690s must be tough bikes

[XF650]

For the 4th time in the last couple of months I'v picked up a bike for someone in the course of my work trips. Yesterday this 690 & it's rider went their seperate ways near the top of the Black Forest Track. Even with broken collar bone & fractured ribs, he still managed to ride out to Kurow (an amazing feat), then an ambulance ride to hospital.
By coincidence I was coming back from Otago with empty trailer, so today I gave them a ride home & had time to discuss what caused the off. He had just fitted a new EO7 rear but had left a worn Sirac (?) on the front. What he thinks happened was the rear overpowered the front on a tight corner, he over-corrected & the bike high-sided.
Considering the terrain & knowing the speed he would have been going, I was amazed that the only damage I could see on the 690 was a few scratches on the plastics.

[bart]

The bike is obviously far to powerful for him. Tell him if he wants to swap for nice placid DR650, I might consider it for a small exchange fee (he pays me).

[.chris]

Looks more like a Sahara 3 on the front.

But you are right, the 690's are pretty tough, almost as tough as the guys who ride them.

[Night Falcon]

tough as goats knuckles...the power dose come on strong especially in the no2 ignition setting....I was astounded buy the extra forward velocity when I fitted a new tkc 80 to the rear!!

suffice it to say you need to have the front end pointing in the right direction when opening the throtle or else you'll be tree huggin before ya know it

[XF650]

tough as goats knuckles...the power dose come on strong especially in the no2 ignition setting....I was astounded buy the extra forward velocity when I fitted a new tkc 80 to the rear!!

suffice it to say you need to have the front end pointing in the right direction when opening the throtle or else you'll be tree huggin before ya know it

Yip - evidently his "hugging" a matagari bush was what saved him from going to the bottom. And then he had to climb back up to the track........