revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Finally got round to starting a thread for the 690. Might as well start at the beginning as a recap.

After a few normal bikes (Z750, Firestorm, R6) I'd decided I wanted another fun bike like the KTM Duke II I had back in 2003 or my 625SMC in 2005. The obvious choice was a 690 but wasn't sure in which flavour. Heart said SMC, head said Duke. Sadly funds were a bit short so I held off for a while.

Roll forward a couple of years and decided I wanted a 690 Duke and had the funds so started looking at 2nd hand ones. I was tempted by Weeksy's first 690 but as it happened the timing coincided with the introduction of the new 2016 model, leading to big discounts on new 15 models. A call to Jason at the KTM Centre (I'd bought 4 bikes previously from him) and a black 2015 Duke had my name on it. I was happy as a pig in poo. The bike was delivered in Jan 2016

[media]IMG-20160130-WA0000 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

Since then I've done 11k miles on the bike and still love it. There are obvious limitations on motorways but saying that it'll sit at 75-80 all day if you wanted but most of my riding is 1-3 hour country blasts with the odd commute.

Mods
Puig screen
Leo Vince end can (not particularly noisy)
Engine bars
Top box
Hugger extension
15 tooth sprocket (16 standard)
Evo Tech rad guard
Tutoro chain oiler (as of Sunday more on that)

Issues
None really (touching lots of wood). There was a very slight weep of oil in the first 100 miles from an oil level bolt which was sorted but that's it. I am gonna ask about replacing the rocker arms at the 12k service but last time I asked at Jim Aim they said if they were fine they'd leave them alone unless there was play.

I also managed to snap an engine bolt when replacing the oil filter at the 9k mile service meaning I needed to get it drilled out but all got sorted by Jim Aim.

Servicing at 6k is a bit steep as includes a valve service. This should be around 350-400 quid but mine was 480! Might try Jim Aim for the 12k valve check. I had the dealer service it for the 1st, 3k and 6k service and I did the 9k myself which was oil, filters and new screens. Was straightforward except the snapped bolt which was annoying as even used my torque wrench to avoid it. Hand tight next time!

Highlights
Its ability on country B roads mainly and being so light and chuckable.

I've done a few trips away with it including Glastonbury for a weekend ( not the festival) with a mix of bikes
[media]IMG-20170901-WA0004 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

Same group to Suffolk

20170902_120424 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr

long loop to Clacton for the night and last summer a 5 hour b road twist-a-thon to Yeovil to see my aunt and uncle which was awesome as did the whole thing on very minor roads. I was looking to repeat that but Covid happened
[media]20190524_113958 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

2020 started on a downer as start of riding season was the start of lockdown. Balls.

I got the bike out of the garage to give it a clean and remembered I'd gone for 1 long ride at the end of the year and not washed it so all the flies had moulded This was what was lurking behind the rad guard

[media]20200411_112113 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

So decided a big clean was in order and look the bodywork off and gave it a good going over including under the seat etc

[media]20200411_165748 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

[media]20200411_165908 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

[media]20200411_165847 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

[media]20200411_165841 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

[media]20200411_165856 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

Was happy with that. I'm not anal about cleaning but think the bike looks good for 4 years/11k miles old

So as you can imagine I was chuffed when the 2nd ride of the year ended like this when I got attacked near my brothers house in Shefford

[media]20200526_204701 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

The whole bike and me were covered. Took me over an hour to clean my lid and kit.

Nice bikes, I thoroughly enjoyed riding Weeksy's 690 and couldn't believe how much fun it was and at the same time, civilised for a 70bhp single.
Can't understand wht KTM stopped making them unless it was euro 5.

What's next with yours then?

G.P wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 5:49 pm Nice bikes, I thoroughly enjoyed riding Weeksy's 690 and couldn't believe how much fun it was and at the same time, civilised for a 70bhp single.
Can't understand wht KTM stopped making them unless it was euro 5.

