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The 690 / 701 is the perfect bike for those who ride less than 2 hours road to the dirt trails. That is what it was designed for. Any longer than say 3 hours on the highway and you start wishing you had a twin ADV. After decades of riding many different bikes, the 690 is my favourite. Ride whatever bike makes you smile the most. Cheers

I bought a used 21 690 with ALL the mods; the more stuff I removed from it the better it got. Eventually I was left with Wings exhaust, APX skid, a teeny tiny rack on the back and the offroad dongle. If you use these bikes like a big dirt bike that can get to the trails, maybe camp overnight- they are flippin amazing!

After owning larger ADV bikes, I purchased a Husqvarna 701 Long Range and it's been an amazing bike. It weighs 383lbs wet with 6.3 gallons of gas on board, makes 70+ HP, happily travels at 80mph on the highway, slays in the dirt, goes 330-370 miles between fuel stops, light enough to pick up by myself offroad, and easy to load/carry in a trailer, pickup bed, or hitch carrier. IMHO there are no other bikes on the market today that can do all that with a full compliment of BDR camping gear. You can go a little bigger (Taureg, T7, 890) or a little smaller (CRF300, 350, CRF450RL, 500EXC), but if you want a single do all bike in between, the 690/701 (esp Long Range) are where its at.

I wanted to share a bit about my experience with my current bike(2020 690 Enduro R). I'm 56 and consider myself a very average rider. Due to limited garage space I can only have one bike (thanks to my wife!),. That's why I opted for a versatile model that offers me three modes: MX (stripped down dirt), Supermoto (with extra rims), and Full adventure (with racks, etc.). This way, I can seamlessly switch up the bike's setup for different applications. Last year, I went on a long ride to Yosemite with all the luggage, and I made a few modifications to the bike that made a huge difference in comfort and performance. I added a slip-on cruise control lever for only $20.00 and an Airhawk cushion, as well as a bolt-on windshield, a Husqvarna rear sprocket(4 extra teeth) made the gearing shorter and much better off-road. It worked great, although the high winds in the desert did blow me around a bit on the way back. Nevertheless, the bike had plenty of power. The engine harmonics go silent at 74mph and you can't feel anything, so I cruise at that speed. Switching bikes all the time would be a disaster for me because I'm so used to my current ride, and it fits me like a glove. I find there's a level of comfort and confidence that comes from sticking with one bike, and I would hate to have to adjust to a different one all the time. Living in SoCal means there's an equal amount of dirt and roads to ride on, and my bike is the perfect fit for this area. I love being able to switch to street mode with the Supermoto rims - it takes the experience to the next level and is so much fun. Cheers to all of you and happy riding!

690 Enduro owner here (I also have a beta xtrainer). I love my 690, for a reason that goes beyond the "good balanced compromise" stuff. And that is that it is more capable off road than any other bike you can ride for 2-3 straight hours on the highway. If you want to stick to easier BDR type stuff, than sure, youll get more comfort on an adv weight solution. But if you want the option to take your bike on some more agressive trails on that same trip, the 690 is the answer. The sacrifice you make in on road comfort is worth the added ability to take tougher trails, for those who want that option.

I have a 701 LR, and for me, it's the perfect bike. I have ridden it all over Australia, and although it is a compromise, when you are doing desert crossings, or tight trails, you don't want anything heavier, and on the highway, you don't want anything lighter or less powerful. The 500km range is also pretty essential. I happily cruised at 160km/h. BTW, there is cruise control for it. It's made by MCCruise, and it works well. We did a 6 day group ride with 701's and 901's and most people on the 901 were wishing they had the 701 for that ride.

I spent 5 years on a lightly modded 701. I did everything on it but i think it’s actually not a unicorn. It’s really really good at traditional dual sporting and flexible enough to do a little out side of that. But if you aren’t dualsporting, you probably won’t understand how good it is.

I’ve had my Husqvarna 701 for 6 years, before that I had the KTM 690. I had it lowered 1.5”, then installed the under seat aux fuel tank and a bunch of other stuff.. perfect dual sport for me and I can still do big Hwy miles, even rode it to the Arctic last year. I do have a BMW 1200GS but it’s over 200 pounds heavier.

