I purchased the 2021 KTM 690 SMC-R, in large part because I have such a good working relationship with my KTM dealer. You are spot on, the SMC-R is a great sport bike for those of us who can no longer endure the radical seating position of being shoved ass first into a garbage can 😆. Honestly I don’t think you can go wrong with either the KTM or the Husky, pick the color you like best🤪. My mods to date: KTM Egro seat, R&G “crash” protection, Wings exhaust, Rottweiler Performance “goodies”, SmartMoto fan override switch, and a high output Piaa headlamp bulb.
Hi Dan'l 56, is the ergo seat worth the price? I noticed at the end of my ride I was starting to get a little numb from the seat. Also does the Rottweiler kit make the bike more lively?
@@DSR1YT ; The Egro seat is definitely an improvement over stock, but if you have the time the money I’ve had Seat Concepts seats that we’re better, they just cost 50%+ more and take 8-10 weeks to have made 😕. The Rottweiler parts I installed were the “Fueling Dongle”, which took care of the off idle lean surge, the SAS Block Off” kit which stopped the popping in the exhaust when you close the throttle, and the “Canister Removal” kit which removed an obstruction from behind the radiator, ( I live in a hot climate.). The bike makes enough power for me, so I don’t feel the need for a Power Commander or the Rottweiler air box kit. Just a quick note: I’m in the USA, and here and in Canada the 2021 SMC-R is actually a 2020 bike with this years body work, they are not EURO-5 bikes, and because of that you will have to be aware that some of the “performance parts” which are sold are “area specific” and/or do not work on both versions. Hope this helped ! Cheers 😃👍.
@@Dan-56 Thanks for the tips Dan, I will definitely look into the concept seats. I will release a video soon on what bike I chose in the end. Stay tuned for my MT10 video that will drop today.
@@Dan-56 the Power Performance dongle does not work on Eoro 5 smcr, it triggers the error light. This has been working fine for at lest 400 Km www.avdvparts.com/product/4257686/o2-optimiser-701-690-2021
I'm on my 5th 1290! I've had 2 v1 2 v2 & now a v3. The v3 is in a different league to the v1 & v2.......I also have a Yamaha T7 which is a very nice bike but my dealer lent me a 690 smcr while my super duke went in for a couple of days for a recall, so now I'm selling the T7 & buying the Husky 701. What a fantastic bike & in some situations is faster than the 1290. I live in a mountainous region & the 690 was fantastic. One criticism the seat's a little hard.
KTM must be doing something right to keep you coming back each time. I now own this KTM 690 from the video and I 100% agree with you Gary, the seat is the worst trait of the bike so far, I can only go around 30 minutes of riding before I need a rest. At 110kg I may be compressing the padding a little too much :). I will be looking for a comfort seat very soon.
@@DSR1YT What I really like about the 1290 is that even though it's a very powerful bike you don't have to ride it fast, you can just ride the torque & no problem cruising & I find it very comfortable. Before I bought the V3 I tested it back to back with the new street fighter which was a fantastic bike but it was too much for road use and to get the full performance you had to rev it & ended doing crazy speeds. The 1290 makes the better roadster.....I weigh about 80kg so 2 hrs was ok for me on the 690....If you want a more comfortable seat Seat Concepts make a very good seat for the 690, but they are expensive.
@@bbouchan1 I have looked at seat concepts on the recommendation of a fellow subscriber unfortunately seat concepts do not make seats for any NON-USA 2021 690's. very frustrating otherwise I probably would have bought one already. they do say they are working on one so will just have to keep an eye out. I am looking forward to riding the 1290 GT in 2022 as they are coming out with a new model over the current 2021 line.
Bought my KTM 690 Enduro R a week ago. It is now almost run in and I am loving it!! It is great fun on all levels - I think the first modification I am going to do is get rid of the "HOT" exhaust. The original one has a catalytic converter in it and it gets seriously hot. P.S. Good review!
Great to hear you are loving your Enduro R model. This is the first I've heard of the original exhaust getting hot, Ducati riders are probably laughing at us right now. Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
Thanks for the comment Perry. I am getting more seat time on the 690 and yes it can power wheelie in 2nd but needing to be higher in the rev range. Finding 2nd gear with clutch around 25mph hits the sweet spot.
Does it lift the wheel in3rd with clutch? Got the 390 adventure and 2nd gear is fine from 25 but popping the wheel up out of corners at 50 would be a lot more fun!
This or 890 R for canyon riding? I'm guessing this is more fun around town and at lower speeds on very tight roads and 890 is better everywhere else. Had 675 street triple R, liked the handling, although ergonomics were pretty aggressive and suspension was rather harsh, couldn't care less about the engine, now have an 821 hyperstrada with a fun engine (when it works right) and great ergos but it definitely lacks in the suspension department when it comes to cornering, also had 390 duke for the wife, seemed to have similar ergonomics to 890 which I liked.