What's next with yours then?

I'm guessing it's that you can get a 790 discounted to pretty much the same price and most people won't see passed the power difference. Shame as it was fairly unique bike being a big road single.

Next? Mod wise not much. I like how it is and although I toy with the idea of a decat pipe I think that may just make it louder than I want ( stealth speed is good) and might mess with the fueling which on mine is pretty much cock on.

I think I'm gonna go and get a fender extenda as the front of the engine gets shot blasted and that might help. Should have done it sooner. The hugger extension I got looks pretty good i think but again got that late as the swingarm in front of the shock and the shock spring have some stone chips.

I ordered some shorty levers in black from Lextek but they weren't the right and they only had the right ones in gold, silver or blue!!

I've just fitted the tutoro and pleased with how that's gone as was worried it'd look like a dogs dinner but think I've hidden that well. Gonna post that up when I get some pics up.

Other than that petrol, tyres and servicing. I need some new tyres and pretty sure they'll be PR5s as I really like the PR4. And I have 1k miles to the 12k valve check. So between them thats gonna be 600 odd quid. I might have been tempted by a 1090 or Tracer 900 at this point but gonna wait till I'm sure about work prospects before any big purchases.

If I can I'm gonna head back to my aunt and uncles as wanna do some more west country rides but that might not happen this year as they are shielding. So might book a cheeky Premier Inn and head to Ilfracombe. I also fancy an overnight near Rye and a ride through that area.

I'm in Wiltshire SN11 - Kettle always on, beer fridge open and always space to crash.

G.P wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:34 pm I'm in Wiltshire SN11 - Kettle always on, beer fridge open and always space to crash.

He gets beer? Sheesh. I thought we were mates

Make sure you screw the fender extender on. I just used the super sticky pads that came with it. We parted company somewhere yesterday on a 140 miles jolly.

I think GP has just invited us all to his house to drink his beer and sleep in his luxury carpeted garage!

G.P wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:34 pm I'm in Wiltshire SN11 - Kettle always on, beer fridge open and always space to crash.

I just posted this on one of my Facebook groups 'I'mapikeyfokker'. Great response to the invitation so far.

G.P wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:34 pm I'm in Wiltshire SN11 - Kettle always on, beer fridge open and always space to crash.

Cheers mate, I missed Weeksy on the way down when I went to Yeovil last time and had meant to rectify that this year. I should join you guys for a ride sometime.

Edit: just googled SN11 and my mate bought his first house in Calne and his sister still lives there. Nice area

Dodgy knees wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:46 pm Make sure you screw the fender extender on. I just used the super sticky pads that came with it. We parted company somewhere yesterday on a 140 miles jolly.

Hmm the hugger extension is only on the sticky pads. I did clamp it overnight and so far its held.. I hope! I did it last Aug i think

Tutoro oiler

Sunday I finally got round to fitting my Tutoro oiler. Been meaning to get one for years but kept putting it off as couldn't work out how to mount it best whilst keeping it as hidden as possible. However with nothing else I wanted for my birthday I got one in May.

Where to put it? Initially I wanted to mount it under the seat but the reservoir is too big to fit. I looked at various brackets and things but nowhere appealed/fitted so we decided ( my mate helped me fit it) that this was the best compromise as its mainly hidden by the top box mount. Here the massive OE mudguard came in handy as drilled a small hole by the winker and used the bracket it came with

[media]20200628_132429 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

[media]20200628_132441 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

I then ran the tube down the back of the top box rail, under the subframe/airbox and down the inside of the frame rail to the chain so the only pipe showing is by the reservoir. At the moment the tube is cable tide on but going to replace that with some black wrap tape on the top box arm.

[media]20200701_145156 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

Mk1 outlet.
Initially I mounted the outlet pipe above the chain slider but 1st ride showed I'd put it too close to the chain. Luckily the pipe didn't get eaten.

