Ktm690sm

[AlBundy]

A mate and I went for a ride today. I was riding a DRZ400SM. He took the KTM690SM out, since he gets bikes from work. Nice day out it was....

On the way back, my mate let me ride the KTM.

Firstly, the riding position. It is more road-like than the DRZ. The DRZ feels typical trail bike. The bars on the KTM seem to be a bit lower, meaning the seat to bar relationship is closer. This wasn't too much of a problem with the open bits but it doesn't feel as assuring when slinging it into corners like a motard should be, ie. pushing it down like a moto-x bike... The DRZ felt a lot more comfortable in these situations. Granted, I know the DRZ better...

Where the KTM has a distinct advantage, is in engine size. The DRZ is only 400cc vs the 654cc of the KTM.

What is apparent though, is that anything below 4000rpm on the KTM, seems a bit luggy. Above that though, the motor is heaps better. I didn't ring its neck but it takes off like the DRZ could only dream of... One thing that helped in this sense, (apart from the extra 254cc's), was the 6-speed gearbox. Where the DRZ could be in 5th by about 60km/h, when you get to 100, it's buzzing away quite nicely. At 100 on the KTM, you still have a gear left... The motor is addictive though... I want one...

Rider controls... The brakes are radial units but I didn't think they were much better than the DRZ. They seemed better for one finger trail braking, compared to the DRZ but outright hard braking, not much between the two. The clutch is hydraulic and the lever is very light to operate. With that, it seemed a bit vague. Probably something one could get used to if ridden for a longer period.

Overall, it rides better than it looks.

[Devil]

Small detail. It's a 654cc.

It's quite a tuned engine. All the power is up top so if you haven't wound it up to redline you probably didn't find full power!

Was the one you rode derestricted? (there's a throttle limiter in first, second and third gears untill you yank a couple of wires out).

I also get 240km on 11L honking around town!

Suspension is very much road oriented, not a lot of dive compared to other motards, also has a decent seat on it. Clutch is excellent.

Accessory screen makes a huge difference too.

The long gears do make the engine configuration pretty obvious. A big single below 3000rpm pulling long gears really shakes your fillings out, but above 3k. All sweet!

[AlBundy]

Sweet, my bad. Didn't know it was 654cc.

I didn't ride it that hard or wind it out. I don't know if it's been derestricted. It's a demo bike, so one would expect it could possibly be but I'd have to ask... Compared to the DRZ, it certainly had heaps more power.

As far as suspension goes, it was good. I think the riding position was more the deciding factor about how it felt though. I was riding it motard style and it didn't feel as easy with the lower-set bars.
Another difference, was the diameter of the grips on the KTM. Small thing but they were bigger than the DRZ, so kinda felt like one never had as good a grip on the bars. Also, the bars are a lot straighter than the normal mx bars, which also added to the difference in feel between the bikes...
I only rode the bike maybe 40k's, on a twisty road, so only enough to feel a difference but not enough to get used to it.

Also, my mate was behind me a lot of the time, so didn't get too carried away...

I agree. The seat is heaps better. One thing I hadn't previously mentioned.

To be honest, I think it'd make a very good all-round machine. Where the DRZ falls flat is lack of power and 6th gear. The KTM has both, so fills the void and makes it a lot more versatile.

[Devil]

Yer. As for motard riding style, I dont think it's for me personally. So I ride it like a road bike (except for speed bumps... oh did I say bumps? I think I mean JUMPS )

I'd like to try the motarding style, but just dont have the confidence regarding how far over they tip the actual bike, but then still sit upright!
I've had a little play with the suspension on mine and it you can pull it down into a corner real fast. Almost scary fast.

[Gremlin]

I didn't ride it that hard or wind it out. I don't know if it's been derestricted. It's a demo bike, so one would expect it could possibly be but I'd have to ask...

It probably hasn't. Dealers don't like their bikes being looped

I would rate the 690sm brakes as easily powerful enough. You can put it on its nose easier enough, so you don't really need any more. For me, it didn't quite have enough oomph for higher speeds, but Devil is enjoying his (and getting amazing fuel economy)

[AlBundy]

I would rate the 690sm brakes as easily powerful enough. You can put it on its nose easier enough, so you don't really need any more. For me, it didn't quite have enough oomph for higher speeds, but Devil is enjoying his (and getting amazing fuel economy)

Yeah but... And I agree... Climbing off a liter bike, does make everything else seem tame by comparison...

As for the brakes, considering it has radial brakes, I was expecting more... That said, they are quite heavy, a tad over 150kg's (I THINK). That'll explain some of it...
Get rid of the pipes and a few other things and it'll lose 15kg's, which would definately help it all round...

