The KTM 690 as daily ride.

[Omninorm]

Thanks! 

Some shitty pics from last night and was too busy riding this morning, but here she is...

[Renrew]

Nice bud!

If you wouldn’t mind, some details about model year, extras and price?

[Omninorm]

Thanks Renrew!

2017 (23 August.) - 300km on the odo - Hand Guards and Carbon clutch and ignition covers.
Price...well lets just say if you deduct about R35-R45k on a new 2017 Husky you will be very close to the amount.
I couldnt believe the price actually, since listed ones i've seen was say R115K for a 2016 with like 2500 or so KM on them etc.

[Renrew]

Thanks Renrew!

2017 (23 August.) - 300km on the odo - Hand Guards and Carbon clutch and ignition covers.
Price...well lets just say if you deduct about R35-R45k on a new 2017 Husky you will be very close to the amount.
I couldnt believe the price actually, since listed ones i've seen was say R115K for a 2016 with like 25000 or so KM on them etc.

Awesome! Glad you got a good deal

Give some thoughts after your first ride

[Omninorm]

Thanks Renrew!

2017 (23 August.) - 300km on the odo - Hand Guards and Carbon clutch and ignition covers.
Price...well lets just say if you deduct about R35-R45k on a new 2017 Husky you will be very close to the amount.
I couldnt believe the price actually, since listed ones i've seen was say R115K for a 2016 with like 25000 or so KM on them etc.

Awesome! Glad you got a good deal

Give some thoughts after your first ride

Took it for a ride this morning - it's a lot smoother than a few previous 690's i've ridden. Think it has to do that this one has stock exhaust perhaps.
Feels nice and light, gearbox felt excellent and goes well although I'm still running her in.

Will probably go play in some dirt after work today otherwise over the weekend. 

[Dwerg]

Congrats looks like a good deal. None of this riding in business though. Put her on the back wheel asap 

[dirtyXT]

nice bike! hope it brings you many smiles. what tyres are those? I'm commuting alot these days and looking for a decent set of treads.

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[Sheepman]

Great bike at a very good deal - enjoy 

[Dwerg]

nice bike! hope it brings you many smiles. what tyres are those? I'm commuting alot these days and looking for a decent set of treads.

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Metzeler Enduro

[Thumper Dumper]

Thanks! 

Some shitty pics from last night and was too busy riding this morning, but here she is...

Congratulations, sounds like you got a sweet deal.
The hand guards look like the originals that they come with, you may want to fit some beefier ones.
Cheers
Thumper

[Omninorm]

 
Yup it's stock handguards although I've seen some sold without handguards. Will def make a plan for aluminum ones but have a few other stuff to do first.
I purchased tank bolts - want to do that before I do too rough offroad with it. I want to lower the pegs and maybe do the bars. I am doing the pegs first then checking.
Also those mirrors, they really work well...but dont like how they look. Plus if I fall they will take damage. Also then a enlarged side-stand foot.

The tyres are Metzeler Enduros as Dwerg said. Perfectly fine on tar...feels like road tyres, and  they may be better in the dirt than what you would think by looking at them. I didn't push it at all since I was alone and still finding my feet with the bike.  Will ride them for a while before I get something meatier or maybe Karoo3's on the back with some MT21's on the front. Will see.

I took it on about 80km's ride yesterday. Did some hard packed dirt and a bit of sand....definitely not a WR250 in the loose stuff, but did a lot better than the Xchallenge coped.  I can imagine airing down with better tyres she will be handleable. In dirt...awesome! feels like a proper big dirt bike.
I forgot how these things wants to rev. up until 2000rpm not much happens, 4000rpm and up you still have dollops of power the higher it goes.
A new exhaust - for that nice thumper sound but on the other hand I don't want to deal with mapping issues and fueling and shit. Will have to think about that.

Here is a better pic. But you guys know how it looks like

[Thumper Dumper]

I have the Akro on mine and the dealer remapped it.
Sounds great but once again they don't come cheap.
Only because I can't leave anything alone I also fitted a rapid bike unit from Fire it up.
I find it has better low down power now and it also gives you the option of remapping it yourself.
Cheers
Thumper

[Omninorm]

Man...this bike.... I am seriously loving it. Looking back at my questions I'll be providing some comparisons I've found between this and the Xchallenge etc.
I just want to get it to the runin service and be able to properly evaluate.

I've put 235km on this weekend, then I had to work on it already.....





.....lowered and wider footpegs 

[Buff]

Looking back at my questions I'll be providing some comparisons I've found between this and the Xchallenge etc.

There are none, it's light years ahead 

Regarding the Akro and mapping... if done correctly there are no issues at all. Mine has pulled strong from day one. Fitting a rally raid air filter also makes an additional difference as the bike breaths so much better 

You are aware the bike has a mapping switch under the seat right? Try turning it to it's aggressive map and feel the difference 

[Xpat]

Looking back at my questions I'll be providing some comparisons I've found between this and the Xchallenge etc.

