My KTM 690 Adventure

[Night Falcon]

Were you already running with the upgraded tank bolts>? or were they original? - I heard that these fail, so I'd already replaced top and bottom bolts. It didn't however stop the bolt shearing the welded nut off the frame tho. The Rally Raid bolt are a two step process. high tensile from the outside, and high tensile cap bolt from the inside (now I know why they do it that way, as the weld can't come off if its bolted right through)

Mine are the stock jobbies but have ordered the RR replacement ones this morning

Sure does suck breaking chains this often, maybe you need to carry a spare in your tool kit? sucks alrighty but least I'm collecting lots of joining links for a rainy day

I have been trying to get out on my 690, but seem to struggle to get enough time to get anywhere fun. I have been doing a little commute on it during the week, which tearing up the rush hour traffic can sure be fun.
I have been thinking I might chuck the 6-Days nobblies on her and do a few trail rides. But then I need to switch em back for the commute, which means about $80 in tire switching alone, which makes for a expensive trail ride.

$80.00 seems a bit steep, I only pay $20.00 a tire thats with me taking the wheels off and dropping them off though, I could do them myself but I hate changing tires plus I'm too lazy and the pros are much faster, plus it gives them a job and thats good for the industry and the country all the same I'd be shopping around for a thriftier tube and tire takeroffer if I wis you .

[.chris]

Mine are the stock jobbies but have ordered the RR replacement ones this morning



$80.00 seems a bit steep, I only pay $20.00 a tire thats with me taking the wheels off and dropping them off though, I could do them myself but I hate changing tires plus I'm too lazy and the pros are much faster, plus it gives them a job and thats good for the industry and the country all the same I'd be shopping around for a thriftier tube and tire takeroffer if I wis you .

Yeah, that is $20 per tyre. Have to pay to get the knobblies put on both ends, then take em off again for the commute.

[Night Falcon]

Yeah, that is $20 per tyre. Have to pay to get the knobblies put on both ends, then take em off again for the commute.

oh yeah doh! seein were doin the math, 10 changes is $800.00 which is starting to make spare wheels look affordable, specially if ya can get some cheap second handers....maybe some motards even

[Night Falcon]

Rally Raid tank bolt kit turned up, 7days from date of order from UK, still waiting for ktm parts ordered 5 weeks ago from oztria

[vegeman]

Hi Veg, Yes you are reading things right that is another snapped chain, anyway I'm sure there is a logical reason for it. Am ordering a clutch control protector from tourtech AU, cheaper than new control unit for sure! Bad news on ya clutch definately sounds like some worn plates.

After bleeding my clutch I noticed one of my tank bolts was loose which is a pain cos means removing the safari tank to get at it, but then disovered it had sheared in half so had to remove the rear end to get the other half of the bolt out, gave me agood opertunity to check her over, found the battery earth lead had worn 1/3 through, I not a superstitous person by any means but I'm starting to think I must have run over a black cat or 6

Do you have any close up photos of the broken links so we can see what part is breaking? - curious, as the way it breaks can often determine the reason -

Also...since you had dramas, I pushed the limit of my chain with the East Coast ride...and its well and truly streeeeetched. So just installed new front sprocket 16th, DID 520VX2 and then a 45T stealth supersprox. I'm not sure I'll keep the rear sprox, as its teeth are really thick and square (which is where the get their longer life from) but it makes for a very very snug fit (too tight for my liking) - I know it should wear in...but you've made me nervous...so will get a Renthal or OEM.

I'm of the opinion that everything wears together, so having a rear lasting 3 times longer with a stretch worn chain doesn't make sense for me.

I've also order the Rally Raid front sprocket protector and also the Sigutech replacement clutch slave cylinder (I don't need it, but its more bling, anodized orange and has 2 oil rings instead of one...so that makes it much betterer) so I then have a spare in case the unthinkable happens.

[Night Falcon]

Do you have any close up photos of the broken links so we can see what part is breaking? - curious, as the way it breaks can often determine the reason -

Also...since you had dramas, I pushed the limit of my chain with the East Coast ride...and its well and truly streeeeetched. So just installed new front sprocket 16th, DID 520VX2 and then a 45T stealth supersprox. I'm not sure I'll keep the rear sprox, as its teeth are really thick and square (which is where the get their longer life from) but it makes for a very very snug fit (too tight for my liking) - I know it should wear in...but you've made me nervous...so will get a Renthal or OEM.

