This video made me smile a lot as I was going through very similar dilemmas:) I moved from CRF250 Rally to Husky 701 Enduro and tried to make it my ultimate Unicorn Bike (more on that here ua-cam.com/video/ej9wQTHFR1M/v-deo.htmlsi=eltcjloReSWt-f6C) and when I started traveling on my 701 I found out I need more comfortable solution... So 701 sold and I bought 890AdvR, but then, a few weeks later, I also bought a CRF250L as I needed that light weekend play-bike for trails back again.... So now 890 and 250 (BTW: thank you for all Hyperpro related videos on your channel, very helpful !) are my setup.. what's next? I dunno yet :)
Just saw your channel and had similar thoughts. I’ve just completed 4,200 miles of Trans America Trail and Backcountry Discovery Routes in the US. Originally I planned to ship my 890,Adventure (non R) but logistically it was fraught with issues not least cost. I bought and “adventurised” 2019 690 Adventure R and have never regretted it. It’s kept pace with my old buddy on his Tiger 900 on the roads and was much more manageable on the trails. We stayed in hotels but had significant weight with luggage attached but never an issue. This bike will travel, potter and fly. I liked it so much when we did a test ride last year I bought a 701 which I’m modifying to suit. The 890 will be going. A great bike but more than I need or want.
@@Rossi593 Thank you for your comment. Absolutely, 690/701 is a great bike for backcountry roads and adventures. If you are not planning often and long highway rides, I agree - 890 might be going to another rider :) All the best from Poland!
There you go I told you you would enjoy it. I’ve been reading the comments on your video, someone has mentioned that they eat clutches, I can’t say that’s been my experience with my 701 in the two years I’ve owned it. Also regarding the valve checks every 6000 miles, the service manual may stipulate it but so far after two years of ownership and three services the valves haven’t needed adjustment yet. Once it’s out of warranty after two years you can do as you please. Finally someone was commenting on the fuel economy, tank range etc. The 701 has a 13.1 litre tank and I tend to get about 180 miles to a tank. I actually did a video on it which is on my channel where I ran the bike till it spluttered to a halt. Some of you may find it useful 👍👍
Ah, this is awesome to hear man, thank you. I might check out that vid, I'm not returning that kinda milage yet, but I need to let the engine bed in....and perhaps be a little easier on the throttle 😂
@@lightweightadv I found that from new the bike was very 'stiff' but the more you use it it seems to come out of it's shell and perform and sound better.
@@lightweightadvFirst 690, but had a 701 previously. But it had a rally tower fitted when I bought it, and I don’t need all that extra ‘stuff’/ So got the 690 and am keeping it as light and pared down as possible. BTW: I’d recommend getting an AXP bash plate for it. Maximum engine protection with light weight. Olly at Wrenchride in Bolton will sort you out. 👍
Well done. Can you just putt on this bike, or does it just want to quickly stuff you? It looks light, which is what I need. My hooligan days are long gone. Thanks, Jim
Hey Jim, good to hear from you mate. It likes to go fast, but it will happily plod. It's really a matter of you want to, as it kinda encourages you to gun it. That's my excuse anyway 😅
Great choice. I think this may very well be my next bike. Really looking for a do-it-all bike that is FUN, and can take me on all the local trails and forest roads here in the Pacific North West while still being enjoyable on the highways I need to ride to get there. Subbed.
Unicorn bike, for me anyway. I’ve got some 701 content on my channel which as you know is the same bike. Be sure to turn the handle bar clamp around, made a big difference.
It's very close to being perfect. Apart from the price (a personal decision) and it's height I think. It's also a little too unforgiving to be truly unicorn like in my opinion. I really enjoy it though
@@lightweightadv I suppose it depends what you compare it with. Against the Tenere and other middle weights it definitely feels raw, spend a couple of days on enduro bikes and it feels like an armchair in comparison. Motorcycle adventure tv have some really good content with these bikes showcasing what they are capable of over long distance. I hope you don’t fit a rally tower on and luggage racks, once you’ve added more weight they lose charm.
