3 sexy KTM's break-for-the-border

[KTMphil]

Bike visa run time, so 3 sexy KTM's had to go to Laos.

Thinking of buying a KTM 690 R (Enduro trim), it was also an opportunity to test this bike as a long distance tourer


On the right

View attachment 14974

 

[KTMphil]

With bags of time to get to Chiang Khong, we headed NE towards the Laos border and picked up R 1093 north towards Phu Chi Fa. A quick stop at the waterfall in the Phu Sang National Park.

Then up in the mountains on R 1093, my ass was already hurting from the thin, bench seat on the KTM 690 R

Military base on R 1093

 

[crowster69]

ooh love that smc.id love to hear your report on how that performs

 

[KTMphil]

Som riding the 990 Adventure monster

The views from R 1093 are spectacular

 

[KTMphil]

A quick blast up to the top of Phu Chi Fa, getting late, time to get our skates on and get north.

 

[KTMphil]

R 1093 surface is pot-holy in places but not really a problem

 

[KTMphil]

We catch a gorgeous sunset on R 1093 north of Phu Chi Fa

The one below i think is the best shot

 

[KTMphil]

Just dark as we arrive into Chiang Khong, we give the Siam Riverside GH a shot, co-ords:

N20.27020

E100.40551

If you're looking for somewhere cheap to stay in Chiang Khong with a river view, you can can a basic room with fan with a kiss-ass view for 300 Bht

View from the 300 bht room, not bad (looking east across the Mekong River at Houay Xai)

Day

These are the 450 bht rooms with aircon, but the view isnt as good

 

[Just Bob]

Subscribed and awaiting your opinions on the bikes.

Sorm would be pleased to know that in the first photo my gaze was drawn more to her than the bike. Stunning!

 

[The Bigfella]

Great photos. Interested to hear about the bikes

 

[KTMphil]

Houay Xai by night

 

[KTMphil]

Dinner at the Nam Khong Riverside Resort, then next morning visit Rider's Coffee in Chiang Khong to deliver some North Thailand Road & Off-Road printed maps

Having a bit of fun with their props

 

[KTMphil]

A bit of mild drama heading home, a fuel hose chafed through on the Rally Raid tank kit. Being fuel injected it pissed out fuel all over me and soon emptied the tank.

Luckily the hole in the fuel hose was near a connector and there was enough slack to cut and reconnect. The hose clamp was the cheap type, not easy to re-use, so we tried a wire tie as the hose clamp

 

[KTMphil]

The pressure from the fuel injection pump was too great for the wire tie's clamp tension and again pissed out fuel, this time we hunted down a hose clamp, it was getting expensive running this KTM 690 R

This time it did the job fine and we got home without a hitch

 

[KTMphil]

Views on the KTM 690 R (Enduro) & KTM 690 SMCR (Motard)



KTM 690 R (Enduro)

I own two KTM 990 Adventure's & a KTM 300 EXC-E 2 stroke enduro bike, basically the KTM's I have are bikes with magnified capabilities on either side of the KTM 690 R. For me the KTM 690 R isn't a winner. I suppose if you were doing the "if you could only have one bike" thing, then yes this is something that's worth thinking about.

I've just ridden the above KTM 690 R (enduro) nearly 800km on twisty roads in 2 days. The bike above also has the Rally Raid fuel tank and screen Dakar conversion kit. Riding position is superb, the bike feels excellently balanced and light for 80 ish HP. The seat is the most uncomfortable seat I have ever ridden for long distances, I suppose this could be changed pretty easily, but to make this big bike nimble off-road, because of how high it is i'm not sure how much you could widen the seat and still be able to touch the ground ( wide seat bow-ing your legs). After the first day I didn't want to get back on it.


Cruising at 120km with a performance exhaust, I felt like I was wringing it's neck, the thumper single cylinder was incredibly loud, not a pleasure for cruising at all, almost felt toy-like. For long trips I wouldn't find this a joy to ride. The 990 Adv, is a joy to ride on long trips, the v-twin is a superb engine, oodles of torque and incredibly comfortable, i've regularly done 800km days without a problem. I wouldn't enjoy a 5,000 km trip on this bike. One of the Singapore guys has a Ducati Multistrada & a KTM 990 Adv and loves the 990 Adv the best which i found very interesting.


So on the road, as a tourer, not a winner. As an off road bike, fire roads/ dirt truck roads, this bike would be a blast, the KTM 300 2 stroke on single track would kill it off road as you'd expect. Single track, slippy clay, I think this bike would be a real handful, so it's not a do-it-all off-road bike at all. I suppose if you're off to Laos for a 2,000km trip on easy dirt this bike would be great, apart from that it doesn't tick all the boxes at all in my opinion.





KTM 690 SMCR

If you like riding the twisty roads in north Thailand, this is the bike to get, it will turn you into a hooligan for sure. Torque, handling, riding position, balance, this bike is a dream. Again you've got the uncomfortable seat do deal with, being a motard bike this could be altered and not be a hindrance.

I wouldn't want to do 5,000km trips on this either as to me it feels a bit like a toy, but for day blasting to Nan etc..... this is a dream bike.

 

[2wheels]

Put the word 'sexy' into a title (or any reference to the activity) and a story will be read!
Some excellent sunset pics there Phil and thanks for the reference to accommodation in Chiang Khong ... always good to have.

 

[MartinThai]

Terrific photos there Phil, especially the 1st.

 

[KTMphil]

Having some fun on R 1093 on the KTM 690 R Enduro


View attachment 14978

 

[Captain_Slash]

So a 690 wont be added to your fleet then by the sounds of it Phil

 

[KTMphil]

So a 690 wont be added to your fleet then by the sounds of it Phil

Nope..

Don' t feel the need for a compromise bike

Never sent from an I-Phone

 

[LivinLOS]

Interesting reports..

Cruising at 120km with a performance exhaust, I felt like I was wringing it's neck, the thumper single cylinder was incredibly loud, not a pleasure for cruising at all, almost felt toy-like. For long trips I wouldn't find this a joy to ride. The 990 Adv, is a joy to ride on long trips, the v-twin is a superb engine, oodles of torque and incredibly comfortable, i've regularly done 800km days without a problem. I wouldn't enjoy a 5,000 km trip on this bike. One of the Singapore guys has a Ducati Multistrada & a KTM 990 Adv and loves the 990 Adv the best which i found very interesting.

That surprises me.. My decade old 640 Duke with stock gearing is like 1/3rd (maybe 1/2) throttle cruising at 120.. Its pulling hard to 140 and even 140 to 160 to overtake theres plenty of snap and acceleration left to pass something.. Is the gearing set more off rd on the adventure setup ??

The issue I have with a large single (and I read the newer 690s now have a balancer shaft) is simply the vibes.. No problem for short hauls but having done 600 odd kms in a day the next day my hands felt like they had arthritis.. Shorter haul no problem but all day riding day after day would be. Nice wide saddle tho.

If you like riding the twisty roads in north Thailand, this is the bike to get, it will turn you into a hooligan for sure. Torque, handling, riding position, balance, this bike is a dream. Again you've got the uncomfortable seat do deal with, being a motard bike this could be altered and not be a hindrance.

The SMC-R or the new hyper motard are pretty much the 2 desire bikes for me right now.. A seat mod or having a second fat arse saddle is easy to do.. And the size and ride style just matches what we have here.. No its not a globe trotting tourer, fun factor looks high.

 

[activechina]

Great Pictures! Thanks for the excellent reviews of KTM690, sounds a pro to me.

 

[bsacbob]

Love this picture.