Just wondered if anyone on this forum has had the opportunity to ride a bike with the new KTM690 engine? I know the rumour is for the new Adventure model to be available in 2008, but I'd like to know the vibration issues have been sorted since the LC4. I'm hoping it'll be loads better because the LC4 was designed in 1984, and 20 years of engine development should have brought us along way from the old LC4 problems......

Anyway, just wondering!


Dave

p.s. how are all you KTM owners doing? Its been a while since I posted on this section having defected temprarily to a desert prepped DRz...

Not yet.. But soon

I believe all the vibes are pretty much gone, as is most of the bulky engine character at low rpm, awful sound is gone.
Thing's i'm stil concerned about is fuel consumption and reliability. reliablity will be OK but if the consumption will be with the FI motor?? Hope so..

Hi Dave I have been talking to a mate who is a dealer, rider and 3 times Dakar racer - he is very clued up on all things KTM. He is currently running a 690 and is willing to give me a few hours on it in a few weeks. He reckons the vibes for a single of this size are really of little consequence and certainly do not cause any discomfort even at speeds of 90 mph and that compared to the old 640 there is no similarity whatsoever. (He raced a 640 in the Dakar as well as used one as a get to work bike so knows the bike to live with).
He states its probably the best non race preped road single he has ridden pulling strong from low down and very flexible mid and top range so I suppose its looking good. I worry about FI as i aint so keen - I like carbs but may consider moving down from the 950 if its ok when i test ride it _ I will also be waiting for the Adventure version, but would not mind something lighter and simpler than my 950. Also very much depends on the costs as no doubt it will cost a few bob then getting it racked up for boxes and the like is all extra as we know. Apparently mind you there were a lot of gearbox problems on the 690 models in this years dakar so there must be some sorting do yet!.
Hope to see you around somewhere maybe at Derby all the best Jake.

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If it is good to have one foot in England, it is still better or at least as good, to have the other out of it. jake

Cheers for the factual info guys! Keep it coming, the thumper talk forum is just full of gosspi and hearsay....or should that be heresey...

Jake:

I'm sure we'll bump into each other somwhere...sadly it wont be at the HU meet this year, I'm taking a break!!!!

At the worst I'll see you there in 08' though...inshallah....(sp?)!!!!

Dave

I talked to the the local KTM dealer a couple weeks ago when I was picking up my DR650. My salesman was a the KTM rep for the area and was saying that the new 690 motor shares just about zip with the 640 motor and should be here in 2008. I may be trading in my DR if the bike is as reliable as he says its going to be.

I've just finished riding the 690 back to back with a used 640 and there is no comparison. The 690 is truly smooth and the 63 horsies are all there. I rode a BMW 650 for five years and used to commute on a MZ 125 SM. My main long distance bike last year was a highly modified 950 Adventure with smaller wheels. My current ride is a Duc st3, and right now I am in love with the 690 and will own one on Tuesday.

Peter

Damn I was just starting to fall in love with my 640 enduro. Pick the bike up with 2700 mi and had to work through some problems b/c the P O had a tractor mechanic work on the bike and not a very good one at that.

At any rate this is the best bike or at least the most enjoyable bike i have ever owned.

Firstly, hello my orange friends!

Secondly - what's the generator output W of a 690E

Thirdly - is it true the 690E needs 10w-60 fully synthetic oil?

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Find out details of my recently completed 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

I think it's worth a go. Any news on generators etc...? I'd like to charge some batteries on route!

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Find out details of my recently completed 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

Not many KTM 690 riders here on the HUBB, at least I haven't heard from many.

Don't know about you but for me researching an overlander doesn't mean going out and buying the bike and then reaching for a Touratech catalogue to find out whether it will actually meet my requirements!

Generator spec - can't find it anywhere on the web and it's kinda important if you want to run heated grips, charge GPS etc

Oil - looking for 10w-60 in Mongolia may be a little tricky. Again good to know before I start considering the bike for a big trip.

What's with you?

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Find out details of my recently completed 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

If you change oil a lot, then won't matter, should be fine.

Just to document what Ed and I have been discussing offline for the benefit of anyone else reading...

I'm not sure it'll be fine long term, on sub-spec oil. The viscosity may be unusual, but it's not ridiculous. KTM will have settled on that oil spec having analysed the loads on the bearings, carried out a thermal survey and run their durability cycles. Highly likely that the bottom end was originally designed as the 620 or 640 (though I'm no KTM expert) and then the higher firing loads of the slightly larger piston, plus the larger inertial loads of the increased reciprocating mass, and longer stroke lead to a requirement for more bearing capacity. And thicker oil is cheaper than new crankcases. That's all assuming the 620/640 didn't already specify 10w60, in which case the bottom end has probably been re-sized as well. It's unwise to count on there being any "wiggle room" in the design of modern engines - design and development techniques have come on a long way, which is why the performance figures of standard machines have come on a long way too.

Yes, the oil viscosity spec will be most critical when the oil temperature is high (which is why some engines derate a little to protect the bearings when the oil temperature is high) but to expect it to only be an issue when racing is unwise. High engine load and low road speed such as when slogging through sand or mud with luggage would generate higher oil temps than racing where the cooling airflow around the sump/frame and radiator is more significant.

It is true to say that mineral oil changed more frequently is an acceptable substitute for synthetic lube, but there's no substitute for the correct viscosity, low oil pressure is low oil pressure, regardless.

Equally momentary metal/metal contact in the bearings can "heal" and it is of course possible to get away with these things for a while, but I'd be nervous enough about travelling with a KTM (reliability predjudices, some unfounded) without knowing I was jeopardising things by running the wrong oil spec...

No offence meant to well intentioned advice, just my tuppence worth...

I reckon mollydog is right about the electric spec - very unlikely to be any concerns running heated kit, charging the odd AA cell or running heated grips or gloves. Adding a headlamp switch could be a very good idea, too.

Dan (resident engine development geek).

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Sorry, forgot to come back with an answer:

The generator is 224W as standard on the KTM 690e. The battery is 8.5Ah as standard.

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Find out details of my recently completed 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk