My KTM 690 Adventure

[Eddieb]

Do you just undo the screw and do it up again, no compressing the forks or anything?

[Oscar]

Do you just undo the screw and do it up again, no compressing the forks or anything?

You're just releasing the air that's pressurised in the fork.
If you compress the forks, you'd probably get 5w in the boat race.

[Eddieb]

If you compress the forks, you'd probably get 5w in the boat race.

That might be an improvement.

[Night Falcon]

Thought I would share a few tweaks that have improved my 690 (for me)

14 tooth front sprocket has improved the bike off road heaps - top speed down to 140 but not an issue - KTM part #58033029014

Mapping switch on the bars - KTM Twins do a switch that picks up the three power settings and gives you access without removing the seat - 15 mins to fit and just plug and play.

Fork vents allow you to vent the forks without the need for a screwdriver and keeps the front end nice and plush.

On tyres - I have nearly come to the end of my Dunlop 908RR, it has done about 3000kms and has another 1000-1500 left. So wearing well but I won't be fitting another - price is an issue and doesn't give more kms/$ but the real issue is flexibility, the tyre is very stiff (let all the air out and it still holds the bike up!) and when nearing the end of its life handling is getting less predictable in the corners - Mich T63 next.

Cheers
JC

thanks for the tips. Interesting on the 908RR....They are a nice tyre but very expensive! I regularly open the air bleeder on the forks but have never felt/herd and air pressure release? ...maybe I'm missing something?

Made my own mapping extension which works fine. I liked the KTM twins one but not the price tag!

[CrazyFrog]

I regularly open the air bleeder on the forks but have never felt/herd and air pressure release? ...maybe I'm missing something?

You can hear the bleeders releasing built up pressure, but not if you've got your helmet on.
Just a bit of a FSSSSST for a second and that's it.

[Night Falcon]

You can hear the bleeders releasing built up pressure, but not if you've got your helmet on.
Just a bit of a FSSSSST for a second and that's it.

even with both my hearing aids on full noise Ive never herd the FSSSSST..... maybe I aint riding her hard enough?? note to self...ride harder and faster

[Eddieb]

I did one of mine tonight, the other I need to rotate the fork round to get at the screw.

No fsssst for me either, I must also ride like a nana.

[blacksheep]

you need to take the weight off the front end when bleeding air out of forks

[umopom]

A question about the bleed valves on your forks, how often do you need to bleed them? I have not touched the shocks on my bike at all yet (other than minor adjustments/setting back to stock), just wondering what the bleeding does for you? And should I be doing it?

Hi Chris
Opinions vary on how often to bleed the air out of the top of the forks - however the one thing all agree upon is that it needs to be done to help the seals last. The advantage of the push and release vents is that it is so easy to do that it can be done in 15 secs before, during and after a ride - take the weight off the front end let the forks extend and push - much easier than a screwdriver.
Cheers
JC

[Taz]

690 front wheels don't touch the ground < That was a pic of me after wheelying Johns one

[umopom]

Interesting article on mapping - I have got into the habit of winding the throttle from zero to full and back before most rides and can recommend the 15 minute idle routine, it made my bike markedly smoother without any loss of performance.
Cheers
JC

http://www.monomaniacs.nl/tnt/KTM-69...hrottle-issues

[.chris]

Interesting article on mapping - I have got into the habit of winding the throttle from zero to full and back before most rides and can recommend the 15 minute idle routine, it made my bike markedly smoother without any loss of performance.
Cheers
JC

http://www.monomaniacs.nl/tnt/KTM-69...hrottle-issues

I read the 15 min idle one is a myth and can only be done by dealers, as you need to reset the ECU before you run it.

I tried it once, seemd to make no difference to me. But then again the bike was running fine before it.

But I do the trottle sensor reset quite often too. that sometimes makes a difference to idle speeds.

[Crisis management]

The advantage of the push and release vents is that it is so easy to do that it can be done in 15 secs before, during and after a ride

The disadvantage is that they can also suck dust in when the fork extends & creates a vacuum, admitedly it is one of those hotly contested debates in dirt bike forums. Me, I just unscrew the bleeds once a month as part of a routine maintenance, don't expect huge amounts of air, even on the 200 after a reasonable ride it only puffs for a second.

[dino3310]

hey that 15 minute idol thing is crap, i tried it last night and it didnt do anything

[.chris]

hey that 15 minute idol thing is crap, i tried it last night and it didnt do anything

For a XR you have to do the 88mph speed test in which you will be able to time-travel back and change your machine to be a efi fuel injected, only then can you run the 15 min idle reset (after you take it to your honda dealer for a ecu reset of course)