Jody's KTM 690

[Supermofo]

That definatley matches my experience, glad to hear it's not a sign that the gearbox is on it's way out !

I think it's also cos 5th to 6th is generally when on dual carrageways etc so you're less on it. 6th is really an overdrive on the 690 so I think that doesn't help. Smaller front sprocket helped too as 6th is now more useable. On standard gearing it really needed 70-75 before it'd pull 6th happily now it's 60-65.

[Jody]

I've been collecting parts for this and today I had some free time and some sunshine so I thought I'd make the most of it.

When I bought the bike it came with awful 'flat' bars on risers, looked naff, put my wrists at an odd angle, didn't clear the tank properly, all in all as mods go, it was as bad as it could be !




OE clamps are around £100 from KTM and the handlebars are £120 ish. A bit of searching around Ebay and using the Trevor Pope website to cross reference part number and I got me some used OE bars and clamps for under £75 !

Much better ..





You may of noticed that I also took the opportunity to swap the controls for the heated grips to the other side, maybe I'm fussy, but maybe most people would prefer the controls were held on with bolts as opposed to a cable tie !?

The sun was shining and I was on a roll so I swapped out the brake pads too. When I first got the bike the brakes were horrendous, the worst front brakes I'd ever known. They did get better over a few rides but still way below what I would expect. Hopefully a new set of Brembo SA pads will do the trick.




Unfortunately I can't ride it right now to see if how it feels as it's going to the garage this afternoon for fork seals and a 15t front sprocket so I'll have to wait, but it already looks better and I feel better about it.

Anyone want some flat bars and risers ...



Free + Post to anyone on here that wants them.

[Taipan]

Anything with SW Motech on will sell and you'll recoup some, if not all, or more, of your outlay!

[Jody]

Anything with SW Motech on will sell and you'll recoup some, if not all, or more, of your outlay!

Really? Ohh well I'll chuck 'em on ebay then

[Jody]

Anything with SW Motech on will sell and you'll recoup some, if not all, or more, of your outlay!

Really? Ohh well I'll chuck 'em on ebay then

I put them on Ebay, listed with the correct part number, 99p start, no bids !

[Jody]

I managed to get out on my 690 last weekend when a break in the weather finally came. I've finally worked through everything that either needed doing or I felt was important since I bought the bike.

MOT
Handlebars and clamps back to OE KTM ones
Oxford bar ends
15T front sprocket
New fork seals
Axle sliders front and rear
Swing arm bobbins (so I can use a paddock stand)
Brembo Brake pads

The 15T sprocket has certainly improved things, I'm happily popping small wheelies of crests with a flick of the clutch and a wee tug on the bars . I had the opportunity to really rag it in a straight line and I saw 115mph in 5th, changing up to 6th saw the speedo drop to 113! I need to check what size sprocket I have on the back and what's standard. I wasn't expecting that 115 ! There's still plenty more room for gearing changes though as I had a whole other gear to utilise. Fortunately I do have a pile of rear sprockets to try

The new pads are 'night and day' different, it actually stops now!

I've been getting closer to the edge of the tyres, I've not got loads of confidence yet as even when it's not wet, it's England so it's still cold. I'm sure I'll be right over in the spring !

I started near Davidstow Airfield and having gone to Camelford for fuel I took the coast road to Boscastle, then on up to Bude and Kilkhampton. I could have easily gone up to Bideford and Barnstaple but a grey clod was looming and there was blue skies over Launceston. I stopped in Launceston for a snack, then rather than heading home the short way, I found myself riding my previous route in reverse as it was such fun!

All in all a great ride out, but as I came back to the yard I saw this......


For the less observant among us, the top yoke cap bolt has disappeared ! A little worrying considering I'd been wheeling all ride ! I did speak with the bike shop that just did my forks. I suspected that they wouldn't have touched the top yoke and they confirmed it. New cap bolt ordered from Trevor Pope should be here by the weekend and it was only £10 !

