pretty big guy. 6'6" and 300lbs. A much healthier weight for me would be 240, but that's still 20lbs more than the 450L is sprung for from the factory. I did replace the rear spring with the heaviest one available, but that still wasn't enough. However I understand that for the average rider it's probably fine. I'm just being a little petty about it. I also got a Vortex to help stop the flameouts, but it did little to help the jerky throttle. I even installed a G2 throttle tamer to help mitigate this, and it worked to some extent. But compared to the 690 it's still a night and day difference. The 690 is so much better with the ride by wire throttle. On the road I didn't feel like the 450L was all that great. I got a SC Comfort seat for it, but it still wasn't a bike I'd like to travel with. Around town was fine, but forget going on the highway, it would rev to over 6700rpm just going 70mph. 50-60 miles is all the farther I'd care to go with it on country roads. With the 690 I just want to keep on riding and I'm not limited to country roads. As for the 450L's competition within the segment, it's much closer to KTM and Husky's EXC and FE lines. I haven't ridden them myself, but in most comparisons I've seen the 500 EXC and 450 FE have always come out on top. A few things they all have in common is that they're extremely dirt biased and have very short maintenance intervals. However, the biggest point I would like to make is that the 450L requires a lot of things that need to be "fixed" from the factory compared to the 690. The 690 doesn't need a tune or an entirely new ECU, which also requires a full exhaust swap in the 450L's case. The 690 doesn't need new springs or shocks. The 690 doesn't need a new seat (well, the '19+ probably do). The 690 doesn't need a throttle tamer. The 690 doesn't need a bigger gas tank. These are all things I changed on my 450L to make it better, which also cost a lot of money. But eventually I realized it still would never be good enough, and I would have been better off buying a 690 in the first place.
@@doomermotorsports I guess we all like to tinker and make our dream bike. I can't fault it thus far, and having come from Mx I think it feels tame and not twitchy, suspension is stiffer than I expected and I often sit at 75/80 on the motorway with no bother. Looks is key tho for me tho, I raced kwackers for years just because I love green. Liking what you have and being yourself is so important - great vid tho, did love it 👍👋
Thanks, and it's not so much that I didn't like working on the bike. The cost and maintenance schedule was just so off-putting, especially after realizing I just needed a bigger bike. As for looks I really liked my '19 450L. I think the RL models look terrible though. Too much red. It's kind of the same deal with the 690. I really like the look of my '17, but the '19+ aren't appealing at all to me.
Husky TE630. Not many have owned them due to the short model run so no suprise it was not mentioned but they are better in the dirt (especially when it gets tight or technical) and excellent on road. Don't have Jekyll and Hyde electronics like the KTM690 that can leave you stranded which you neglected to mention. Having said this you can pry my WR250R from my cold dead fingers.
I didn't feel it payed to compare the 690 to bikes that haven't been in production for a while or aren't easily available. I'm sure I'd still find the 690 a better bike. Not sure what electrical issues you're referring to. Feel free to fill me in. Lastly, enjoy your WR. I actually like Yamaha's, and if it fits your style of riding then that's great. It's still not a better bike though.
@@doomermotorsports fair point about including just the current crop however also pointless if you have made up your mind despite any experience of the bike. The 690's faults are well documented in videos and forum posts. Google Fu required. Discounting my choice of bike as inferior without knowing the type of riding I prefer is fraught with danger...ha ha. Whatever suits our end of the dual Sport spectrum is best for us. Where I ride lighter and nimble is more fun.
I guess what I should say is that the 690 is the best bike, but not necessarily the right bike for everyone. I looked at a 630 while shopping, but buying a defunct version of a Husqvarna wasn't so appealing. Plus, any one you'll find is going to be about 10 years old now. I can admit they're cool, and very similar to a 690 from that time, but it's not going to keep up with KTM's improvements over the last decade. As for the electrical issues I'm not going to scour the internet to find random examples of someone who had a problem. You could do that with any bike. I researched the 690 before buying and I did not find electrical issues to be a common problem.
You'll be hearing from my lawyers.
All jokes aside, quite funny to see my channel referenced in a video for a bike I'm looking to buy for myself! Nice upload.
Rode my 690 all the way from Anchorage Alaska to Ushuaia Argentina with not one problem or issue. Rally Raid tank adaptor on the front and a stronger rear spring we’re the major alterations for the journey. Handled long tarmac roads and off road equally well. Easy to service on the road. One of the best bikes I’ve ever owned 👍
That’s an AMAZING bucket list item I’m gonna have to research. But I’m in Virginia. So I’ll drive to Alaska from Virginia.
It rides underwater?
@@streetrat123 I took my 2010 690 SMC in waist deep floods and it freaking did it with no dramas.
Wich year was your
Pneumatic = air or gas under pressure.
Hydraulic = liquid under pressure.
Yup, unfortunately I misspoke and didn't catch it before publishing.
Even the Husqvarna tc85 or ktm85 have those hydraulic clutches I have a 2014 with it let alone my 2022 bikes. You explained it like it’s a cutting edge thing. Sigh you gotta be new to the brand or something
I have a '21 690, absolutely love the thing. I found out about them when I was out riding trails a couple years ago on my 300 and we ran into a guy on a 690 who decided to tag along. I figured it would be like a typical 650ish dual sport, not able to keep up and crashing all the time, but he had 0 trouble. Last year I was thinking about getting a XR650r, but remembered the guy on the 690 so I tracked one down. It is the overall most capable bike I have ever ridden. Single track, enduro, MX, freeway, twisties, it will do it all, and do it decently. True it is not as good at anything as a bike that is purpose built for that specific style of riding, but it will do anything just fine.