1st gear on the 690 can feel very chubby at low speed but when you get it to the canyons it would come into its own. The 890 would be a great bike for both town and canyon style riding.
@@volodymyrshoniia2424 If I lived close to the twisties the 690 would be awesome, if you needed to ride an hour to get to the twisties then 890 would be your best bet.
@@volodymyrshoniia2424 100% I would recommend getting yourself a test ride for a couple of hours on both bikes. The only real way you will definitely know which bike you prefer. But 15minutes away sounds like 690 territory if you aren't going to be doing much long distance riding. Enjoy my friend.
@@DSR1YT A Zero FXS ! before that a GSXR1000, yeah I got the Zero to slow me down but still have fun, but work stopped me charging so didnt have the range for my commute, Always wanted a supermoto, found this with dyno setup and pcV and slip on. Just gone down one on front sprocket.
@@richardwalmsley7579 I walked past the electric bikes the other day at the dealers, need to get my hands on one for a test ride video. What mileage range where you getting on yours?
KTM quote a slightly larger 13.5 litre tank size so definitely not smaller…. most probably the same part especially as it’s a structural to carry the tail section
I dont think any bike is " safe " nowadays Chris. I had a tracker fitted to my mt10 as I had the same concern as you, apart from where you park and what locks and chains you use there isn't much else you can do. Just make sure you have decent insurance to cover for the worse. But that said you can't not buy something cause you are worried someone might steal it. Otherwise you wouldn't buy anything.
@@DSR1YT I just figured a BMW f800gs was less of a risk than a ktm 690 smc also my insurance is £42.65 for a whole year. I used to have a kmx125 and a dt125r I could only get 3rd party on those bikes. I know what you mean though. My father in law has a yamaha xvs1100 dragster he would leave it anywhere not even locked.
I’m 18 and i never rode a bike before so I’m planning on getting this bike as my first. I’ve seen ppl say that the bike is tall and I’m only 5'6, is it possible to adjust to my height so my feets can touch the ground? Also i wanna use this fot daily life like school/work and stuff.
it is a tall bike, most bikes have some options on making them a little lower whether it be taking some cushion out from the seat, lowering the suspension through the forks and the rear spring or a lowering link. Search through UA-cam and see what other people have been able to do. :)
@@DSR1YT thx for the reply, i did a lot of research on this bike and I’ve decided not to get it anymore lol. Too much power for a guy who never rode a bike and it’s not very comfortable for long rides so that’s why I don’t want it anymore.
I think that's probably a sensible decision! Zoe started riding last year and got a 390 Duke to start with. Great beginner's bike which is still fun and comfortable too! But we've also got reviews on the MT07 and CB650R which could be great options as well. Let us know what you end up going for and it would be great if you could subscribe to the channel. Ride safe 🤙
Personally I wouldn't do more than an hour on the standard seat before my backside is numb, and the vibrations through the handle bars would get a bit much for me if I was travelling on the motorway for a lengthy period. Hope this helps. As always there is work arounds for these issues ie comfort seats and weighted bar ends etc.
I purchased the 2021 KTM 690 SMC-R, in large part because I have such a good working relationship with my KTM dealer. You are spot on, the SMC-R is a great sport bike for those of us who can no longer endure the radical seating position of being shoved ass first into a garbage can 😆. Honestly I don’t think you can go wrong with either the KTM or the Husky, pick the color you like best🤪.
My mods to date: KTM Egro seat, R&G “crash” protection, Wings exhaust, Rottweiler Performance “goodies”, SmartMoto fan override switch, and a high output Piaa headlamp bulb.
Hi Dan'l 56, is the ergo seat worth the price? I noticed at the end of my ride I was starting to get a little numb from the seat. Also does the Rottweiler kit make the bike more lively?
@@DSR1YT ; The Egro seat is definitely an improvement over stock, but if you have the time the money I’ve had Seat Concepts seats that we’re better, they just cost 50%+ more and take 8-10 weeks to have made 😕. The Rottweiler parts I installed were the “Fueling Dongle”, which took care of the off idle lean surge, the SAS Block Off” kit which stopped the popping in the exhaust when you close the throttle, and the “Canister Removal” kit which removed an obstruction from behind the radiator, ( I live in a hot climate.). The bike makes enough power for me, so I don’t feel the need for a Power Commander or the Rottweiler air box kit. Just a quick note: I’m in the USA, and here and in Canada the 2021 SMC-R is actually a 2020 bike with this years body work, they are not EURO-5 bikes, and because of that you will have to be aware that some of the “performance parts” which are sold are “area specific” and/or do not work on both versions. Hope this helped ! Cheers 😃👍.
