My KTM 690 Adventure

[NordieBoy]

Drum dynos are not very accurate much above 100hp due to the difficulty in eliminating wheelspin.

90Kg situated on the pillion seat worked fine

A little freaky having an Aprilia revving it's tits off in a small enclosed room for this 90Kg I can tell you.

[Night Falcon]

kawekas



Black head beach...we got here after some careful navigation around major slips which have blocked the beach access...low tide access only!




good to be back riding with the 950...1st outing in over 4 months !

[Crim]

Drum dynos are not very accurate much above 100hp due to the difficulty in eliminating wheelspin.

The exact reason I haven't bothered putting the KLR on one ........

[Night Falcon]

....give her the berries Jimmy fantastic days riding!!

[Night Falcon]

Not up to the class of Nordies videos but I like the sound track

[vegeman]

I replaced my original tank bolts with those from Rally Raid. This includes the 2 top bolts and the one long bolt and sleeve for the lower part. I mod'd the top bolts to make them like the one-peice Aussie ones as the RR require you to use a hex bolt from the inside of the frame that screws into the machined piece (this is a pain in the arse to install)...anywayz

When I got home and began the slow process of cleaning all the f'n clay and shit off the bike (I forget how real trail riding drives crap into everything), I notice my tank/seat assembly had some freeplay...eek.

I notice that both top bolts had loosened, The left hand side wasn't too bad and tightened up easily...the right side was spinning around and around...huh?

The left hand side has a welded nut to the frame that you can clearly see and the bolt, tightens nicely into that. The Right side, had no welded nut so the exposed bolt just spun around...strange. I found a high tensile nut and managed to get that on and it all tightened up nicely. hmmm...I can't recall if the right side 'has' a nut welded there in the first place...I can't find any picture...so perhaps some kind and considerate 690 owner can have a look and confirm if there is a nut welded there?

I'm going to have a better looksy tonight to see if there is anything on the right side that supposed to have threads...cos' nothing was binding.

[Triwi]

I replaced my original tank bolts with those from Rally Raid. This includes the 2 top bolts and the one long bolt and sleeve for the lower part. I mod'd the top bolts to make them like the one-peice Aussie ones as the RR require you to use a hex bolt from the inside of the frame that screws into the machined piece (this is a pain in the arse to install)...anywayz

When I got home and began the slow process of cleaning all the f'n clay and shit off the bike (I forget how real trail riding drives crap into everything), I notice my tank/seat assembly had some freeplay...eek.

I notice that both top bolts had loosened, The left hand side wasn't too bad and tightened up easily...the right side was spinning around and around...huh?

The left hand side has a welded nut to the frame that you can clearly see and the bolt, tightens nicely into that. The Right side, had no welded nut so the exposed bolt just spun around...strange. I found a high tensile nut and managed to get that on and it all tightened up nicely. hmmm...I can't recall if the right side 'has' a nut welded there in the first place...I can't find any picture...so perhaps some kind and considerate 690 owner can have a look and confirm if there is a nut welded there?

I'm going to have a better looksy tonight to see if there is anything on the right side that supposed to have threads...cos' nothing was binding.

Vegeman. There should be a square nut welded to the frame on RH side as well. I have replaced top and bottom parts with 13mm shaft size (12mm original) which forces them (using lube) into the bushes. No play now so hopefully prob is fixed. Next time round will make 10mm thread instead of the 8mm original to make all round stronger system.
Hope this helps
Triwi

[vegeman]

Vegeman. There should be a square nut welded to the frame on RH side as well. I have replaced top and bottom parts with 13mm shaft size (12mm original) which forces them (using lube) into the bushes. No play now so hopefully prob is fixed. Next time round will make 10mm thread instead of the 8mm original to make all round stronger system.
Hope this helps
Triwi

Thanks Triwi...the welded nut is completely gone. pox!


I would say that the Rally Raid method for attaching probably would have prevented this failure, as they use a high tensile cap screw from the inside of the frame, back out through the welded nut into the tank bolt.

you can see now that I used a high tensile flanged nut to hold the bolt now instead of the welded nut.



I think now that all the upgraded tank bolts that rely on the weld nut are vulnerable....replace asap.

[vegeman]

I got 15,000 out of my first E07 rear on the DR.

I'd believe that...my E07's must be just be reaching the granite section of the tyre as they have stopped wearing (not really, but sheesh...they are tough). I did the KMCC ride week before last, and wasn't nice to them on anything hard, plus I then just did a quick 380K blast yesterday, and they are refusing to show signifigant wear. I'm sure this relates to other tyres also showing signs of wear, but these are tough.

I will say now though that while they did the mud, clay sections in the KMCC..the rear did slip a few times on the downhills and try to overtake the front (but that would have probably happened anyway) but the ride yesterday showed that hardness of rubber and lack of traction are starting to become noticeable

I rode to palmy from lower hutt but detoured over the rimutakas to martinborugh - hinekura - gladstone for a quick gravel blast, and the rear was having no fun at all trying to grip (wheel spin any gear) ...and very slippery on brakes. I let more air out to help but not really noticeable. On the return trip (after the rugger) the rear gave me a few little wake-up calls on acceleration and it broke free on take off, and once at 110...so yes there is more tread there, but I think the good rubber has gone.

