2016 KTM690 What do I need to know!

[SSR Suspension]

The suspension is dreadful, even for a road bike (I had one for 4 months earlier this year). I fitted myself some K-Tech kit and made some small geometry adjustments for the owner and really enjoyed it as a commuter.

[weeksy]

The suspension is dreadful, even for a road bike (I had one for 4 months earlier this year). I fitted myself some K-Tech kit and made some small geometry adjustments for the owner and really enjoyed it as a commuter.

Not convinced i agree with that personally. But i guess it depends on what your end-goal was and is.

25-03-2016 Rockingham trackday photographs by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

This was completely stock on this day.

However, i'm certainly interested to hear about what you fitted, how much and what geometry changes. I could certainly be tempted by a shock at the right money.

[KungFooBob]

Good job, inspite of fancying a change I still love my 690.

I might buy one today

For real? Do tell?

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3874

[SSR Suspension]

The forks are a 20mm internal cartridge design, which are non adjustable externally unless you have the Duke R. I fitted a K-Tech fork piston kit to the stock 'R' WP forks, altered the airgap and sprung the bike firmer. The stock R forks have a narrow range of adjustment and are damped very sparsely.

The shock is also damped sparsely and has a progressive spring, so I fitted a bladder conversion to reduce the shock from overheating and increase feel, revalved the internals and fitted a linear spring.
The rear of the bike was raised to get better anti squat geometry (the owner sourced his own link arms) and the forks were dropped by 2mm to alter the front end geometry.

Geometry is part personal preference and part science depending upon your needs and what the bike needs to do.

Both variants are under sprung, with 6.0N front and 6.5N front for the 'R' spec, the rear being 70N and the sag numbers printed in the owners manuals are way off being correct!

Static sag in the front should be 25-30mm and 5-10mm in the rear, rider sags should be circa 38-42mm up front and 30-35mm in the rear with the correct rated springs.

Who knows within 6 months time I might even be working full time at WP in Austria in R&D, an opportunity presented itself so have applied to leave blighty!

If you do not have an 'R the only options are Nitron fork carts/shock, otherwise the only option available for the non-R would be firmer linear shock springs with no fork springs being available off the shelf currently.

[weeksy]

I'll be interested what Jody thinks when he rides his, I've found the front end fine on track. The rear gets a bit weavy at speed on dropping out of corners on the road but it's controlled so not a massive issue, but s shock deffo helps.

I'm currently waiting for my Nitron to sell from the XSR before jumping in on a shock for it.

[Jody]

Bike collected

As expected it's a bit tatty but it's a 20,000 mile KTM!

Dropped it off with my MOT guy and hopefully pick it up on Monday

Braaap Braaaaaaaap mudda truckers

[weeksy]

Bike collected

As expected it's a bit tatty but it's a 20,000 mile KTM!

Dropped it off with my MOT guy and hopefully pick it up on Monday

Braaap Braaaaaaaap mudda truckers

Yay. Get to KTM and get a 15t front.

[Jody]

Bike collected

As expected it's a bit tatty but it's a 20,000 mile KTM!

Dropped it off with my MOT guy and hopefully pick it up on Monday

Braaap Braaaaaaaap mudda truckers

Yay. Get to KTM and get a 15t front.

It's on the list mate along with.....

Handlebars, it's got some awful aftermarket ones on with shit looking risers
Axle sliders
Bar ends. I've not 100% decided yet, it currently has one missing, I have a brand new set of end caps I can fit for free, or I may go for the R+G ones ?
Brake pads, I need to check whats in there and how much they have left!
A good clean, not a weeksy clean, but cleaner than it currently is !

Then it's onto bolts, I have some stock of KTM ones so I'll see what how far I can get with those

[Demannu]

On the bright side, when it goes bang, it'll fit in the back of my van for recovery

[SSR Suspension]

Also please note, I have assessed the suspension based on shock dyno forces not just riding the bike. No point giving you numbers as they won't mean anything, but there should be a key amount of damping force produced when the forks or shock are put thru very specific tests on a shock dyno and these which will change depending upon what springs are fitted, many OEM manufacturers get these numbers very wrong. Some Under damp, overs Over damp and sometimes they get it right!

[MingtheMerciless]

Going on the other thread, drown the bike in WD40 before attempting to unscrew anything.

[Jody]

Also please note, I have assessed the suspension based on shock dyno forces not just riding the bike. No point giving you numbers as they won't mean anything, but there should be a key amount of damping force produced when the forks or shock are put thru very specific tests on a shock dyno and these which will change depending upon what springs are fitted, many OEM manufacturers get these numbers very wrong. Some Under damp, overs Over damp and sometimes they get it right!

One of my fork seals has a slight weap. As they need to come apart, how much are we looking at to uprate them?