Why so many KTM 690's for sale??

[Dirt Junkie]

This one is still going strong @ over 101K km
Worth reading the RR
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781893

[SchalkL]

This one is still going strong @ over 101K km
Worth reading the RR
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781893

Well I can't say that I am impressed   Most of the time he did not manage to ride more that 3000km at a time without some shit happening??
But I suppose the motor is still going strong.....
Quote from his post underneath:

1st 690 (2010 690R)... 0 to 25,000 km.
tipped over.. radiator leak 4,000 km. California
broken chain. 20,000km. Yukon
touratech shit broke. (all the time)

2nd 690 (bought with 25,000km) 2008 enduro E
35k km. Ignition coil low voltage lead came loose. Morocco
48k km. Auto decompress/cam contacting exhaust roller taking off hardening. Exhaust and Intake rockers replaced. Istanbul.
50k km. Cam, auto decompress replaced to fix previous problem (also cam chian, bearings, and guides. just because i was in there) Georgia
51k km. Ignition coil low voltage lead broke. Azerbaijan.
60k km. Regulator Rectifier failed. Tajikistan.
63k km. Ignition coil low voltage lead came loose. Kyrgyzstan.
65k km. Leaking fork seals from dried mud on fork tubes. Cleaned them under them... and it fixed them.
66k km. Ignition coil low voltage lead broke. Russia.
69k km. Cracked front rim. I hit hard. I mean HARD. Mongolia
70k km. Auto decompress weight screw came loose. This allowed the weight to pull on the auto decomp shaft and over time the clip came out of the shaft groove. The shaft slid out of the cam slightly and the bike wouldn't start because there is to much compression. I didn't have the right clips so we fabricated one. Russia
73k km. Leaking fork seal.Dried mud. Fixed by cleaning under seal. Mongolia
75k km. Bike wouldn't start in Irkutsk. (cant turn over). The clip had come off again. The auto decomp weight is now fooked because the screw had come loose and "oblonged" the hole. It has to much play and can pull on the decomp shaft making the simple clip fail. I made a Bushing/washer that tightened the slop in the weight.
79k km. Low voltage lead to coil broke again. Near Tynda on the BAM. Siberia. Russia.
83k km. New decompress weight and clip to replace the warn ones. Sakhalin Russia.
86k km. Leaking counter shaft seal. Japan
86k km. Rubber bushings in cush hub are getting sloppy so they are getting replaced. Japan.
89k km. Radiator replace. Fan rubbed holes on the back of the radiator causing leak. Japan.
91k km. Leaking clutch slave oring, leaking gear selector switch oring. Japan
92k km. Shorted stator. Not charging bike. Thailand
92k km. Motor mount/skid plate mount broke where skid plate mounts.
98k km. Broken footpeg mount where luggage rack mounts. (riding 2 up for 4,000 km prior)
101k km. Decompression weight sloppy. Replaced Decomp shaft, weight, screws and spring. Also replaced exhaust and intake rockers. (Thailand)
101k km. Lower bearing on shock wore out. Replaced whole shock with Tractive shock (testing for RallyRaid UK)

[2StrokeDan]

I've had buddies on 690's since they first came out, and had years to check them out very carefully. My only previous KTM, a 1983 495, was an abysmal money-pit.

The 690 has a good engine, but due to it's high performance, could just never last like an XT600 for instance. 690 clutch is also something to keep an eye on, and cannot take nearly the abuse the Japanese wet clutches can. Several of my friends had clutch packs destroyed.
The frame and suspension is very good.

The tank in the arse is great fun, especially when you have to unpack to fill up.  The speedo cluster is the worst I have ever seen, it is only possible to read speed, etc in certain
conditions of light, and of course at night with illumination.

Note that I am referring to the speedo's on the non-revcounter models.

I have been on several trips with 600kms+ days, and the 690 is really not that uncomfortable, once again not as comfy as my XT600, but then it is a racer compared to the XT.
I have gotten 25.5km/lt while accompanying cyclists on a long one-day event, and even at mixd riding, fast and normal, it gives around 18km/lt. This is great.

