2024 KTM 690 Enduro R On and Off Road Test Ride and First Impressions

The KTM 690 Enduro R is one dual sport motorcycle that I've been dying to test ride for a long time. I've also been afraid to throw a leg over it because I've been afraid of just how much I think I will like it and I don't want to buy one right now.

Imagine my surprise when I finally got a KTM 690 Enduro R test ride in and discovered that I wasn't enjoying it nearly as much as I thought I would. After an hour or so with the bike, my initial KTM 690 Enduro R review is honestly surprisingly negative. Riding this bike feels like a workout and while I thought it would turn out to be the best of both worlds in terms of ADV and dual sport motorcycles, in reality it feels more like the opposite.

Shockingly, I walked away from this KTM 690 off road and on road test ride kind of underwhelmed. I'm sure this is the perfect very powerful dual sport in the hands of the right off road motorcycle rider, but what I discovered is that is definitely not me.

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Disclaimer for reasons: I am not a professional journalist, expert motorcycle rider, or a mechanic. These videos are for entertainment purposes and represent my personal opinions and experiences. I'm just a dude who isn't even good at riding or making videos, so be smart and don't risk life or limb trying to follow my example or advice.

[DorkintheRoad]

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[wanderlpnw]

KTMs are hooligan bikes at heart. That's why I love them. Definitely not for everyone.

[Sleepykek]

I can't tell you how awesome it is to hear an honest "I don't like it" from a reviewer. Just makes me trust your reviews even more.

[frostbitevinnie]

Well, I'm old, fat, and short. I love my 690. Best dual sport I have ever ridden. 10k trouble free miles to date. It is a bit twitchy, I admit that, but the beast can be tamed and for sure not a beginner bike! It likes to wheelie, can do 80-100 mph no problem. Gravel, two track, single track are all smiles for me.

I have done loads of mods to my 690. Rally fairing, aux tank (I carry 5 gal of fuel). Rally pegs, comfort XL seat, crash bars.

The 690 is for sure my unicorn!

[docwyte]

I've had my '17 690 now for about 4 years. I LOVE it. It does have a Yenkro fairing on it, which makes it a whole lot nicer to ride on the highway. However, you still don't forget that it's a thumper/dual sport. Everyone reviewing these makes the same mistake, they think it's going to rip up singletrack like a 500 EXC. It's not, at least not in the hands of most riders. It's a dual sport bike that kicks serious ass on BDR type rides. I'm a lot happier picking up my bike vs my friends T7, which weighs over 100lbs more for instance. The bike is a complete hoot, it makes me giggle in my helmet every time I ride it. I haven't found it unhappy at slow speeds, on the more technical passes here in Colorado I usually leave it in 1st gear and just let it eat.

[blackhatch]

I got a 2017 enduro R many years ago. I didn't like it either for about 2 months. Then it RAPIDLY grew on me, and is now the benchmark.

[davidruggles]

Sounds like maybe the old adage still holds true: "it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than ride a fast bike slowly." Great review Dork!

[jsp]

Excellent assessment. I've had two of these, the original 640 and now a kitted out 701. 20k miles between the two, and I think the sweet spot for these is BDR riding and camping. It's light enough to make all the expert sections but can still easily ride the highway. I just did sections 1 and 2 of the ORBDR this week on it I appreciate that it can haul a small camping load, but still easily get back home on the highway at the end of the day.
I have a 500 that gets a lot of use, and it's unquestionably better for hard off road that the 701, but it is way less fun on the road and is is less relaxing with a load.
The 701 was a replacement for my 790 as a BDR bike two years ago, and I'm still very happy with the switch.

[arthurross]

I own a 2022 690, I absolutely love it both on road and off road! It is not my only bike, but it is my first dual sport. I am a very experienced rider, I've riden street bikes from croch rockets to curisers and I raced motocross and enduro/hairscrambles for many years. I'm in my 50's now so it's been a littel while! LOL! I will say you are completely accurate the 690 is NOT for beginers, it is a bike that requires your attention but if you know how to use it it is probably one of the most amazing motorcycles you could ever ride. It is in my opinion fully capable from the highway to single track. It's not comfortable long distance but you can make it work with a seat change and a little (rear end padding!) It can be the unicorn people are looking for but for those who have the experince to use it. Over all it's an amazing machine and I for one love the freedom and diverce experience it offers me! That's my two cents make of it what you will! Enjoy the ride!

[mkramsauer]

I enjoyed the honest opinion actually great work brother 👊

[DmitriyAdv]

I’ve put about 12000 miles on a 690 over a course of a year - rode it across the country and up to Alaska as part of the Alcan 5000. Lived off of it for weeks at a time. Everything from 500+ mile days to freeway to singletrack. Mine was lightly adventurized (small tower) and I carried some luggage most of the time.

