Author Topic: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions  (Read 1683 times)

brian

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #15 on: March 14, 2014, 12:01:27 am »
I put my first 50 some odd miles on my 690 today. it was frikkin awesome...  The bike handled well on the wet and sandy roads. i am 6'5 290 and the bike seemed to have ample power. impressive breaking power.  45 degrees ..   this was the nicest day of the year so far in MN..  looking forward to putting some miles on mine. Congrats to all you other owners out there.

Rokitt

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #16 on: March 25, 2014, 07:57:42 pm »
I've had mine for a couple of weeks now. I have had many new motorcycles over the years, this is soo far my second favorite. My first was a 77 RD 400 i got as a kid.
I love it as a commuter. I havent been off road yet,its soo clean i hate to get it dirty.
The powerband is soo addictive that i cant seem to stay out of it. Effortless power wheelies in the first three gears. I love the way it straightens your arms out when the revs climb !
This thing is gonna shread rear tires im sure. I'm even a little concerned about my drivers license at this point :-)
When im not riding it ,I want to be. This bike was a great purchase for me,no regrets at all.

Rusty Shovel

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #17 on: March 26, 2014, 07:43:35 am »
Yeah, I commute 60 miles a day on mine.  Yes, it's hard on the tires, but I LOVE commuting to and from work.  It's my play time!  I'm gonna get some 17's in the fall.
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2014 KTM 690 Enduro R

truck11

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #18 on: April 01, 2014, 08:46:57 pm »
Picked my 2014 up on March 21.  Took it out that Sunday and put 137 miles on it (in 43 degree weather).  WOW... what a quick bike!  Found false neutral between 5th & 6th more times that I want to count.  Also found it in a lower gear once or twice.
ABS - its growing on me and pretty cool.  Learning curve for sure.
Gobs of power!  Seat was surprisingly comfy for a KTM.

Dislikes that I can live with (so far) - front brake line covers speedometer display.  Exhaust on the left side of the bike. 

Need to look into - Gear shifter too short to fit motorcross style boot comfortably

Can't wait for the steering damper and radiator guard to show up!

~Julian
2014 690 Enduro R


Rusty Shovel

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #19 on: April 02, 2014, 02:59:26 am »
front brake line covers speedometer display.

I know, right?  A small annoyance, but an annoyance nonetheless.
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2014 KTM 690 Enduro R

Dane1960

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #20 on: April 07, 2014, 09:16:05 pm »
I took the bike for I my first real ride this evening. Here are my thoughts:
Plenty of power :),pretty darn fast..I did trade in a BMW s1000rr for this thing.
I liked the instrument cluster very easy to view
Very social just cruising around
Vibration, not that terrible though, mostly felt like it was coming from the knobbies ( I have not been on knobbies in a very long time).
The hand guards have to go for some real protection
The seat was much more comfortable than I expected ( I do have iron butt certificates so I might be somewhat more tolerable than a lot of folks )
I did fine the false neutrals like some have mentioned. My opinion on it: It was when I was lazy shifting, I don't think it will be any concern...happens on my ducati sometimes too, you do have to move the shifter a bit further then what I am used too I noticed.
Real happy with the bike.

Alabama Adventurer

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #21 on: April 07, 2014, 11:28:06 pm »
Dane1960,

What did you have in mind for the hand guards; Bark busters?

Mine really don't do much either...

Thanks,

Colorado

truck11

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #22 on: April 08, 2014, 07:15:56 am »
I have been using the Cycra guards for 10+ years and love them.  http://store.cycraracing.com/alprbarpan.html  (link just show them - not sure where the best pricing is)
Yes I have bent a few, but they have been great and held up well over all.  I had the triple clamp mount set up on the last bike and it really opened up real estate on the bars for the roll chart and GPS etc.
2014 690 Enduro R


Rusty Shovel

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #23 on: April 08, 2014, 09:18:57 am »
I have been using the Cycra guards for 10+ years and love them.

When you install them, be sure to take lots of pics of the process.  Create an entry under "Sweet Mods."  Perhaps more than a few of us will follow your lead.  Congratulations again on finding a bike.
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2014 KTM 690 Enduro R

Dane1960

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #24 on: April 12, 2014, 08:37:43 pm »
Colorado Rider, not sure yet I'm going to shop around, not in a big hurry.

Alabama Adventurer

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Re: 2014 690 Enduro R -- First Impressions
« Reply #25 on: April 12, 2014, 10:34:04 pm »
The Zeta units with the integrated turn signals looked neat, but I'm not sure what else is available.