[Dwerg]

What some people fail to understand is that 690s tend to work a lot harder than the average DS bike. You need to look no further than amageza to realise what the prefered hardcore offroad tool is for people who can't afford factory rally bikes and don't want the service intervals of a dirt bike. Put your bmw through the same and you'll have a lot more maintenance issues than on the 690. If on the otherhand you ride your 690 to church and back, it will probably last forever

[Dirt Junkie]

I've had buddies on 690's since they first came out, and had years to check them out very carefully. My only previous KTM, a 1983 495, was an abysmal money-pit.

The 690 has a good engine, but due to it's high performance, could just never last like an XT600 for instance. 690 clutch is also something to keep an eye on, and cannot take nearly the abuse the Japanese wet clutches can. Several of my friends had clutch packs destroyed.
The frame and suspension is very good.

The tank in the arse is great fun, especially when you have to unpack to fill up.  The speedo cluster is the worst I have ever seen, it is only possible to read speed, etc in certain
conditions of light, and of course at night with illumination.

Note that I am referring to the speedo's on the non-revcounter models.

I have been on several trips with 600kms+ days, and the 690 is really not that uncomfortable, once again not as comfy as my XT600, but then it is a racer compared to the XT.
I have gotten 25.5km/lt while accompanying cyclists on a long one-day event, and even at mixd riding, fast and normal, it gives around 18km/lt. This is great.

comparing an XT600 with a 690 is like comparing a tractor to a supercar.

[Dirt Junkie]

What some people fail to understand is that 690s tend to work a lot harder than the average DS bike. You need to look no further than amageza to realise what the prefered hardcore offroad tool is for people who can't afford factory rally bikes and don't want the service intervals of a dirt bike. Put your bmw through the same and you'll have a lot more maintenance issues than on the 690. If on the otherhand you ride your 690 to church and back, it will probably last forever

+1

[Regis Laconi]

Ek stem saam met JMG. Die 640 is n baie beter algemene "do it all" bike. Ek is maar net skepties om deer die karoo te toer op n 10 jaar oue bike met 77 000 km op. Ek kan nie n 1190 bekostig nie...en ek hou glad nie van die 990 se look nie. Toe koop ek die 690. Dis n bike om aan gewoond te raak, maar na 12 000 km is ek baie gelukkig. Die sitplek is nie tourer gemaklik nie, maar ek het groot geword op off roads...so ek kan n naweek deer bring op hom. Anders dink ek dis nogsteeds die beste bike wat ek al ooit besit het. Vader weet wat ek oor 5 jaar na die een gaan koop.

[2StrokeDan]

Just some info on engines ad stresses produced;  If you rev your 690 in top gear at 5000RPM, and I do the same with my XT600, do you know that the XT is working considerably harder?
This is because of the fact that the XT is a long-stroke 4stroke, a real "thumper", and the 690 has a considerably shorter stroke. Thus while both are doing 5000rpm, the XT's piston reaches a higher speed causing more force to push/pull on the conrod at TDC/BDC.
Couple to this the heavier piston[long-skirt] of the XT, and it becomes even more highly stressed.

And yes, reliability wise, the XT is like a tractor compared to the finicky supercar the 690 represents.

Having said that though, when you push the 690, it changes to what it was designed for, a sharp tool. And I believe this is perhaps where most buyers are at fault, they do not possess the skill to push the 690 to meet it's design parameters. I do not mean this as insulting, but it is my experience that it seems people buy the 690 because of the cool factor
it undoubtably has, and then find that they have bought a semi-racebike which they find very intimidating.

[2StrokeDan]

Ek stem saam met JMG. Die 640 is n baie beter algemene "do it all" bike. Ek is maar net skepties om deer die karoo te toer op n 10 jaar oue bike met 77 000 km op. Ek kan nie n 1190 bekostig nie...en ek hou glad nie van die 990 se look nie. Toe koop ek die 690. Dis n bike om aan gewoond te raak, maar na 12 000 km is ek baie gelukkig. Die sitplek is nie tourer gemaklik nie, maar ek het groot geword op off roads...so ek kan n naweek deer bring op hom. Anders dink ek dis nogsteeds die beste bike wat ek al ooit besit het. Vader weet wat ek oor 5 jaar na die een gaan koop.

