Test drive three brothers from the KTM family: 690 Enduro, 690 CMS and 690 Duke

Well, of course, evil is how we put it, figuratively speaking. It’s just that the KTM 690 SMC is very difficult to ride calmly; the explosive nature of this lightweight, but at the same time brutally powerful bike constantly provokes the pilot. However, powerful motards are rarely bought by lovers of measured driving. Such specific motorcycles are in demand mainly among those who like to misbehave on the road , and the KTM 690 SMC knows how to misbehave. Do you have any doubts? Try it yourself, just be careful and don't say we didn't warn you.

If you are not a fan of motards, then this motorcycle has a whole bunch of relatives, built on a similar chassis and using the same LC4 engine, albeit slightly retuned. These are the Duke 690, Duke 690 R, Enduro 690 R, and KTM 690 SMC R. The latter differs from the hero of our review in improved suspensions , a lighter exhaust and some pleasant little things. But in terms of style, all these bikes are similar to each other, and a person who does not understand motorcycles can easily confuse one with another.

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The road-legal supermoto style motorcycle is an increasingly popular toy. But what does it usually have more of – the drive of a real “combat” motard or the functionality of a “just a motorcycle”?

To be honest, I didn’t console myself with the thought that the last letter in the name of the KTM 690 SMC (meaning no less than Competition) in practice is something more than just a letter. Still, almost 140 kg of dry mass is far from a sporting indicator: “combat” vehicles built on the “450-tok” base weigh not much more than a hundred, and the weight of the “civilian” Aprilia SXV 5.5, which is comparable in power, is more than 20 kilos less. But there is one caveat...

The KTM 690 SMC is a motorcycle that is not only approved for use on public roads, has a full set of lighting equipment, meets all conceivable environmental standards (the above-mentioned Aprilia can boast of this), but also has a service interval that is impossible by the standards of real “sports equipment”: 7.5 thousand km. For comparison: a similarly powered Aprilia will have to be serviced every 30 hours. “Uninflated” - yes, less often, once every 3 thousand km, but it is incorrect to compare it with the 690, the power is almost half as much.

If suddenly after the first trip it seems to you that the 63 hp declared on paper. got lost somewhere, and it feels like the “cubes” were not reported, do not rush to blame the dealer for slipping you a “strangled” device. Everything is much simpler: you need to remove the seat and move the power mode switch from “vegetable” (1) or “standard” (3–9) to Advanced (hidden under the number 2), and then enjoy the transformed 690. But be careful: now this is a different motorcycle - nervous, angry, willingly shooting the front wheel into the sky when accelerating in the first two gears.

Speaking of modes. More precisely, about their quantity. Formally, there are as many as 10 of them: in addition to Soft and Advanced, there are also seven options for the Standard mode and mode 0. In practice, there is no difference between the switch positions from the third to the ninth, it can only be found on the stand, so it makes sense to talk about four modes: 1. aka Soft, 2 - Advanced, from the third to the ninth - Standard and 0, designed for operating a motorcycle on low-quality fuel. In real life, you can generally limit yourself to two: the third for crawling through city traffic jams and the second for everything else. Or even just two, otherwise why buy the 690 SMC?

But what the position of the engine mode switch certainly does not affect in any way is the chassis. Whether in the most “vegetable” mode or in the advanced mode, the 690 SMC suspensions work just great. “It’s impossible to lead us astray, we don’t care where we go” - this is about the “walkability” of the 690: no matter what the motorcycle has under its wheels, it will go where it needs to go. And where the driver needs it.

There is also no reason to doubt the capabilities of the brakes - this is Brembo. The performance of the four-piston radial caliper in combination with a 320 mm disc is always enough, while the rear single-piston caliper with a 240 mm disc plays more of a supporting role... Or, if necessary, helps to throw the wheel in a turn.

The only thing I can’t get used to is the toy-plastic appearance of the dashboard. No, I do not consider myself an aesthetic gourmet and I understand perfectly well that this device does not need an on-board computer with a 10-inch display, but the soapy design and visual simplicity of the device confused me for a very long time.

Have you sorted out the hardware? Then let's go! It was decided to leave a visit to the karting track to test the sporting component of the 690 for dessert, and first find out what SMC is like in the role of a banal city transport. Still, the presence of PTS obliges.

And then the device showed itself in all its glory. Narrow, tall, lightweight, indifferent to the quality of the road surface, the KTM allows you to cut through city traffic jams at a speed inaccessible to either sportbikes or street bikes. Yes, the steering wheel sometimes seems overly wide, but you only understand this when driving between two SUVs or Gazelles standing next to each other. The rest of the time you just drive regardless of the traffic density. If things get really sad on the road, you can always go into a “parallel dimension”: neither curbs nor stairs will become a serious obstacle for the 690, which wants to continue its journey along the same path as the main flow, but not along with it.

