990->690->500exc? - Page 3

Duken4evr · 12-23-2012, 07:07 AM

A 690 would be excellent riding on Engineer Pass (scenic rough jeep trail) out of Ouray and all the other many awesome trails in that area. It might be a bit much for Alpine Trail (hard core single track) but a good rider could do it. No way a 990 is going up and down Alpine. That was a challenge on my 'Berg. Rode Alpine, then down to Ouray and over Engineer Pass. The 'Berg has a plate and cruises 65 nice with it's XC-W trans, but no way you are slabbing on it. Can't imagine the 500 is much different. A 20 mile or so road hop is about all you would want to do on it.

Love the idea of a do it all modded 690, on my bike bucket list!

everetto · 12-23-2012, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duken4evr

A 690 would be excellent riding on Engineer Pass (scenic rough jeep trail) out of Ouray and all the other many awesome trails in that area. It might be a bit much for Alpine Trail (hard core single track) but a good rider could do it. No way a 990 is going up and down Alpine. That was a challenge on my 'Berg. Rode Alpine, then down to Ouray and over Engineer Pass. The 'Berg has a plate and cruises 65 nice with it's XC-W trans, but no way you are slabbing on it. Can't imagine the 500 is much different. A 20 mile or so road hop is about all you would want to do on it.

Love the idea of a do it all modded 690, on my bike bucket list!

I even wonder about a 990 doing Black Bear, but I am sure some guys have done it - don't know how much fun some of the bad parts were though.

Duken4evr · 12-23-2012, 03:40 PM

As luck woud have it, I have a video of me and my buddies doing Alpine and Engineer Pass

Alpine starts getting gnarly about 3 minutes into the video. Was wondering at the beginning why I heard it was tough. Found out later!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6-6QfxN9ic

Taylor Park, in case anyone else has dirt bike withdrawls and cabin fever as bad as I do already...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP7eC...endscreen&NR=1

SportEvo · 12-23-2012, 05:31 PM

690 would be a blast. Not sure about the 500 (bought a 350 exc and wish it was a 500). Just my .02. Pete

everetto · 12-23-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duken4evr

As luck woud have it, I have a video of me and my buddies doing Alpine and Engineer Pass

Alpine starts getting gnarly about 3 minutes into the video. Was wondering at the beginning why I heard it was tough. Found out later!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6-6QfxN9ic

Taylor Park, in case anyone else has dirt bike withdrawls and cabin fever as bad as I do already...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP7eC...endscreen&NR=1

Great video, thanks for posting. No better country anywhere.....

everetto · 12-23-2012, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportEvo

690 would be a blast. Not sure about the 500 (bought a 350 exc and wish it was a 500). Just my .02. Pete

Used to ride a RZ350 on The Million Dollar Highway - not THAT was fun!

Cyberg · 12-24-2012, 08:31 AM

Ok to start off I have never owned a 690 or 990. But I have owned 5 Berg 570 and 2 KTM 500.

KTM 500
Pros... Light, very smooth power, handles great in the dirt, fantastic ST bike, and gets about 50 mpg.
Cons... Engine vibs a little, runs a little hot on ST, sucks on the slab after about 20 miles (to me).

Husaberg 570
Pros... Feels light when riding, TONS of very smooth power (better than the 500), handles great, fantastic ST bike, feels better than the 500 on the slab, and gets about 50 mpg.
Cons...They stopped making them, not great on the slab, small fuel tank, and everytime you stop to get gas people will ask you "what is a Husaberg". LOL

The small bikes are great if you only ride short trips on the slab and then hit the "good stuff"
I hope this helps

Steveman · 12-24-2012, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportEvo

(bought a 350 exc and wish it was a 500)

why?

Tangai · 12-26-2012, 03:32 PM

A few years ago I had to pay a bunch of money to the IRS and sold my 990A. After everything was paid off I bought a nice used 2008 690 Enduro. I really liked it at first and made two really only trips on it from Oklahoma—one to Baton Rouge, LA taking back roads and another to Virginia and did some dual sport riding-camping and had a great time. However after a while it pretty well sucked all around. Mine, being a 08 Enduro the shorter travel model, was rough riding on the road. The forks were cheap feeling (lots of stiction) and for off road too soft with lots of stiction. The rear shock wasn’t all that good either. Vibration got to me, thought I should have tried a dampened bar mount. The semi-close ratio six- speed was either too low for long road rides or too tall for off road. I now have an 06 950 Adventure and an 011 530 Six Days. The only problem is 950 gets terrible MPG, and I can’t ride them both at the same time!