The only issues are unavoidable, it doesnt handle well in sand(rake), and gets buffeted pretty bad by oncoming semis on 2-lanes roads(weight).
Finding tires that are as equally capable is not possible, so I settle on 75% dirt, 25% pavement DOT knobbies. They wear out fairly fast, but arent too bad. I actually want to try out pure desert tires at some point, something that can handle the weight and power in dirt.
Where it really shines is on big hills, twisty pavement, or open dirt roads, nothing competes with that LC4. 75ish HP on a 330lb bike is just a blast.
The only caveot is that you do not get this bike to learn the different riding styles on, it is the bike you get after you have learned to do it all.
My 2020 690R ENDURO has been a excellent motorcycle and have had great luck with it and the reliability, just can't say enough about how dynamic it is
Just bought a new Husky 701.
No local KTM dealer so made decision easy.
Loving it , my new adventure bike .
Handles road miles easily and perfect for the 100 of kms of gravel trails near home
I had a 690 I bought it 2008, I put 62000 miles on it in SW. I road to work and back, every weekend I was off road. Average weekend ride would be approx 400 miles or more. Had no trouble with the bike ever, bullet proof but I did the maintenance religiously. I sold it and regretted it since. I now ride a 700 Tenera.
Which do you prefer? Tenere700 or 690? Why? Thanks!
I have a 2017 Ktm 690 enduro r that is a great city bike. I use it to commute to work as much as possible. It handles the rough city roads with ease and makes the trip to work a lot of fun.
I have 22,000 miles on my 2016 KTM 690 and I will have to agree is is a great bike. It's no EXC. But it is the ideal BDR and Baja bike, especially if you are not carrying any camping gear. It is a great motorcycle for the job.
Just bought a new 690, can't wait to pick it up now :)
I have a klx300sm and the Ktm enduro 690 is my next bike
I saw the footage of the guy riding the 2012 Enduro R so i looked up his channel... His name is Sullivan Van Way and he died in a plane crash not long ago. RIP
Yes, AGREED!!!!! I bought my first 690 at age 55 👌👌👌👌👌
I ride with a guy who sold his Honda AT and bought the 690. He loves it and put 15k miles on it the first year. He did break the rear subframe, but he packs too much stuff. Cheers
Agreed with all. Have the 2017 and rode from Bay Area to Baja. Split the lanes through LA and Tijuana, then hit the dirt. Love this bike.
I fully agree,i own a 2015 690 Enduro R and i love it.
I agree with every point -the greatest dual-sport out there. But the only issue is reliability.. my Honda riding mates are out there riding while I'm waiting for spare parts. Here's what's broken so far in 18,800km on my 2014 690 SMC-R. I would pick a Honda or Yamaha for touring the world instead!
-8,000km rocker arms failed
-10,000km front brake master cylinder failed
-12,000km clutch started slipping, took 1 year to diagnose (scored push rod)
-14,000km stator fried, flywheel scored
-15,500km 6th gear disappeared, some ball bearings failed in the shifting mechanism
Didn't the 2019 rebuild significantly change the quality equation?
I've seen some total lemons with the new models in some KTM groups, like every seal leaking oil @@RomulusReemus
Jesus christ. I'll be sticking with japanese.
That is why i want to buy one !
DD bike, lots of power, not too heavy, trail capability, and a wheelie machine
Have a 2019 and love it.
Nice I get good at off roading on my klx300 I plan to upgrade to the 690 KTM
Just want to point out that that's a hydraulic clutch, not pneumatic. Pneumatic is air, hydraulic is liquid.
Besides that though, I'd love a 690, my only worry is the exposed plastic tank hitting the ground (and being right on top of the exhaust). Other than that I'm glad you enjoy yours
Yeah, I misspoke and didn't catch my mistake before uploading. The rear tank/subframe is actually pretty strong. Typically people might have issues when they mount luggage racks to it. They can crack at the mounting points if they get overloaded or crash.
This vid may have just saved me from buying the "wrong" bike - the trade offs with the DRZ400, CRF300L, CRF450L are all slightly bumming me out. KTM690 to the rescue???
Literally in the same predicament I’ve taken both crf450L & Drz400 for tests but can’t find a dealer with a demo 690.
I wish Yamaha did a tuned down WR to compete against the crf450L
Yer crazy homie. . . nothin' beats the KLR 650 for pure DS work. The king of bling. . .milk-cratin' and hatin', with over 30 years of pro-creatin'!! You say obsolete, I see easy and cheap! 5 speed grindin', 17-inch windin', over all terrains you'll find 'em, leadin' out the pack with a stack of 40's in the back. . . milk-cratin' baby, milk cratin'. . .packin' all the malt liquor with tha milk cratin'.
Man, a 690 lookin' stoopid with a milk crate. KLR, it's all natural baby!! Get the girls goin' with da six-fiddy!