Yes, you have to drive, often clicking the “box”, catching the range with the juiciest moment, but this is not at all annoying. All attention is focused on something else - choose a shorter trajectory, start braking so as to finish the stoppie strictly at the stop line, leave the next traffic light at the back, “wag your tail” when entering the parking lot...

What is missing for complete happiness is a mere trifle - space for luggage. But KTM would not be KTM if it had not solved this problem proactively: in the catalog there is an excellent semi-rigid bag with a fastener that allows you to dismantle it with a slight movement of the hand. A folder with A4 documents and/or a set of change of clothes can easily fit into the bag; the most adventurous ones can also throw a laptop in there.

There is, however, one more difficulty - the seat height of 900 mm suggests that the driver has either long legs or excellent driving skills. Or the mass of the pilot is such that, under its influence, the suspension folds to a more comfortable height for the motorcycle. If you don’t have either the first, or the second, or (which is the easiest and most common) the third... Alas, at first you will have to be a little nervous moving around the city. On the other hand, a person gets used to everything, so if you have no doubts about your abilities (and who has them?), a seat located 90 cm above the asphalt level is not a reason to refuse to buy this “lighter”. But it’s very comfortable to ride the 690 while standing, and it’s not for nothing that its brother is the 690 Enduro.

Some discomfort arises when you leave the city on more or less free roads. First of all, of course, due to the lack of wind protection. When the speedometer readings approach one and a half hundred “kemeche”, the air that has become dense pushes very persistently into the head and chest. The second point is the acceleration dynamics after hundreds. It is, of course, not the same as that of multi-cylinder devices, and sometimes thoughts creep into your head that this device is not so universal. In fact, everything is much simpler: well, a “single-barrel” gun, even such a vigorous one, cannot, physically cannot, go “at the top” like a “liter” “sport”. Therefore, in this case, you only need to change your consciousness a little. Understand (and accept) that the second hundred kilometers per hour is a zone of movement, not pleasure. And everything will fall into place.

And now, actually, dessert - walking the KTM 690 SMC on a closed track. As such, the Sochi karting track was chosen, which is ideal for motorcycles of this class. Yes, the coating is not the newest, in several places you can feel a noticeable ridge, earth is knocked out through cracks in the asphalt, but this is not a problem for our ward. But the presence of six left and four right turns on the 1350-meter track (three of them are hairpins), in combination with a 200-meter straight, allows you to torture the equipment in a fairly wide range of modes.

We got to the karting track in the midst of a training session for Sochi and Krasnodar sportbikers, which we immediately joined. After several sighting laps, it turned out that the 690 allows you not only to hang calmly on the wheel of “liter” “sports”, but also to overtake them in especially tight turns along the outer trajectory. Yes, on the straight line the advantage of the 1000 cc four-cylinder engines became obvious, but the resulting gap had no effect on the overall lap time. But what a thrill it was to squeeze between a 200-kilogram sportbike crawling on your knees and the edge of the track, move forward, slightly tearing the front wheel off the track surface, and tumble into the next turn along your own trajectory. As a result, when I went to the karting track to ride a KTM, for some reason I mostly rode it. Well, other devices are not required there. Not interesting.

Owner reviews

shamarin

Read other motorcycle reviews Honda motorcycles 2014

My first season. There is nothing to compare with except IZH Planet-5 (and sunrise in childhood), KTM is better, of course. A motorcycle for tall people, with my height of 185 cm it’s just right. It will be worse for short people. In general, for my purposes: mostly in the city, along country roads to a country house - just a blast. The maximum speed I was traveling was 160 km/h - it just blew me off the saddle. Comfortable ride 120-130 km/h. Consumption is approximately 5 liters. 95-AI. In the city it is very pleasant to get through traffic jams everywhere and stairs and curbs are not a problem.shamarin

Purple truck

The 690th is without competition; there is no alternative to this motorcycle, except for the new Husqvarnы 701, which also belongs to KtEm and makes it KTM))) in fact, the 701 Husk is the same modified 690th. So, regarding the 690th, its weight, power, suspension, handling are all at the highest level, reliability is also at the highest, especially starting from models released since 1914. I have a 14 year old car with 20 thousand miles now, no problems except for the turn signals that fell off)) now I’m planning to sell it, I want to try the 701 Husky. before the age of 14, there were so-called childhood diseases of this model, namely the Rocker (often on runs after 10 thousand km, noticeable play in the rocker appeared, which could lead to very bad consequences); from the age of 14, the rocker was changed) there was also a problem with the overrunning clutch, it was dying, the engine would not start, the filler cap of the tank was not good when opening, dirt got inside and clogged the pump, it died. The tidy often broke down, and the bolt holding the tank broke. Since 14, all these problems have been eliminated. On this vehicle, the oil needs to be changed every 3-4 thousand km, if I burn it well, then I change the oil and after 2 thousand kilometers, despite the service interval of 10 thousand, changing the oil once every 10 thousand is strictly prohibited) Purple truck