Hope you have many happy miles on your Gaser the LC4 bikes are in my opinion fantastic, I don’t know if GasGas have the “powerparts” seat option like the KTM version but for around £150 the difference is very noticeable and not a big outlay compared to the well known option
At 3.56 you mention something called a “spare day”. I don’t know what that is, but I have the feeling that it must be my biggest barrier to embracing the riding that I dream about.
Hey, thanks! The screen is the Adventure Spec Mini Fairing. It's brilliant, makes riding at motorway speeds easy. And you can mount all your satnav etc on it 👌🏻 www.adventurespec.com/shop/adventure-spec-fairing-screen-690-700-701-fit-1199#attr=1212
So many of us having the same dilema and considering one of these 700 cc ktm branded bikes. The question is would I sell my Tenere 700 or one of my 3 enduro bikes? Is the Gas Gas ES 700 that great to be able to replace an enduro bike or a T7? I know I would ride the Gasser 700 more than my T7 but the T7 is just such a great bike.
Is the ES700 good enough to replace an enduro? No, probably not quite. Just. it's a bit too big for that. Is it good enough to replace the T7? Absolutely, but you would compromise a bit of road comfort. As with anything, it's a compromise. If you're not touring far on the T7, it's a no brainier.
Ha! I'm on the exact same situation. After a trip to Patagonia on a GS800 I realised I was a bad at off-roading, so I got the CRF Rally to be a stepping stone into a bigger ADV (more specifically the T7). But now that I tasted how fun a lightweight bikes are, I'm not sure if I want the T7 anymore. My hope is that the KTM 690 platform would be the true jack of all trade as the CRF lacks power on the road. So... 💸 My bank account is saying "keep the CRF as it can do everything you need" 😍 My heart wants my dream T7 and that engine 🧠 My logical brain is saying the KTM690 enduro has the horsepower of a T7 with the weight of a CRF 🦄 My wishful thinking is "ffs KTM, just do the 390 enduro with 45hp, 130kg, 10k miles service intervals, and take my money!" Thanks for the
Haha, we went through/are going through the exact same decision 😂. I'll be doing a 700 vs CRF vid at some point, it might help. They're completely different types of bike really, but strangely enough, we think of them the same
Fantastic bikes, all derivatives (KTM/huskyGG) so much fun, capable and that extra “naughty” side we all love now and again, well most of the time in truth.. great choice 😂💪🤙
Mate the CRF is the perfect bike for south America I have just had my T& riding north to south and back to Colombia. The T7 is too big for the conditions I was solo so that makes a difference. But I would have been happier with my old 2012 Yam 660 :):) 😁
Did you keep the Tenere? Every once in a while, I think about switching my 300 Rally for a 690 Enduro. But then I remember, that: - you have to adjust the valves every 10 k kms (expensive) - It vibrates more than my CRF - It eats the clutch for breakfast - KTM is an unreliable mess - the bike is just too expensive for what it is. I still want it, don´t get me wrong, but it is just not worth it. I hope you have a good time on this hooligan.
No, the T7 was traded in. There's some truth to you're points fir sure, but the pay off is HUGE. Also, you can do valves yourself, or suck up the cost once a year. Its slightly more vibey, but not buzzy...its a thump, and I like it 😎. It will eat clutches, but they're an easy fix. The LC4 engine is one of KTMs most reliable yet. They're expensive. They're an acquired taste for sure, and not really in the same market as the CRF. It's definitely a personal decision 👍🏻
I wholeheartedly agree 👍 I ride an MY19 KTM 690R I also have an MY19 WR450f and an MY21 890 Duke each bike has a a place in my Heart each bike is amazing box stock my thing these days is keeping the drive components tip top to enjoy the raw power each of these legend bikes has to offer it's Michelin Anakee wild Front and Motoz Rallz on the 690 and starcross on the WR , Road 6s on Duke 💯❤️👌
Thanks buddy, yes there is definitely a bike for each playground isn’t there. Looks like you have a great line up of bikes there I’m not jealous at all 😂. I have to be honest though, if I was going to be jealous it would be of Jamie because he had just been able to buy the DR650, he is also much more intelligent and better looking than I am. I wish I was him! Sorry, slight tangent, anyway, ride safe buddy. Marc (not Jamie)
First bike that comes even close as a contender to the CRF250L/ CRF300L in my opinion. It's pretty much the same weight but with 600cc engine. Weirdly enough though can't find anything on the fuel consumption. On the website it says it's "low fuel consumption" but nothing about the actual consumption?