It's time to let old things die. I can appreciate the classic KLR, but Kawasaki has ruined it since the 2008 remodel. And you'd think if they're going to redesign it they could at least fix the doohickey.
Get the girls laughing you mean?
2 weeks into my 2023 690 enduro R .... the dual balancers are definitely an improvement over my old SXC 625
Sure love mine, first 4-stroke, first dual sport after 50 years riding nothing but 2-strokes in the woods... great video, watch out yummie!!!
I love my 690. I totally agree with you on this bike.
Got mine! Love it! 2011. Had only 2k miles.
Excellent video mate! I just picked up a 2014 690 with 7000km so it's hardly broken in. Mostly has stock parts, so I'm looking to upgrade it to be more offroad capable and suited to me. I had an africa twin before this (which I luckily sold for a great price the day after getting the 690) and I used to offroad with it a lot. Since I'm using to whipping around the big weight of the AT, I am hoping to have tons of fun with my 690. This video has me excited for all the great things to come with this KTM! Thanks again
I've been riding Dualsport motorcycles since 1987 (first was the 1983 Honda XL600) and I entirely agree with you. I currently have a 2017 Husqvarna 701 and it is the best DUALSPORT motorcycle I have ever owned. Second place is the KTM 640 Adventure. I think what surprised me the most about the 701 is how much fun it is on the pavement and that's because of the insane motor that is way more than I ever need on the dirt. But on the pavement! OMG! It also can be set up as a very capable midsize ADV bike for full on moto camping trips.
That's because you never ride a AJP PR7 2021
You never rode an pajaar 7000 cdc street shittar@@pedrocsantos8
The 690 is great in supermoto configuration, but for me the xr650 is the undisputed champion of adventure bikes
R definitely not L
Had a 2009 690r and really enjoyed it but traded for a 500EXC then sold the 500 for a 1290 Adventure R then sold the 1290 for a 790r Adventure then sold that for a Husky FE501s. I have a problem I think:) I was after an 890r Rally for 2022 but no Rally bike in the lineup this year so am still considering a 690r or 701. I think in the end I will just keep my FE501s and not worry about putting road miles on it. Just ride. I geared my 501 slightly higher and that works fine for short highway use. A slightly bigger tank gives over 200 mile range. I would be much happier if the 690r was designed more like the 500EXC or FE501. I never liked that under seat tank much. That 690r engine is a monster though and would be the one thing that might make me sell my 501.
Edit 11/17/2023. For the last year and a half I have been riding an awesome but heavy KTM 890r Adventure, but lately have gotten tired of the weight and of those gut busting moments when I have to lift it off road. Traded it for a 2023 690r yesterday. Good move for my riding habits. Guess I had to go through the process with the 890r to realize the 690r was the best fit.
You sound like me.... I can't settle on one bike. The AJP PR7 looks like the perfect bike, but not sure I can trust the brand just yet.
two bikes v strom gs, atk or ktm etc dr
Love my 08 690 enduro. Updated rocker assemblies, and love the crap out of it.
Agree. It's the best dual sport ever made, however from 2019 onwards the changes and reliability take it to another level. I can't sell it because there is nothing to replace it with. It's a unicorn...
are there any complaints about mechanical issues in this late models
@@MattPerry I've had no issues apart from the slave clutch which was replaced under warranty. No rocker arm, fuel pump etc like the older models. The bike has been a joy since owning more than 2 years.
The latest incarnation with the new motor,quickshifter etc is hard to match.Love mine.Thanks
I have a 2016 SM and a 2021 E, believe it or not, they're chalk and cheese to ride.
I had BMW G650x - The KTM 690 Enduro was the one I really lusted after. Unfortunately the rocker arm issues at the time put me off for a 10,000 mile tour. Not the BMW was faultless. Shock snapped in half twice.
I can tell you, the first LC4 engine was a lot different from the modern one. I worked at a KTM dealer back then as a mechanic, they were really shitty engines in means of reliability. When they ran they we're strong engines but super heavy. In those days I rode Honda's myself and swore I would never ever ride a KTM mx bike myself... Guess that was around 1990...
Now 2022, think me and my son have had around 20 ktm's in the past years... Awesome bikes, great engines, motocross and road bikes.
Its a blast on the road. Proper hooligan bike. I could ride it a lot harder off-road if it had better suspension and wide gearbox. But i think you are correct, its a classic that a lot of people will always go back to, particularly if they sold one and regret it. Similar the mystique of the 990 and 950SE that will always re-sell
I love my 2020 690 on dirt roads and on twisty pavement. The motor is amazing. Smooth. Powerful. Responsive. Very linear. It's a great bike for exploring new roads with it's long range but it is horrible on the trails. It does not act much like a dirtbike. That's ok since I have two smaller dual sports. If I could afford only one bike, I would stick with a 450/500 and live with its shortcomings on the highway. The 450's and 500's are true do-it-all dual sports if you spend anytime on tight trails.
I agree with the others on the 6th gear. First thing I did was swap the 46t for a 44t rear sprocket, and it works great.
if only they would give us slightly longer maintenance intervals they would be the perfect bike. 3k miles or something would be perfect.
For the money the swm would be my pick! Thanks for the video
Still riding a Yamaha XT500.
Love my 690. Fixed the clutch with a $0.40 O-ring, still I can't believe it made your rationale for why it's the best dual sport. Yes, it's great. Yes, it's a known failure point... But, as a former KLR guy, spending the time to do a $0.40 mod is nothing.