I'm of the opinion that everything wears together, so having a rear lasting 3 times longer with a stretch worn chain doesn't make sense for me.

I've also order the Rally Raid front sprocket protector and also the Sigutech replacement clutch slave cylinder (I don't need it, but its more bling, anodized orange and has 2 oil rings instead of one...so that makes it much betterer) so I then have a spare in case the unthinkable happens.

Pics of chain attached. I'm putting it down to a stone or rock as it has clearly been stretched and was set at spec tension (30mm from underside front chain guide and 5mm from swing arm).

No need to be nervous I,ve aready used all the bad luck chain karma for both of us!

[Tony W]

Pics of chain attached. I'm putting it down to a stone or rock as it has clearly been stretched and was set at spec tension (30mm from underside front chain guide and 5mm from swing arm).

No need to be nervous I,ve aready used all the bad luck chain karma for both of us!

WHAT lube do you use on your chain ?

Is it O-ring, X-ring, or...?

[Night Falcon]

WHAT lube do you use on your chain ?

Is it O-ring, X-ring, or...?

RK HD Xring brand new. scottoiler and oil plus spray on chain lube.

[NordieBoy]

Does look like something a stone could do.
A bloody solid stone though.

[vegeman]

Pics of chain attached. I'm putting it down to a stone or rock as it has clearly been stretched and was set at spec tension (30mm from underside front chain guide and 5mm from swing arm).

No need to be nervous I,ve aready used all the bad luck chain karma for both of us!

I've heard that the stronger the chains, the more susceptible they can be to instantaneous fractures, like many toughened products...under the right conditions they will shatter. I've no doubt that all your guides and stuff aren't worn so perhaps some rogue object just caught it at the wrong time.

I see the use of the beloved vicegrips, gotta have them for sure. Mine are currently still performing as my rear brake pedal until the new one arrives. Its been on there for 1000k's now :-)

The other thing I'm working on is getting the suspension mainly the forks sorted, as we know they are harsh for trail riding or anything that needs fast fork action. Have you thought about getting them tuned to be more responsive?

[Tony W]

RK HD Xring brand new. scottoiler and oil plus spray on chain lube.

Shyte, can't fault that setup.

A mystery indeed.

[Night Falcon]

Does look like something a stone could do.
A bloody solid stone though.

The road we were on had just been graded (we past the grader 5 mins prior) but the surface was rock hard and all the grader was doing was dragging up broken stones/rocks to the surface so I'm theroizing one loose one got into the wrong place.

I've heard that the stronger the chains, the more susceptible they can be to instantaneous fractures, like many toughened products...under the right conditions they will shatter. I've no doubt that all your guides and stuff aren't worn so perhaps some rogue object just caught it at the wrong time.

I see the use of the beloved vicegrips, gotta have them for sure. Mine are currently still performing as my rear brake pedal until the new one arrives. Its been on there for 1000k's now :-)

The other thing I'm working on is getting the suspension mainly the forks sorted, as we know they are harsh for trail riding or anything that needs fast fork action. Have you thought about getting them tuned to be more responsive?

You can only see one cracked link in the pics but there were 4 others (plus the one that snapped) so your stonger chain susceptibilty theroy sure looks a strong probability?

I never go anywhere with out my trusty vicies, some duct tape and support vehicle

[Night Falcon]

It Lives!! Awsome test ride today, no broken bike or tow truck required

[Night Falcon]

The other thing I'm working on is getting the suspension mainly the forks sorted, as we know they are harsh for trail riding or anything that needs fast fork action. Have you thought about getting them tuned to be more responsive?

missed this in ya post. The stiff setup has its plus and minuses for me. It is a tad hard for slow speed hits but has saved my bacon a few times hitting potholes at higher speed. The faster you push the bike the better it performs.

On my wish list for the 690 is a steering damper and front and rear suspender tuning tilored to my size and 95kg frame. Bryan Patterson (Patterson Oconner Rotorua) is a guru on all things spring related but I know I'm gonna need to get a bigger spring for the rear ($300.00) as a minimum so it anit going to be a cheap exercise. At the moment by bike fund has taken a bit of a beating so most likely be a while before I can afford to do anything.

[vegeman]

Hey,
After your chains snapping, and my clutch slip...I bought the rally raid billet sprocket cover/saver and installed the new slave cylinder...it all went together perfectly so nice to know that you can have two different suppliers sticking to the tolerances etc. My clutch seems to be ok now, the full fluid in the master was the issue, so fresh oil, fresh fluid. All good.