Dirk -

If you want to put up a few more photos of that Harley - I'm very sure folks would appreciate your time.  That is a very interesting ride.

Welcome - I've really enjoyed the 690.

RR

My wife and I both got '15 690's in late Jan and early March 15.  One came with a 130/80-18 rear tire and one came with a 140/80-18.  Go figure......I don't think the 140 versus 130 really makes a big difference.

I do like the stock MT-21 tires.  Pretty good trade off between dirt and asphalt.  I'll be changing the rears here soon at about 2500 miles, going to use the same MT-21 tire.  I've used the Dunlop 606 on dual sports before.  To be honest, I'm kind of afraid of changing a 606 on a cold day on the trail.  I've run 606's on a Honda BRP and a Husky 511 - The Husky will never see 606's again - I'll change tires more often with the MT-21 - they are also much cheaper than the 606.  Don't get me wrong, the 606 has been a great tire - no flats to date and no issues whatsoever - I just don't want to deal with it on the trail/fire road/highway - you might have no problem, but I know it is difficult for me.

Note:  In cold temps when I change the 606's out at home, I put a heat pad in an emergency blanket with the tire/tire & rim - the aluminized ones - and get the tire warm - makes the job a whole lot easier.  I've never had to change or put a new tube in a 606 on the trail in cold weather - scares me even thinking about it.......That tire sidewall would be rock hard!

Good luck!

All I can say is thank you very much for putting this trip up for all of us to enjoy.  Looks like a wonderful part of the country, but country to be wary of and prepare for well.

RR

OK, I thought the accessory plugs were a special plug like for the headlight of such where you could use a mate.  I used the switched accessory wires under the headlight shroud.  There is a lot more room behind the headlight with the LED lights I installed versus stock - made all the grips wiring easier to position.

I installed the Oxford Adventure series heated grips on two 690's this afternoon.  Pretty darn easy, only issue was where and how I was going to mount the controller.  Ended up just using zip ties, securing the Oxford supplied bracket to the HDB bark busters.  The controller is easy to control with gloves and a LED tells you what setting you are on.  This looks like a very high quality setup and you can buy replacement parts if needed - so they should stay working for a long time.  They get nice and toasty for a 45 degree night ride.

Also installed the Motominded "dually."  It is a two LED unit for low beam and then high beam is the two unit plus a four LED Squadron light, both lights sourced from BAJA Designs.  It is a very nice improvement over stock, a very big improvement.  The two LED low beam appears to have a relatively good cutoff and no one flashed me this evening on a drive, but it puts out a lot more light than stock.  High beams are really nice, I've always wanted to have this kind of ability to see deer and elk in the ditches - I know my wife is going to want this on her bike....

Took a week long trip recently on the 690's in south-central Oregon, several days were pretty wet and cold.  Got my wife and I longing for the heated grips on our Huskies.  I try to keep her happy...

What brand of grips have you installed that were both well designed and were easy to install?

Have you had long term experience with the Brand?

Will the switched accessory line available behind the headlight carry the load for heated grips or do you go back to the battery?

Thanks,

RR

We bought two 2015's.  I put a cash deposit up in December 14 on each one.  Dealer knew his delivery timetable:  one in January, one in February and more later in the year.  Dealer received a shipping confirmation about a week before they came in - he emailed us copies. 

I think the secret is to find a dealer you want to deal with, put up a cash deposit-basically cut the deal, based on an understanding that it is for the first or second or whatever 690 the dealer receives.  We had a great relationship with the dealer until they refused to remap the ECU's - then we found an alternative - unfortunate.  There was over a $1,000 difference in pricing quoted by the 3 dealers I approached, so do your homework.

I think the biggest reason they won't recommend it is because they don't want the liability of street use. Can't say I blame them.

What happens when used on the road?  What fails in the system?

So has anyone had problems with front and rear tubliss using stock 690 enduro rims?  Anyone heard of issues?

This just sounds like a logical system versus tubes, specifically on a tire like the Dunlop 606 or 908RR with super stiff sidewalls - I don't want to Replace and Repair those buggers ever again.

I called Tubliss and they really recommended not using their system on our bikes.  Very nice people - the kind of folks you want to give your business.