2008 KTM 690 Adventure: Any pictures or links available?

KTM have screwed up...

ExpatinIstanbul said:
If anyone from KTM reads this, what is going on?
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Look at their 690 range:

690 Enduro
690 Enduro R
690 Supermoto
690 Supermoto R
690 SMC
690 Duke

PLUS

990 Adventure
990 Adventure S

So why no 690 Adventurer?
Why 3 690 Supermoto variants? How many do you need for Christ's sake?

Maybe the clue is in the engine oil Synt 4T 10W60 - i.e. somewhat specialist racing oil.

KTM: Is your 690 engine is not robust enough for RTW trips?

Also - it seems to me that they have COMPLETELY misjudged the demand for a modern lightweight Adventure bike. Their current offering is over 20 years old, but still has it's followers.

Come on KTM - stop pi55ing around with SM bikes and get a proper Adventurer out - AND SOON!!!!:potkettle:potkettle
 
OneTrack said:
Maybe the clue is in the engine oil Synt 4T 10W60 - i.e. somewhat specialist racing oil.

KTM: Is your 690 engine is not robust enough for RTW trips?
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The Rally bikes are pretty reliable and they're in a much higher state of tune (90bhp apparently, pretty impressive for a 654cc single).
 
jurassic said:
The Rally bikes are pretty reliable and they're in a much higher state of tune (90bhp apparently, pretty impressive for a 654cc single).
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Which has a parts department and fully qualified mechanic at the end of each day to fix what broke and then completely rebuild other parts for performance, so I would like to suggest that this wouldn't be a good point for you to make.

Watching closely on the 690/700 bike as I need something for a trip next year that my pig 1150 is definitely too big for. At the moment I have the Yammy660XT as the bike of choice.

Question, has anyone "Adventurised a 690 unit personally?
 
Commuter said:
Which has a parts department and fully qualified mechanic at the end of each day to fix what broke and then completely rebuild other parts for performance, so I would like to suggest that this wouldn't be a good point for you to make.

Watching closely on the 690/700 bike as I need something for a trip next year that my pig 1150 is definitely too big for. At the moment I have the Yammy660XT as the bike of choice.

Question, has anyone "Adventurised a 690 unit personally?
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The Rallye engine is pretty strong, even in a high state of tune. A mate of mine tested one a couple of weeks back, it had been used in the Dakar and then ridden 3,000km with little or no servicing and the motor was still fine. I don't think the engine's the reason for no 690adv.

I'm hoping the reason is that KTM have something special up their sleeve. Perhaps instead of producing a competitor bike they are going to try and redefine what a middle weight adv bike should be, or at least they might be developing what could be the ultimate machine in this segment. 140kg / 70bhp / 35l tank / 100l luggage capacity and an accessory catalogue of some 1,000 pages.

Whatever eventually gets rolled out of the factory is going to be good, or I'll eat my hat. My hat's made of chocolate mind.
 
ExpatinIstanbul said:
The Rallye engine is pretty strong, even in a high state of tune. A mate of mine tested one a couple of weeks back, it had been used in the Dakar and then ridden 3,000km with little or no servicing and the motor was still fine. I don't think the engine's the reason for no 690adv.
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Thanks for the moral support on that one Expat, I was tempted to start searching Stan Watts posts on Adv Rider about his experiences with the 690 Rally to make my point that the 690 engine isn't a problem (all they do is change the oil and filters regularly not rebuild as was suggested). Anyway here's a pic of one to drool over;
full.jpg
 
I considered buying the Rallye my mate tested, it's on sale for 8,000 euros which inTurkey is a very good deal. The only thing putting me off is that it really is a nutter of a bike. I thought about maybe detuning it and getting rid of the map/navi stuff, but it'd mean having to add clocks and some kind of ignition as there's only a push button. I'm hoping that KTM keep as close to the styling as the Rallye bike as possible, unless they've got something very radical planned, and that they keep the side tank option. Gopd knows what they'd do with the end cans though, they'll probably have to produce a 2-1 system and tuck it out of the way, to allow for luggage. Personally I'd keep them the same and only make room for a toothbrush. A very small toothbrush.
 
jurassic said:
Thanks for the moral support on that one Expat, I was tempted to start searching Stan Watts posts on Adv Rider about his experiences with the 690 Rally to make my point that the 690 engine isn't a problem (all they do is change the oil and filters regularly not rebuild as was suggested). Anyway here's a pic of one to drool over;
full.jpg
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So the observent amongst you will have noticed that this is the old 660 Rallybike not the 690 (doh!:o)

Here's the 690:thumb;
ktm-dakar01-1.jpg
 
I just read a KTM financial report, which gives details of their product pipeline from 2007 – 2009. The report was published in 2007. Oddly enough there’s nothing at all about a 690 adventure.

