KTM690 Enduro R | 12 Years together! Why?

2011 KTM690 Enduro R
#motorcycleadventure #advmotorcycle #ktm690enduro

My KTM690 and I have been together 12 years and some may find that surprising considering that in my job I get to ride the latest and greatest adventure motorcycles every day of the week.

So it’s time to find out why this bike is still in my garage and some of the reasons may surprise you.

My 2011 KTM690 has 60,000 kilometres on the clock and most of those trips have been full on adventure. It kicked off with riding from London to Sydney in 2012 and followed up with multiple Simpson Desert Crossings including one that was unassisted. It’s also taken on the tough Tropical North, the Victorian High Country and Flinders Ranges. This bike has done the tough miles.

Now before we get started, this video is not going to be a KTM love fest, it will be a warts and all review of my experience owning this bike over the past twelve years.

What’s broken, what works, what hasn’t and the successes of this bike build.

I go into detail about bike setup for adventure and the things I discuss are as relevant today as they were when I first built this bike.

[jackchristodoulou]

At the age of 60 I have owned over 25 bikes I turn them over not because they are bad bikes I just get bored and I am a king at wasting money but I currently own a 2022 690 have it professionally lowered and set for my height and weight, the reliability issues are always on back of my mind, I have only done 4000ks on it but it has been faultless a great bike and I think it will be a keeper

[malikknows]

I very much appreciate your candor and honesty here. And I’m very glad you’ve found a bike you love. I’m by nature a nostalgic bloke of sorts, and love the idea of keeping my tools for as long as I can. All the best.

[georgeferguson]

My 2018 KTM 690 Enduro R has been my first bike. I love it! This past week I rode it to check out a seller’s 500. When I rode away on my 690 I’d affirmed in my mind that the 690 is still the bike for me. Off-road or on-road, it does it well.

[paul.vanhout]

Enjoyable and honest review of your relationship with the 690👍. I have the “refined” 2019 version with about 12k miles/20k Km and it has been a solid lightweight adventure machine. You have inspired me to keep it in the garage!

[lockeddiffbro]

One of best true life bike reviews on YouTube ive been watching your videos for years and although id love to buy one of the new bikes being realistic ive always bought 2nd hand and this kind of review is exactly what i wish i had more often! Thanks for your great content and look forward to more videos.

[steveknight]

Great video Dave. I had a 2017 701E that I had spent time and money on, spilled blood, sweat and tears over, and it was 95% dialled in for me. Ot was a keeper for sure. Then some bas..rd stole it a few weeks ago after some great riding on Salisbury Plains, England. I'm now looking for another 690/701 to start again because they are such a versatile off road machine. Onwards and upwards!

[michaelschmelz]

Some years ago i binge watched your london to sydney ride...inspired me a lot. Thanks so far.
And with all the videos the riding community have put out over the years its a shame how war and tensions shrink the world of the adventure rider.
Keep going Dave.
P.s. nugget rocks

[C_Adam]

Your London to Sydney video was the reason I bought a 690 enduro. Got myself a 2012 and made a lot of my own modifications to it over the last few years to suit the riding / events I do on it. I was at the ABR festival in the UK this year and was amazed to see you there doing a talk. Just missed it unfortunately, but was able to explain to my friend that your video was the reason I got the 690. Wont be getting rid of mine anytime soon, a true do it all bike. Cheers Dave

[felixklose]

Hey Dave...the 690 and you...this is a true lovestory, honestly...😊... i really love that story and i can really understand, why your sweety is still by your side...you've spend so many adventures together and you prepared her in a way, she fits perfectly to you...a companion and friend of that kind, you're never going to sell easily...and it is that relationship between men and their machines which makes the whole "bike-thing" emotional...😊 oh i love your channel Dave...please never stop making videos like that...all the best from Germany-West is sending to you (and Clubby and Nugget and the 690...😊) Felix...😊

[pjakszentis]

I fully share your sentiments. I own a 2010 690 R with 72.000 km and counting.
This raw feeling, the absence of compromise, that is just very special.
The original Bilux ESC headlight has just this year been replaced by a Rade Garage tower with LED lights. That’s a difference.
I had a Safari front tank on a different 2013 690 which was really reliable, other than the left fuel line so close to the exhaust.
I keep my 690 for Rally and other special occasions.
The adventure travel is now on my 890 R.
I guess I’ll keep this bike!

[ryanroux]

Thanks for sharing Dave
She is clearly a part of the family, the adventures experienced are irreplaceable and I sure every time you swing a leg over your totally at home.

[lanceg.]

Best 690 video on YouTube!!! Honest and complete. These are great bikes and deliver so much performance but the owner needs to have a working knowledge and ability for its long-term success.

[sjnrjhu]

I did 57.000 km from south of Spain to Magadan via Mongolia and Kazakhstan and then on to Japan with a very similar setup in conditions I havent encountered since. She made it flawlessly with only the starter motor needing some TLC because of water ingress after too many river crossings. Loved her to bits and dearly miss her as she is now in hands of a new rider. Contemplating whether to buy the new apparently much smoother version and prepare her again or take it a notch down and go for the Tenere World Raid. Time will tell! Safe riding to everyone!

[Ztv]

It feels like getting a review from a real riding buddy on this channel. Most bike reviewers feel like shills for the manufacturer, not here.

[PastyDakar]

I've had a love/hate relationship with two 690s. I sold the 2014 after the rocker arm issue at only 2, 500miles from new. My friend sold his 2013 after the same issue at 2, 300miles.
We have both since returned to the 690 having found nothing else that ticks the amount of boxes that this bike does.
Both our bikes are fully adv prepared and we carry spare pump, rectifier, injector and rocker arms as spares on any big trip.
I love my 2009 bike, the high lift cam turns the power delivery into a 2t like experience! Highly recommended 😁.
I've done thousands of miles of TET throughout Europe and wouldn't change it for anything else.
Kove 450 rally has my attention as an out of the box alternative.

[nenadjosic]

Again great,

exceptional, reasonable explanation with no crap. Just pure simple experience behind every word that you sad, without marketing.

Thanks & regards from Belgrade Serbia💪🤪

[neptunetriton]

In 2020, Husqvarna took the 690/701 series to the next level with the 701 Long Range (LR) edition which gave you a 383lb (173kg) bike producing 74hp while carrying 6.4 gallons of fuel (23.8L) providing a whopping 350+ miles (550km) of range between fill ups! And it had two fuel pumps for redundancy! It's a shame they didn't make more of them or haven't made the retrofit kits easy to obtain.

[bosoceansport]

As always, great reviews and helpful real world content in everything you do. Keep it up Dave, we love it 👌

[shaynegriffin]

I have just returned from a 10, 00Klm ride on my 2012 690, it never missd a beat - like yours, this one will never leve my side either.
Everything you highlighted is so true, they are a great all rounder and a beast in the sand....clocked over 52, 000 on this trip.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[thinpins]

Great to watch. I love the story the repairs and patchwork modifications tell. I hope for a similar long relationship with my 23 701 LR, it’s already written a few chapters