As a 701 owner, they're absolutely a compromise bike. No, it's not an ADV bike, but it can do it. No, it's not a dirt bike, but it can do it. But you spend a bit of time tweaking it for what you want, and it's a lot better at what you want to do IME. Get the suspension setup if you're carrying luggage, get a fairing if you're going to be doing high speed off road or a lot of on road, get a wider softer seat if you are going to be doing long hauls, swap sprockets if you're going to be doing a lot of single track, etc. Why do I love it, despite the jack of all trades nature? Because it's the only bike I have that I can do anything with. Blast down the freeway at 80-90? Sure. Find a twisty back road? Great. Got a single track trail you want to hit? She'll do it. So for me, it's the flexibility of not going "I need to come back to this with XYZ bike" and just going and doing what I see. I'd love to have a fleet of bikes all setup for what I want (and I have a couple for sure), but there isn't anything that's replaced the fun I've had with the 701 in never feeling like "I need to swap out bikes." FWIW, I swapped the Slaven's MX Tech "Lucky Mule" cartridges in the front when I did my front springs, and it was a hell of an upgrade both on tarmac and off.

Big bikes are too limiting for exploration. 500s are awesome but awkward at carrying gear and depreciate too quickly if you do big kms. The 690 platform is the best exploration bike. I have a 990, 701, 350 and 300. I'll take the 990 if I know the ride is easy. Big Rick Moto, most of your Adventure riding seems to be cantered on the easy side and on known trails. For that I'd choose a comfortable Adventure twin too.

Ian as a 701 owner with a rally fairing I totally agree. For me this bike is a perfect BDR machine because of the mix of road and dirt in those routes. It’s not the best on the highway as you go to the beginning of the route, but better than a KTM 500. It’s not as good on the dirt as the 500, but better than my 890R. It may be 100 lbs heavier than the 500, but is also 100 lbs lighter than the 890!

In life, and certainly in the motorcycle world, there is always disappointment when your dreams collide with reality.

Hey buddy, I'd say this is one of the most honest vids / reviews / sharing of feelings and thoughts I've ever seen. And u know what? It's so damn right! I was caught in exactly the same situation. I was driving street bikes as youngling, then I went to enduro a cross bikes while growing old and lately, I wanted to have "one fit all." I was fortunate enough to be able to ride classic KTM Enduro 690 R and I came to the same conclusion. Weirdnon highways and long distance traveling, quite fun in the cities though. However, when I took it out to samé decent terrain and trails I used to ride my KTM EXC 350-F (yeah, same bike like u do 👌🏻) it was a hell. Nightmare perhaps. I was sweating all the time, unsure whether or not I'm able to pass over some obstacle and on top of that, when u need some response in the right hand, it was always just way too much. Well, I returned that 690 R happily and now I'm back in the game with EXC 350-F and ADV 890 (; (Which is btw, if not the one, one of the most fun bikes I've ever riden. The joy u have doesn't matter where and how u ride is just ridiculously insane 😂🤟🏻😎) P.S.: I'm also choosing a new ADV helmet and ur vids r super useful. Thank you lad and perhaps, we'll meet on some track back here, in heart of Europe = Czech Republic 👌🏻😉

You sold it because you need to fund your next bike for content purposes? So many youtubers really just video posers vs serious riders. It's all about the video and pics for clicks these days

I had a simillar 701, with the whole rally kit (Lynx fairing, Rade Garage aux tank, all the mods imaginable) and I reached the same conclusion as you. It never felt like I had the right bike for the job. The long rake angle makes the bike really good for going fast forward, but it hinders its agility in tight stuff. I think it's a bike that requires a fair amount of skills to truly master. A weekend warrior like me just doesn't have the skills to use that bike well. My friend has a fully kitted Aurora Rally style 690 and he rides that bike like a pro desert racer and loves it. He's always popping wheelies and rides hard and fast, I feel like this is the way to ride that bike. Im getting an 890R, although its also a bike made to ride hard and fast, I feel it has a greater range of capacity, especially towards the "adventure" side of things. We'll see

Ian, thank you for your work . I really enjoy the free entertainment that you provide.

Great vid. I bought an 890 Adv R to do the WY BDR. You're right, cruise control, great top speed, great on the street and wide open gravel roads, but on the hardways and some other extra credits we did, a 440lb bike is really difficult to manage. It can be really hard to pick up in a bad spot if you don't have help. I switched to a 690 and did the Rade Garage package you showed on your 690. It is not the 85 mph street and gravel road machine that the 890 is, but in the tech, even loaded with gear, it is wayyyy easier for me to manager. I did the socal BDR with the hardways on the 690 last year and plan to ride the NV BDR next month on it too. I have a 500 EXC-F that I love for long adventures, but it can't carry the weight you'll need for a week of provisions even if you;re not packing camping gear. Some of the rides we do have a chase truck that can carry a bag for you, then the easy choice for me is the 500. For a week on challenging (or unknown) terrain when I have to pack way more stuff, my choice is the 690. Just reading more comments: @raywoo1 came to the same conclusion I did.

for highway riding: scoot forward up onto the tank, and lean forward. The skittish feeling you get on dual sports at high speed is because the wind drag is shifting load away from the front, which really does make it less stable.

