![]() ![]() Because it will do over 40 mph in first gear, it is easy to get into trouble on hills, whether you’re going up or down. Even aside from the 350-pound weight, the primary limiting factor for the R is its high gearing. Off-road, the 2019 KTM 690 Enduro R is highly capable in the right conditions, but be wary of hills. Still, if you are a full-time street rider, the supermoto-inspired KTM 690 SMC R is a fraternal twin with 17-inch street tires and a much better choice for exclusively on-road riders.Ĩ. The height and orange are attention grabbers, and you have a great view of traffic. ![]() For urban duty, the 690 Enduro R is a stylish way to make your way through town noticed. Once confidence is established in the tires and long-travel suspension, the KTM can be pushed hard on the twisties to great results. The upright ergonomics and narrow chassis make it easy to feel in complete control of the motorcycle. Traction control can be switched off, but I didn’t feel the need to disable that feature.ħ. Most of the time, you will be happy with the snappier Road mode throttle response and the corresponding management of wheel lofting and slippage. If you’re the wheelie popping type, put it in Offroad mode and let the front end climb skyward. You have loads of power on hand, plus the electronics to manage it. As a street bike, the Enduro R is impeccable, even with the blocky Continental Twinduro TKC 80 tires. Also, the new structure means the fuel tank holds nearly a half-gallon more fuel.Ĥ. KTM also put new plastic on the new frame, and it moves the styling a bit closer to KTM’s dual-sport EXC-F line. Seat height remains the same at 35.8 inches. We didn’t ride the new and old models back-to-back, so all we can say for sure is that the chassis feels great on- and off-road. The basic architecture is the same, but the tube positioning is different. Although the 2019 KTM 690 Enduro R still has a trellis frame, it’s a new one. Mastering these systems is critical to getting the most out of the R.ģ. An optional $115 dongle releases Offroad ABS, which is a front-wheel only system. For off-road performance, the ABS can be shut off. The ABS and traction control are corner-aware, though through sensors rather than an IMU. There are two power modes and two traction control modes they do make a difference, and they are interactive. While these aids aren’t unfamiliar to the ADV crowd, we aren’t used to seeing them in a single-cylinder setting, especially one that is more oriented toward the dirt. In addition to a new motor, the 2019 KTM 690 Enduro R gets an interesting suite of electronics. You really can let it sing on the street, and that makes you appreciate the counterbalancers even more.Ģ. The 690 has always pulled linearly from idle to the rev limiter, with the new engine delivering superior performance above 6000 rpm. ![]() You feel the smoothness most on the pavement, but it’s there all the time, reducing fatigue. The result is a wonderfully smooth engine. KTM has addressed the inherent vibration from a big thumper by giving the new 690 motor a couple of counterbalancers-one at the crank, the other in the cylinder head. That’s a new LC4 motor under the new trellis frame, and it has lots of updates. ![]()
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