Are you getting the 1x long 4x short FI flashes for the ambient air pressure sensor? Been having this come up on mine on occasion.
I have had one major problem a couple of days ago. In a hot city center of southwestern France suddenly the FI warning lamp started to flash. I could not anymore accelerate properly and there was lots of backfire (spark failure) and the exhaust was extremely loud. Also the engine easily died off. At first the blinking code was 6x short (throttle position sensor circuit A - input signal too low). So I called my local mechanic and he said I should check the connections/plugs and I should also take off the cable from the battery (that did not help). After reconnecting the battery cable, the blinking code changed to 9x long (throttle position circuit fault). Fortunately I found a big KTM dealer just 5 km away from me and could make it to him on my own. They also considered this failure as a major problem and could not repair the throttle position sensor. Thus they replaced it with a new one. Then the bike run again perfectly as before. Actually, I was a bit disappointed that there was a major problem already after just 4200 km driving. I bought this new 690 mainly because there were some very positive reports about this 2012 model which emphasized its reliability. Also the extended 10,000 km intervals for service gave me confidence in this new LC4 engine. I do not think that the throttle position sensor failed because of "aging". So here are some facts about my bike and also my explanation (just a guess) for the failure. I have the Akra slip-on without cat on my bike. My local dealer put the Akra mapping on the bike. So this worked very fine (smooth engine running + no oil consumption) the first 2800 km basically only onroad driving. For the next 1000 km offroad driving I changed the mapping on the map select switch from position 3 (akra) to position 1 mainly because with this soft mapping you can drop down to just 2000 rpm without causing the engine to die off (after 3800 km I switched back to position 3 for "street mode"). I really liked this soft mapping in rough terrain but I am afraid that this is not healthy for the LC4 if you have Akras without cat mounted. The soft mapping is adjusted to the stock pipe with cat so I guess that this caused the failure. I also noticed that the oil consumption suddenly increased after I switched to position 1. Interestingly, the mechanic in France told me that there was no Akra mapping on my bike although my local mechanic said he put it on. Maybe the use of the soft mapping for 1000 km driving caused the Akra mapping to disappear?? To sum up, I think it is not advisable to use the soft mapping (optimized for stock pipe with cat) when you have mounted an exhaust without cat.
the map is disappeaed??? change mechanic anyway putting the selector in 1 (soft map) only affect the way how the butterfly is opened.... nothing else
Weird what you write here. :huh As far as I know, position 2 or 3 works well with the Akra. (actualy what I have) Where did you get this that position 3 is not for Akra ??? As far as reliability is concerned, you certainly did not read on ADVRIder. There are thousands of threads relating to the 690 issues. Paul jr
Why weird? I said that position 1 (soft) seems to have caused problems in conjunction with the mounted Akra because I cannot think of anything else to be the reason. Concerning reliability, this thread is to report on major problems with the 2012 model (which I have). I have just described one major problem I experienced but I also wrote that I JUST GUESS what could have caused this problem....If you have more constructive suggestions or better ideas I would be thankful. (Yes it is strange, I have no idea why the French mechanic did not find the Akra mapping anymore but I just know that I have a very trustworthy local mechanic.)
He wasn't referring to your particular issue, He was referring to your statement that you bought the 690 under the assumption that it was a reliable bike, and he was just pointing to the fact that if you had read a lot of the posts here, that's not an assumption you would readily make.
Sorry bit of confusion... My oil pressure sender may be packing it in. No ambient air pressure sensor problems for me...
@Albie your (off-)topic is unfortunately missing the point/problem. Gros Buck even didn't read that I am talking about problems with the position 1 mapping. But anyway, despite this obvious ignorance the point is that many guys are right now buying the new 690 model MY2012 because it is considered very reliable for a single cylinder. Imagine this new 2012 model has service intervals of 10,000 km, thus more than the LC8 Adventure with 7500 km service intervals. Moreover, the new model has improved also small technical issues like friction with the radiator/cooler and other parts. And yes, of course this bike has still some known "typical weaknesses". But together with the extremely cultivated performance of this single cylinder many customers have good reason to believe that they purchase a relatively reliable LC4, despite all the "negative information" from older models which they surely read before investing almost 10K Euro for the new model. That's why they still want to know in this special thread if there are still major problems with this model. I have just reported one major problem with the new model but that doesn't mean that I am unhappy with my bike...By the way, this is not my first KTM so I know why I made my buying decision...
It's not a major problem but annoying and relevant to the 2012. It is the kickstand. It seems way too long. Jump on the bike and you need to lean right to get the damn thing up. Shorter works better for me in offroad situations also. They all like this?
Not so for somebody not overweight... Just kiddin.. I am 195 lbs and my problem too. Plus I am only 5'9" making it worse around town and at filling stations and such. I am installing a lowering link and I have to cut the side stand. I lowered my Yam 1 inch and cut the side stand a half inch. Was perfect. I think the new 690 will require a full 1 inch cut on the stand, because stock, the stand is too long. Haven't decided yet, though.
I know, Pantah, that's the killer-I weigh 156. And it's nice to be able to get the stand down on a hill and still dismount to the high side. While only slightly taller than you I've adapted to it OK because my XR was as tall as the 690. I agree, this bike needs a 1 inch standectomy.
Frontwheller21,let me give you some advice, give a read at the topic on tunecu and the map for the 690.... You have confused ideas about the three map of the 690
@Bill: The guys are already messing, because one gives a misleading statement to something which I have definitely not said and the other thinks I should have no reason to believe in improved reliability of the 2012 model with newly increased service intervals...I will give no further statement to them cause all this has nothing to do with the intention to simply describe the technical failure I experienced. @wino: I have not confused ideas about the three maps, I have just suspected that driving with Akra exhaust without cat in mapping position 1 may possibly (!) be the reason for the technical failure I described. Maybe this citation is interesting in this context:
it's simply impossible. In addition THE FUEL MAP IS THE SAME IN ALL THE THREE POSITION, the differences are only in the EP map... please.... Take a look
Concerning the map select under the seat bank I found this here in the forum: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=364511&page=36
The weak area on the '12 IMO is the dealers. They don't believe your problem or can't find the problem. For me it is easy to get disillusioned with this bike. There is always a worry with this bike, whether its fueling or electronics glitch of some sort. For a premium bike I feel the electrical is cheap. My bike stalls at low rpm's. Hard to be confident in the technical sections with a stalling bike... :eek1 I fall uphill most of the time.
I put my Kouba Link on today and remounted the stock sidestand to see the effect. Wasn't really much different so I am having a half inch taken off. I'll pick it up tomorrow. The bike is definitely a little lower, though. I can get my leg over the seat without my stirrup mount method. Also, it is easier for me to tilt the bike right so I can get the sidestand up. 1/2 inch should be perfect. If not enough, I can always cut a little more.