I just bought a 690 and honesty appreciate your opinion about the bike. I am noticing some of those discomforts as well. I bought the bike as a bike in hopes that it can do everything so I will have to sacrifice some of the comforts but it is nice to have validation that I'm not crazy in these little things that make the bike not perfect for every situation. Nice video!

Agree with everything you said, Ian. Had a 701 that I adventurized myself but it didn't quite cut it for long adventure rides. Now I have two bikes that can do either task better like your setup. I do miss my 701 from time to time though, it's a complete hoot to ride.

You nailed it! Your bikes your channel and your choice! I took my DRZ400 to GetOnADV Where I did all the difficult rides on the DRZ400 and had a great time had I been on my Africa Twin I would NOT have done those routes. Options are awesome! Thanks for sharing and your insight well done as always.

Thought provoking video - as a Husky 701 owner I have a few thoughts, perhaps they will be helpful for anyone considering the big thumper LC4 platform. Ian's former bike is a super cool 690 in theory, but the 690 is a 50/50 dual sport, not an ADV bike, and adding a fancy tower doesn't change that. While undoubtedly cool, I honestly don't understand the functional appeal of the tower as it adds weight and bulk, and it costs a ton. A simple $90 Puig windshield mounted to the stock headlight shell does wonders for wind protection at speed on the street, without hurting it off road. I get why Ian feels as he does, as I mentioned, I own a '23 Husky 701 Enduro, and concur with everything he says. Despite the agreement with Ian's valid points, I love my 701 as to me it is a no compromise high performance true 50/50 dual sport which really captures the essence and adventure of MC riding. I view my 701 as a much more advanced DR 650. Truth be told, the big DR and the XR650L are far more rational/affordable and easily configurable choices for the 50/50 dual sport mission, but I turned 61 recently and I wanted the big boy pants XPLOR suspension, and that bad ass 693cc thumper engine which exhales through a Yosh can and has most of Rottweiler's catalog thrown at it. OMG the resulting sound and power are just absurd! When I bought it, I had no expectation of riding more than incidental freeways or riding more than moderately gnarly trails on my 701. Suitable "50/50" tires are going to be a compromise too of course, as are "streetier" or "dirtier" tires. The bottom line is one has to manage their expectations and be unflinchingly honest about what they want from their 690, and to assess if their ability as a rider can compensate for the compromise tires and weight of the bike while riding offroad. Of course you do give up a lot of street comfort to get the extra off road ability compared to a more street oriented ADV bike, even a "dirty" one like the KTM 890. The broad band but less focused capability of a true 50/50 dual sport bike is a turn off for any rider who wants a bike that is even slightly biased more toward dirt or street. Being a true 50/50 machine is the 690's greatest weakness or strength, depending on one's point of view. The fact that compared to it's dated peers, the 690 platform is sophisticated, powerful and expensive combined with It's true 50/50 nature makes it unique niche bike, it is not for everybody. If the 690 platform is right for you, there is nothing remotely like it as seemingly no other manufacturer has the balls to make a high performance but true 50/50 dual sport bike like the 690. I live in Colorado, for me the 690 platform is perfect, as I can ride from my garage down some truly entertaining twisty canyon back roads and then ride scenic trails without ever riding on the freeway. My 701 is an absolute weapon for slicing up a two lane mountain/canyon paved and dirt road by the way. The total round trip for such a run including off roading is around 140 miles. I can see the 690 wouldn't be great if one doesn't live reasonably near twisty fun roads and trails, as it's balanced capabilities are utterly wasted if all it sees are flat straight roads and freeways. The 690 is a scenic byway, dirt forest service roads and "oh my where does that bumpy single track go, let's find out" kind of bike. I have never owned a bike that made me want to explore like my 701 does. Odd it sounds, the 690 platform is the end game "bumper bike" for an RVer. Trucking it in to the good scenic stuff, then exploring the area on and off road sounds awesome. I hope to do that with my 701 around the western US at some point. I am similar to Ian in that I also own an '18 300 XC and a Super Tenere, the Husky 701 sits in between the two. The latest 690s have the XPLOR suspension which is quite good if one doesn't mess it up with lowering links and if they can handle the stock seat height. I adapt to the weight and compromise tires and rip pretty good off road on my 701. Thanks to it's firmly spung and accurate XPLOR suspension, my 701 can tackle actual whoops at a clip that would snap a T7 in half, and I am able to keep pace with slower riders on "real" dirt bikes that I would dust on my 300 XC. In that regard, with it's weight and compromise tires, my 701 is an "equalizer" of sorts as it slows me down to their speed. Bonus, when I ride my 300 XC after riding the 701, the 300 two stroke feels like a weightless toy and I am faster on it 😆 If considering the 690 platform ya gotta ask yourself, are you willing to give up freeway and long haul pavement comfort compared to an ADV bike, do you have a suitable environment to ride it in, and if ya want to ride it at a sporty clip off road, are your skills up to it? Be honest and save the potential cost and heartache. Most are probably better served skipping the 690 platform, crawling off road, and riding in comfort on the highway on an ADV bike. But for a few of us, the 690 platform is God's gift to fun on 2 wheels!