Bought a 701 two days ago - stoked! Cool video, great voice-over and footage, you have a talent for this!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy your 701!
@@doomermotorsports Can’t ride it in a couple of months because of the winter, but I have a few parts to install and get the bike ready 🙂
@@JohannesDalenMC Ah yes, I'm done for the winter as well. Almost makes me wish I lived down south...almost.
@@doomermotorsports Haha, I live in Norway, so I have to buckle up for a cold one 🥶
@@JohannesDalenMC my suggestion is - try it in the snow. It is not as bad as it seems. Short trails, close to home, gravel roads, not on tarmac
For the tall person with room for only one bike, and the budget, you are totally correct about the upsides. The opposing argument that I followed is that I got a new WR250R with a suspension tuned to my limited skills and inseam, and a 4 year old Tracer 900 for about the same price as a 690. The other realistic competitor to the 690 is the 500 EXC class of bikes.
Realistically, the dual sport riders of the world are totally spoiled for choice, and it has never been a better time to be a motorcycle buyer!
Cheers!
That's quite the deal you got on those bikes. Not sure I'd call the 500 a close competitor to the 690 though. It's extremely dirt biased and has very short maintenance intervals (500 miles per oil change). I had a 450L before the 690 and I traded it in for those same reasons. I didn't want a dualsport that only does one thing well, and that's pretty much why I think the 690 is the best you can get in a single bike.
@@doomermotorsports As long as your inseam allows, I think you are right. And yeah, I got a great deal on the Tracer. Paid sticker for the WR.
Excellent video. This bike is a weapon!
I know this sounds trivial. But I hate the new dash board! The one from a few years ago, with a proper rev clock, gave it so much more character. It was meatier and made it feel more Dakar like. Like a proper bike, not a toy. Which is good considering they've advertised it under the 'adventure' category with long service intervals etc etc. I hate the new, tiny, hardcore enduro clock on it. It's boring and doesn't suit the character of the bike. It just makes it feel like you're buzzing down the road on a 250 enduro. Not a 690.
I’ve had my 690 for 2 years and I LOVE it!! But, I do have a few gripes. Mainly, the floating engine. With nothing under it to protect it, it’s easy to damage your engine case. Even with a skid plate, you’re still putting a lot of pressure on the engine case if you’re doing hard enduro riding on it.
Also, the rear gas tank is a plus and a minus. The rear gas tank makes the bike very controllable in the twisties. But, the rear gas tank also makes the wheelie balance point a bit harder.
Over all though, I LOVE my 690.
love my smcr too. As an engineering student I've thought about why the balance point is so difficult to decypher. The reason is the near perfect 50/50 weight distribution and the main bulk of the bike being so low to the ground. This creates the nimbleness we all love but results in a very low rotatonal inertia about the "wheelie" axis resulting in the same feeling wether you are at a 10 o'clock wheelie or 12 o'clock. I have very skilled friends that can wheelee anything all day long that struggle with the 690 for this very reason.
@@GGLiEx Wheelie geometry; love it!
The KLX is fine at 70mph, which is the speed limit on our interstates, but I always take the back roads and rarely go over 60. Maybe one day we'll see a KLX650 with ABS. The KLR is a proven bike but it's a small adventure bike, we want big dual sports.
Great review. It is the best bike. I don't know why there's not more praise for this monster.
It does seem a bit neglected, not just by people in general, but even by KTM itself. They barely have any media or promotional material for it. As for riders it might just boil down to price. Maybe KTM boys come off as snobbish? They hate us cuz they ain't us.
Coming from a drz 400 to a 690 the biggest thing for me was to be able to cruise 70 when I had to. To build a drz to pull of that feat it would be built to the ragged edge of reliability. I was a big ktm hater until I got a 690 with ever even having sat on one. Absolutely no regrets, except my clutch slave cylinder went out the second ride….but yeah…no regurts.
I have had a 701 since 2016 and I totally agree with your assessment but the biggest down fall of the 690/701 on trails is the steering lock. My R1200gsa can turn full lock almost twice as sharp as my 701.
Try an 890R,not only can I not reach the ground @6' tall,there is hardly any steering lock,and it weighs 470lbs. The slightest mis cue and it is going down.
The new 690s have a tighter turning radius
My 2016 701SM can do a full lock turn using one lane. I have a 2021 701E as well, It's not that much better on gravel roads than the SM, the SM is actually quite fun on gravel, assuming you have the right tires.
Stoked with both bikes.
Great review. But I just completely disagree. The XR650L is a time tested, field repairable low tech machine. Exactly what a guy wants way out in the middle of no where. On board computer, throttle by wire, numerous sensors, no thanks!
While the performance of the 690 is light years ahead of the XR, the high tech aspect of the bike will be your enemy 10 to 12 years down the road. The vibration, dust, water and elements will take their toll on the electronics. My XR650 is a 2002, still runs awesome and is as reliable as an anvil. I carry a spare throttle cable, clutch cable and a CDI box on long rides. Also a spare clutch lever. My only complaint,ain’t is the lack of a kick starter on them. But replacing the battery every three years seems to be the ticket to always starting. I’d like to see a modern fuel injected bike in 20 years and see if I’m wrong.