This video made me smile a lot as I was going through very similar dilemmas:)
I moved from CRF250 Rally to Husky 701 Enduro and tried to make it my ultimate Unicorn Bike (more on that here ua-cam.com/video/ej9wQTHFR1M/v-deo.htmlsi=eltcjloReSWt-f6C) and when I started traveling on my 701 I found out I need more comfortable solution... So 701 sold and I bought 890AdvR, but then, a few weeks later, I also bought a CRF250L as I needed that light weekend play-bike for trails back again.... So now 890 and 250 (BTW: thank you for all Hyperpro related videos on your channel, very helpful !) are my setup.. what's next? I dunno yet :)
Man, sounds like we're going around the same things 😂. Seems everyone who has ever owned one feels like they need a CRF in their garage 👌🏻
Just saw your channel and had similar thoughts. I’ve just completed 4,200 miles of Trans America Trail and Backcountry Discovery Routes in the US. Originally I planned to ship my 890,Adventure (non R) but logistically it was fraught with issues not least cost. I bought and “adventurised” 2019 690 Adventure R and have never regretted it. It’s kept pace with my old buddy on his Tiger 900 on the roads and was much more manageable on the trails. We stayed in hotels but had significant weight with luggage attached but never an issue. This bike will travel, potter and fly. I liked it so much when we did a test ride last year I bought a 701 which I’m modifying to suit. The 890 will be going. A great bike but more than I need or want.
@@Rossi593 Thank you for your comment. Absolutely, 690/701 is a great bike for backcountry roads and adventures.
If you are not planning often and long highway rides, I agree - 890 might be going to another rider :)
All the best from Poland!
There you go I told you you would enjoy it. I’ve been reading the comments on your video, someone has mentioned that they eat clutches, I can’t say that’s been my experience with my 701 in the two years I’ve owned it.
Also regarding the valve checks every 6000 miles, the service manual may stipulate it but so far after two years of ownership and three services the valves haven’t needed adjustment yet. Once it’s out of warranty after two years you can do as you please.
Finally someone was commenting on the fuel economy, tank range etc. The 701 has a 13.1 litre tank and I tend to get about 180 miles to a tank. I actually did a video on it which is on my channel where I ran the bike till it spluttered to a halt. Some of you may find it useful 👍👍
Ah, this is awesome to hear man, thank you. I might check out that vid, I'm not returning that kinda milage yet, but I need to let the engine bed in....and perhaps be a little easier on the throttle 😂
@@lightweightadv I found that from new the bike was very 'stiff' but the more you use it it seems to come out of it's shell and perform and sound better.
Can't wait 😎
Very nice!! I have gone back to a 690 Enduro R for the same reasons, and am loving it… Hope you have a lot of fun with the Gas Gas.
I imagine I will dude. Are you on the your 2nd 690 now, then?
@@lightweightadvFirst 690, but had a 701 previously. But it had a rally tower fitted when I bought it, and I don’t need all that extra ‘stuff’/ So got the 690 and am keeping it as light and pared down as possible. BTW: I’d recommend getting an AXP bash plate for it. Maximum engine protection with light weight. Olly at Wrenchride in Bolton will sort you out. 👍
Well done. Can you just putt on this bike, or does it just want to quickly stuff you? It looks light, which is what I need. My hooligan days are long gone. Thanks, Jim
Hey Jim, good to hear from you mate. It likes to go fast, but it will happily plod. It's really a matter of you want to, as it kinda encourages you to gun it. That's my excuse anyway 😅
Were you down the back of Cranwell, old Roman road then gorse hill??