Clint mentioned that the mileage of the tyres installed was around 11.5Ks, I got it around 13.5K's and its now on 18.5K's...so thats pretty darn good. Its nice to know that you could do a big adventure ride and know that you could get back without a change.

So NF...hows the heidenaus treating you. Also I see you are a frequent rider around the blackhead, shoal bay (aramoana)? I recognised the photos. My brother in law has a batch (really a house) at Shoal. I've ridden there once since getting the 690 and due for another blast there. Whats the roads like from porangahau? I know that there is a big slip from Blackhead to shoal (surely you can ride over the slip :-D)

V

[.chris]

While riding on the weekend, was giving her a fair bit of the juice and the bike died, it cut out completely (on the motorway on-ramp), was quite worried as it did a bit of a pop at the time, felt I might have blown something.

But it turns out my fuel line quick disconnect (the stock one under the seat) had disconnected, it was pure luck I noticed it. really unsure of how it would have come un-clipped to the point it disconnected completely. At least it was an easy fix.

[vegeman]

While riding on the weekend, was giving her a fair bit of the juice and the bike died, it cut out completely (on the motorway on-ramp), was quite worried as it did a bit of a pop at the time, felt I might have blown something.

But it turns out my fuel line quick disconnect (the stock one under the seat) had disconnected, it was pure luck I noticed it. really unsure of how it would have come un-clipped to the point it disconnected completely. At least it was an easy fix.

eek. ..thats never good. I think I'll check mine as well ...I hate shite like that.

Unrelated to the bike...but the feeling is the same...I had a moment in my Nissan Pathfinder a few years ago, under load sudden loss of power, heaps of smoke, tears in my eyes, as the engine has just gone out of warranty (wife...said to kids "nobody talk to dad")
anyway...like you, had a quick look under the hood, and while staring I saw that the turbo hose had blown off....the hoseclip wasn't tight enough, so I splashed out and bought a new stainless one for about $3 immediately.

Is this disconnect thing easy to find...I've had no need to check

[vegeman]

This morning and last week, by the time I crawled into the office, my engine has hit all bars flashing and the red overheat light. Yes, I had been sitting at lights, and putting into town, but was curious to see that it did. I had already check fluids the first time, and even lovingly cleaned the radiator fins with a toothbrush (wife thought i looked pretty obessed...as I guess it does have its funny side)

I see now that, there is a lower temp sensor available to trigger the fan to come on earlier and prevent it sneaking up.

ITs only the commute that causes the issue...everything else to date is fine, I dont think its a major but...hey, its about the bling and the mod's

You guys thought about getting one???

[Night Falcon]

.....So NF...hows the heidenaus treating you.

Hey Veg...so far I'm very impressed! some wear of course but nowhere as much as previous tires and I haven't spared the rod on it. Hooks up good on grass and loves the beaches! cool on gravel as well.

....Whats the roads like from porangahau? I know that there is a big slip from Blackhead to shoal (surely you can ride over the slip :-D)V

The problem is at Aromoana...BIG slip right to the low tide water line..we managed to limp our bikes past it over the papa and got round to Blackhead but impassible at anything past low low tide!...let us know next time you up this way...be great to catch up for a burn

But it turns out my fuel line quick disconnect (the stock one under the seat) had disconnected, it was pure luck I noticed it. really unsure of how it would have come un-clipped to the point it disconnected completely. At least it was an easy fix.

that can be disconserting! Gave mine the once over during my enforced respite checked & cleaned all the connections I could find. you can never do too much pre ride checking though!

I see now that, there is a lower temp sensor available to trigger the fan to come on earlier and prevent it sneaking up.

ITs only the commute that causes the issue...everything else to date is fine, I dont think its a major but...hey, its about the bling and the mod's

You guys thought about getting one???

Haven't needed to bother? they do get hot idling about but never had mine get to all the bars? I'd get dealer to do a quick check of ya cooling system to be safe. Hows ya oil level...when was it replaced? mine runs cooler on 10w50 than 10w60 motorex (or is that vice versa?) (changed the grade as recommended by Paterson O'conner at last change....I can check if you would like to know?)

[clint640]

This morning and last week, by the time I crawled into the office, my engine has hit all bars flashing and the red overheat light. ???

Did the fan come on at all? On my 640 I had the thermoswitch jam, wasn't switching at all. Pulled it out & gave it a burst of gas torch & it started working again.

Cheers
Clint

[.chris]

I have only once had my bike hit the red for overheating (curse you sand dunes) my fan switches on no problems.

Had a look at why I had that problem with my fuel line, and to stop it rubbing on the inside of the top tank bolts, I have it cable-tied down a bit to hold it away, but the last mechanic to touch it looks like he tried to route it above that bolt, which would have stressed it a little, and I guess the awesome G-Forces created by accelleration () must have pulled it out.

I do have to get my clutch fixed shortly, it has been loosing a bit of fluid lately.

Heading away for a decent weekends riding this weekend, looking forward to that, as it has been a while since I have had a decent lenghty ride outside of the 09.