Not every bike will be for everyone. Thanks for an honest evaluation without hyperbole etc.

Great video and I get your point. I own a 701 and I fully agree with your considerations. But, even if I could afford two bikes, I can just ride one in the same trip, if you know what I mean

Ian, great reasoning behind your decision. I’m doing a 3 week ride on the TAT next year. My aim was to ship my 890 Adventure (non R) from the UK which is expensive, complicated and timing is tricky. In the event my US based buddy and I agreed that I buy a bike in the US. He rides a 900 Tiger Rally but wants a dual sport in the stable. Guess what, we’ve bought a tricked out 690! Our deliberations came to the 690/701/700 variants ending up with a 2019 bike with high quality upgrades and everything I’d want and more. I’m hoping to add luggage (Mosko Reckless 40) and not much more. We may even attempt to bore a wider audience when we hit the trails.

I was at that place when I had to choose between the 701 and 501. The bigger 701 enduro made more sense on paper, but I knew if I bought it, I would still lust after the 501...which is the bike I went with. Smart choice because I'm never wishing I wanted the bigger enduro when doing harder single track. Also had a buddy who switched from 690 to 500 and he's really happy.

I had an 890 and then added a 701, pretty much stopped riding the 890. Used to get frustrated when riding the 890 in remote places and passing by unknown single track as wasn't sure if I'd get stuck at bottom of a gully. Don't have that fear with 701 as can get through pretty much anything apart from full blown hard enduro stuff. Just did a 3 day 2000km ride with a fair bit of highway and it was fine, wouldn't want to do it regularly but every now and again is fine.

It sounds like the original builder of his 690 did the visuals but not the rest of the job needed to get the 690 set up for TAT/BDR use. To make the 690/701 work you need not just the fairing, but shock/spring updates (for more weight), cruise and heated grips added, comfort seat added, preload adjuster, final drive ratio (sprockets) change and if you can afford it... wide ratio gearbox (along with the usual stuff like bags and fuel capacity extension). Costs over $20k including the bike but if you want the ultimate lightweight ADV bike (and you're a bigger guy) I don't have a better option. Even with that setup - if you're planning to ride expressways the 690 isn't your bike, I don't do 4 lanes except when I can't avoid them even on my heavyweight ADV bike (Multistrada)... I DEFINITELY don't do them on this bike. It's not a bike that's fun to ride steady state over about 65mph. That's just fine for TAT/BDR (even on nice clean dirt roads I don't cruise at much over 60) but not so much for traditional Tarmac ADV. Short bursts to high speeds are fine... but droning along on the highway at 75? not on this bike. (it'll do it but you won't like it). Also... the bike is not really needed if your focus when riding is cruising along and enjoying the view... BDR's are entirely do'able on heavyweight adv bikes. When you check the BDR forums you'll see that most riders are in it to have a nice ride, stop to see attractions, set up camp and chill with a beer or four... etc... This is all very cool and I think it's a great way to get out and both ride and enjoy the outdoors. If that's your jam you'll be perfectly happy on middleweight or even better a heavyweight adv bikes (GS/GSA is the ultimate Barcalounger that can do light dirt)... it's not really how I ride though. If you're like me though... if you're out there for the ride (and like to push it) and want to do TAT/BDR sort of "dirt road/trail focused touring"... then do yourself a favor and look at this bike. For reference... most riders average 200-250 miles a day on the TAT (Transamerica trail) and average speeds in the low-mid 30's... and take a month or more to ride it. I rode it (7000 miles of it anyway) in 19 travel days, 350'ish miles a day and close to 45mph moving average. Most riders ride the MidAtlantic BDR (1000 miles) in 5-7 days with many taking 9+... I was on a 3 day pace on the 690 (we actually rode all of PA and then rode the west side of the PA Wilds BDRx, same mileage but didn't ride the VA part of the BDR). So the use case for the bike is (IMO) TAT/BDR when your focus is the more challenging offroad stuff (Colorado Passes, Moab) and you like to ride harder than say the average (not a quality judgement - what's important is riding not how/why). It's still nowhere near as capable on that stuff as something like an exc-f... but getting a bike that's even as good as the 690 and still can manage touring AND has long service intervals (IMO a requirement for this sort of riding) is a tall order.