You got it 👍🏻
5 months in South America, that's amazing, well done and enjoy - I'm jealous
Great choice. I think this may very well be my next bike. Really looking for a do-it-all bike that is FUN, and can take me on all the local trails and forest roads here in the Pacific North West while still being enjoyable on the highways I need to ride to get there. Subbed.
Hey, just seen this comment. Cool, this bike sounds like the kinda thing you're after 😎👍🏻
Unicorn bike, for me anyway. I’ve got some 701 content on my channel which as you know is the same bike. Be sure to turn the handle bar clamp around, made a big difference.
It's very close to being perfect. Apart from the price (a personal decision) and it's height I think. It's also a little too unforgiving to be truly unicorn like in my opinion. I really enjoy it though
@@lightweightadv I suppose it depends what you compare it with. Against the Tenere and other middle weights it definitely feels raw, spend a couple of days on enduro bikes and it feels like an armchair in comparison.
Motorcycle adventure tv have some really good content with these bikes showcasing what they are capable of over long distance. I hope you don’t fit a rally tower on and luggage racks, once you’ve added more weight they lose charm.
Hope you have many happy miles on your Gaser the LC4 bikes are in my opinion fantastic, I don’t know if GasGas have the “powerparts” seat option like the KTM version but for around £150 the difference is very noticeable and not a big outlay compared to the well known option
Im already having a ball with it. Funnily enough, I'm starting to get used to the seat already...
At 3.56 you mention something called a “spare day”. I don’t know what that is, but I have the feeling that it must be my biggest barrier to embracing the riding that I dream about.
Yeah, they're harder to find than the fabled unicorn bike 😂
It's just a day off. A day when there's nowt planned
Which windshield are you using here? Great video!!
Hey, thanks! The screen is the Adventure Spec Mini Fairing. It's brilliant, makes riding at motorway speeds easy. And you can mount all your satnav etc on it 👌🏻
www.adventurespec.com/shop/adventure-spec-fairing-screen-690-700-701-fit-1199#attr=1212
So many of us having the same dilema and considering one of these 700 cc ktm branded bikes. The question is would I sell my Tenere 700 or one of my 3 enduro bikes? Is the Gas Gas ES 700 that great to be able to replace an enduro bike or a T7? I know I would ride the Gasser 700 more than my T7 but the T7 is just such a great bike.
Is the ES700 good enough to replace an enduro? No, probably not quite. Just. it's a bit too big for that. Is it good enough to replace the T7? Absolutely, but you would compromise a bit of road comfort. As with anything, it's a compromise. If you're not touring far on the T7, it's a no brainier.
@@lightweightadv yes that's what I needed to hear thank you, thank you, thank you so much 👍
Ha! I'm on the exact same situation. After a trip to Patagonia on a GS800 I realised I was a bad at off-roading, so I got the CRF Rally to be a stepping stone into a bigger ADV (more specifically the T7). But now that I tasted how fun a lightweight bikes are, I'm not sure if I want the T7 anymore. My hope is that the KTM 690 platform would be the true jack of all trade as the CRF lacks power on the road. So...
💸 My bank account is saying "keep the CRF as it can do everything you need"
😍 My heart wants my dream T7 and that engine
🧠 My logical brain is saying the KTM690 enduro has the horsepower of a T7 with the weight of a CRF
🦄 My wishful thinking is "ffs KTM, just do the 390 enduro with 45hp, 130kg, 10k miles service intervals, and take my money!"
Thanks for the
Haha, we went through/are going through the exact same decision 😂. I'll be doing a 700 vs CRF vid at some point, it might help. They're completely different types of bike really, but strangely enough, we think of them the same
Fantastic bikes, all derivatives (KTM/huskyGG) so much fun, capable and that extra “naughty” side we all love now and again, well most of the time in truth.. great choice 😂💪🤙
Yeah, most of the time!
