Does anyone own / ride / ridden a KTM 690 Enduro?
Is it really a good ‘do it all bike’? I would like a bike I can ride offroad / trail ride, commute and use it for the odd bat around the country lane. I am asking a lot… Is the answer to this, two bikes?
I am waying up the pros and cons of running my commuter and WR250R. I really like the wr off road, but when I have needed to commute on it I have missed the grunt and not enjoyed the morning battle. I think I really need to own / run just one bike – money and time are both a concern at the moment. Should I stick with the WR and accept the commute.
What are you thoughts?
KTM 690 Enduro
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Billy
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
Good bike for a good rider,are you a good rider?
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burls
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
steve braham wrote:Good bike for a good rider,are you a good rider?
This is a fair question.
I am crap off-road on my bigger bike (see avatar thingy) but OK on my little bike. I lack the body mass to properly steer the big bike off-road when the conditions get a bit gnarly. The 690 is awesome and a good compromise but from my experience you need to be a bigger / better rider to handle a larger machine properly off-road.
Did I make sense?
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CRH
- 250cc Trail Rider
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
Fair points!
I have put a few pounds on over christmas, but not enough to make up for my lack of off roading skill...
I have put a few pounds on over christmas, but not enough to make up for my lack of off roading skill...
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Billy
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
I know a bloke who uses his 690 for enduros,he is not big ,but is a good rider.Wheres John ? He will tel you all you need to know.
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newsh
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
Here I am!
The 690E is a lovely bike and it will do everything you want it to, I had the R version with the orange frame and blingy bits, yum
The only reservations for me were that the seat was as uncomfortable as my 450 and the front brake was a bit grabby, both of these are easy fix items I guess, comfy gel seat and organic pads would do it. So basically a big-ish bike, great on the road and off road as long as it's not too tricky (didn't like going up Gibbet Hill did it Steve 
) but not much more comfy than an enduro bike, much longer between oil changes and services though.. I think I would still have it but got offered a PX for a 950 SE, 250ccs more, V twin soundtrack, great balance and tall for my 6'5", surprisingly good off road as some here will testify and comfy with it. Oh yeah and cruises at 80 with 100 a quick twist away (as long as you can afford the tyres!)
The 690E is a lovely bike and it will do everything you want it to, I had the R version with the orange frame and blingy bits, yum
The only reservations for me were that the seat was as uncomfortable as my 450 and the front brake was a bit grabby, both of these are easy fix items I guess, comfy gel seat and organic pads would do it. So basically a big-ish bike, great on the road and off road as long as it's not too tricky (didn't like going up Gibbet Hill did it Steve ) but not much more comfy than an enduro bike, much longer between oil changes and services though.. I think I would still have it but got offered a PX for a 950 SE, 250ccs more, V twin soundtrack, great balance and tall for my 6'5", surprisingly good off road as some here will testify and comfy with it. Oh yeah and cruises at 80 with 100 a quick twist away (as long as you can afford the tyres!)-
newsh
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
Alternatively check out my 990 in the for sale section!
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CRH
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
Thanks for the thoughts...
I was very tempted by a 990 SMT during the summer, so I'm not looking at your for sale ad! Well not right now.
I was very tempted by a 990 SMT during the summer, so I'm not looking at your for sale ad! Well not right now.
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stevent
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
Chris
Like you I can only run one bike. I love commuting on my WR250R! What exactly are you missing? I haven't had a bigger bike though (plenty of time for that), so I guess I don't know what I'm missing... have you changed your gearing? The stock gearing is really high, I've changed mine down from 13/43 to 12/50 (and can still get it up to 75mph), have you tried that?
Thinking about our cobweb run to Hindhead; I reckon you might find the 690 a real handful on the trickier lanes. Not talking from experience but just what others have said about ideal size of trail bike.
S.
Like you I can only run one bike. I love commuting on my WR250R! What exactly are you missing? I haven't had a bigger bike though (plenty of time for that), so I guess I don't know what I'm missing... have you changed your gearing? The stock gearing is really high, I've changed mine down from 13/43 to 12/50 (and can still get it up to 75mph), have you tried that?
Thinking about our cobweb run to Hindhead; I reckon you might find the 690 a real handful on the trickier lanes. Not talking from experience but just what others have said about ideal size of trail bike.
S.
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CRH
- 250cc Trail Rider
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Re: KTM 690 Enduro
Hi Steven,
I've been thinking about the Hindhead run the last few days. It was a good days riding. I did enjoy Gibbets Hill. Can't wait to do this in the sunshine.
I did notice as soon as we hit the A3 you blasted off, it was a fairly miserable end to a great day. I was so cold and wet when I got home I only just managed to get my boots off! Lesson learnt - Dont get stuck in big puddles / wear over the boot trousers.
I have been mulling over the WR250 and in fairness I haven't really given it a proper go on the roads. I like it offroad and feel comfortable on it. I haven't fiddled with it at all, so the gearing and exhaust are options.
This winter has pounded my everyday bike and now is the time to sell it on / trade it in, which is what got my thinking. That and the fact that a 690 was for sale at PH. The 690 was the first offroad bike I rode and loved it. I completed an introduction to offroad riding with Desert Rose down in Sussex. A brilliant day and highly recommended. However judging by the bike Patsy at Desert Rose has for sale it must have been heavily modified. I know the Dakar has influenced my thinking. I love the look of the 690 in full rally prep mode.
I'm coming to the conclusion to spend a bit more time with the WR and then have a think perhaps next winter or this time next year.
Chris
I've been thinking about the Hindhead run the last few days. It was a good days riding. I did enjoy Gibbets Hill. Can't wait to do this in the sunshine.
I did notice as soon as we hit the A3 you blasted off, it was a fairly miserable end to a great day. I was so cold and wet when I got home I only just managed to get my boots off! Lesson learnt - Dont get stuck in big puddles / wear over the boot trousers.
I have been mulling over the WR250 and in fairness I haven't really given it a proper go on the roads. I like it offroad and feel comfortable on it. I haven't fiddled with it at all, so the gearing and exhaust are options.
This winter has pounded my everyday bike and now is the time to sell it on / trade it in, which is what got my thinking. That and the fact that a 690 was for sale at PH. The 690 was the first offroad bike I rode and loved it. I completed an introduction to offroad riding with Desert Rose down in Sussex. A brilliant day and highly recommended. However judging by the bike Patsy at Desert Rose has for sale it must have been heavily modified. I know the Dakar has influenced my thinking. I love the look of the 690 in full rally prep mode.
I'm coming to the conclusion to spend a bit more time with the WR and then have a think perhaps next winter or this time next year.
Chris