I think your assessment is fairly spot on - it’s a very unique motorcycle because it’s not a dual sport and it’s not an adventure bike. It’s a rally bike - KTM built the platform for Dakar - and I think they do a piss pour job of explaining/marketing what it’s supposed to be. It’s designed to go fast off-road, in mostly a straight line, and for a long time. That’s why it’s tall, kinda top heavy, doesn’t turn particularly well, and has gearing that seems way too short for any on-road riding. That said, it’s also super reliable and capable. Once you get used to how it rides, it becomes instinctive and the margin of safety you have when riding fast off-road is hard to match. It’s a platform that can be built into probably the ultimate light weight adv bike (basically what Lyndon Poskitt did), though also a ridiculously expensive one.

I think the fact that this platform exists (with changes/upgrades over the years) for almost 20 years now (more, if you include the 640) is testament to how good and unique it is in KTMs line up. They’ve redone everything else at least twice already.

[dandersonjr]

You are, in a way, correct about this bike. I have a 2023 Husqvarna 701 Enduro and to me it is a light easy to manage bike but I say that after owning a 2018 1290 Super Adventure R. It is definitely not an Adventure bike in any way no matter how much you try to make it one. It is a dual sport bike geared more to off road than street. It is also geared to the more aggressive rider. To me it's not in the same class as a KLR, DR XR or T700 in stock form although many people try to compare them. Ride it hard and you'll love it. Rise it easy and you'll realize you spent way too much money for a bike when you could've had one better suiting your needs for half the price.

[smashy_smasherton]

I rode one once. Was like a big puppy that wants to play but doesn’t realize it can kill you easily. Down, boy!

[BoonBoonitube]

I've been riding a 2019 Husky 701 for 2.5 years. I love the bike. Up to then I owned a 640 Adventure for 10 years. In comparison the 701 motor is nearly electric feeling. No vibes until over 70mph.

I also totally see where you're coming from. When I first hopped on the 701 it was like sitting down at someone's computer where the mouse sensitivity is turned to 11. Offroad felt like a struggle trying to tame that motor. But I've figured the bike out and now love ripping it offroad. What helped me most was bar risers and steg pegs. More comfortable riding stance and I no longer have to hold onto all those horses with my hands, I just squeeze my boots and can lighten my grip on the bars.

You're absolutely right about it not being comfortable on the highway. Speeds above 70mph I'm just being blown off the back of the bike. I'm fully OK with that, I avoid long highway stints as much as possible. I've hacked up a little windshield that keeps most of the blast off my chest, but ditch it as soon as I can once I hop off the highway.

For me it's a close to the unicorn light weight ADV bike I have found. It's definitely not for everyone, and neither was the 640 Adventure. I appreciate your honest review.

[mikef]

I’m still riding my 2017 690 enduro r and it still makes me grin whenever I throw a leg over it. It’s vibey at high speeds. It’s kinda expensive to maintain but it’s got plenty of power and so much fun both on and off-road. It’s found a forever home in my garage next to my 2004 GSXR750 and my 1995 Harley springer softail

[poweredbyrice]

KLR with a slip-on and a 16 tooth has just been a treat for highway and it everyday

[Euryheli]

I have a 701 that's all setup as a light ADV. Your assessment is fair as it comes from the dealer. If you had a chance to ride one that had a windshield or rally tower setup, your highway expectations would have been met. Off pavement, like you said, it's big and powerful, and you didn't do yourself any favors jumping from a Tdubs right to this. It has big power, but it is controllable and the clutch is easy to modulate to control that power. To me it is the unicorn bike, but it took a good amount of mods to dial it in exactly the way I wanted (Rade tower, Seat Concepts, Rekluse, Veridian Cruise), I can do tight trails, or hours on the highway at 70+ comfortably. A couple weeks ago I did 700mi in 2 days with hours on the highway and trails. Is it cheap? Nope. But it's a bike that I can comfortably do anything on.

My son rides a 300L Rally with ABS, and my bike feels like a super powerful version of that. They are very well matched aside from my comfort at higher speeds on the highway and really rough stuff.

[roysteves]

I bought my bike from Power because of this channel, so just chiming in so they hear that again. :)

[drifterdave]

I sold mine and bought a used DR650 and a Wr250r.
It was fun but too advanced for me and my riding.
The traction control saved me from going wide at high speed.
In the DR I never get in that situation as Im not going so fast.
Your assessment is pretty accurate dude.

[markjacobs]

I had a 690 a few years ago and tried to talk myself into really loving it. It never happened. Buzzy as hell on the highway, too much power on the gravel roads, horrific to change oil on and fuel pump issues. I have a fully farkled 300L that's smoother on the highway, more controllable on the gravel or off road, and have $5000 less in it.