690 Enduro R or 950 SE?

Dansin · Nov 25, 2011

The time has come to part company with the 650 dak. As great as it's been, I no longer need something that'll do everything ok'ish. The BBRC training weekend has convinced me that as average as I am off road, as that is going to be the majority of my riding for the next year or so, I need something that is a bit more capable.

Budget is going to be 5-6k in the new year which (hopefully) puts both bikes in my price range. I'm guessing the 690 is going to be the most similar to the dak but how idiotic is it to try the SE? Plenty of commitment and momentum off road, just far too many off's on the dak. Me or the bike or both? Dunno. Is the SE just a step too far?

Rushy · Nov 25, 2011

Dansin said:
The time has come to part company with the 650 dak. As great as it's been, I no longer need something that'll do everything ok'ish. The BBRC training weekend has convinced me that as average as I am off road, as that is going to be the majority of my riding for the next year or so, I need something that is a bit more capable.

Budget is going to be 5-6k in the new year which (hopefully) puts both bikes in my price range. I'm guessing the 690 is going to be the most similar to the dak but how idiotic is it to try the SE? Plenty of commitment and momentum off road, just far too many off's on the dak. Me or the bike or both? Dunno. Is the SE just a step too far?

Whats your inside leg measurement? Them SEs are damn tall :eek

Arsey · Nov 26, 2011

Get the SE.

Finest bike ever made-I will never sell mine.

Admittedly mine doesn't go off the tarmac often,but I have dabbled and it's very manageable .

The thing is,the SE can do everything including touring,if you stick on a big tank and comfy seat :

<div class="thumbnail"><a href="https://skitch.com/martingaudion/gmxqg/skitched-20111126-070812"><img style="max-width:638px" src="https://img.skitch.com/20111126-n7gpnr4iiyyqbfeqrcyq6macnq.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><span>Uploaded with <a href="http://skitch.com">Skitch</a>!</span></div>

I love my 1150GSA but when I climb back on the SE and open her up,it always brings a big smile to my face.I really do think that the 950 motor in the SE is the finest ever made-so smooth and powerful-much better than the 990 FI that followed.

For some reason it feels much better than the 950 Adventure S that I also owned.

I've owned virtually every KTM ever made-apart from 690 Enduro R-but a mate had one and i rode that a fair bit.

The SE tops them all-it makes me smile on the forum about all the talk whether the 1100GS is better than the 1150GSA or the 1200 etc etc.

I've had all 3 and currently like the 1150GSA best,yet the SE beats them all,hands down-the ONLY thing it can't do well is tour two up !

Get a cheap set of plastics and use it off road,then change the tyres and tank and take it on a 2000 mile tour !!!

Just get one-I promise you won't regret it.

You're welcome to try mine but I'm in W Sussex

Gaz · Nov 26, 2011

If you are falling off the Dak, then don't get the SE.
Few people offroad the SE in the areas near you, we do lots of days in Mid and North Wales and host big gatherings via Adv Rider (50+) bikes so this is not an armchair opinion. It is a tremendous bike though, but not for tricky going.

Here's Robbie C on Nebo Gulley

http://youtu.be/UdEiRErsNpM

and Timpo, Forry trying to recover it (I'm laughing)

http://youtu.be/i2M9MmEryAw

The 690 will a big improvement over the Dak, similar to my XChallenge, but with a few nice bits (such as on LouisDut's ) it becomes the better bike by far.
I know lots of folks with them and have done 10 days offroading in the Dordogne over the past couple of years with 690s in the groups and there have been no issues at all,

G

dibdob69 · Nov 26, 2011

You have got to try an SE, There mad, I did 5 rounds of the BBRC on mine this year fantastic bike, Everybody should own one for a while

Mav · Nov 26, 2011

Dansin said:
The time has come to part company with the 650 dak. As great as it's been, I no longer need something that'll do everything ok'ish. The BBRC training weekend has convinced me that as average as I am off road, as that is going to be the majority of my riding for the next year or so, I need something that is a bit more capable.

Budget is going to be 5-6k in the new year which (hopefully) puts both bikes in my price range. I'm guessing the 690 is going to be the most similar to the dak but how idiotic is it to try the SE? Plenty of commitment and momentum off road, just far too many off's on the dak. Me or the bike or both? Dunno. Is the SE just a step too far?

First - I wouldn't sell yourself short chap, your off-road abilities far exceed the Dakar you've currently got and you will make a lot of progress with a bike that is that more capable :thumb2

In terms of the bike choices - the 690 is the far more logical choice: very capable off-road, an engine that will take you a long way, lots of after market options inclucind Rallye kits :drool

But the SE is something different, something unique (apart from the HP2

) and riding it off-road will always feel good - even tho sometimes you may regret taking such a big bike down that slightly too narrow lane :blast

For me, I like the idea of a smaller bike in the garage alongside the HP but I'm only interested in taking the smaller bike out if think I couldn't manage it on the HP, otherwise it's the HP every time. And with the limited lanes available, the HP can manage a lot of them and be fun too.

Just my $0.02c (Can't find the pound symbol on this American laptop!)

Timolgra · Nov 26, 2011

690 everytime.

I've come close to getting a 950 SE and a HP2 several times just for the blast of power but my 640 will do everything I need it to.
In real world riding the SE would be too limiting for me and the 690's a better bike than the 640

Dansin · Nov 26, 2011

Gaz said:
If you are falling off the Dak, then don't get the SE.
Few people offroad the SE in the areas near you, we do lots of days in Mid and North Wales and host big gatherings via Adv Rider (50+) bikes so this is not an armchair opinion. It is a tremendous bike though, but not for tricky going.

