How long will a KTM 690 motor last?

[auntiebling]

not really English..

not worried really

 

[ratsblast]

What blows up when they go if I may ask?

 

[fast4d]

I have bought 5 KTMs new. you need to ride them hard but observe the rpms stated in the owners manual.

had a sdr that used more oil than usual. started riding it like I was pissed off after the initial 10k of easy riding. oil consumption went down, way down. by the time I sold it at 37k it used maybe 1/2 qt per oil change. I followed the factory interval more or less.

motorex? fuck that shit. I bought whatever 10w-50 was available or on sale. usually castrol rs4

now I am using liquid moly 10w-50 on the current 990. 1190 got total 10w-50 I just happen to stock up.

I also notice the suspension takes a few K to soften up.

 

[OaklandF4i]

Stop conflating and feeding people garbage.

Listen little man, time to grow up and put the big boy pants on. You may know about about taking fashion selfies and playing with your hair tinker bell, but you obviously know jack shit. There wasnt a word of what I said that was garbage. You make a comment about me in that tone, and yes I will respond.

I dont comment about anything I havent had experience with... or I'll keep my mouth shut. Just as I wouldnt say anything here that I wouldnt say in person. If you said that to me in person, you wouldnt be standing. Grow up or grow a pair. If not, go back to your fashion shots little one.

 

[redtail]

The advantage is that Harley Dealers are open 7 days are week and you can get parts quickly. And you can be assured that they might have the part if you call it in.

Harley shims are also way cheaper. I bought a whole set for my 690 at a fraction of the cost of the KTM shims.

Cool, thanks for the tip!

 

[Z3n]

There's a big range for expected lifespan out of singles. I wouldn't expect anywhere near 100k out of the high stress, low oil capacity bikes (sub 1.5l). The more oil capacity goes up, as a rule of thumb, the longer you can expect the bikes to last. Thumpers tend to burn oil under normal usage to varying degrees, and if you don't keep on top of them, expect them to blow. Every thumper I've seen blow under 25k was usually run low on oil at some point, and engines, as a rule, don't like that. There's still the occasional lemon 690 that blows, but I'd put it at fewer than 1/100. Proper care, maintenance, observing the behavior of the bikes (i.e. Coolant gauge behavior, fan on, overheating, etc) is critical to keeping singles alive. They're rather highly stressed so missing those subtle clues will shave the engine life to a fraction of what it could be, and that's how most of them blow early. I know cause I did that with a number of bikes over the years.

 

[Ogier le Danois]

There's a big range for expected lifespan out of singles. I wouldn't expect anywhere near 100k out of the high stress, low oil capacity bikes (sub 1.5l). The more oil capacity goes up, as a rule of thumb, the longer you can expect the bikes to last. Thumpers tend to burn oil under normal usage to varying degrees, and if you don't keep on top of them, expect them to blow. Every thumper I've seen blow under 25k was usually run low on oil at some point, and engines, as a rule, don't like that. There's still the occasional lemon 690 that blows, but I'd put it at fewer than 1/100. Proper care, maintenance, observing the behavior of the bikes (i.e. Coolant gauge behavior, fan on, overheating, etc) is critical to keeping singles alive. They're rather highly stressed so missing those subtle clues will shave the engine life to a fraction of what it could be, and that's how most of them blow early. I know cause I did that with a number of bikes over the years.

What is the purpose, other than a tiny bit of weight savings, of giving non-race bikes such low oil capacity.

Seems quite silly.

 

[Z3n]

Racing and spec sells bikes - if you can do it all but lighter, smaller/lighter/more flexible packaging, that's what makes the difference between the new top dog and the old and boring. Never mind that most mere mortals will never see that difference in lap times or feel the power difference, practical people don't buy racebred bikes. So in the race inspired market the differentiator is looking for that extra couple of pounds or grams off. If you want practical you're buying a drz.

So yeah it's totally silly but so is buying a zx10 to commute on. Same thing, really.

 

[Sharky]

What is the purpose, other than a tiny bit of weight savings, of giving non-race bikes such low oil capacity.

Seems quite silly.

Older street model LC4s have oil in the frame ala' xr650l/nx650. Non road going versions don't do the oil in frame. I still change my oil at close intervals and check the level before every ride. Can't treat a big single, especially a high strung one line a Japanese I4.