Thanks for the video. I'm mostly happy with my CRF450L but I've looked hard at the 690 Enduro R. I did have to get a stiffer shock spring, and even with a Seat Concepts seat it's still pretty uncomfortable. I'm one of those people who lives close enough to the trails that it works for me, but I wouldn't want to ride it much further than the 10 or so miles I do on the street to get to the trails. It's not fun on the highway. If I had the opportunity to trade straight up for a 690 I'd probably do it.
The farthest I ever rode on my 450L to get to a trail was 60 miles. The trails were at least fun, but then there was the ride back afterwards as well. It made for a very long day and that's when I decided that I needed to upgrade.
The KTM 690R is in a league of it's own only the Husqvarna is it's brother, my feelings are their worth the money because their great Dual sport motorcycles, I did a few upgrades & completed it to be more usable & comfortable, wings exhaust, rally pegs,and a seat concepts low edition seat, but a amazing motorcycle for sure, spend the money you won't regret it
I love KTM but my Honda 2022 450 RL with a tuner, pipe and throttle tuner is money !!!! Honda durability all day long.
@@ebhkkc1 no doubt about the Honda reliability, I had a 2007 XR650L & only changed one battery & two sets of tires in 13 years of ownership, of course oil changes but Honda didn't put any effort into refreshing the 650L & didn't like the 450L so I chose the KTM ENDURO 690R 2020 & though expensive, you get what you pay for & reliability has been excellent knock on wood lol.
Correction..the 950 super enduro...is a force to be recon with..close to the husky 701 nowadays. I guess..but would love to get the ktm 950 SE-R..but they stop making it in 2009..now it's all electronic bs...just more to fail...for now iam gonna have to rough it on my 07 ktm 950 SM-R..araka exhaust itg intake, jet kit..pushing about 110./112 hp..gotta be doing 120 mph to get it into 6th gear..too bad they stop making them..but all in all they r all awesome bikes..👍👍👍ride safe everyone..
I always thought the 950 was really cool. The only issue I had with it was that it's too heavy to be a true dualsport. Probably around 450 lbs wet. As a supermoto or light ADV I bet it's awesome.
@@doomermotorsports nothing like it..👍👍👍at the time it was the lightest in its class at 421 pounds and 98 rwhp ..was lighter than my 08klr 650..its a beast..stay well👍👍👍
I wish KTM would make one with the LC4c motor (399cc), like just stick that engine in the chassis, no fluff unlike the 390 ADV or whatever.
I AGREE. THE K.T.M 690 ENDURO R MOTORCYCLE IS THE BEST "DUAL SPORT" MOTORCYCLE AVAILABLE. I AM ON MY 2ND K.T.M 690 ENDURO MOTORCYCLE. A DISTANT SECOND PLACE WOULD BE THE SUZUKI DRZ 400 /650, OR HONDA XR650L. THERE'S JUST NOTHING ELSE AVAILABLE UNLESS YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERY WEEK.
Não podia estar mais de acordo contigo. A 690 é um unicórnio para quem procura uma verdadeira dual-sport capaz de vencer a difícil barreira do off-road mais duro que uma Adventure-bike não consegue, naturalmente. Troquei a minha Teneré 700 pela 690 e estou muito, muito satisfeito. A mota que procurava. Sempre quis ter uma KTM e acho que acertei em cheio. A Teneré era uma mota interessante mas nas partes mais técnicas dos trajectos off-road era um pesadelo pela própria arquitectura da mota, muito top-heavy. Andava sempre a medo de danificar a mota e de me magoar também. A 690 tirou esse medo e dá-me uma confiança muito grande pela sua enorme capacidade para devorar as trilhas por onde a meto.
I also found it's a unicorn platform. I take the same bike around town, to the beach, to group hooligan rides, SoCal canyon runs, and can still ride up the dirt road to the top of a mountain. I can do 200 miles of 2-track dirt roads around Pahrump and from LA-Barstow to Vegas. It just won't do long distance touring very well nor hard enduro very well...but that's the point: it's as close as you can get with one bike; aside from that you need 2 separate bikes. My gripes, however, are the KTM reliability: at 6k miles an in-tank fuel filter failed, and the dealer diagnosed it as a top end. $2,300 later the top end was done and it still ran like shit. replaced the in-tank fuel filter with a fuel pump rebuild and it finally ran smooth. 2 rides later it kept stalling on the road. back to the dealer. it kept stalling again, so back to the dealer a 2nd time. They said it was a loose TBI connector, loose terminals, and fouled spark plugs. It runs now, but stranded 3 times makes me nervous about when it'll die again. A rack bolt insert is spinning in the gas tank and a replacement tank would be $1,800.
What year is it? I just hit 5k of relatively hard riding and it's been fine knock on wood. And I beat the absolute snot out of my 250sxf to the point the honing was completely gone on the cylinder and it ran fine without burning oil
The perfect do it all bike!
I own a 2019 , love it ! ideal trail or every day local hooligan bike I’m no mx rider but love a day on the trails and the power and quick shifter always make me smile. Weight makes tyre choice more important knobbles r a must here in the UK
Difficult Warranty claim has ruined it for me , ktm suck as a company but the bikes great.
Sorry to hear about your warranty issue. Would it by chance be the clutch slave cylinder? I heard KTM needed to recall them due to bad gaskets.