I still like the idea of a big single adventure and might someday build one from the new 690. This time I’d go all the way with the Rally Raid stuff and do it right. (I'll have to win the lottery first) But it still won’t do what a real dirt bike will do, so the 530 XCW will be here for a while. It makes a far better dual sport bike than the 690, but 690 is so much faster on the road—it would be the better adventure bike. I guess the only perfect bike is a barn full of them.

efria · 01-05-2013, 09:28 PM

800xc 😉

everetto · 04-10-2013, 06:19 PM

Finally! You can see the choice I made (if you read the thread);

I also bought a YZ450, so I should have the bases covered.

everetto · 04-10-2013, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efria

800xc ��

Screw that, it's a heavy pig. :)

Yellow Pig · 04-10-2013, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efria

800xc 😉

Worst suspension ever!

12-23-2012, 07:07 AM	#31
Duken4evr Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Parker, CO Oddometer: 164	A 690 would be excellent riding on Engineer Pass (scenic rough jeep trail) out of Ouray and all the other many awesome trails in that area. It might be a bit much for Alpine Trail (hard core single track) but a good rider could do it. No way a 990 is going up and down Alpine. That was a challenge on my 'Berg. Rode Alpine, then down to Ouray and over Engineer Pass. The 'Berg has a plate and cruises 65 nice with it's XC-W trans, but no way you are slabbing on it. Can't imagine the 500 is much different. A 20 mile or so road hop is about all you would want to do on it. Love the idea of a do it all modded 690, on my bike bucket list! __________________ 2010 Husaberg FE450 (plated) 2006 Yamaha FZ1

12-23-2012, 03:40 PM	#33
Duken4evr Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Parker, CO Oddometer: 164	As luck woud have it, I have a video of me and my buddies doing Alpine and Engineer Pass Alpine starts getting gnarly about 3 minutes into the video. Was wondering at the beginning why I heard it was tough. Found out later! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6-6QfxN9ic Taylor Park, in case anyone else has dirt bike withdrawls and cabin fever as bad as I do already... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP7eC...endscreen&NR=1 __________________ 2010 Husaberg FE450 (plated) 2006 Yamaha FZ1 Duken4evr screwed with this post 12-23-2012 at 03:54 PM

12-23-2012, 05:31 PM	#34
SportEvo Adventurer Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Dallas Oddometer: 65	Ridden the silverton to Durango route on the gs ... 690 would be a blast. Not sure about the 500 (bought a 350 exc and wish it was a 500). Just my .02. Pete

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-24-2012, 08:31 AM	#37
Cyberg Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Oddometer: 37	Ok to start off I have never owned a 690 or 990. But I have owned 5 Berg 570 and 2 KTM 500. KTM 500 Pros... Light, very smooth power, handles great in the dirt, fantastic ST bike, and gets about 50 mpg. Cons... Engine vibs a little, runs a little hot on ST, sucks on the slab after about 20 miles (to me). Husaberg 570 Pros... Feels light when riding, TONS of very smooth power (better than the 500), handles great, fantastic ST bike, feels better than the 500 on the slab, and gets about 50 mpg. Cons...They stopped making them, not great on the slab, small fuel tank, and everytime you stop to get gas people will ask you "what is a Husaberg". LOL The small bikes are great if you only ride short trips on the slab and then hit the "good stuff" I hope this helps

12-26-2012, 03:32 PM	#39
Tangai Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Pocola, OK Oddometer: 464	A few years ago I had to pay a bunch of money to the IRS and sold my 990A. After everything was paid off I bought a nice used 2008 690 Enduro. I really liked it at first and made two really only trips on it from Oklahoma—one to Baton Rouge, LA taking back roads and another to Virginia and did some dual sport riding-camping and had a great time. However after a while it pretty well sucked all around. Mine, being a 08 Enduro the shorter travel model, was rough riding on the road. The forks were cheap feeling (lots of stiction) and for off road too soft with lots of stiction. The rear shock wasn’t all that good either. Vibration got to me, thought I should have tried a dampened bar mount. The semi-close ratio six- speed was either too low for long road rides or too tall for off road. I now have an 06 950 Adventure and an 011 530 Six Days. The only problem is 950 gets terrible MPG, and I can’t ride them both at the same time! I still like the idea of a big single adventure and might someday build one from the new 690. This time I’d go all the way with the Rally Raid stuff and do it right. (I'll have to win the lottery first) But it still won’t do what a real dirt bike will do, so the 530 XCW will be here for a while. It makes a far better dual sport bike than the 690, but 690 is so much faster on the road—it would be the better adventure bike. I guess the only perfect bike is a barn full of them.

01-05-2013, 09:28 PM	#40
efria n00b Joined: Sep 2012 Oddometer: 9	800xc 😉

04-10-2013, 06:19 PM	#41
everetto ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Central New Mexico Oddometer: 117	Finally! You can see the choice I made (if you read the thread); I also bought a YZ450, so I should have the bases covered.