I own one bike.690 is the perfect bike for me.I need 5 mins to get on the dirt road and from that road i can reach any city i want with a minimum on road riding.that's what the TET is for.(Trans Europe Trail) I can cross borders with 90% off road riding.The negatives u mentioned in your video are valid.I think it all depends where you live.

I think your first video did an astounding job telling us what the 690 is. I have watched many of your videos *YOU ARE THE BEST ON KZfaq) as well as other dual sport videos and I keep coming back to the 690 being the bike i want. I get more and more comfortable laying down $15k on this bike, because It seems like it will be my do all bike. Throw it in the back of my truck, ride it leisurely around town, keep up with my Harley buddy at 75mph... hit the powerlines and be able to go insane in the woods. the big stock gas tank is a major plus. From what I can see it needs nothing but a new seat and its a 10/10 bike. I haven't seen a big thumper available anywhere near the caliber of this motorcycle off the showroom floor. If you ask me, making it a single swingarm in future models front and rear would make it the PERFECT bike. Guys like me can switch from street to dirt in 5 minutes

You hit the nail on the head. The 4-stroke 350cc displacement is the best weight to power for riding trails. Even a 450cc is too heavy to perform as well on trails than a 350. But you have to have it tall to get over obstacles and you have to give up riding the highway because the best power delivery for most off-road is under 40mph so you want low gearing and 350cc. So there it is laid out bare in the open. You cannot have a unicorn do everything bike unless it’s a jack of all trades and master of none of them.

Another fine one Ian! I’m breaking in my Norden 901 expedition right now but I believe the 690/701 is in my future. Ride safe! 🏍️💨

Just Did a 400 mile trip to the dealer yesterday ....100% agree ..for me a Twin cylinder is a must for freeway sprinting and Now a must have in my old age wisdom is .......Cruise control ! love love my Tuareg..ps ...now quick shifter installed :)

I agree having different bikes for different things is good. But I also think using a bigger adventure bike and learning or “attempting” to do things with it that it’s not supposed to do is also fun. I’ve taken my 1200GSA on things I have no business taking it on and I feel much more accomplished if I actually pull it off. Just my opinion.

This is typical Big Rock Moto. Your all hot at first then find a pesky fault and sell it. Your reviews are only good for a week until you find something else and post a video with dislikes and how the new bike is so much better. Meaning, your reviews don’t mean that much. Took me awhile to see but true. There is no perfect bike, just some better than others.

I think you're EXACTLY on the money, and it's the exact dilemma I'm facing. I'm currently in a mental spiral debating if I get rid of my amazing multipurpose bike for a more specialized 2 bike setup. So I have a headily modded 2019 701 Enduro here in Aus. Tuned suspension with aftermarket internals, front Safari tanks, rally tower: Handles amazingly offroad, 700km range, carries luggage weight better than stock, and it can chew through the highway miles. I've done 10 hour days on the highway, and torn around my local two-track, and it did both of them well. Everything was great until I bought a TTR250 as a skills practice/singletrack bike. Then the 701 got pushed more to the adventure riding/travel end of duties, where I'm now longing for the benefits of a bigger bike like T7 or a 950. If you can only accommodate a single bike garage, there is no better than the 690/701. But if you can accommodate two bikes, you can cover more "spectrum" of riding with less compromise. That said, there is something to the question of "what kind of adventure riding you want to do?". If you're more worried than being able to pick up the bike solo than highway cruise comfort, then this might aaaall change, and that 690 might be spot on. Just a note about the handling comments you made: It really comes down to setup with these bikes. With the stock rear fuel tank setup, luggage very quickly makes the bike too rear heavy. Getting some proportion of weight back over the front is good. I did it with the front safari tanks. Rear sag only goes so far to level the bike out, but it doesn't change the weight split.