Yes I’m sure I’m one of many angry customers
I bought it brand new and had done less then 2000 miles , they refused to cover it as I missed my 2nd service date (my bad) , I had to reluctantly pay for it , then month later got the recall letter from KTM for clutch slave cylinder , I asked for a refund , they refused same as before.
I wouldn’t drop it after several complaints , long phone calls and threats of trading standards they refunded me , very disappointed all over £200
I will not put money in ktm’s pocket again
@@bengreenwood9202 that really sucks. They make great bikes, but it's a shame they don't want to take responsibility for their own mistakes. I'm honestly a little nervous about where the company is headed, especially with their plans to build some models in China.
Nailed it! The only negative is its looks; if only it looked as good as the Ducati Multistrada V2 it really would be the perfect Enduro.
Agreed. I've had a fair amount of dual sports and this is the best.....by far
totally agree and thus, I've got two 690s: 2014 supermoto (conversion) and 2021 enduro with 300mm suspension. both are badass and super fun.
I still believe that KTM should offer an ADV version of the 690 more road oriented; with decent fairing, bigger tank, etc. etc...
Have a DRZ, and want something better after a year of trails. Was thinking a KTM 500 for the trails, and turning my DRZ into an adventure bike. If money were no object, I'd love a 350/500 EXCF and a 690R combo.
Just keep in mind that the 500exc is a maintenance queen. KTM wants you to change the oil every 500 miles or thereabouts, and check the valves every 1000. Another reason I chose a 690 is because of the much lower service intervals. But if that doesn't bother you then I'm sure either a 350 or 500 would be incredible as a dedicated trail bike.
Just keep in mind that the 500exc is a maintenance queen. KTM wants you to change the oil every 500 miles or thereabouts, and check the valves every 1000. Another reason I chose a 690 is because of the much lower service intervals. But if that doesn't bother you then I'm sure either a 350 or 500 would be incredible as a dedicated trail bike.
I would trade my T7 tomorrow for a 690, If there was no undenying reliability issues with ktm. I've known so many friends who had ktms and suffered issues.. having all of 'this' fun and being on the bleeding edge of technology can't justify a weekly/monthly trip to the garage fixing stuff..
Had mine over year, all I've had to do was change the oil and adjust the chain. Reliability problems were a decade ago.
I have one and your exactly right
RADE make a 6L tank that slots in where the airbox is to add some more fuel while keeping it slim.
Pictures or it didn't happen !
Couldn’t agree more👍 great vid
KTM guys never talk about the unreliability of KTMs.
Fuel pump failure, rocker head problems, and clutch slave failing, but thats all fixable and theres nothing else really quite like it
Best is still the Suzuki DR650, add a 790 kit and you have a bullet proof 360 lb dual sport, withy the gas tank where it belongs so you don't have to shift all you luggage to get gas
I mean, installing a big bore kit is honestly quite a heavy modification. Besides, if we start comparing modified bikes, there would be no end to the arguments that could be made. In any case, you're still stuck with a 5 speed, a carb, and zero modern tech. You may like your DR650 more, and that's just fine, but I don't think it's objectively better.
@@doomermotorsports In terms of reliability, which is critical for people that ride a lot, the DR650 objectively has a much better track record. I've literally stopped looking at 690s because of the horror stories and atrocious KTM support. Maybe they improved the newer models and sure, there are plenty of people tired of the bush pigs carb and 5 speed, but the gear ratios of the 690 and steering lock are called out just as much. Barry (cross training adventure) sold his 690 3 months in and went back to a DR. I personally want to try the AJP PR7 before the DR but glad you're having fun on the 690 since that's an expensive bike to be disappointed with.
Really great video!
Love my husky 701, good video
if it was not for that tall seat height I would love to own one.
Nice list. KTM, being the focused company it is, also offers their 500 EXC to counter any potential opposition in the street legal dirt bike market. I agree though, the 690 is the truest definition of a high performance dual sport available today. A dual sport really has to be reasonably capable on road and off, and on road capability means being able to handle significant sustained highway travel. I like the 500 a lot, but ya really don't want to do a lot of highway travel on an EXC.
I own a Husky 701 and love it - the 701 sits between a 300 XC and a Super Tenere. For me that stable about covers it! The biggest problem I have on my 701 is behaving on the street. Turning the TC off, riding it like a dirt bike and ripping wheelies is all to easy 😆
I have the 501. Last night I was driving around and saw this guy on a 701 with his girl on the back, mini faring, taking the highway at 60. It looked incredible. I just can't get the high tarmac miles in on the 500 without worrying about the the motor, or just feeling unstable at sustained speeds. I end up trucking the thing half way to the destination just to cut down on the street time. Any problem or years to look out for? I'll probably get it next season. I wonder if the 24's are going to be redesigned in a meaningful way.
I doubt there will be any redesigns for awhile. They just added a 2nd balancer to the motor (up by the cam) and added XPLOR suspension over the last few years.
The 690 will feel like a well suspended tank while riding off road compared to your much lighter 500. Yes you can make time on it, but ya really have to respect the fact that the bike is heavy.