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RESULT. So what is this civilian “supermotostyle” motorcycle for?
Surprisingly, for everything. The KTM 690 SMC can be used as an ordinary daily transport (especially if you install that same bag on the tail), and you don’t have to pretend to be a stunt rider; you can just “puke” with choppers, classics and “sports” in the stream. If desired, the 690 is an ideal cork buster and fun bike in one bottle. You can also use it to go to the track, at least without getting lost in the tail of the trainees. And with the proper level of “ironness” of the driver’s supporting surface, the 690 is quite a good tourist. I personally don’t see any difficulties in leisurely short trips on the 690 of a thousand or two kilometers. But it’s better, of course, not on the autobahn. SPECIAL OPINION.

Engine and exhaust

Air filter

Access to the air filter for replacement or maintenance has become as easy as possible thanks to the location of the filter housing under the seat. This makes operating the KTM 690 ENDURO R easy and accessible for riders and mechanics of all skill levels.

Engine

The single-cylinder 690cc LC4 engine combines powerful acceleration from low revs, lively character, quick rev-to-rev and smooth, reliable performance. Another huge plus of this engine is its efficiency.

Cylinder head

The lightweight and compact cylinder head contains four valves and one camshaft located on top of the intake valves, and the secondary balance shaft is driven by a timing chain. The intake valves are driven by pushrods, and the exhaust valves are driven by rocker arms.

Resonator

The resonator chamber compensates for pulsations in the intake tract, making throttle response smoother and reducing vibrations.

Balancer shafts

The KTM 690 ENDURO R's two balancer shafts, one in front of the crankshaft and one in the cylinder head, reduce vibrations and provide a smoother ride.

Piston

The KTM 690 ENDURO R's lightweight and durable forged piston is designed to reduce moving mass, thereby improving engine response.

KTM 690 ENDURO R 2021

connecting rod

Connecting rod bearings reduce moving mass, helping the engine run smoother and more energized.

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David Dzhalagoniya, multiple champion of Russia in aquabike, participant of the Russian Supermoto Cup.
He rides a Suzuki V-strom, a supermoto based on the CRF-450, a Honda TL-125 Trial, and a Kawasaki Super Sherpa. David Dzhalagoniya, multiple champion of Russia in aquabike, participant of the Russian Supermoto Cup. He rides a Suzuki V-strom, a supermoto based on the CRF-450, a Honda TL-125 Trial, and a Kawasaki Super Sherpa.

“I have long wanted to test the KTM 690 SMC, as I had heard about it. Having once again arrived at the Sochi karting track to practice on my CRF-450 supermoto, I was pleasantly surprised to see the guys from Moto magazine there, and even with new test equipment, including the 690. I was offered to try the 690 SMC in action. Sitting in the saddle and placing my hands on the handlebars, I immediately gained confidence in the motorcycle and rushed it around the track in sport mode. And I was not mistaken. Pleasant impressions: excellent design, ergonomics, excellent brakes, energy-intensive and readable suspension, no unnecessary vibrations or sounds in the engine, good handling in short turns, the ability to enter a turn with a controlled skid. I didn’t like the excessively high seat height (maybe it was worth lowering the center of gravity of the asphalt motorcycle lower, thereby increasing control in corners?), as well as the insufficient engine power - they completely “strangled” it to please environmentalists. But the overall assessment of the device is positive: a good motorcycle for every day, on which you can safely go to the track on the weekend without fear of losing your face.”

The motorcycle was provided for testing.

Kenny equipment provided.

A little crazy: KTM 690 SMC

Comparison with analogues

Looking for a worthy rival to our KTM, it becomes clear: there are not many of them, and this is most likely due to the low demand for this class of equipment. But we managed to find it - this is the Honda XR 650 R SM.

Starting with a general comparison, it is clear: the design and equipment of the Honda is simpler, and this will be a plus in our case. Spare parts are much more accessible, and maintainability is higher.

But in terms of power, Honda is inferior by 7 hp; given the small masses of these motorcycles, this is a noticeable difference. An advantage on the KTM side will be the presence of an injector. The frame of the Austrian representative is stiffer - which has a good effect on handling. The Brembo brakes installed on the KTM definitely work better.

Injector and ECU

The fuel injection system, controlled by the motorcycle's electronic 'brain', allows the engine to be perfectly adjusted to the riding conditions. The result is even more and more controllable power, reduced fuel consumption and emissions, as well as additional functionality such as MTC Traction Control, MSR Engine Brake Control and Quickshifter+. Selecting from two driving modes allows you to change the way the engine operates. The KTM 690 ENDURO R's ignition system independently controls two differently sized spark plugs mounted in the cylinder head, delivering more efficient fuel combustion and a more uniform, precisely controlled flame front at all rpms.