There are none, it's light years ahead 
...

Exactly. This is the only option in the segment right now (assuming 701 is the same thing of course). And while I enjoy 690, this doesn't make me overflowing with joy. I do wish Japanese would wake up and try to compete (I mean really compete, not try to dump on us 30 year old crap under the banner of 'reliability' - anybody can make old undepowered shit reliable just by overbuilding it). I would like to have a choice of 690/701 with 75 HP and let's say similarly weighted XRR, XT, DR with let's say 65 HP (so that they have some allowance for that reliability they like to boast about).

So should the rocker arms try to kill me, I would have an alternative to fall back on.

[Omninorm]

Yup I m aware of the mapping switch. It's currently on one of the Normal mode settings. I'll try the Wild after 1000km.

You guys say that there are no comparison...but there are.

Low down torque. the 690 likes to and needs to Rev. So for people liking the power to be made from idle to say 4000rpm it's a negative.  Not saying I do or don't. It's just a big difference with the two. The 690 keeps on pulling though while the Xchallenge starts to sign off early. Not sure how much since no Rev counter. . The Xchallenge lower torque just feels more big thumper and is a lot less likely to stall in the rough stuff. The 690 has dollops more power. I was grinning from ear to ear when at 120kph you roll on  there is a real tug. Ok the wind is making my body a sail...but man....it's awesome. No comparison in power after say 3000 rpm.

I felt the Xchallenge was a bit more comfortable seating to pegs for me. Hence the dropped  pegs now.
Suspension on the 690 feels a lot better( even after I replaced the air shock at the back of the Xchallenge) although quite harsh at the front. Still playing with the clickers.
The fan on the 690 comes on often when riding slow. I barely ever heard it on the Xchallenge.
At 130kph I can detect a slight wobble on the 690. Looking at the front fender it looks like that's what's moving. It's not an issue at all and one can push faster. On the Xchallenge it was rock solid up past 140kph. I don't think it's tyres bit the flatish mudguard on the 690.

In traffic the 690 feels like a weapon. Really you guys were right. It's so nimble and quick that you are having fun playing and taking weird little routes. This is good and bad.  The Xchallenge also felt good but yeah. Way more sedated feeling.
However, the turning circle on the 690  is atrocious. I'll need to adjust the stoppers. But this is a handicap. What is the reasoning for that? Safety somehow?

Throttle feel and clutch on the 690 is light years ahead. No comparison.

Weight...the 690 feels even lighter than it is vs the Xchallenge. You will never say it's only about 16kg - and the X did feel light.

Lights at night... Neither are fantastic but the 690 is better.

Seat...neither is great but believe it or not the 690's is better than the Xchallenge one.

Brakes. 690 by a country mile.

In the bit of sand and offroad I did.....again, only 16kg on paper but the 690 really does feel like a big old dirt bike. A real one.
Looks...well the 690 was always great looking. The Xchallenge is not bad but looking at the 690 is like 
Fuel consumption  both are great but Xchallenge is better however the 690 has 3.8 more liters of fuel.

So that's so far from my own opinions on riding both now.

[Dwerg]

When adjusting the steering stoppers, just make 100% sure the forks don't touch the frame

Have you checked your suspension settings? I have my compression dialled quite high which can make small bumps feel a little harsh. Adjusting to comfort can help.

[Omninorm]

When adjusting the steering stoppers, just make 100% sure the forks don't touch the frame

Have you checked your suspension settings? I have my compression dialled quite high which can make small bumps feel a little harsh. Adjusting to comfort can help.

Will make sure on the forks, thanks.
I've set everything to stock now after yesterday's ride and will start adjusting the suspension from there. One thing to note is that the tyres where 2.3 bar when cold. This is quite a bit more than what it says in the manual specs. I've taken them down and the ride was a lot better.

[Omninorm]

Looking back at my questions I'll be providing some comparisons I've found between this and the Xchallenge etc.

There are none, it's light years ahead 

Regarding the Akro and mapping... if done correctly there are no issues at all. Mine has pulled strong from day one. Fitting a rally raid air filter also makes an additional difference as the bike breaths so much better 

You are aware the bike has a mapping switch under the seat right? Try turning it to it's aggressive map and feel the difference 

If I put a Wings exhaust on do I need to get the Akro mapping?
Does KTM CT do the mapping?

[Xpat]

If you leave any of the two the baffles (one quieter, one a bit more open and loud) in (is that the correct term - the thingy at the end of the exhaust?) and do not open airbox in any way, you don't need new map. Only if you use the exhaust without baffle or open airbox.

Check Wings website for rules.

Edit: OK, its called DB killers. Here are the instructions from Wings website: http://wings.si/ver4/slikarije/WINGS_Remapping.pdf