Here's Robbie C on Nebo Gulley

http://youtu.be/UdEiRErsNpM

and Timpo, Forry trying to recover it (I'm laughing)

http://youtu.be/i2M9MmEryAw

The 690 will a big improvement over the Dak, similar to my XChallenge, but with a few nice bits (such as on LouisDut's ) it becomes the better bike by far.
I know lots of folks with them and have done 10 days offroading in the Dordogne over the past couple of years with 690s in the groups and there have been no issues at all,

G

Half the problem with the dak is due to the germans making the front forks out of toilet rolls and cheese. I know I can stick USD forks on etc, but I reckon by the time I've done that I may as well gone orange.

Head says 690, heart says SE.

Anyone know what the seat height is on the SE with 12 1/2 stone sat on it? Probably need to sit on both I guess.

dibdob69 · Nov 26, 2011

Dansin said:
Half the problem with the dak is due to the germans making the front forks out of toilet rolls and cheese. I know I can stick USD forks on etc, but I reckon by the time I've done that I may as well gone orange.

Head says 690, heart says SE. Anyone know what the seat height is on the SE with 12 1/2 stone sat on it? Probably need to sit on both I guess.

Your welcome to come and have a sit on my SE Dansin

Arsey · Nov 26, 2011

Dansin said:
Half the problem with the dak is due to the germans making the front forks out of toilet rolls and cheese. I know I can stick USD forks on etc, but I reckon by the time I've done that I may as well gone orange.

Head says 690, heart says SE. Anyone know what the seat height is on the SE with 12 1/2 stone sat on it? Probably need to sit on both I guess.

My SE is slightly taller than standard with the Renazco seat but with the standard seat on i can get both feet down but not quite flat.

I would say you need to be 6' or have an inside leg of about 33" to be comfy

AndyT · Nov 26, 2011

Timolgra said:
690 everytime.
I've come close to getting a 950 SE and a HP2 several times just for the blast of power but my 640 will do everything I need it to.
In real world riding the SE would be too limiting for me and the 690's a better bike than the 640

We have a winner :thumb2

Losttheplot · Nov 26, 2011

AndyT said:
We have a winner

I'd be inclined to go the 690 route as well!

I've ridden both (albeit briefly), and while the SE is just incredibly capable considering it's size and power (and the fact it is just plain bonkers in a straight line*), the 690 is a much more manageable bike.

But if you have the cash, get both

*as straight as your ever going to get fishtailing 90+bhp on loose shale

rocky burns · Nov 26, 2011

I had the 690 and it was fantastic with the 3 way map settings. Like a 450 on the gravel and an absolute animal on tarmac

dakarDude · Nov 27, 2011

I can't comment on the 950's, never had one, but they do look really good.

I have a 690 and all I can say is they are a fantastic bike.

I recently did some offroading in Morocco on one with Desert Rose and the bike was brilliant on and offroad.

Grab one, you won't regret it. :thumb2

Dansin · Nov 27, 2011

dibdob69 said:
Your welcome to come and have a sit on my SE Dansin

Cheers. I may well take you up on that. :thumb2

Mav said:
But the SE is something different, something unique (apart from the HP2 ) and riding it off-road will always feel good - even tho sometimes you may regret taking such a big bike down that slightly too narrow lane

For me, I like the idea of a smaller bike in the garage alongside the HP but I'm only interested in taking the smaller bike out if think I couldn't manage it on the HP, otherwise it's the HP every time. And with the limited lanes available, the HP can manage a lot of them and be fun too.

Yeah, I love the fact the SE and HP2 are a bit different. I also think that the SE will be more capable if I decide to take it longer distance. Plus, as you say, the local lanes are fairly limited.

Arsey said:
My SE is slightly taller than standard with the Renazco seat but with the standard seat on i can get both feet down but not quite flat.

I would say you need to be 6' or have an inside leg of about 33" to be comfy

950mm apparently, the dakar is 870mm which is manageable. With a 32" inside leg measurement, I'm going to need longer legs or a new mount/dismount technique.

Timolgra said:
690 everytime.
I've come close to getting a 950 SE and a HP2 several times just for the blast of power but my 640 will do everything I need it to.
In real world riding the SE would be too limiting for me and the 690's a better bike than the 640

It's the oddness of the SE that appeals but I do think I'm leaning more towards the 690 at the moment. It definitely seems the more logical step but there's still that bit of me that is hankering after the oddness.

Going to try to get over to a local KTM dealer later this week and see if I can have a sit on the 690. I won't be buying mine until the new year but I've got to pick up a new katoom for crimbo......

Cheers fellas.

Mav · Nov 27, 2011

I think there is a cheapish 690 at AMS in Tewkesbury at the moment :augie

Timpo · Nov 27, 2011

Timolgra said:
690

The 690 is one of the best bikes I have had a go of...... so I'm agreeing with Timolgra 100%.

Some of the blokes i know have these bikes with a few bobs worth of RallyraidUK bling on them, and they are brilliant.
The engine pulse in low revs, and the torque is superb, and I have been very impressed with how they behave.
The SE is a beast, and it takes a very skilled rider to tame it once you venture from the tarmac. I have only had a go of two SEs, and they were handfulls...... so I'd not go there.

My opinion of course.....

Timpo.

Timolgra · Nov 27, 2011

Timpo said:
The 690 is one of the best bikes I have had a go of......

The engine pulse in low revs, and the torque is superb, and I have been very impressed with how they behave.

Oh how the worm has turned

Timpo · Nov 27, 2011

Timolgra said:
Oh how the worm has turned

Mate, if my XC had 40,000 miles on it, I would replace it with a 690, fullstop.

The rest of my rants about the marques exc models still stand.....

Mav · Nov 27, 2011

So does anyone NOT like the 690?? I'm only asking to help stop me wanting to add one to the fold :blast

690 Enduro R or 950 SE?

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