New bike time (almost)

[NordieBoy]

Geez you'd be riding on paper thickness by then!

Yeah but it makes it more compliant over the rocks when it's thin

[Paladin]

Yeah but it makes it more compliant over the rocks when it's thin

If you get it really thin maybe you could fill it with helium instead of air and have balloon tyres and just float over those rocks!

[Woodman]

TW42's are much maligned.
If you don't go giving it handfuls they do well - even mostly bald...

NO No No Tw42,s are not good, even with tread in my experience.

[Paladin]

NO No No Tw42,s are not good, even with tread in my experience.

Well I got them up the big sand/shingle climb today without getting bogged down so can't be all bad Woodman! BUT not knowing how they'd perform I was a total nana with them on the gravel roads just in case!

[NordieBoy]

Well I got them up the big sand/shingle climb today without getting bogged down so can't be all bad Woodman! BUT not knowing how they'd perform I was a total nana with them on the gravel roads just in case!

Seal - fine.
Gravel - fine.

Anything wet and slippery - Oh shit...

When they let go it's all of a sudden and not gentle.

[Paladin]

.....


When they let go it's all of a sudden and not gentle.

Oh shit they have to go SOON then I don't need that kinda shit!!! Did feel couple of little slippies on front end today on hard cornering on the tarmac!

[junkmanjoe]

na it was just what was in your underpants, getting used to all that new power.

hay how come i got two DRs in my shed tonight, and you live in welly.....

[Paladin]

na it was just what was in your underpants, getting used to all that new power.

hay how come i got two DRs in my shed tonight, and you live in welly.....

Cos u got an early birthday prezzie!!!

(and leave my underpants out of it!)

[.chris]

One month on the 690, and I am loving it. A quick personal review

Powarrrr; The power seems good now that I am used to it, I feel like I can use it rather than being afraid of it. At first it was a bit daunting, I guess that is part of going from 19hp to 64hp.

Comfort; I rate it quite highly, on the KLX after about 20mins I would need to stand to relieve the pain in my ass, the 690 its about an hour before that happens, and even then I can slide back a bit on the seat and it feels comfortable again.
You have to deal with a bit of vibration through the bars, but as long as you learn not to death grip the bars its not so bad (first ride I was holding on super tight, and got quite tingley fingers after about 15mins)

Fuel; Getting about 230km per tank before the reserve comes on, which should give me another 40+km, but I am yet to push that one. That is riding with the standard EPT setting, I imagine running on the soft setting (which feels like it cuts back the power quite a bit in the lower rev range) could get even further. Not to mention just plain going easy on the throttle.

EPT; This thing is like having 3 bikes at your disposal, The standard setting feels pretty good without having to watch your speed too much, the soft setting makes it feel like in the lower rev range it is all very tame, you need to push it into the 6500+ range before you get to feel the power, but it all appears to be there, the advanced setting I imagine would be great if you were racing, but on the road it has you moving pretty quick which I find a pain when in traffic and again you really have to watch your speed cause the bike just wants to go-go-go. I am finding myself starting to lean towards running with this setting as I get more confident.
The EPT has a 12 setting switch, but only 4 of the settings are currently active, which leads me to wonder about getting some custom EPT maps loaded. I know you can get another map loaded by KTM which is designed if you install a custom exhaust system (aprovic etc)

I had some minor problems with the bike in the first couple of weeks, but AMPS where champions and gave me a 690 Duke (same engine, different bike to the enduro) to ride while they worked on mine,and since I got it back it has been running like a dream.

So far zero buyers remorse, nothing but smiles for miles.

A pic for your viewing pleasure

[warewolf]

Glad it just keeps getting better! Thanks for the update.

[Paladin]

Your bike still looks awesome Chris - SO glad you are lovin it and no buyers remorse! I feel totally the same about my '09 DR! YES, even after the huge accident!

Way to go mate!

[junkmanjoe]

hi sweet ride.
how you like the front tire, and whats on the back mate.

[warewolf]

I expect the rear will be the same as the front, being the OEM tyres. Can't see for sure. Metzeler Enduro 3 Saharas.

[.chris]

I expect the rear will be the same as the front, being the OEM tyres. Can't see for sure. Metzeler Enduro 3 Saharas.

Confirmed, tires are still stock due to cutting the mustard so far.
KCR/42 traverse could be the true test tho.

I have used them in the sand/gravel a bit and they seem pretty good. They do feel great on the tarmac, not much noise and track pretty well. I have been getting more and more confident with these tires/the bike on the road, you may be able to tell from the wear pattern getting close to the outside of the tire that I still have some way to go.

I am yet to try and let the pressure out for sand/dirt riding yet. So I can't really comment on low pressure performance.

[warewolf]

The front is a fairly soft/sporty compound, I only managed 6400km from mine on the 640A.

Tread shape wise they seem similar to the Mitas E-07... a tyre I'll try soon.