So..... I'm here again but this time it's with a difference. I'm not thinking about a 690 as a daily ride and I had and sold the Xchallenge. It was everything i thought it would be. Brilliant bike. Still not as dirtworthy perhaps as it should/could have been.
Some people here mentioned that the KTM 690 is a lot more dirt worthy. I've ridden 3 now, but not in the dirt. Always on the road.
So my current situation changed a lot.
I know ride a 1200GS LC as my daily and my long distance touring with pillion etc. Fantastic bike and I love it.
I also sold my KTM 250 2t and now have a 2009/2010 can't remember exactly now Yamaha WR250F thats licenced on the road. Plates, lights indicators hooter the works. and I really love this bike as well.
In fact for any local rides on any dirt I actually ride to the dirt and then ride and ride home. Fantastic until I have to go long distance or higher speed roads. i.e roads with speed limits 100kph and above. She will reach 125kph but then she is screaming.
On those roads at those speeds the little WR screams and I dont like doign that at all, so I end up sitting at 60-75km/h.
My mate and I often ride together and it was a blast till hemoved house and we discovered some other areas to play.
Now it's trailer time, or leaving my bike at his spot, then going there after work or on the weekend and we both ride on the road to the trails in the area where both of our dirt bikes are plated. It's really great to be able to do that but the longer distances brings the issues.
I can see now however that within a month or 3 we are going to get bored of these places and wat to ride others...this then has the implications of hiring a trailer loading and going riding.
I'm already thinking this is not a great situation. Even if we each get Xramps for our vehicles you now have to leave the vehicle in the middle of nowhere.
SO.....here comes the KTM 690 again sticking out it's head.
I don't need it for daily or commuting. I need to ride to a trail and then ride a trail and ride home.
Thing is my Xchallenge was pretty good at that...but not good enough (or I wasnt good enough) to really enjoy sticking to the 250's 450's at places like the quarry to Zone 7 or atlantis dunes etc. I did it...but not without struggling or falling in really sandy whoops sections. As soon as it got to harder dirt it was awesome.
Now the 2 of us are thinking of each selling our bikes and getting a 690 each.
I enjoy more technical riding as well as sand riding, but I also enjoy dirt outrides and exploring. My mate enjoys the latter more and he has a blast on farm roads etc. So me knowing what thats like and doing longer distances to places like Tankwa / Oasis etc thinks maybe the 690 can do all of that.
He could just get a 800gs or something for those trips and I can take the 1200 but then we will be missing out on the more explorative riding when we see a 1 spoor etc.
How will the 690 cope on quarry rides, Zone 7 enduro or Barrel farm etc in stock form, are those rides generally out now?
I'm an average rider at best.
Then I once again come back to why I chose the Xchallenge over the 690 when I needed it for a everyday ride.... reliability.
How difficult is the known issues to fix or fault find. Do they give warning generally?
Are any year models better than the other for reliability or capability? ABS requirement now is not a must as it wont be commuted with in the rain etc. So any model year would do it terms of functionality.
Where do you service other than KTM CT. How easy is it to do valve checks and fuel pump change etc yourself?
Should I just keep the WR250 and trailer it? A good clean no issue road going WR250F is a bit of a unicorn...id hate to make a mistake and not have that bike anymore and want it back....but I might have to sell it to afford the KTM. I sold a YZ250F before to get a 450 and after a few other bikes yearned back for my YZ - hence I got the WR and it's just awesome for me in the dirt.
The 450's 525's etc are out since they require too much oil changes and the like. The only option really is a 690 unless i'm missing something less obvious.
I just feel with the 690 we can get on and ride basically anywhere and not have to worry about all this trailer kak or have to wrestle heavy pigs around.
If we want to go ride after work I can take the 690 and go directly after work.
It just makes life way easier.
If i had the KTM 690's price in cash lying around I wouldn't be asking this question. I'd keep the WR and get a 690.
@Xpat, you ended up getting the 690....what are your comments now after your move?
WR250, 690 Enduro and a 1200 GS LC.... a man can dream right?
Topic: The KTM 690 as daily ride. (Read 12648 times)