Another great video! I totally agree; to be happy riding on both road and off-road, two bikes are necessary. I ride a 2023 KTM 350 EXC-F for local difficult and technical trails, and a 2017 KTM 1090R for fast pavement rides to easier off-road trails. Living in remote Colorado gives me both types of riding, within 15 minutes of my garage. You have the best KZfaq channel on this subject!

You're are completely right in your comments. Had a 701 fully with rally kit and all the extras. It does everything, but doesn't do everything great. I ended up selling the bike and now have 2. A 790 Adventure R and a 450 EXC-F. Really enjoying both bike now for what they are ment to.

As a guy with 4 bikes in the garage, I agree with the approach of use the right bike for the ride. Pains me to pay insurance on all of them, and they take up space in the garage; but all 4 combined cost less than a new midsize adventure bike and I get to enjoy a diverse riding experience from tight woods singletrack to pushing limits on pavement.

Rekindled my love for motorcycles with a KLR. Upgraded that with a used 690, all kitted out for long distance touring (Rally Raid fuel tanks, luggage racks, Wolfman soft bags, heated grips), and added a Lynx fairing to it. I can get on the farm road in front of my house and be to the MABDR in a day's ride of just back roads. I've built my 690 to be the BDR/TAT bike that'll help me out on the most difficult terrain on these routes. All that being said, having owned a GSXR 1100 (dating myself, I know), the "grunt" of a bigger bike is appealing. Should I win the lottery, there'll be a Norden 901 Expedition in the driveway the very next day!

Agree with your assessment. It's about 80% across each of the major types of riding I do. I bought SM wheels which increased versatility as well. Have thought about selling and getting a more dedicated dirt/ SM bike and then a true ADV but can't justify the cost of two bikes when this one is so capable.

I had an older 690r that I added extra tanks to and kept it for a number of years. I did one ride in northern Baja and it was perfect for that. Other than that is was a similar feeling as you had-not great on the highway and a bit heavy for serious off road. Last year I bought an 890r and considered another 690 but passed due to the stock fuel mileage and lack of highway comfort. I don't do any serious single track riding on a motorcycle anymore so the 890r was the best choice. I recently added the WP Pro suspension to my 890r and the bike is close to perfect now. Zero regrets not getting another 690. Also I am not a fan of the 690 gas tank. The 890r is a much better design.

I knew right away what was going on when I saw you standing beside those bikes and I totally agree. If I had the money I'd also have a bike for each style of riding, but I can't afford two bikes. I have a sumo conversion kit so I basically go dirt riding, travel longer distances and I can race up those twisties going up Idlewild. All with one bike and I love her for that versatility.

It comes down to if you've ridden bikes that cover miles comfortably it's hard to compromise! I put 95K miles on a 2014 GS and sold it to buy a KTM 890 Adventure R thinking at 71 it would be a goo idea to buy a lighter bike that coverd miles and still able to go off road. But the KTM is still nearly 500 pounds and lays flat on the ground making picking up a pain and it didn't cover the miles like a GS! I loved the KTM power and handling, but at 71 I'm sticking to fire roads! Sold the KTM and bought another GS!

You know what? I had a 2016 690R and road it all over Utah. Through the desert and on mountain singletrack. I'm only 5'8". I did add the lowering link and the proper spring rates. The bike was tall but so are dirt bikes. Riding the 690 from the hotel in Moab and then all the way around the white rim trail was pure bliss! So chalk me up as disagree!

I own a KTM 690 Enduro, and I agree with you. It’s perfect for me. Even on long distances since I like to get off the pavement and explore dirt roads too. Light, nimble, and comfortable for how I use it. If I’m mainly just riding riding pavement, I ride my Triumph Scrambler 900 (which I ride on dirt roads too some).

I enjoy my 690 , have both SUMO Wheels and the Enduro Setup. Living in the City, with only storage for one bike. It fits my use perfectly, I don’t have a problem clocking 700-1000km days in the saddle. Your spot on about your assessment. Maybe I’d enjoy having a EXC-500 and a SMT890 as the perfect combo. I still giggle and smile every time I ride my 690. I never went the route with the Rally setup or even a windshield as I thought it only added weight and would be leaning more into what the bikes is not. It a Jack of all Trades and a master of none. If they would just put a Wide ratio gear box in the bike, it would be even better. Everyone complains about the Tall gears, it requires a lot of clutch work in the hairy situations.

