MY KTM 690 Adventure

[Seth S]

Originally Posted by shipwrek12001

how is riding with the big tank?

Speaking for myself.....I have a safari tank on my 690 as well. First I will say that the safari tank is not a big tank it just looks big. The tank is only a14 liters which puts it around 3.5 gallons. Added weight is about 30 lbs when the tank is full. That said I hardly notice the tank and most of my riding has been in rough off road terrain. The only thing I notice is occaisionally if I hit a jump wrong it feels like the bike tips forward more than it used to...makes sense....but is more of a riding error factor than a tank issue. I am 6'3" tall with a 34" inseam and a renazco seat. I don't find the size or with of the tank to be a problem unless I reach through a corner with my leg.

[Night Falcon]

Originally Posted by Speed Daddy

Just got my rear wheel back from the shop with the new TKC fitted.

TKC80 verdict...less than 3500klm and shes pretty well done. I hav'nt thrashed it but it has had some flogging. Will be trying an E07 140 next if I can get one.

For comparison these tires have had about the same life!

[Night Falcon]

Just had the 10,000 klm service done. New filters,oil & grease. also needed valve adjustmet, mechanic also recommended replace stock air cleaner with oil/foam so will check these out. Also had him look at rear shock as it seems a little soft.

I checked the bike sag which was 7mm out but the rider sag has no adjustment so may need a stiffer spring $250.00 - $300.00. Is there another option for this or will i need to get anew spring. (the bike tends to want to fall off the side stand when loaded up with paniers etc) has any one got any ideas that could help with this that I'm overlooking?...i am a bit of a suspesion noob so any advice would be appriciated.

Anyway while my bike was getting serviced I got this to play on for a copule of hours

[Night Falcon]

Molesworth Station South Island NZ



Famous land mark shot down in its prime


McKenzie Pass


I love this country!!

[Night Falcon]

more adventures...

[Night Falcon]

its starting to get wet in land of the long white cloud so out comes the high front guard...nice for a change

[Dotbond]

What is the seat that you have on the 690?

Some friends and I did the Rainbow and Molesworth early March, great rides.

[Night Falcon]

Originally Posted by Dotbond

What is the seat that you have on the 690?

Some friends and I did the Rainbow and Molesworth early March, great rides.

Its a modified stock 690 E seat....lot better for longer trips than the stocker but not perfect...yet

Glad you enjoyed the molly...it cool alright!

[Night Falcon]

Have some spare time to kill thanks to some maintenance work beine done to left stableizer....



Now that I'm allowed off the couch I decided to see why my not so quite powercore 4 is SOOOOOO LOUUUUUUUD. Turns out theres a hole burnt through the packing. You can just make it out on the first packing layer (the dark black area). The rest of the packing including the outer layer was still in good nick (except for the hole). Don't know how this happened but hope new packing will quiten it up.

[Mini Trail]

Originally Posted by Speed Daddy

I had one problem with my front fairing which turned out to be an 08 not an 09 (bigger headlight).

I decided not to do any welding on the fron stem for the mount so came up with a clamp system...works real swell (cool az for down under lurkers)

Do your aluminum straps connect behind the stem (another set of bolts) or are they simply holding by tension?

It looks like the headlight is the only thing mounted to the stem then the fairing is only mounted to the ears (with the orange tape). Where else is the fairing attached?

[Night Falcon]

Originally Posted by Mini Trail

Do your aluminum straps connect behind the stem (another set of bolts) or are they simply holding by tension?

It looks like the headlight is the only thing mounted to the stem then the fairing is only mounted to the ears (with the orange tape). Where else is the fairing attached?

There are 2 half round straps each side of the stem (1 top & bottom both sides)

There is one bolt connecting the bottom staps that passes behind the coolant bottle...you need to shave a bit of plastic off the lug to get bolt through...but hardly any) the top staps bolt on to the existing frame brackets either side of the ignition.