 

[GreenHornet]

What blows up when they go if I may ask?

Mine had unknown hours / miles 2001 520 EXC. Had recent top end rebuild ( cam chain snapped on last owner). Ate a main bearing in Baja. Getting it rebuilt and upgraded. Should be good for 2-300 hours shop said.

 

[Jackson]

Don't ego trip and calm down. I'm sure you have seen one that blew up, I'm here to tell the OP the other side of that story.

Sources:
- owned an '08 690 SMC for three years and rode it harder than anyone you know
- have heard only the best possible praise about Stan, his reputation speaks for itself
- personally knew owners of about 4 other late LC4 690s

Comparing a modern LC4 to DRZ motors and RFS thumpers is asinine. Stop conflating and feeding people garbage.

Anecdotal evidence to support calling out other people's experience, asked to back up claims, ignores all questions and talks about how baller of a rider he is, and how he knows 4 people who back his claims. Go on any thumper forum and talk a out a 100k thumper, let's see what responses you get oh glorious hardest rider any of us could know. BTW wheelieing doesn't count as riding hard, even if you have a wet sump.

 

[boney]

It didn't take long for the dick swinging to start in here.

 

[KronikInsomniak]

Anecdotal evidence to support calling out other people's experience, asked to back up claims, ignores all questions and talks about how baller of a rider he is, and how he knows 4 people who back his claims. Go on any thumper forum and talk a out a 100k thumper, let's see what responses you get oh glorious hardest rider any of us could know. BTW wheelieing doesn't count as riding hard, even if you have a wet sump.

+1

 

[Lunch Box]

Anecdotal evidence to support calling out other people's experience, asked to back up claims, ignores all questions and talks about how baller of a rider he is, and how he knows 4 people who back his claims. Go on any thumper forum and talk a out a 100k thumper, let's see what responses you get oh glorious hardest rider any of us could know. BTW wheelieing doesn't count as riding hard, even if you have a wet sump.

Exactly this.

Thrashing a thumper offroad is not remotely close to the same thing as riding one on the street. A bit of backing it in and a few wheelies do not constitute hard riding.

I LOVE my 690 Enduro. Love it! That said, I would be smoking crack if I expected the motor to last 100K miles with just maintenance and minimal repair work. As I mentioned previously, my motor had 15K miles on it but probably had quite a few more hours than most other 690s with 30K or more. Slow riding on technical dirt tend to make the bike run hot. It all takes its toll. Remember folks, this is a 650cc bike that puts out roughly 50% more horsepower than an XR650L (same size motor, give or take a few cc). There is a price to pay for such performance.

 

[redtail]

I LOVE my 690 Enduro. Love it! That said, I would be smoking crack if I expected the motor to last 100K miles

And besides, who needs another expensive habit like crack when you own a KTM?

 

[Blankpage]

Self titled hardest rider anyone has ever known. I hope no poor fool will lose their life trying to break this record.


:

 

[Sharky]

And besides, who needs another expensive habit like crack when you own a KTM?

I think a crack habit is required in order to get on the KTM train to begin with.

 

[WFO]

The trouble is that nobody else makes anything that can compete with a KTM 690.

I have a few bikes. The KTM 690 is the best dual sport bike currently made.

 

[OaklandF4i]

The trouble is that nobody else makes anything that can compete with a KTM 690.

I have a few bikes. The KTM 690 is the best dual sport bike currently made.

Agreed, for the folks that value performance offroad. Wish I had the disposable cash for a set up like Lunchboxes with the rally tanks. Perfect would be a kickstart option. We can dream.

Not going to hold my breath, but perhaps Honda will have some success in the market. With the Africa twin and possible 250L based Adv bike..... can a 450-650cc bike be in the works down the line? An update to the XR650R cases to accept a 6sp tranny and e start. The bike is already close enough inline weight wise with the 690. Ahhhh fuck.... need to go do something, get off the interweb, and stop dreaming.

 

[DIY]

Thanks for all of the replies. It really got me thinking. As much as I would like the new Duke to be what I would like it to be, it won't. It is too busy being an awesome single. I think I am looking for something that will require less daily care. I am a terrible bike shopper.