[AlBundy]

Yer. As for motard riding style, I dont think it's for me personally. So I ride it like a road bike (except for speed bumps... oh did I say bumps? I think I mean JUMPS )

I'd like to try the motarding style, but just dont have the confidence regarding how far over they tip the actual bike, but then still sit upright!
I've had a little play with the suspension on mine and it you can pull it down into a corner real fast. Almost scary fast.

It's just a matter of getting used to it. Once you click, you'll love it. Maybe watch a few vids on youtube, you'll get an idea...

I CANNOT ride the DRZ anywhere near as quick, comfortably with a road style, as opposed to a motard style.

Sit far forward, don't slide your butt anywhere, keep it on the middle of the seat. Push the bike down, also using your knee against the tank. Taking your inside foot off the peg helps a lot too. Weight the outside peg.

I did feel the DRZ was a bit easier than the KTM but it wouldn't take much to get used to. I'd go so far as to maybe buy a set of slightly taller bars...

I'm a newby at motards but that's what works/feels right for me...

[Gremlin]

Climbing off a liter bike, does make everything else seem tame by comparison...

As for the brakes, considering it has radial brakes, I was expecting more... That said, they are quite heavy, a tad over 150kg's I think.

Yeh, standard caveat of hp between bikes, I was thinking more 100-150kph, the passing speeds, you want a lot of grunt, or going around sweepers. A single 690 is never going to have that. Brakes are a single disc, I thought they wouldn't be much good being only a single, but as I say, you could plant your face in the ground with it, so not sure if you just want to plant your face faster? Besides, if the rear lifts too easy, you'll be backing it into every corner (not always the ideal).

150kg isn't that heavy (but for a motard, yes). Its bigger brother, the 990 is just over 190kg (but they are ktm weights, not jap weights). Also need to remember, its not like the performance motards like the sxv, who have horrible maintenance schedules to boot.

[AlBundy]

Well, I use three fingers on the brakes on the DRZ. Better feel and control, specially for stoppies. I found that three fingers was what I needed for the same type of feel and control. I tried two but it wasn't as good.
Maybe I had a bad example but certainly expected more anyhow.

And who said backing it in everywhere is a bad thing? Lol...

We learn to ride what we have. More sensitive brakes, just means we get smoother on the controls...

Tell you what though, it's got killer back brakes... It was snaking as it was, lol... Probably due to where it was set, kinda dirt-bike like, so it's good when standing but needs ones foot to be lifted to apply them, when sitting...

Yip, reliability does go a long way...

[Devil]

Tell you what though, it's got killer back brakes... It was snaking as it was, lol... Probably due to where it was set, kinda dirt-bike like, so it's good when standing but needs ones foot to be lifted to apply them, when sitting...

Yip, reliability does go a long way...

Shit yes. Real strong back brakes! I've actually just got around to moving the lever down because of exactly what you just said. Had to lift foot up to get on it, then found I was using too much and would slide the rear unintentionally. Shifting it down has cured that a bit.

Alan, believe me, it's got the 100-150km/h passing ability, you just need to drop a couple of gears to 4th!

[TKDSKIP]

Alan, believe me, it's got the 100-150km/h passing ability, you just need to drop a couple of gears to 4th!

This is good to hear I have been wondering what the KTM singles were like as the pace got up. Need to get past easily. Did you ride the Duke? How did that compare with the motard?

[Devil]

Haven't ridden the duke. Wasn't what I was looking for. It's only a couple of horse power different though so I wouldn't expect it to be TOO different.

The power is right up top though. It really is a tuned engine. Max power is at 7500rpm, at redline is at 8! Max torque at 6500.
KTM manual quotes them as having a top speed of 186km/h. Judging by seat of pants I'd say that's definately a true top speed (ie, not speedo top speed).

I like a pokey engined bike, it was a requirement for the new bike. It doesn't have to be record breakingly fast on paper, but has to feel like it. This certainly does. It goes hard and is great taking it to redline in every gear!

As long as it FEELS fast, thats what i'm after. Instant throttle response too. As in accidentally doing burnouts when meaning to pull a wheelie!

Edit: If you take one for a test ride, make sure you take it right to the redline. It loves revs.

[AlBundy]

Maybe next time, if there's a next time, I'll sneak a speed run out of it....

[Gremlin]

As long as it FEELS fast, thats what i'm after. Instant throttle response too.

Feeling fast is definitely better than BEING fast, having had both sides, I can confirm this...

Nice to hear it has instant throttle response, but lets hope the 990 is more about down low grunt, with a little top end. Work is snowing me under at the mo, so the bike hunting has been put on the backburner for now. Still need to sell/trade the 10 as well.