Apart from the two side brackets (which also support the indicators) The fairing is connected with 2 qwick lock fasteners to the dash. which is bolted to a flat plate bracket above the headlight.

All works pretty well and takes less than 5mins to remove the fairing. it is fiddly getting it sorted but the stem bracket is rock solid which is the key.

This bloke uses a stainless strap on his which I tried copying but couldn't get to work www.albertodottori.net

If you need anything more let me know happy to take some more/clearer pictures for you if that helps.

[TrailGoat]

Originally Posted by Speed Daddy

Have some spare time to kill thanks to some maintenance work beine done to left stableizer....

SpeedD, could you please name all the movies which are partially covered? I have been looking for some to watch and just have been able to find "From Dust to Glory"; great film IMHO.

Thanks in advance and my apologies for side-tracking the OT.

[sTE610vE]

Originally Posted by Speed Daddy

There are 2 half round straps each side of the stem (1 top & bottom both sides)

There is one bolt connecting the bottom staps that passes behind the coolant bottle...you need to shave a bit of plastic off the lug to get bolt through...but hardly any) the top staps bolt on to the existing frame brackets either side of the ignition.

Apart from the two side brackets (which also support the indicators) The fairing is connected with 2 qwick lock fasteners to the dash. which is bolted to a flat plate bracket above the headlight.

All works pretty well and takes less than 5mins to remove the fairing. it is fiddly getting it sorted but the stem bracket is rock solid which is the key.

This bloke uses a stainless strap on his which I tried copying but couldn't get to work www.albertodottori.net

If you need anything more let me know happy to take some more/clearer pictures for you if that helps.

Nice Work!

[Mini Trail]

Originally Posted by Speed Daddy

There are 2 half round straps each side of the stem (1 top & bottom both sides)

There is one bolt connecting the bottom staps that passes behind the coolant bottle...you need to shave a bit of plastic off the lug to get bolt through...but hardly any) the top staps bolt on to the existing frame brackets either side of the ignition.

Apart from the two side brackets (which also support the indicators) The fairing is connected with 2 qwick lock fasteners to the dash. which is bolted to a flat plate bracket above the headlight.

All works pretty well and takes less than 5mins to remove the fairing. it is fiddly getting it sorted but the stem bracket is rock solid which is the key.

This bloke uses a stainless strap on his which I tried copying but couldn't get to work www.albertodottori.net

If you need anything more let me know happy to take some more/clearer pictures for you if that helps.

I appreciate it. It looks like I am going to be off bikes for a while so I may dive into a project like this for my 690. I am surprised that the headlight housing is strong enough to triangulate the mounts and support the fairing. When I get well I am going to look at street bikes at dealers to see how they are mounted.

I wish I had one of those Baja race lights to look at. I would love to build the fairing around that.

[Night Falcon]

Originally Posted by TrailGoat

SpeedD, could you please name all the movies which are partially covered? I have been looking for some to watch and just have been able to find "From Dust to Glory"; great film IMHO.

Thanks in advance and my apologies for side-tracking the OT.

some of the DVD's were included with bike magazines I bought so wont be availabe for general hire...but they are:
Steve Crombie - Natuarl Born Traveller: the great divide
Top Gear - back in the fast lane
Dual sport riding techniques
Trail Bike adventure magazine: the X factor

Originally Posted by Mini Trail

I appreciate it. It looks like I am going to be off bikes for a while so I may dive into a project like this for my 690. I am surprised that the headlight housing is strong enough to triangulate the mounts and support the fairing. When I get well I am going to look at street bikes at dealers to see how they are mounted.

I wish I had one of those Baja race lights to look at. I would love to build the fairing around that.

Theres not alot of weight in the fairing so it dont need much to support it. Even at top speed (170kph) the fairing is stable azz. I hope you get well real soon...I've had 5 opperations on my leg over the last 2 and half years so plenty of down time for fiddling with my bike....i find it very theraputic!