I only have the room and budget for a single bike. Glad to see it wasn't some bad design flaw that made you sell. Still sounds like my dream bike.

I think it really comes down to getting what's capable of doing the toughest terrain you want to, and just dealing with the compromises you'll make on the asphalt to get to that point. If you don't need what the 690 offers off-road, you won't be happy with it.

Great video! I totally agree, I had the same model 690 but sold it and bought a 300l with proper mods, the 300l fits me better for my level of experience on single tracks and slower technical stuff, and my f800gs fits me better for long distances but if were to pick only one bike it would probably be the 690, it's such a nice and unique platform

Just bought a T7, but looked very hard at the 690. Think I made the right choice, still have the DRZ for lighter weight fun.

Ian - great Job - I sold my 660 this week...with having the 890 R and 1250 GSA.....I just didn't ride it....probably thinking going with KTM 500 next for more of the Dual Sport arena....great review and thoughts...Still love the 660 just wasn't riding it...can't wait for your thoughts on the S Version....take care and keep it up!!!

I had a 701 for a couple years and loved it. Great bike. I agree with you in that if I only could have one bike that would be it. However my dream has never been to own only one motorcycle so I ended up selling for the exact same reason(s) you did.

Hi Ian! Love your work! If you had one bike, would you keep the Touareg or 890 KTM. To do BDRs and travel.

I think you hit the nail on it’s head. People are raving about the new Kove rally bike as well, but I still think you end up with same challenges even with that (it might be a bit better off road however). At the end of the day, there simply is no true unicorn do it all at the highest level bike. You have to think about where and how you like to ride most and go with the bike that is best suited for that. You can still get lots of versatility, but get the bike that fits your riding style best I say. You will likely be happier with it.

You said it right I had a 690 it was so confused it didn’t handle the road well or the dirt I thought it would be the ultimate bike it wasn’t I know own a ktm 990 and I absolutely love it it fits my style of riding I want to do now I’m in my early 50’s it has so much more character and comfort and I get so many compliments on the bike it amazes me the people who come up to me no matter where I am and say what a cool bike she is a keeper

I Used to have a 2014 ktm 690. I now ride a T7 on the Bdrs. The T7 is great, but, I always find myself wishing I had the 690 on the more technical stuff, its weight just made it so much easier to handle the rough technical trails. I am currently on the fence about going back to a 690, it is such a difficult decision. Really loved the 690, yes, it was light on the highway, but I found I could still hold 75mph without getting too fatigued. Boy, I just don't know. Thanks for your thoughts.

Love you and the work you do. Thank you.

I guess it all depends on the scale, what the rider is used to, what kind of riding he or she has been doing and is doing. As my background is in offroad riding (and to some degree in enduro racing), I think 300 cc two stroke is the right weapon for the woods. I see my 690 Enduro R (as well as my XT660R) being that long haul adventure bike, maybe because I always try to stay on smaller roads, preferably on dirt even when travelling to my destination. What you say about your 690 I say about my KTM 500 EXC. I love that bike, great in all areas and all other superlatives, but: too heavy for mud pit, too ascetic for adventure riding.

Holy smokes Ian, this video got many views quick. Good on you! Will you review the KTM 350 soon? Would love to hear more about it!

I 100% agree. The 690 would be a great "only" bike, but when you want multiple more specialized bikes, then go for it. I already got a midsized adventure, and I am currently in the market for a duel sport. So im going the same route you took in that regard. Though I will probably get a KLX300. Cant quite afford the ktm, as much as I love that monster.

great video Ian, just wondering how long it's going to be before you loose the Aprilia...

Theres a lot of people that love the 690 and see it as the closest thing to the unicorn of adv bikes. I can see why too after owning a '22 model. However after owning one for 8 months and modding it, I can relate exactly to what you said and I sold mine too. Like you said, it did most things pretty good but nothing great. And so that meant overall it wasn't a positive riding experience for me. In fact Im average height and weight and couldn't stand up on the 690 offroad to save my life- that was the biggest gripe for me.

(pause @ 2:28) holy crap, that bike IS COOL LOOKING Ian!!! I must agree that a mid - sized adv in addition to a 250 - 400 cc dual sport would be the perfect pair. KLX 300 or DRZ 400 parked next to my Tenere = heaven

I think your bottom line was spot on, if you can have one bike and like to go lite trail riding and some short touring, the 690 will get-er-done. That said it's a bit big for single track, a its a bit small for extended freeway travel. Just by default their is no perfect bike for everything although you can try and to do everything, and people do.

This information helps a lot. thanks !