I do like this bike, I'm never going to get used to how "explody" (copyright Weeksy ) it sounds but it is good fun. What I should do is get it French registered and flog it over there as they won't care about the milage. Then use the proceeds to buy another low milage UK one, but we will have to wait and see!

[KungFooBob]

You had the prefect excuse to buy an anodised orange stem nut!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Once everything is clamped tight that nut doesn't do a lot, the forks will keep the top yoke in place

[weeksy]

For the less observant among us, the top yoke cap bolt has disappeared ! A little worrying considering I'd been wheeling all ride ! I did speak with the bike shop that just did my forks. I suspected that they wouldn't have touched the top yoke and they confirmed it. New cap bolt ordered from Trevor Pope should be here by the weekend and it was only £10 !

Mine did that too

[Supermofo]

I think the stock rear sprocket is a 40 I seem to recall

[Jody]

Well I thought I was done for the year but a free Saturday and it not raining gave me an excuse to blast down to Plymouth, via Tavistock with a diversion to Gunnislake and back to take on the hill bends. I'd received and fitted my replacement top nut and I also got a brand new gear lever rubber. I went all out and used 'super unleaded" as I was feeling fruity.

I am still getting ABS fault come up on the dash as I start the bike!

But this is the only time I see it and the abs light itself goes out after the wheels start turning.

All going well but it is a KTM, so I do have 2 issues,

A really weird "tink" noise coming from the header on overrun, not sure if it's normal, I hope so !

Engine management light came on, the bike still rode fine, I got 121mph indicated before I ran out of (private) road.

Reluctant to take it to the dealer as I think they will sneer and charge too much to fix it, so once i've posted this fantastic thread update, I'll be using my google foo to see what I can myself !

[MingtheMerciless]

My ZH2's ABS light only goes out once the wheels start rolling, I think the sensor has to see some movement to know the systems working properly.

[weeksy]

Well I thought I was done for the year but a free Saturday and it not raining gave me an excuse to blast down to Plymouth, via Tavistock with a diversion to Gunnislake and back to take on the hill bends.

Spent 2 days there a couple of weekends ago. Traffic was bonkers in Tavi on the Saturday

Some epic MTB tracks just outside Gunni

[weeksy]

My ZH2's ABS light only goes out once the wheels start rolling, I think the sensor has to see some movement to know the systems working properly.

His isn't just the light but an error too

[Jody]

Well I thought I was done for the year but a free Saturday and it not raining gave me an excuse to blast down to Plymouth, via Tavistock with a diversion to Gunnislake and back to take on the hill bends.

Spent 2 days there a couple of weekends ago. Traffic was bonkers in Tavi on the Saturday

Some epic MTB tracks just outside Gunni

You should have said ! I haven't ridden my MTB at all as I have no mates to go with !

[weeksy]

Well I thought I was done for the year but a free Saturday and it not raining gave me an excuse to blast down to Plymouth, via Tavistock with a diversion to Gunnislake and back to take on the hill bends.

Spent 2 days there a couple of weekends ago. Traffic was bonkers in Tavi on the Saturday

Some epic MTB tracks just outside Gunni

You should have said ! I haven't ridden my MTB at all as I have no mates to go with !

I did a few times before and after.

Google gawton gravity hub. Fun place

[Jody]

Spent 2 days there a couple of weekends ago. Traffic was bonkers in Tavi on the Saturday

Some epic MTB tracks just outside Gunni

You should have said ! I haven't ridden my MTB at all as I have no mates to go with !

I did a few times before and after.

Google gawton gravity hub. Fun place

I've not been on here mate as I've actually been working during the week and shagging during the weekends!

I did go there a few years ago, it was awesome.

[weeksy]

Sorry buddy, had no idea you lived that way.

[MingtheMerciless]

6047239052_5cc504638f_b.jpg (241.42 KiB) Viewed 346 times

Tavi woods is near there as well, some cracking DH stuff but just make sure you don't crash there as the ground is so heavily contaminated with arsenic from old mining that the ambo crews and hospital have to scrub the injuries with a bristle brush and chemicals to get the arsenic out (allegedly).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Is that a wire brush and Dettol type situation?