@@Dan-56 Thanks for the tips Dan, I will definitely look into the concept seats. I will release a video soon on what bike I chose in the end. Stay tuned for my MT10 video that will drop today.
@@Dan-56 the Power Performance dongle does not work on Eoro 5 smcr, it triggers the error light. This has been working fine for at lest 400 Km www.avdvparts.com/product/4257686/o2-optimiser-701-690-2021
@@gialto1 Ah the usual EU emissions messing things up from over the water,
I'm on my 5th 1290! I've had 2 v1 2 v2 & now a v3. The v3 is in a different league to the v1 & v2.......I also have a Yamaha T7 which is a very nice bike but my dealer lent me a 690 smcr while my super duke went in for a couple of days for a recall, so now I'm selling the T7 & buying the Husky 701. What a fantastic bike & in some situations is faster than the 1290. I live in a mountainous region & the 690 was fantastic. One criticism the seat's a little hard.
KTM must be doing something right to keep you coming back each time. I now own this KTM 690 from the video and I 100% agree with you Gary, the seat is the worst trait of the bike so far, I can only go around 30 minutes of riding before I need a rest. At 110kg I may be compressing the padding a little too much :). I will be looking for a comfort seat very soon.
@@DSR1YT What I really like about the 1290 is that even though it's a very powerful bike you don't have to ride it fast, you can just ride the torque & no problem cruising & I find it very comfortable. Before I bought the V3 I tested it back to back with the new street fighter which was a fantastic bike but it was too much for road use and to get the full performance you had to rev it & ended doing crazy speeds. The 1290 makes the better roadster.....I weigh about 80kg so 2 hrs was ok for me on the 690....If you want a more comfortable seat Seat Concepts make a very good seat for the 690, but they are expensive.
@@bbouchan1 I have looked at seat concepts on the recommendation of a fellow subscriber unfortunately seat concepts do not make seats for any NON-USA 2021 690's. very frustrating otherwise I probably would have bought one already. they do say they are working on one so will just have to keep an eye out. I am looking forward to riding the 1290 GT in 2022 as they are coming out with a new model over the current 2021 line.
Bought my KTM 690 Enduro R a week ago. It is now almost run in and I am loving it!! It is great fun on all levels - I think the first modification I am going to do is get rid of the "HOT" exhaust. The original one has a catalytic converter in it and it gets seriously hot.
P.S. Good review!
Great to hear you are loving your Enduro R model. This is the first I've heard of the original exhaust getting hot, Ducati riders are probably laughing at us right now. Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
@@DSR1YT several people got burned by it. I ordered the Wings can before even buying the bike. Some people say it glows at night, not joking
@@gialto1 I can't believe it can get that bad. One for KTM to sort out.
Nice review mate. I thought the 690 could power wheelie in second? Does it need the clutch to bring the front up?
Thanks for the comment Perry. I am getting more seat time on the 690 and yes it can power wheelie in 2nd but needing to be higher in the rev range. Finding 2nd gear with clutch around 25mph hits the sweet spot.
Does it lift the wheel in3rd with clutch? Got the 390 adventure and 2nd gear is fine from 25 but popping the wheel up out of corners at 50 would be a lot more fun!
At the right rev range yes I recon it would come up in 3rd. If not playing around with different sprocket sizes is always an option.
Nice bike, man.
Thanks maddi Hudson.
This or 890 R for canyon riding?
I'm guessing this is more fun around town and at lower speeds on very tight roads and 890 is better everywhere else.
Had 675 street triple R, liked the handling, although ergonomics were pretty aggressive and suspension was rather harsh, couldn't care less about the engine, now have an 821 hyperstrada with a fun engine (when it works right) and great ergos but it definitely lacks in the suspension department when it comes to cornering, also had 390 duke for the wife, seemed to have similar ergonomics to 890 which I liked.
1st gear on the 690 can feel very chubby at low speed but when you get it to the canyons it would come into its own. The 890 would be a great bike for both town and canyon style riding.
@@DSR1YT would you say this supermoto is more agile and fun in the twisties than 890 duke r?
@@volodymyrshoniia2424 If I lived close to the twisties the 690 would be awesome, if you needed to ride an hour to get to the twisties then 890 would be your best bet.
@@DSR1YT 15 minutes away here 😅
@@volodymyrshoniia2424 100% I would recommend getting yourself a test ride for a couple of hours on both bikes. The only real way you will definitely know which bike you prefer. But 15minutes away sounds like 690 territory if you aren't going to be doing much long distance riding. Enjoy my friend.
i went for the Husky 701 exactly same bike, but it has a slightly bigger fuel tank.