[media]20200628_174145 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

Mk2
I've now shortened the pipe slightly and mounted the outlet down the top of the top chain guide and it exits inside the sprocket cover. This means it won't hit the chain and will be totally hidden with the cover back on.

[media]20200701_145224 by Graham Vincent, on Flickr[/media]

All in all happy with that. Not got to ride the bike since so need to get the flow level right and make sure its lubing well. I know Taipan mounted his on the front sprocket and my mate has his near the front sprocket on his 1190 and they worked so fingers crossed. I can see me cleaning out the sprocket cover more often.

Ideally I'd have gone to the rear sprocket but couldn't think of a way of doing this neatly. A lot of people just lash it to the swingarm but that looks gash imo. Fine for a commuter hack but not for me.

Looks like you've done a tidy enough job of keeping it all hidden away, but you need to paint that silver bracket

I've nearly always dropped my oilers onto the front sprocket as I can't stand the zip ties round the swinging arm and despite what people tell you, the inner part of your chain will be oily! It may be more efficient with it centrifugally feeding out onto the inner chain at the back sprocket, but it was never a worry for me and a well lubed chain without the poncing about is brilliant.

The Tutoro is a brilliant bit of kit and imo knocks the scottoilers and loobman into a cocked hat. On my Duke I got it set up that the oiler would last about 4-5 days (240-300 miles) depending on temp and topped it up each weekend. I could have easily have backed it up on that though and should have but didn't get the chance to fine tune it.

MrLongbeard wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:31 am Looks like you've done a tidy enough job of keeping it all hidden away, but you need to paint that silver bracket

That silver bracket is what the sprocket cover bolts too so it's hidden when I put the cover back on. I took it off to clean inside it and mount the oiler. See the side of the engine pic above. When it's on it's all black.

Taipan wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:42 am The Tutoro is a brilliant bit of kit and imo knocks the scottoilers and loobman into a cocked hat. On my Duke I got it set up that the oiler would last about 4-5 days (240-300 miles) depending on temp and topped it up each weekend. I could have easily have backed it up on that though and should have but didn't get the chance to fine tune it.

The bumbf reckons a reservoir should last 600-1000 miles I think. I've set mine on half a turn open for now and will see how that goes. To be fair I got a litre of oil with the kit and I have a litre of scott oil left over from when I had my Firestorm with a scottoiler so can afford to splash it about a bit as Henry used to say.

Supermofo wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:50 am

MrLongbeard wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:31 am Looks like you've done a tidy enough job of keeping it all hidden away, but you need to paint that silver bracket

That silver bracket is what the sprocket cover bolts too so it's hidden when I put the cover back on. I took it off to clean inside it and mount the oiler. See the side of the engine pic above. When it's on it's all black.

Not that one, the one holding the reservoir, it's just a personal preference though

MrLongbeard wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 11:13 am

Supermofo wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:50 am

MrLongbeard wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:31 am Looks like you've done a tidy enough job of keeping it all hidden away, but you need to paint that silver bracket

That silver bracket is what the sprocket cover bolts too so it's hidden when I put the cover back on. I took it off to clean inside it and mount the oiler. See the side of the engine pic above. When it's on it's all black.

Not that one, the one holding the reservoir, it's just a personal preference though

Ahh. Yes my mate said I should spray it black too. It's on the to do list

I was just wondering myself, if it had to drop from inside chain run. As long as it works, all good.

Dodgy knees wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:50 pm I was just wondering myself, if it had to drop from inside chain run. As long as it works, all good.

That is the preferred method. But I must admit on my Firestorm my scottoil tube got eaten by the chain when the sticky pads failed. So dropped it on to the top of the chain via the hugger and it did it's job. Since then Taipan and my mate have also run theirs to the top of the chain. So hoping it'll work if not at it's most efficient.

Absolute worse case I'll extend it to the bottom of the front sprocket. Not sure if I could face cable ties along the swingarm esp as the Duke has a hollow swingarm.