2008 –
Hard Enduro 690
Rally 690

2009 -
Adventure Dakar 1190
Adventure Travel 1190
 
ExpatinIstanbul said:
I just read a KTM financial report, which gives details of their product pipeline from 2007 – 2009. The report was published in 2007. Oddly enough there’s nothing at all about a 690 adventure.

2008 –
Hard Enduro 690
Rally 690

2009 -
Adventure Dakar 1190
Adventure Travel 1190
Click to expand...

That does tie in with what the KTM UK guy told me recently at the KTM Roadshow at my local dealers. He wouldn't give me any specifics but said "Don't hold your breath", when I pressed him he said definitely nothing before 2010 (year not model year).
 
ExpatinIstanbul said:
I just read a KTM financial report, which gives details of their product pipeline from 2007 – 2009. The report was published in 2007. Oddly enough there’s nothing at all about a 690 adventure.

2008 –
Hard Enduro 690
Rally 690

2009 -
Adventure Dakar 1190
Adventure Travel 1190
Click to expand...


I have read what I suspect is the same report - a Raiffeisen Bank stock analysis - and the only question mark about that is the report was dated Feb 2007 - and the information in it would have been older than that. Thats at least 10 months before the 640 Adventure was suddenly and unexpectedly canned.

So it may be that the report was correct at the beginning of 2007 and out of date by the end of 2007. Changes can and do happen to strategy in a year.

Lets hope thats the case :-)
 
Colebatch mentioned earlier in the thread, that the 690 had lost a lot of the vibration that was evident in the 640 ADV..... mainly due to FI.

2 questions..... How bad was /is the vibration in the 640 ADV motor?

and has the 690 enduro lost these vibes?

In order to quantify the vibes in the 640 can you compare it with bikes that I have..... The r1100s has handlebar vibes...... quite high in frequency and can make your fingers numb. (even with the pots well balanced)

The BMW 650 (aprilia.rotax) engine is a little vibey.... but in know way unpleasant.... in fact the throb makes you feel good... like all good singles.

so is the 640ADV uncomfortable.... obtrusive??????

Cheers

Stuart
 
I've never ridden a 640 Adventure but they are known for being vibey (seriously vibey!). I own a 690SM which is pretty smooth for a single and the engine in the Enduro is the same. The 690 engine is completely different to the older LC4 engine (640, 660, 625) and has a balancer shaft that makes the engine as smooth as many twins (I used to own an SV650 which was no smoother than my 690). I'm sure you could do long distances on a 640 but it might be a struggle. On a 690 it's easy (I've done 140 miles without a stop). Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any sign of a 690 Adventure so you have to adapt an SM or Enduro (SM has bigger tank but is much less offroad capable with 17" wheels, more weight etc). Having said that I offroad my SM a bit and it's okay as long as you don't get anywhere too gnarly. HTH.
 
cheers Jurassic..... I did not realise the 690 had a balance shaft.... that makes a lot of sense now.

I believe it is easier to make the 690E into a road bike than the other way around.... I think the problem of the radial brakes on the SM makes the switch to bigger wheels harder..... what did you do? just change tyres? can you get a 17" knobbly for the front??

cheers again

Stuart
 
It's just gentle stuff for me so a pair of 17" Avon Distanzias do the biz (not real knobblies though). If you're going to be doing serious offroading you'd be better going down the Enduro route. I believe there's a company in Oz making (or intending to make) a long range tank for the Enduro so it will be possible to make your own 690 Adventure. The 690 engine is smooth but it's also the most powerful production single currently available (guys on the KTM forum have been getting just under 70bhp with a can and remap) and the Rally bikes are putting out around 90bhp! I'll try and find the details about the long range tank (think I read it on ADVrider).
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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