On the other hand, I was naughty and ripped right into the triple digits on my 701 the other night. That engine likes to rev and pulls hard. I have a Yosh RS4 and Rottweiler tuning on mine, it runs like a freight train, truly the motor from Hell 😄
Dang..Sounds nice, I wish I knew someone with one to test out. @@Duken4evr29
Wanted to love it but my experience was that it:
- ran too hot for slow speed techy stuff, or stopping and taking photos
- too tall
- terrible steering lock
- unreliable
- KTM support is aweful
- parts are unavailable in much of the world
- expensive
- the power was fun but realistically would get me in some sort of legal trouble, it's pretty much impossible to not wheelie it everywhere
- most of all I never trusted it, the constant KTM issues meant I would never trusted it like I do my WR
Mmmm I have had the exact opposite experience with my new 2021 model 690. Maybe you tried an older model 690 which are know for having more issues. I don’t find it runs hot. I don’t do much slow technical stuff as I also have a Husky 501 for that. Power is not that crazy. It lugs down low and power only kicks in higher revs so can keep it low revs off road then ride it like a super Moto in the twisties. No issues yet 8000 km. A friend has 2019 model 690 and just passed 35000 km no issues. KTM dealers in Australia are good. I live near Toby Price and his KTMs have served him well over the years. Yes 690 is more expensive but has superior suspension, better brakes, superb hydraulic clutch, better fuel range, ABS, TC, can pop front wheel over obstacles, etc. etc. I loved my little 250 for 3 years but it was time to move on. Cheers
@@glossblack1098 yeah mine was an older model, think they've come on a long way since. Unfortunately dealer support in the UK with warranty issues is synonymous with being pure shit. Fantastic bikes when they're running well
@@nyedavis922 yeh you need a decent dealer and good support nearby if something goes wrong. KTMs are very popular in Australia. Also Yamaha. T7 is most popular bike in Australia in 2021, but too heavy for my liking. A lot of people dislike Husky KTM and say they are unreliable. My 2015 Husky 501 has been fantastic. Approaching 200 hours, no issues yet. Time will tell.
Running hot is because of the O2 sensor leaning it out at low RPMs for smog, and the thermostat too hot. O2 delete and a 500/501 thermostat solves that problem. The Wings exhaust is a must (the cat is just dangerous offroad). And the off-road dongle is also a must.
Skills and rubber choice is an important one, also wanted to note that there is NO contender for KTM/Huskies out there...good review
XR650R converted to dual sport gives this bike a run for its money.
I've never ridden the LC4 KTM 690, or any KTM. The only downside to a single is that they are not as finely balanced as a parallel twin, and they don't sound good. The new parallel twins sound absolutely beautiful. But 73 horsepower out of a single cylinder engine is just insane, and so I guess I need to add the KTM to my bucket list, just to see what it's like.
2017 and up Husky 701, and the 2019 and up 690, have a twin counter balancer on the crank, they're very smooth.
Put a Wings pipe/silencer on it and they sound like a dirt bike, a real dirt bike shouldn't sound like a road bike.
I own a 2016 701SM and a 2021 701E. Luv them both. I was going to sell the 701SM, but can't bring myself to do it. She's a keeper.
Oh man! Has there ever been a youtube video as reassuring as this one for someone who happened to buy this very same bike a couple of days ago? ahahahahah!!! Good job!
Rade Garage aux tank. Will give about 350km total range, and keeps the bike slim.
A very excellent bike to consider no doubt Beta 390 long stroke extremely light, pulls like a tractor.
buildin my atk. wp susp 280lbs 600 rotax magura brembo talon hubs
100% spot on
Agreed! Amazing bike. Best I've ever had for sure. BRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm planning on buying the ktm 500 exc-f and now I'm wondering if I should go for a 690 instead
Kove 450 is about to be the best dual sport of all time.
The only things that comes close is the XR650R, lol Honda totally missed the boat with such a great motor. The AJP PR7 which is a great bike the truest modern competitor, nearly got one but they have limited dealerships so 701 2 weeks ago. Out with the lard 1190R things are so much better now. Nice vid.
I hadn't heard of the PR7. I'll have to keep my eye on it. Good to see someone might be nipping at the heels of KTM.
690 still bests the pr7. you find videos comparing the bikes.
@@doomermotorsports AJP is Husqvarna legacy...
Not crapping on the 690. It's a fantastic machine. That being said. I can grab 2 CRF300Ls plus gear, new tires and a few extra goodies for the price of one 690 and my girl amd I can ride out. Plus....no one really wants that extra 30lbs plus. That's camping gear and for right there. Just made the 690 a tenere 700 when you add all the gear...
Great machine thought. .
You mean hydraulic clutch, right? Good video.
The ktm exc-f 500 is pretty dam awesome
The clutch is hydraulic (oil), not pneumatic (air)
What about the T700 in comparison ?
I consider the Tenere 700 to be an Adventure bike, not a Dualsport.
I own drz400s and looking for exc500 and convert it for traveling/adventure, I was thinking about 690 also but on soft Enduro 500 is better option
Yip you are right it is the best dual sport. Have owned 2 a 2012 and a 2017 . Have owned round 40 motorycles raced speedway mx enduro road racing and never had such an unreliable motorcycle as the 690 . So yes it is the best but at a very high cost
Pneumatic is air control. Hydraulic is oil control. .