Jou laaste sin som n groot probleem op, ek sou baie graag n Yamaha in die klas wou koop, maar die naaste is n WR450, maar die WR is baie minder geskik as D/S bike.
Ek sien ook nie dat enige vervaardiger regtig kyk na n 690-tipe van fiets nie, alhoewel Husqvarna blykbaar die 690 gaan aanhou maak as n "701".

[Dirt Junkie]

Just some info on engines ad stresses produced;  If you rev your 690 in top gear at 5000RPM, and I do the same with my XT600, do you know that the XT is working considerably harder?
This is because of the fact that the XT is a long-stroke 4stroke, a real "thumper", and the 690 has a considerably shorter stroke. Thus while both are doing 5000rpm, the XT's piston reaches a higher speed causing more force to push/pull on the conrod at TDC/BDC.
Couple to this the heavier piston[long-skirt] of the XT, and it becomes even more highly stressed.

And yes, reliability wise, the XT is like a tractor compared to the finicky supercar the 690 represents.

Having said that though, when you push the 690, it changes to what it was designed for, a sharp tool. And I believe this is perhaps where most buyers are at fault, they do not possess the skill to push the 690 to meet it's design parameters. I do not mean this as insulting, but it is my experience that it seems people buy the 690 because of the cool factor
it undoubtably has, and then find that they have bought a semi-racebike which they find very intimidating.

for me it's all about the fun factor without it riding doesn't make any sense but to commute from A to B,  personally allot of bikes lack in this department and yes the XT600 is one of them. for me the 690 is perfect ticks all the boxes, more so than what a 990 or 1190 would do,  but I don't do long gravel highways and tar road touring 500km+ per day.  

[alanB]

If you like technical adventure riding then the 690 is basically the only bike currently available. I wish there were more options.

For me the 990's etc are just too big and heavy.

As usual it comes down to the type of riding you like

If your primary concern is why so many bikes for sale then this class of bike is probably not for you. It's a bike for the minority of riders who want go more technical so judging it on its popularity against touring class bikes is always going to yield the same answer. GS1200s etc are always going to be more popular. Simply because more people like that sort of riding.

[StuartC]

There are so many for sale because the riders have discovered the MIGHTY DR 650 !!

[Acajou]

There are so many for sale because the riders have discovered the MIGHTY DR 650 !!

Slow and steady wins the race 

[Baches]

I bought a 690 R this past weekend with 4500 km on the clock. Dunes, tweespoor paadjies and tar. We did al three and what an awesome bike. 130 kg with 65 hp. The akropovic makes a huge difference. Maybe they changed the seat but it was way more comfy than my KTM 530. You can't help laughing all the way especially on a loose gravel road. Ek like die bike kwaai !!!

[DUSTRIDERS]

Dan kan jy mos die naweek Koës toe ry met hom, dis mos net om die draai van Walvis af.

[wolf skaap]

I had to think long and hard when moving from dual sporting 450's for many years, over to something that is more practical.

I bought an XT660Z Tenere insead of the 690, simply because it is a way better commuter,it's like riding a couch at speed when doing tar, has a much more reliable motor, and can still take me up Penge's pass like a boss. (Penge's pass is one of the most difficult that we've ridden on our multi-day 450cc adventures.)

For me, the 690 was good at everything but not the best at anything, which is exactly why they are not the best selling bikes either.

[Omninorm]

  

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=163475.0

[Baches]

Chris dit sou een groot plesier wees om die 690 deur die Kuiseb Canyons en die Gaub te vat maar ek moet werk ook. Somtyds.

[DUSTRIDERS]

Chris dit sou een groot plesier wees om die 690 deur die Kuiseb Canyons en die Gaub te vat maar ek moet werk ook. Somtyds.

Het jy nog nie geleer delegeer

[Baches]

Jip ek het maar mamma sit in die US of A so eks aan diens.