Racing you obviously hit things at way faster speed than you would probably do them while not racing and you would want every single ounce of performance for om the suspension. So I do think it’s different. Also buying a 690 for racing Enduros may not be the best idea. KTM 450 would probably be better.
In my experience riding the bike in pretty much all environments now, and while not close to Chris Birch and the like ‘s speed - I have yet to go “ hell the suspension sure is crap” in fact I often go... “oh my word I love this thing!”
I’ve had YZ’s XC-W’s KX’s KLX’s WR’s and adventure bikes etc and I didn’t find the 690’s suspension to be anything less than good enough for what I do with it on an average ride. The YZ’s was the best imho but of course - it’s a MX Race bike.
Again, the way you guys are going on about it would make everyone reading it think that you get on the thing and you basically fall off before hitting 2nd gear because of the suspension.
I think most is making a way bigger deal out of it than your average rider.
I.e better suspension is better, but great suspension is still good enough.
Hmmm, where do I even start here...
First of all on how many of those bikes did you get your suspensions set-up properly? Maybe you did, but I suspect like most people you just did ride the bike as you bought it, at max just changed preload. I used to do the same until I happened upon 300 that was by pure accident set-up about right for me and it was huge eye opener. It is difficult to describe how much more freedom and enjoyment well set-up suspension will provide - I was at least 40% faster on the trails in DeWildt than I was on the 450 I had before (and never touched suspension on the dumb assumption that the manufacturers know best). And the riding while faster was also much more effortless and therefore I lasted much longer. Since then the first mod on my every bike is to get suspension sorted as best as possible, and I don't skimp on that. And it doesn't matter how 'great' suspension is supposedly out of box - if set-up wrong, it isn't going to work well and you might as well have some much cheaper junk there. Even if I would buy Coma's dakar bike with his 100k Eur forks, the first would be to get it set-up right.
So after that long preface - with all due respect, if you haven't ridden bike with good and properly set-up suspension, your opinion is quite frankly very limited. For example I haven't ridden YZ but the fact that you believe it had the best suspension for basically enduro riding seems very suspicious, as one of the things that does separate MX bikes from enduro is completely different suspension set-up (much more plush and forgiving for enduro, much harsher for MX).
And no, I don't agree on your racing angle at all. While of course racers need good suspension to have competitive advantage, I would argue that weekend warriors need great suspension as much if not more for their own safety. As BTB said, you are usually riding way faster on the way to Tankwa padstal than most racers in offroad race - especially on full blooded bike like 690. And you will inevitably came upon surprises at those speeds, like a rock you might have overlooked, or a new washout after storm, where only great suspension may save your butt (racer on the other hand may be due to their experience able to survive even on simpler suspension). So I would argue that if anything - good and well set-up suspension - is one of the most important safety features of motorcycle, especially for people with less experience.
And no, the standard suspension on 690 is not going to kill you if you ride like a granny. But if you are going to push - and lets face it, most people who buy 690 want to push the envelope a bit, good suspension becomes much more critical for your safety and enjoyment.
I don't bitch about KTM modern suspension in vaccum here - as in they provide great suspension but I'm never satisfied and always want more (although , of course I want the best 
). I think I'm pretty realistic in my expectations. I'm calling KTM out on a dirty game they are playing with their suspension as over the years they were silently dumbing down their suspension on almost all bikes I guess to save costs (while increasing price of the bikes) and increase their profit margin. That clearly is not a good deal for customer - i.e. me (and you quite frankly). For example standard suspension on early 690 was way better quality than the crap forks they started to put in since MY2014. Why did the do it?
The same is true for the 950/990, where the suspension has been dumbed down in many steps (although there it was only travel if I'm not mistaken, internals probably remained the same). And the same is true for 500 suspension.
From all that I have heard, 640s had by far the best suspension - they just gave customers the best they could for the price, while now I suspect they lookonly after their profit margin (nothing wrong with that, but if I'm coming short because of that, I will make myself heard). So unless we make our voices heard (yes I know Pierer is not following WD, but quite frankly that and other bike forums are the only outlets we as customers have to voice our opinion), they will continue to play this game and we customers will be worse off.
Years ago I bought a new enduro bike, which was the same model the Western Cape Enduro championship was won on. I was familiar with this model as I had already owned one before. I asked the shop to set the bike up exactly like the championship winning bike, using the same suspension and engine mods and changes. The champion was a similar size and weight to me.
It was a big mistake, I simply could not ride the bike, all the power was in the top end and the suspension was so stiff it felt like it had none at all. I hated that bike with a passion and used to kick it every time I went into the garage. After the second or third broken bone I sold it and went back to a stock standard bike, which I loved.
Moral of the story is that the set-up for a racing winning champion does not work for a weekend warrior and can be plain dangerous. The manufacturers know this and save costs by supplying budget suspension which is good enough for 95% of their clients, especially on a bike not intended as a race bike. The Ready to Race slogan is a misnomer.
Another thing, the KYB SSS suspension on my WR is supposed to be the best in the business. Well I can tell you that it did not work for me no matter what did with clickers and sag. Eventually I took it to MP would customized it for me and now it really is extremely good.
Just my 2c
Topic: New KTM 690's ???? (Read 6960 times)
