Incominnnnnnnng. Sometimes you have to go with your heart... not your head.

[weeksy]

I've been thinking for a few months now about the XSR900 and you know what... it's time is up.... it's done, it's gone.

I doubt anyone cares enough to know all my logic all my reasons and all the whys.... but the simple fact is.... a new bike is arriving in the not too distant future. Just sorting the paperwork after a few chats with the dealer and he'll be delivering it down and collecting the XSR in the coming week i hope.

I now need to arse about with the XSR900 and remove the Nitron shock for sale, i'm debating whether i remove the QS, it's £100-120 on Ebay but by the time i mess about with it can i really be bothered... i dunno... maybe..

So what's coming in.... Clearly there's no prizes being given away for guessing the answer.

s-l1600 (2) by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

s-l1600 (3) by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

s-l1600 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

s-l1600 (1) by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

You can mock/praise/laugh/cringe at your leisure.

[MrLongbeard]

2 weeks

[v8-powered]

Wiring under the orange detonate button looks shoddy

[weeksy]

Wiring under the orange detonate button looks shoddy

That's just the sleeve/shrink, it's the stock KTM item, so not worried about it.

As long as the self-detonation device works

[Supermofo]

As per PM's it looks a nice one.

I think you're mental but there are plenty of XSRs/690s in the world so it's not a massive gamble is it. And you know you like the Dukes.

[weeksy]

I think you're mental

I'm not sure that's even open to debate.

But to expand a little, as you know there are financial reasons/logic behind it. But on top of that, there's bike logic and many many days, hours and weeks of riding and loving being out on KTM690s. Despite the fact the last one put me off a bit at the time with it's 'niggles', i have absolutely enjoyed riding the 690s over the years.
There's a bit more as they always felt like fun things to own, to tweak and to fettle... the XSR as much as it's a brilliant machine, it's well a bit focused/fast/ridiculous if you ask me. Every ride you're out it's 100+, even if you don't mean to, the bike kinda demands an open throttle and the associated speed that comes with it.
Lastly, there's the weight and the roads, the roads locally are getting worse and worse and the lighter and flickable 690 excels where the XSR really lives on the faster roads, but they're the roads i don't go on, don't ride and never even see other than in the Mondeo.

All in all.. i think i've made the right choice which is all that matters to me

[weeksy]

Is it a 690?

IMHO that's a better bike than the Yam, it was too bland.

Yes it's a 690, same later model as my last one with rider modes, traction, abs etc..

And you're right, the KTM does bring a level of 'doing' and spannering and dare i say it, character lol.... which the XSR doesn't bring... despite being very good indeed.

[Skub]

Ha!
It was always a clock ticking,but in fairness to the Yam it lasted longer than most.
Your good health to fully enjoy the new investment.

Let the bolt on frenzy begin.

[Supermofo]

But on top of that, there's bike logic and many many days, hours and weeks of riding and loving being out on KTM690s. Despite the fact the last one put me off a bit at the time with it's 'niggles', i have absolutely enjoyed riding the 690s over the years.

They defo get under your skin. 14k miles on mine now and I still love the smile it puts on my face pretty much every ride. I think there's a strong possibility it'll be here this time next year too. Hell if I had the money I'd keep it and buy a 2nd bike to scratch the faster itch. I could to be honest if I bought something a bit older.

[Taff]

Love it,

What is the orange button? Looks like a heated grips controller but somehow sense that it isn't.

[KungFooBob]

How many 690's have you bought now (including any sold and bought back later)?

I get that you were getting the seven year itch with the XSR, but I thought you might have tried something different

[Taipan]

Oooh goody, another keeper!

[weeksy]

How many 690's have you bought now (including any sold and bought back later)?

I get that you were getting the seven year itch with the XSR, but I thought you might have tried something different

5.

I was going to buy a 690 SMC-R but they're crazy money and looking back i didn't exactly like it.

I went to view an XSR700 last week at Blade but it didn't excite me at all and seemed a bit wee and nesh as the saying goes.

[weeksy]

What is the orange button? Looks like a heated grips controller but somehow sense that it isn't.

That's exactly what it is mate yes.

[Numnut]

Nice one! There's something about 690s, they really get under your skin (in a good way).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

You do like an ugly bike

But I do think they make a great road bike, the right amount of power, light weight and quality suspension, like any powerful single they're not the most reliable thing ever made, but it's the cost of repair that would worry me, rather than the risk of it going wrong.

[matt]

.
Exactly the same reasons I sold my Mt09 for back in August to be honest,+ I wanted something I can use off road too.
Still not bought a replacement yet but -
I keep looking at the 690s again as I had one of the original 690 supermotos back in about 2007 and it would suit the riding I do nowadays a bit better. I also like the idea of an mt07 or one of the others with the cp2 engine as like a 690 it seems to have the right amount of power / torque for what I need and would likely be a bit easier to own than the KTM. Always loved ktms though.

[Supermofo]

they're not the most reliable thing ever made,

TBF other than rocker arm barings, which this model won't have an issue with as it has a different design, the 690s don't really have any issues. The rocker arm is a bit of a 'but' though for pre 16 models! There are plenty of high mile 690s about, I've heard of several 40k mile+ and 1 70k mile and 1 84k miler. Compared to old Huskies etc there is no comparison.

Mine uses a bit of oil but not much probably 3-400 mls per 1000 miles and I had to have the rocker arms replaced as a preventive measure. If you did that yourself every 12k miles it'd be cheap enough to run. At a dealer it's not the cheapest though.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I assume the rocker arms wear and you lose valve lift and get a rattly engine if they get worn?

[weeksy]

I assume the rocker arms wear and you lose valve lift and get a rattly engine if they get worn?

Not really, they're a noisy engine anyway.

As above though, not an issue on this as it's completely redesigned.

Doesn't mean nothing else will go wrong though