New KTM 690 Kit - KTM Basel - Defy Series
 

Hey Hey Ladies and Gents!

Not sure if you've heard the news but KTM Basel are releasing new Adventure and Rally bike set ups for the KTM 690 and they are just GORGEOUS! They will be releasing a website in due course with further details (keep your eyes peeled for the Defy Series) and having had a sneak peek, it's all looking rather awesome!

When we first spotted a prototype made for our friend David at Enduristan we melted on the spot! Knowing we needed to upgrade our 690's for our RTW trip, we contacted KTM Basel and although they are not ready to be released yet they are setting our bikes up with the kit due to our off date in November! First dibs! YAY!

In short, it's all hotting up in a weeks time! We're off to Switzerland on the 30th to have our bikes arrive at KTM Basel on the 01st October to be fully kitted out with their new kit the Defy Series - Adventure!

As artists and designers, we've been putting together a few ideas for the bikes which we thought might get your juices flowing....

1. Chasing Horizons Logo:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-n...0/chasing2.jpg

2. Orangey Goodness! Chasing Horizons:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...00/chasing.jpg

3. Oh yes... a Storm Trooper edition!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...900/storm2.jpg

4. Yet another Storm Trooper
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...900/storm3.jpg

5. And yeh... we kinda like Storm Troopers!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f...900/storm1.jpg

6. A fun design we did for KTM Basel (Yeti Ahoy!) Although there are some proper ones too in the making!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...s900/ktmRR.jpg

We have our favourites! I'm still designing one which has everything I love on it (geek ahoy)! Let us know what you reckon though!

KTM Basel also had a bit of a press release if you fancy reading up here... note... the use of German translations may be helpful ;)

KTM Basel Press Release

Wheeeeee!! Not long now! :D :D :D! We will update this thread although if you wanna be a bit nerdy and fancy a minute by minute progression then please don't hesitate to plonk us on your facebook or twitter feeds as we will no doubt be excitedly posting the updates as they happen via our iPhones!

(Chasing Horizons Facebook)
(Chasing Horizons Twitter)


Excited.... just a little :D

That looks fantastic. Why KTM cannot produce something like this from the factory is beyond me. Although I still have concerns about the weight carry capability of the rear subframe.

Any idea of the cost of the kits?

Yes the kit costs 8500 CHF, so approx 8500$

Gorgeous fairing, but I'd be very worried about that exhaust header being so exposed - no bellypan?!!

There's going to be a bellypan! So no worries there :)

We have arrived at KTM Basel and the bikes are currently being stripped down to be made back up again in to the beauties that are above! Having seen David‘s bike I am now super excited.. they’re going to look the mutts nuts!!


We are tweeting and facebooking as much as we can so if you’d like to follow the process as it’s happening then take a peek! We are taking lots of photos too so will try to upload updates every evening on to the forums for you all to see!


Such an aweome set up and team over here, will keep you posted!

Just out of interest, why did you choose this kit over the rallyraid gear which is less than half the price?

Well we saw the kit a while back which a friend of ours had and fell in love with it really. It's a stunning piece of kit, really beautifully designed and thought out.

I personally have sat on a bike with the RallyRaid kits on and I felt they were quite wide to straddle on. For me too, when standing up it was a bit bowed out which wasn't really too comfortable, but it's each to their own and I know some people love it!

The Defy Quest kit is very slim and svelte. It's weighted lower too which is always a bonus. The exhaust reroute means less chance of damage (especially as we have a rather awesome bash plate to cover too). The cut and design sits beautifully... it's really a work of art but with so many bonuses.

:)

We will try and show the wow factor with as many photos and updates as possible!

Hey hey people!

Mini update reference the bikes:

Sam and I headed over to Switzybergland a little over a month ago to spend a couple of weeks getting our bikes upgraded to the new awesome KTM 690 Defy Kit! We had a super awesome time there with the team but as the end drew near it was evident that the fairing they required and had ordered from KTM just wasn’t going to turn up. We decided to save any panicking we would head on home to continue with our house sale and then pop back over 2 weeks later when it was hinted by KTM that they may have the fairing (the thought was that the fairing spare parts were being taken to various rallies etc so would be back in stock within a week after the rallies finished!)

It’s been 3 weeks now though… and frustratingly KTM Basel have done all they can to push through the fairing order and yet KTM still are stating it’s not in stock. With 3 weeks left until we leave we’re naturally starting to cack ourselves slightly ;)
Good news though for the future of these kits are that KTM Basel are going to be producing their own fairing with carbon fibre so this stock issue will never be a problem for joe public! As prototypes of the bike though we don’t have this luxury ;)

So… right now we’re awaiting an update from KTM Basel as to what we can do!! They have only just really set up the contacts and ability to get their own carbon fibre fairing underway but we’re not sure what progress they have made with this yet! We’re super hoping that the producers can perhaps come up with something in a very short time… I guess we’ll find out tomorrow!

We know many of you have been emailing / texting and asking for updates and so sorry it’s been a while coming but whilst juggling trip planning, house sale, bike gumph, jabs and hospital visits it’s all been a bit mental!

We’re still smiling… uncertain whether the 3 week deadline will be able to be met and looking at what happens if it doesn’t (we will end up potentially losing a grand as we’ve paid for our Libyan visas which will run out if we don’t leave in time! Aiieeeeeeeeeeee!) Buuuuut what will be will be! KTM Basel are shut today but we’re hoping for some news tomorrow! As usual we will update asap on Facebook and Twitter and when we can post on here too!

There have to be a few people around making KTM 450 rally fairings, if KTM wont get you factory ones in time. Replacement (non genuine) ones from kevlar - carbon fibre should be around 400-500 EUR, while the factory ones are about 2 grand from memory.

I reckon you want kevlar in the fairing to give it impact absorbing strength. If its just carbon fibre it wont have any give and can shatter if the bike falls on it. Kevlar gives it a lot of toughness.

Looks great ... very pricey, but looks great.

Whats the capacity of the tanks? (they are OEM 450 rally tanks right?)