Yeah, I got one of those as well. Went to buy a 790, and dodged the bullet!
Haha, yep, a very different beast indeed. Hope you're enjoying it as much as I am mine 😎👌🏻
Mate the CRF is the perfect bike for south America I have just had my T& riding north to south and back to Colombia. The T7 is too big for the conditions I was solo so that makes a difference. But I would have been happier with my old 2012 Yam 660 :):) 😁
Ah man, this is exactly what I needed to hear. I just got a feeling that it would be the ideal bike. How long were you out there for?
Did you keep the Tenere?
Every once in a while, I think about switching my 300 Rally for a 690 Enduro. But then I remember, that:
- you have to adjust the valves every 10 k kms (expensive)
- It vibrates more than my CRF
- It eats the clutch for breakfast
- KTM is an unreliable mess
- the bike is just too expensive for what it is.
I still want it, don´t get me wrong, but it is just not worth it.
I hope you have a good time on this hooligan.
No, the T7 was traded in. There's some truth to you're points fir sure, but the pay off is HUGE. Also, you can do valves yourself, or suck up the cost once a year. Its slightly more vibey, but not buzzy...its a thump, and I like it 😎. It will eat clutches, but they're an easy fix. The LC4 engine is one of KTMs most reliable yet. They're expensive.
They're an acquired taste for sure, and not really in the same market as the CRF. It's definitely a personal decision 👍🏻
10k kms is better than a lot of bikes out there, valve check is easy, too. Get the workshop manual in digital form, it's all you need.
1:35 Gotta love our first world problems
I wholeheartedly agree 👍 I ride an MY19 KTM 690R I also have an MY19 WR450f and an MY21 890 Duke each bike has a a place in my Heart each bike is amazing box stock my thing these days is keeping the drive components tip top to enjoy the raw power each of these legend bikes has to offer it's Michelin Anakee wild Front and Motoz Rallz on the 690 and starcross on the WR , Road 6s on Duke 💯❤️👌
Thanks buddy, yes there is definitely a bike for each playground isn’t there. Looks like you have a great line up of bikes there I’m not jealous at all 😂.
I have to be honest though, if I was going to be jealous it would be of Jamie because he had just been able to buy the DR650, he is also much more intelligent and better looking than I am. I wish I was him!
Sorry, slight tangent, anyway, ride safe buddy.
Marc (not Jamie)
Looking forward to the video in 12 months time with the thumbnail. I was happier on the Honda.
The Honda isn't going anywhere. I'm spending 5 months exploring south America on it. Best of both worlds 👍🏻
I have a 701 and a Jack Russell; they will both bite you if you don't respect them..
😂. I'm not sure which one I'd fear the most
Light is right.
I went the other way, GasGas700 - T700WR just grow a pair 😊
The GasGas is more of an animal on the trails and needs a bigger pair than the T7 😂
You are right, it is an absolute animal, that’s what scared me, maybe it’s too late for middle aged men to grow a pair, great content as always 👏👏😎
They dont want you on a unicorn bike. thats bad business!
First bike that comes even close as a contender to the CRF250L/ CRF300L in my opinion. It's pretty much the same weight but with 600cc engine.
Weirdly enough though can't find anything on the fuel consumption. On the website it says it's "low fuel consumption" but nothing about the actual consumption?
That's why I like it so much, it's a CRF on 'roids 😂. I'm getting around 55mpg at, but I'm still running it in. I hope that goes up a fair bit yet.
12k miles on my 690, I get 55-60mpg with a Rotweiller intake and PCV! Awesome imo
take a spare clutch with you in august.
I'm taking the CRF mate. And a spare clutch 👌🏻
Problem is your gas gas 700 is ktm
Crap. If it was a Yamaha it would be good. We need to wait for Japanese to make one
this sucked in plain english