Oh, is that another KTM ? Really ? Are you sure ? Is this the one and only keeper ?

[Taipan]

Interesting reading this thead. Bought back aot of memories. I adjusted my gear lever as I felt it was at a height more suited for MX boots than mytrainers and yes I used to find a neutral in the uppper gears and quite often too, iirc moving the gear lever helped a lot with that.

I'm 6'2 and don't recall it ever feeling cramped? I remember loving the riding position of thebike.

Can looks spot on mate.

[scottyuk]

Can't say it's ever bothered me, but to shut you all up, i removed it this morning

Admit it. You like it without. Much tidier

[weeksy]

2020-06-08_06-52-26 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode
H8216, undefined@4.4 mm, f2.0, 1/16s, ISO500

[KungFooBob]

But now you need a single seat thingy

[weeksy]

But now you need a single seat thingy

Fugly. Don't like it on these at all.

[weeksy]

Road conditions were superb, weather was superb and the rain is due for a few days, so thought i'd jump on the 690 for a play.

2020-06-09_11-09-20 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Stuck it in Sport mode just for a change and it does make a difference, mostly for the better, slightly for the worse (low speed fuelling).. But we had a laugh anyway. Chased 3 bikes on a back road and they ended up going through my village so had some fun there on roads i know well after catching them up... Wasn't really enough clear road for an overtake on all 3, so just sat behind the 3rd guy enjoying myself.

Ready for Donny on Monday now.

[weeksy]

Spoken to a few dealers this week and was pretty much set on the idea of a 2020 790 Duke. KTM are punting them out at £7499 so I spoke to Premier Bikes and lined up a demo for 9:30 am.
Chatted with GP and he was up for a morning out.

Went to Premier, didn't bother riding the 790, came home happy with the 690 and got it ready for Donny on Monday. Can't wait. Every time i ride the thing it makes me smile... Sure it's not perfect, sure it's not the 150bhp naked that everyone else wants to buy, but it's very me...

I then spent an hour with my lad getting it clean ... he seemed to enjoy the cleaning

[Supermofo]

I went out with the family Saffron Walden way Sat. And a 125 mile rideout round Essex/Suffolk Sunday and I saw loads of 790s. Sitting in Saffron Walden park I saw 3 separate 790s in about 45 mins, they must have sold loads.

I also noticed 2 other things.

1. Sportsbikes are alive and well in Essex/Suffolk. Lots of new R1s, Blades, S1000s etc as well as some older classics inc a very nice trick 97 Blade.
2. KTMs don't seem rare anymore. Saw a fair few Superdukes, Adv's as well as the 790s.

[scottyuk]

If was out Saturday around Newport, Finchingfield etc on my 1290GT. Saw loads of bikes .... and no other KTMs! They must have all been with you

[Supermofo]

If was out Saturday around Newport, Finchingfield etc on my 1290GT. Saw loads of bikes .... and no other KTMs! They must have all been with you

Sunday morning in Finchingfield (stopped for the 1st time in ages as my mate had never been) there was
my 690
Mates 1190 Adv R
990 Superduke
3 1290 Superdukes
1 1290 adv

Later at the cafe near Stadishall there were another 2 1290 Superdukes and a 701 Husky.

Plus the 3 790s I saw in SW Saturday, plus at least another couple of KTMs I didn't really look at.

I pointed out the 790 as it came down the high st and said I'm considering one as my next bike. The Mrs said "It looks.....dunno....squashed at the front, what's wrong with it"

[weeksy]

SO today was Donington GP for the 690. Of course i've ridden my other 690s here, but this was the first trackday for the 19 model.

Bike was set into sport and away it went.

This was i think the 2nd session, i'm not sure if that was a good session, or a bad session, but it's here and it's online.

The bike was just absolutley fantastic. I was sharing it with Couchie, so it was doing back to back sessions, straight in, then back out after a splash or two of fuel.

All round i was massively pleased with the bike, it performed brilliantly. I've not watched the video but i'm sure you'll see both it's good sides (braking and handling) and it's downsides, 74bhp vs 200bhp R1s and Panigales LOL. But the 690 held it's own well and i thought it honestly performed superbly all day, both with me and with Couch riding it. He came in bubbling and laughing after every session as did it, overtake this, late braking that, etc.



Not sure about the camera mount, it seems hinged in a way so wobbles about lots.... Apologies... I'll make it better next time

More footage to follow later from both me and him.

[weeksy]

Footage from Couchie.

[weeksy]

My turn again, bit of a slow burner this as i go out first somehow, but get some bikes about 15 mins in that i've caught.

[Couchy]

Proper enjoyed that today, thanks for the use of the bike mate it was superb

[weeksy]

Proper enjoyed that today, thanks for the use of the bike mate it was superb

Sometimes i do need someone to give me a bit of a slap when i think about flogging this thing, today was really really what i needed with the bike... I gelled with it massively.

[Bigyin]

Sometimes i do need someone to give me a bit of a slap when i think about flogging this thing, today was really really what i needed with the bike... I gelled with it massively.

I am quite sure i can get a message to your missus to arrange just that needed slap


Meant to say, how did Couchy win inters on the 690 ?

[weeksy]

Sometimes i do need someone to give me a bit of a slap when i think about flogging this thing, today was really really what i needed with the bike... I gelled with it massively.

I am quite sure i can get a message to your missus to arrange just that needed slap


Meant to say, how did Couchy win inters on the 690 ?

You can't really win inters on a 690 to be fair. There's quick guys with 200bhp in inters, you've got no chance.... he did well though !!!

[weeksy]

Nicely set up shock with great tyre wear

2020-06-15_12-04-41 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[Dodgy69]

One of the msv instructors said Scott Redding was on the Ducati at Donington on monday. One of them quick lads.

[weeksy]

One of the msv instructors said Scott Redding was on the Ducati at Donington on monday. One of them quick lads.

He was indeed, elbow down in the Melbourne Loop and destroying everyone out there... was properly amusing to watch.