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Couple of weeks in the desert on an 890R [video]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtrrtOEhc6Q
https://adventuremotorcyclinghandboo...212vidhead.jpg Got lent of these out of the blue for 2 x 1200km. Not the sort of thing I'd ever own but ended up quite liking it. Long version here Short version below https://adventuremotorcyclinghandboo.../11/k8902.jpeg https://adventuremotorcyclinghandboo...11/k89012.jpeg https://adventuremotorcyclinghandboo...2/11/k897.jpeg https://adventuremotorcyclinghandboo...2/11/k891.jpeg PRO • Tubeless tyres • On the move feels light for claimed 210kg tanked up • Recorded up 72mpg (60US; 25.5 kpl) = 500-km range • Great stability thanks to 20-litre pannier tank • Fully adjustable stock suspension • Easily understandable menu • Cable clutch modulated well • Big footrests • Brilliant brakes • Solid build quality • Modes aplenty + USB, GPS 12v sockets • Riding under 5000rpm, vibration was OK • Mitas E-07/Karoo 3 tyres worked fine, road and trail • Good aftermarket protection on the tank • It didn't break down or play up! CON • Engine sometimes felt/sounded rough as an air-cooled single, especially on start up • Hard seat • Not much engine braking • Screen too low to work on the road • No hook-free attachment points on rear subframe • No preload adjustment knob on the shock • Fuel gauge and range reading erratic or vague • Suspension harsh over small bumps • Quickshifter (and cruise) present but not enabled • Display supplementary data too small to read |
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Engine sometimes felt/sounded rough: I read somewhere that one of the tradeoffs of KTM's aim for light weight is the reduction in thickness of cylinder walls which then makes the engine noisy. It's certainly the only bike I've thought of getting a sports silencer purely to overcome the unpleasant harsh clattering (and I wear ear plugs).
Screen too low for road: The S version has a higher screen but both models suffer from extreme buffeting. I use a clear low screen from the Rally version with a Darkojak deflector on top (pic below shows rally screen on high setting and deflector quite low). Suspension harsh: totally agree, it's 'crashy'. Cruise: first bike I've had with cruise control, it's great. |
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