1000%… i feel like the market needs a mid sized bike. Kinda a rally bike. The anticipation for the husky norden is awesome but the rest of the brands or more road or more dirt theres nothing that ticks both well! Im looking for this market now! Either buy a road legal 450 and spend 5000$ to make it more road friendly
CRF450L is poorly sprung?... Undertuned?....As an ex MX racer I love the suspension on my 450L, and if wanted, it can be easy modified. The Vortex ecu solves all tuning, jerky throttle issues. The CRF is refined on the road and beast off as it's way lighter than the competition. I think looks are important also, so if you love orange then yeah get the KTM, I raced an SXF350, but I thing the 450L is a nicer looking bike - always subjective tho!
I also happened to own a 450L, but my experience was much different. I should note that I'm a pretty big guy. 6'6" and 300lbs. A much healthier weight for me would be 240, but that's still 20lbs more than the 450L is sprung for from the factory. I did replace the rear spring with the heaviest one available, but that still wasn't enough. However I understand that for the average rider it's probably fine. I'm just being a little petty about it.
I also got a Vortex to help stop the flameouts, but it did little to help the jerky throttle. I even installed a G2 throttle tamer to help mitigate this, and it worked to some extent. But compared to the 690 it's still a night and day difference. The 690 is so much better with the ride by wire throttle.
On the road I didn't feel like the 450L was all that great. I got a SC Comfort seat for it, but it still wasn't a bike I'd like to travel with. Around town was fine, but forget going on the highway, it would rev to over 6700rpm just going 70mph. 50-60 miles is all the farther I'd care to go with it on country roads. With the 690 I just want to keep on riding and I'm not limited to country roads.
As for the 450L's competition within the segment, it's much closer to KTM and Husky's EXC and FE lines. I haven't ridden them myself, but in most comparisons I've seen the 500 EXC and 450 FE have always come out on top. A few things they all have in common is that they're extremely dirt biased and have very short maintenance intervals.
However, the biggest point I would like to make is that the 450L requires a lot of things that need to be "fixed" from the factory compared to the 690. The 690 doesn't need a tune or an entirely new ECU, which also requires a full exhaust swap in the 450L's case. The 690 doesn't need new springs or shocks. The 690 doesn't need a new seat (well, the '19+ probably do). The 690 doesn't need a throttle tamer. The 690 doesn't need a bigger gas tank.
These are all things I changed on my 450L to make it better, which also cost a lot of money. But eventually I realized it still would never be good enough, and I would have been better off buying a 690 in the first place.
@@doomermotorsports I guess we all like to tinker and make our dream bike. I can't fault it thus far, and having come from Mx I think it feels tame and not twitchy, suspension is stiffer than I expected and I often sit at 75/80 on the motorway with no bother. Looks is key tho for me tho, I raced kwackers for years just because I love green. Liking what you have and being yourself is so important - great vid tho, did love it 👍👋
Thanks, and it's not so much that I didn't like working on the bike. The cost and maintenance schedule was just so off-putting, especially after realizing I just needed a bigger bike. As for looks I really liked my '19 450L. I think the RL models look terrible though. Too much red. It's kind of the same deal with the 690. I really like the look of my '17, but the '19+ aren't appealing at all to me.
@@doomermotorsports they never look good out the shop, always need a set of personal decals, again, make it your own bike!
Only major downside to the 690, or the Husky 701 is that seat height for shorter riders.
Yeah, I'm 6'6" so I don't have any issues. My problem often is that bikes are too small for me.
ua-cam.com/video/8bfyS-S-IJs/v-deo.html
Husky TE630. Not many have owned them due to the short model run so no suprise it was not mentioned but they are better in the dirt (especially when it gets tight or technical) and excellent on road. Don't have Jekyll and Hyde electronics like the KTM690 that can leave you stranded which you neglected to mention. Having said this you can pry my WR250R from my cold dead fingers.
I didn't feel it payed to compare the 690 to bikes that haven't been in production for a while or aren't easily available. I'm sure I'd still find the 690 a better bike.
Not sure what electrical issues you're referring to. Feel free to fill me in.
Lastly, enjoy your WR. I actually like Yamaha's, and if it fits your style of riding then that's great. It's still not a better bike though.
@@doomermotorsports fair point about including just the current crop however also pointless if you have made up your mind despite any experience of the bike. The 690's faults are well documented in videos and forum posts. Google Fu required. Discounting my choice of bike as inferior without knowing the type of riding I prefer is fraught with danger...ha ha. Whatever suits our end of the dual Sport spectrum is best for us. Where I ride lighter and nimble is more fun.
I guess what I should say is that the 690 is the best bike, but not necessarily the right bike for everyone. I looked at a 630 while shopping, but buying a defunct version of a Husqvarna wasn't so appealing. Plus, any one you'll find is going to be about 10 years old now. I can admit they're cool, and very similar to a 690 from that time, but it's not going to keep up with KTM's improvements over the last decade.
As for the electrical issues I'm not going to scour the internet to find random examples of someone who had a problem. You could do that with any bike. I researched the 690 before buying and I did not find electrical issues to be a common problem.
Ive had 2 x 690, 1 x 701, 1 x 610 and an XT 600. The 610 was by far the most accomplished off road. The XT the most reliable.
Good video mate, but the clutch is hydraulic, not pneumatic.
Don’t for get the stock suspension is much better than the competition.