Thanks for all your advice & encouragement JP. The riding footage is all from one five hour loop of the central/south lakes that Mark Hunt & I rode a few days ago. Sunshine was nice but that hailstorm towards the end stung the old cheeks a bit!

Cheers Ian - appreciated.

Cheers Kaden, - always appreciate the positive comments!

Cheers Skelly. I also came from mousses on a 350 EXC, but for the 790 it's Michelin HD Tubes for me. They weigh a ton but I reckon a pinch flat on a tubeless set up could leave you well and truly stranded if you're out in the boondocks. No doubt some would disagree, and maybe I'm just an old school old bloke, so I'm not saying I'm right or anything, but I do what I know and it works for me. Happy riding mate.

Cheers Greg - Happy Riding!

You're most welcome!

Cheers Don. If you get one then I hope you have a top time with it. If you're not hitting unsurfaced roads then I wouldn't spend the extra money I did because the base bike is exceptional and wants for nothing. Good luck!

No headlight bracing brackets fitted. No problem so far. Camel ADV is the only clutch actuator arm mod I've seen and it's absolutely fine. Really well worth it. If you're UK based, Central Wheel Components (SM Pro) in Birmingham are the go-to people. Their Harry Bradley is really helpful and the Haan Hubs/Excel Rims setup they sell is excellent IMO. Better quality than D.I.D. Tel: 01675 462264. You'll not get tubeless dirt wheels I think. The Moto Master discs are good off road but judder like crazy when braking from very low speed to a halt. Motoz Tractionators were great until the front wore down a bit and then the dreaded all-knobblies-do-it hopping started (only noticeable - and super-annoying - on tarmac). Removing the front rim lock helped (the standard wheels don't have rim locks) but for summer at least I've gone back to less aggressive Mitas E07 Dakar yellow bands. I prefer to run Ultra HD tubes and carry a spare lightweight tube for quick on-trail repair if required. I wouldn't recommend mousses because they'll overheat and disintegrate on tarmac sections on this sort of bike (given weight and speed compared to a full on enduro machine). Also not road legal. Good luck! Cheers, Motonige

Good health to ya!

Yes I was told this when it happened. So very sad. Ian was such a great help when I was developing the bike. He was happy to spend as much time as I needed, imparting a wealth of great advice and ideas. We have lost a true gentleman. RIP

Apologies - I'll use helium next time. Whether anyone should ever follow my advice is, however, a moot point!

@@motonige haha no need mate video was spot on. You should take up hypnotherapy or something could earn a fortune 😂

@@Steveayr You are getting sleeeeeeeeepy

Hi Phil. As far as I know the rims on the 890 are the same as they were on the 790. Whilst I did not have a problem with them, this was because, having been forewarned, I never took to the gnarly stuff with them fitted on the bike. The warning came from a couple of mates, one who rides hard on technical rocky terrain and the other who competes in rallies. It's an expensive mod and the wavy Motomaster discs judder horribly during the final part of any slow speed braking phase (i.e. from, say, 20mph to stationary) but are otherwise very good for dirt use...so it's not all perfect. If you're only planning on Swedish forest roads, for example, then I'd say the OEM wheels will be fine. Codger Biker's You Tube video on fitting Ian's bashplate is worth watching before you install. Ian himself will also help if you encounter problems as some folks have due to the footpeg hangers rarely being anything like in line with each other. I had to slacken everything off a lot before I could wrestle it all into position, but now it come on and off with ease for oil changes etc. Cheers and thanks for the encouragement! They're really a great bike on the road and eye openingly easy in tricky terrain, even compared to a 350 EXC which for me is the gold standard for the dirt.

​@@motonigehow did you mount the paddock bobine stand? Mmh i think you Have mounted in a wrong way

​@@Kaysersoza Hi. There are two versions of the paddock stand bobbins shown in the video. The ones that fit in the hub are really crash bungs to protect the swing arm and are NOT particularly useful as stand bobbins because you can't remove the wheel. The actual paddock stand bobbins are mounted in the (smaller diameter) tappings in the swinging arm itself and yes, they are the right way round. The crash protection ones would be good for a track day and are therefore perhaps better suited to the Duke variant of the bike. The proper bobbins fitted in the swing arm and great but best not fitted when riding off road as a crash can bend the threaded shaft making them hard to extract and replace. Hope this explains. Cheers, motonige

Hi Seano, thanks for watching and for your comments. The land and mobile numbers for Ian are on the video at 5 mins 15 seconds on a scrolling banner running along the bottom of the screen. Land - 01643 706941 Mob - 07971 245177. Cheers motonige

Thanks for the encouragement and the heads up PB. I'm mortified! NOBODY wants to make THAT particular mistake.I have relations in Canada including my brother plus nieces and nephews, both of the conventional and great variety. Also I fell hopelessly in love with BC after a visit back in the early '70s. I deserve to be pilloried for such a cardinal error! I've attempted a crude edit to the video to remove the offending reference. Apologies if this attempt is a fail. You Tube's editing process is...well let's just say I'm not familiar with it shall we! Thanks again & Happy Trails to you, Motonige.

Not really qualified to comment. Never owned a 690. I did ride one, though, and thought that compared to the 790/890 platform the power weight was good (of course), but the engine is a bit agricultural and the suspension did not feel as plush or planted off road or on. But plenty of owners seem to love them. I guess it all depends on what you want to do with your bike. Nobody makes a perfect compromise between a road machine and a dirt machine because it is impossible. For me the 790 comes VERY close. The weight is there, of course, but personally, I love the bike. You pays your money and you takes your choice!

Thanks Eric. Rear is 140/80/18 70T with Michelin ULTRA Heavy Duty 140/80/18 MX inner tube. Front is 90/90/21 54T with again with Michelin UHD 90/90-21 MX Tube. Cheers.

@@motonige Thank you for your answer. So I ordered a 140/80-18 tyre. Cheeres. Eric

Cheers!