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How long will a KTM 690 motor last?

Jackson said:
While we're at it let's go over a few more things. Backing it in, not hard riding. Wheelieing, not hard riding.
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I don't consider myself a 'hard rider,' nor am I trying to pass myself off as one, but I'm curious what counts these days. I swear this is not a troll post, I really wanna know!

Wheelies and backing it in sure are fun though. Brrraaaappppppp.... Peace out Boy Scouts!
 
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I forgot Barf is filled with older then dirt people. Maybe ask your grand children they can show you I'm sure
 
Sharky said:
Uh oh, here we go...:laughing
How does one come to "know the streets"? Is there a class or patch one needs to get?
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That's the tricky thing about the streets, if you don't know you don't know, then you don't know, but if you know, then you know, you know?

knowing-is-half-the-battlejpg1425907458645.jpeg



weak_link said:
I don't consider myself a 'hard rider,' nor am I trying to pass myself off as one, but I'm curious what counts these days. I swear this is not a troll post, I really wanna know!

Wheelies and backing it in sure are fun though. Brrraaaappppppp.... Peace out Boy Scouts!
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I think of hard riding (riders) as anyone who dedicates themselves to advancing their abilities as a rider. That being said this obviously leaves room for a spectrum of hardness:

Mohs-Scale-of-Gemstone-Hardness1.png


To differentiate between your apatite rider, and your diamond rider one meerely look at how much sweat is leaving their pores during the acquisition of skills, IMO.
 
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But I know everyone should just chill and talk about the thread title or bikes, not riders...m'kay?

/modhat off
 
That post has left me questioning my knowledge of the streets also. I just don't know what I don't know.
 
Here is my # 4 690 after this weeks Corbin seat upgrade. 10500 miles and counting.
 

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I bought a 690 SMC with a fresh rebuild and when I put it in gear to ride away it wouldn't move so I reversed that transaction and bought a WR250X.
 
The 690 is a fickle machine that at least needs a few fixes right out of the box. At worst will blowup on you. Likelihood of blowup higher than Japanese machines but maybe in line with all others.
 
Blankpage said:
The 690 is a fickle machine that at least needs a few fixes right out of the box. At worst will blowup on you. Likelihood of blowup higher than Japanese machines but maybe in line with all others.
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Negative ghost rider.

Put 5,000+ miles on mine, changed oil, new air filters, tires and that's it. Getting close to 6,500 miles, valves were in spec.

50% on Forest Service roads and railing on gravel roads. 10% with supermoto tires doing the 36 or 32 to Chester and back on 70. No issues to date and I do all my maintenance. Moterex oil, yes.
 
oobus said:
Negative ghost rider.

Put 5,000+ miles on mine, changed oil, new air filters, tires and that's it. Getting close to 6,500 miles, valves were in spec.

50% on Forest Service roads and railing on gravel roads. 10% with supermoto tires doing the 36 or 32 to Chester and back on 70. No issues to date and I do all my maintenance. Moterex oil, yes.
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So what? I put over 6500 on mine also with no breakdowns. logging roads, offroad, trails, no visible trail, snow...
Out of the box it had poor wire routing near pinch points and places where they would rub on the frame without protection. Would definitely lead to an issue if ignored. Sharp edge of tabs used to hold body panels poking into radiator and having to be trimmed. Fan too close to radiator and needed spacers to increase gap else potentially leading to a leak eventually. Which has happened with at leas one other 690 owner I know.

Crappy of idle fueling, stalling issues... weak rear fuel tank bolts needing replacing with aftermarket part. Poor shifting/false neutral between 5-6 shift. Fairly common on enduros of several other 690 owners I rode with. Yeah its the same engine as the smc but I only know people with the enduro model.

Overheating needing a fan switch if used in tight slow offroad stuff. Melting rear blinkers, pita fuel cap recess allowing dirt to fall into tank, needing replacing but not an issue if worst you see is dusty gravel roads.
Thats just shit off the top of my head. I had to fix that and more on mine before being offroad ready

So you had no issue with yours and that speaks for all, okay got it.


;
 
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I have 3 other friends that have them, including Aaron. I had looked at Aaron's bike before he bought it, I believe it had been raced before. What else that is comparable in gross weight/hp will last as long? I've got the same 5-6 gear issues, currently replacing the fuel filler on my bike, but hey, nothing out of the box is perfect for everyone.

Few guys have done RTW trips on theirs and they lasted many miles. I think a lot of issues have to do with the rider not being mechanical and not picking up on issues until it is too late.
 
I had/have 4 690s and none of them had any problems. Change oil, brakes, tires thats it. Track days, fire roads, railing the mountains. Riding long distance at 80+ for long periods of time reliable as a stone.
 
mitiasbikes said:
I had/have 4 690s and none of them had any problems. Change oil, brakes, tires thats it. Track days, fire roads, railing the mountains. Riding long distance at 80+ for long periods of time reliable as a stone.
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Yeah, same with my SMC, solid since the day I bought it. But I have heard of other owners that haven't been as lucky...
 
mitiasbikes said:
I had/have 4 690s and none of them had any problems. Change oil, brakes, tires thats it. Track days, fire roads, railing the mountains. Riding long distance at 80+ for long periods of time reliable as a stone.
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They seem hit or miss. I am on my second bike ktm thumper and (knock wood) no motor issues to speak of. They do have their quirks and seems to need more TLC than their Japanese lower performance counterparts. Seems like guys with xr650r's are always rebuilding motors, but I expect its less expensive and parts are a bit more readily available.
 
Sharky said:
They seem hit or miss. I am on my second bike ktm thumper and (knock wood) no motor issues to speak of. They do have their quirks and seems to need more TLC than their Japanese lower performance counterparts. Seems like guys with xr650r's are always rebuilding motors, but I expect its less expensive and parts are a bit more readily available.
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That reminds me, I probably should check the valves on my duke sometime soon.
:laughing
 
mitiasbikes said:
I had/have 4 690s and none of them had any problems. Change oil, brakes, tires thats it. Track days, fire roads, railing the mountains. Riding long distance at 80+ for long periods of time reliable as a stone.
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I can't really understand how having 4 690s but not putting many miles on any one of them would indicate that they are super reliable.

Mine was super reliable until it wasn't. I still love the bike and am looking forward to getting it sorted when I have some time.
 
Who says, I didnt :) it was at least 15K on each before I would look for something else fun, like Duc Hyper, Ape Tuono, another Ape Tuono :)

I guess, knock on wood I am just lucky with my KTMs.
 
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