KTM 690 ENDURO R 2021

Ergonomics and comfort

Seat

The KTM 690 ENDURO R's seat height is 910mm, providing a comfortable ride without sacrificing ground clearance. The seat material is designed specifically for off-road riding and has a fine surface texture that provides optimal traction with equipment in both dry and rainy weather.

Steering wheel

The lightweight 808mm wide tapered handlebar is mounted with rubber spacers to reduce vibration. The width and shape of the handlebar provides optimal control in all situations.

Footrests

Self-cleaning running boards prevent dirt from sticking to them, even in the most challenging conditions. For driving in road shoes, they can be equipped with rubber inserts that provide optimal grip on the soles and reduce vibrations felt on smooth roads.

Brake system

Don't forget about the importance of the braking mechanism. The brakes must stop the “horse” in a galloping manner in the shortest possible time. To achieve a productive result, engineers installed two-piston discs with a floating caliper at the front and single-piston discs at the rear. The diameter of the disc at the front is 300 mm, at the rear it is 240 mm.

If you need transport for active pastime or off-road travel, you need an Enduro. Based on this, preference should be given exclusively to high-quality products. One of these is the KTM 690, originally from Austria. It is difficult to meet the owner of a motorcycle from this country of origin with any complaints. Reviews about the KTM 690 are mostly positive. After purchasing Austrian equipment, you need to forget about breakdowns for a long time. Moreover, Austria has long established itself in the world market as a reliable supplier of motorcycle products, of which there is no doubt at the moment.

Quickshifter

The operation of the Quickshifter+ system is based on two sensors, one of which on the gearshift lever registers its upward movement, while the system turns off the fuel supply. The second sensor, having detected a gear change, sends a signal to resume fuel supply and open the throttle, ensuring fast and smooth shifting and optimal engine speed for jerk-free driving. When downshifting, the system automatically increases engine speed, preventing downshift jerk.

Chassis

Gas tank

The large 13.5-litre fuel tank of the KTM 690 ENDURO R is the load-bearing element of the chassis, making it stiffer and ensuring an optimal connection between the rider and the motorcycle.

Frame

The cage frame elements are made from lightweight, high-quality chrome-molybdenum steel tubing of variable thickness. This balanced design provides high torsional rigidity for superior handling, while carefully engineered longitudinal stiffness characteristics smooth out impact energy, helping the suspension reduce rider fatigue.

Stretcher

The innovative use of the rear fuel tank as a structural element of the subframe ensures optimal weight distribution and a simple chassis design.

KTM 690 ENDURO R 2021

Pendulum

The swingarm design provides an optimal mounting point for the rear shock absorber, resulting in a high suspension arm ratio. The one-piece design of the pendulum is obviously devoid of discontinuities and weak points characteristic of welded pendulums.

Traverses

High-rigidity forged triple clamps with a 24mm offset (and the ability to change it to 22mm) provide excellent fork stay retention and thus precise control. Four handlebar positions allow you to tailor ergonomics to suit different rider preferences.

Fork

Maximum control over the motorcycle on uneven terrain is provided by the 48mm WP XPLOR inverted fork. The split fork design, originally developed jointly by WP and KTM for the EXC series, has been specially adapted for the KTM 690 ENDURO R. The fork is equipped with springs in both stays, one of which provides compression smoothing (left) and the second provides rebound smoothing, without having any negative effect influence on each other. Thanks to this, the smoothing of the suspension travel in both directions is adjusted using 30-position adjusters on the upper ends of the stays.

Rear shock absorber

The WP XPLOR shock absorber is mounted on the swingarm via a lever. This ensures the progressive nature of the suspension and its high resistance to breakdown. A full range of adjustments, including fast and slow compression, allows you to customize the rear shock to suit any conditions and rider preferences.

Wheels

The KTM 690 ENDURO R wheels feature lightweight milled hubs, high-quality rims measuring 21" at the front and 18" at the rear, and steel spokes linking them together for maximum strength and minimum weight.

KTM 690 ENDURO R 2021

Traction control

MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) - Lean-sensing traction control reacts immediately when rear wheel speed becomes disproportionate to speed and riding conditions. In a matter of milliseconds, MTC reduces engine thrust with an extremely smooth, almost imperceptible change in throttle angle until slip is reduced to the optimum value depending on the selected ride mode and current lean angle. For particularly ambitious riders, traction control can be turned off completely.

Electronics and software

Dashboard

The new dashboard provides additional information display. So, in the 2021 model, the rider can display the selected gear and engine speed.

Electronic assistants

Electronic fuel injection, e-gas and the engine management system (EMS) enable innovative and convenient electronic assistance. These features allow the new generation LC4 motor to be used at maximum efficiency in the widest range of conditions.

KTM 690 ENDURO R 2021