New and improved KTM690 WUNDERFEST

Seth,
If the 690 needs a bit more pep, just give it a goose

I just realized-that chicken probably knows more than I do now about tearing down bike motors. Sad. Really, sad.

Having been attacked by one of the geese and bitten by the damn thing a few dozen times I can say I understand where the phrase comes from.

No need for photo's for my benefit, thanks for the reply.
I was just wondering what I might find when I tear mine apart.
I realize maintenance and use play a large part in how engines wear,
and each engine will undoubtedly wear differently.
Thanks again for your insite.
Assfault

I think my headgasket failure was due to a failed water pump seal. I took the bike to Australia and raced it in the Safari Rally. I had a big crash on the 3rd day and could no longer ride but the bike was ok. Gave it to a friend to finish on as his stator had failed on his 530. On the last day he said the bike overheated and shut off. he filled the radiator with his camelback water and went another 40k before the temp spiked and the coolant light came on. ...the bike stalled and would not restart and he didnt want to kill it. That night when it came in on the recovery truck it started right up and ran fine.

Back in the USA I found the water pump seals were bad and replaced them. Flushed all the coolant from the inside of the engine and put in fresh oil. The bike ran well, came up to temp, had good power, and no smoke. Took the bike to a ride in Canada and made it about 40 or 50 miles before it started to smoke a bit in a slow woods section. Bike started consuming vast quantities of coolant. had to fill it with hose water at a house and made it to service where I was done. My theory is that the water pump seals failed in Australia and the bike got hot damaging the head gasket in the process. I replaced the seals and the head gasket could no longer seal the pressure and it then failed. I still need to have the head checked for flatness.

Former 690 owner with a dumb question. What magic did KTM do in the later years to extend the service intervals? I had an 08 and I noticed the newer ones have longer intervals. Did they change anything or just juke the stats?

7200 km, 14 days, rrrrrggg rrrggg

They edited the owners manual

What fairing is that Lexey?

Meccasystems fairing

The only map setting I am aware of is the Map-Select switch and I have mine set at 3. This after a re-programming by the dealer.

As a bonafide BeemerDork I can attest to the fact that BMW does the same thing. I've been lusting over the new water-head GS but know better than to get a first year and be their beta-tester. Quite often it takes 6 years for them to incorporate fixes into production....witness the R1100S. And they've been trying to make their rear drives bulletproof forever and still haven't gotten it right. Oh well. That's the friction between making it more car-like complex and making it better.

Seth,
Yep they can bite....but there is a different meaning as well:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=goose :eek1

I am well aware of the other meaning

The boys at Mattighofen in clean white coats would not enjoy seeing that hammer ...

And the chicken masquerading as a mechanic.

I don't think it is masquerading. I think it could hold a wrench between a couple of wing feathers and . . .

Cheers,

MrHix

A very off topic question for Seth... does it hurt when they bite?

It's a serious question; at one of my riding places where I enter and usually stop and lock up my luggage they've got a bunch of geese that charge. I've considered kicking them in the chest to keep them back but wouldn't want to be so harsh if there bite wasn't bad.

i got bit by a duck once(to be fair, i had shot it), and i wont say it didnt hurt, but I know youve crashed a moto at SOME point, and im thinking you can take a goose pinch or twelve.

video it though, if you can