What bike did you come from? Are you still happy with your purchase?
@@DSR1YT A Zero FXS ! before that a GSXR1000, yeah I got the Zero to slow me down but still have fun, but work stopped me charging so didnt have the range for my commute, Always wanted a supermoto, found this with dyno setup and pcV and slip on. Just gone down one on front sprocket.
@@richardwalmsley7579 I walked past the electric bikes the other day at the dealers, need to get my hands on one for a test ride video. What mileage range where you getting on yours?
KTM quote a slightly larger 13.5 litre tank size so definitely not smaller…. most probably the same part especially as it’s a structural to carry the tail section
Does the 2021 model have a rev counter?? Cheers
No Mike, just the speedo and very little info there after.
@@DSR1YT ah right just thought I'd read somewhere that the 21 models onwards had a rev counter, most of mis read it.
Thanks for the quick reply mate 👍
I would love one of these but just worry it would get stolen. That's just me though. Probably worry too much.
I dont think any bike is " safe " nowadays Chris. I had a tracker fitted to my mt10 as I had the same concern as you, apart from where you park and what locks and chains you use there isn't much else you can do. Just make sure you have decent insurance to cover for the worse.
But that said you can't not buy something cause you are worried someone might steal it. Otherwise you wouldn't buy anything.
@@DSR1YT I just figured a BMW f800gs was less of a risk than a ktm 690 smc also my insurance is £42.65 for a whole year. I used to have a kmx125 and a dt125r I could only get 3rd party on those bikes. I know what you mean though. My father in law has a yamaha xvs1100 dragster he would leave it anywhere not even locked.
I pay around £450 fully comp for the year on my 690. The mt10 was half that cost. Insurance companies put prices as what ever they want now a days.
I’m 18 and i never rode a bike before so I’m planning on getting this bike as my first. I’ve seen ppl say that the bike is tall and I’m only 5'6, is it possible to adjust to my height so my feets can touch the ground? Also i wanna use this fot daily life like school/work and stuff.
it is a tall bike, most bikes have some options on making them a little lower whether it be taking some cushion out from the seat, lowering the suspension through the forks and the rear spring or a lowering link. Search through UA-cam and see what other people have been able to do. :)
@@DSR1YT thx for the reply, i did a lot of research on this bike and I’ve decided not to get it anymore lol. Too much power for a guy who never rode a bike and it’s not very comfortable for long rides so that’s why I don’t want it anymore.
I think that's probably a sensible decision! Zoe started riding last year and got a 390 Duke to start with. Great beginner's bike which is still fun and comfortable too! But we've also got reviews on the MT07 and CB650R which could be great options as well. Let us know what you end up going for and it would be great if you could subscribe to the channel. Ride safe 🤙
@@DSR1YT yeah I’ll let yk thx, ride safe as well! 🙂
Great video! If you wanted to take a trip with this bike and maintain a speed of 75mph, would it be too uncomfortable?
Personally I wouldn't do more than an hour on the standard seat before my backside is numb, and the vibrations through the handle bars would get a bit much for me if I was travelling on the motorway for a lengthy period. Hope this helps. As always there is work arounds for these issues ie comfort seats and weighted bar ends etc.
I just took mine on a 250 mile, one way trip, stock seat. The worst part was a heavy backpack. Other than that not bad.
@@jisaackel9770 I applaud you my friend, I've taken the 690 out on some 50/70 mile trips and I had to start standing as my backside was in turbo.
Which bike would you guys chose between the 690 & 701??
I have choosen the 690. I prefer the color scheme and KTM is easier to sell on the used market than Husqvarna (at least in Portugal).
@@ClaudioSubtil1974 Great choice, Husky headlight is too dated for me, would love to see the 690 with the 890 headlight.
@@DSR1YT same headlights 690&701
701 has a slightly bigger fuel tank.
701 has more vibration in the the grips.
Is it good as a first bike?
personally I think yes, it would make a good first bike. light weight and a good turning circle will make a new rider feel more comfortable on it.
@@DSR1YT awesome, thanks for the feedback!
@@jacobstromburg5803 you're welcome, hopefully you are subscribed to catch all our up coming videos.
I also want this bike as first. Just drive to work/ school and do daily stuff with it.
How is the comfort of this bike?
You should watch my other video on the 690. 😁. In short. Didn’t find it comfy at all. Sold it after only 6 months of owning it.
@@DSR1YT thats quick! Thanks!
Loving mine but the seat is horrendous
I'm 100% with you Geoff, KTM power parts comfort seat it is.
@@DSR1YT seat concepts is the best seat for them
@@jif4356 I will look into them, thanks for the advice.
If you could turn back time and tell yourself NO don't buy the 1290GT
Hindsight is a beautiful thing to have 😁