![]() ![]() Oh, and the motor’s a little rattly, but the other 690s I rode with sounded the same, and after the abuse we gave it, it never got any worse or failed so I guess it’s just the way it is. The six-speed gearbox and ultra light clutch were excellent save for a false neutral between 5th and 6th that was all too easy to hit. This might not sound like much, but is just about right for off-road and around town, and even sufficient to hold its own on the highway. Still, it’s plenty usable and meant you could pin the throttle more often, feeling much like the torquey and friendly KLR motor, only with a bit more of punch when you need it.Ĭlaimed max power is 62 horses at 7,500 rpm (just 250 rpm shy of redline) with a max torque of 47 ft-lb at 6,000 rpm. I’d choose this setting for less technical riding and for the street, but in the end I settled for the Soft setting for the Paris 2 Dacre event as riding through rocks and roots after 16 hours in the saddle is less alarming with a more gentle delivery. Combine this with a perfectly manageable (dry) weight of only 138.5 kg (305 lb) and all of a sudden you’re a damn sight better rider than you were just yesterday. This is thanks to the company’s years of experience in the dirt (KTM was dirt-only until recently) and their use of high quality out-sourced suspension, wheels and brakes, and a new, smooth yet punchy 654 cc single of their own design. ![]() Although his C model has more compliant suspension than the gangly KLR650A, I watched with some amusement the beating he was getting over rocks, roots and fallen logs, as the KTM 690E seemingly floated above. The difference was illustrated beautifully during the endless day that is the P2D as I swapped leader roles with Jim on his KLR650C. Watching Jim struggle with his KLR brought home the benefits of a bike built for the job.Īfter years of dragging an aging KLR 650 through impossibly arduous terrain only to either have the bike come crashing down on its side in the gnarly stuff or simply veer off into rocks because I was too tired (which also generally resulted in a crashing action too), the KTM showed me just what a difference a purpose-built tool for the job can do. ![]()
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