I agree, it's very very tough to have one bike that does it all. I learned decades ago that it was better for me to have more tools in the toolbox that worked better for the ride planned. We all wish for the Unicorn and if you rule out tight/gnarl single track the smaller midsize ADV bikes can do it. Once you want to get more technical in the off-road stuff light is right, no getting around it, but you need to truck the bike there if it's more than say 50 miles away. For me, the rear fuel filler location along with a ridiculous seat height has been a deal killer for me on the 690/701 models. I wouldn't mind a lowered 701 Super Moto though....., that could be a hoot to ride in the canyons.

I just got a 690 myself, a step up from my 250L. Looking forward to getting it setup with a small rear rack for moto camping, but I do not intend to make it a lightweight adv bike with pannier racks. Only addons I really plan to put on it are better bark busters, bigger skid plate and the orange crash bars you see in the advertisement video of the bike. Yeah id say you are right at the end of a the video, the 690 is a sweet spot if you want something that does both, it really is the only option IMO. A lot of the other options are long in the tooth sadly.

your channel is extremely useful, cheers!

Good feedback. It really depends on what type of rider you are, and where you ride. I was so heavily leaning towards a T7 for a long time, til I realized I am off-road 80%+ of the time. I primarily ride my Sherco 2 stroke for trails and single track, and want something for longer trips and true dual sporting. Based on my time evaluating how it will be used, a 500 4t just makes the most sense. It handles and maneuvers like my familiar 2t off-road, yet can handle the short hour or less jaunts on the pavement. There has to be a reasonable gap between the ability and purpose of bikes for it to make sense. Otherwise, we should all just own DRZ’s 😎

I love my 690 2019 model still got it longest bike i have kept out of all 28 i have owned. Have motard wheels for weekday riding and put the off road wheels for planned off road trips. This bike is a perfect beast for me 72hp at the rear wheel after a few mods. Puts a big grin everytime.

Great review & right on. One really needs a quiver of bikes: touring, track, ADV, dirt/dual-sport.

You are absolutely correct and i agree. However. I think this is also dependent on from where are you from. For example - i am saying hello from Estonia, a small country in Europe. Located just below Finland. Lot of forests and great trails. And we have this amazing TET route (Trans European Trail). Meaning - our country is small. Not very long distances to be covered. At the same time - occasionally an adventure route gets really technical, which would be really hard or even impossible to ride with big bikes. So, i think, for our environment, where we live - 690 (or 701 or Gas) is still the best option IF the "go to" plan is dualsport/adventure kind of ride. For you, in US, where distances are long, country is big > I totally get your point and agree.

Hi Ian, we appreciate and enjoy your endless search for the Unicorn. You selling a bike "Quickly" is however not relevent. Its like saying DeCaprio retired his previous 25 year old. Its your job. Its fine, we blame neither you nor the bike. I had a XT660R when two of my friends decided to out do me by buying KTM690's. They spend fortunes kitting the bikes and within a year they both had sold them. The 690 had better specs in every category, but to me it felt nervous and vibey. The top speed on the bikes were the same, but the XT could get there without drama. The KTM scared me going fast on a highway. I liked my XT660 so much, after 8 years I bought the XT700. A better bike in every way, and yet, I mis my 660. My experience supports you review, but it proves a bigger point: There is no Unicorn.

701 Enduro owner here. I tested Tuareg 660 and I would love to trade my 701 for Aprilia as I do not do that much of hard enduro stuff anymore, if only Aprilias were more reliable. I used to own Aprilia RS660 and during 2 years it was only the issues. The bike spent 60% of the time at the dealer waiting for the parts to fix the issues. I couldn't be happier when I sold it, even I lost a lot of money on that deal. Now I am following-up Tuareg owner groups and these bikes still have issues and the waiting time for the spare parts is still long. I know there are people who are lucky not to have any issues with their 660s. But there are to many owners still complaining. Not the time yet for me to switch 701 to 660.

Rode 725 miles in two days, over 500 in 1 day! Southeast Utah. This bike loves to go fast especially on the highway. Loaded with gear and camped. Love my KTM 690.

Just returned from 10h mostly unpaved roads trip on Tenere 700 world rally (rented). This bike is completely unfit for this purpose and I would not go anywhere out of hard surfaces with it, especially sand. I own Honda CRF 250L and after riding Tenere today I really appreciate how gem of a motorcycle it is. I'm going to buy 300 rally and put best suspension and tires money can buy into it. It is the only actual adventure bike out there, if adventure means "go where it's fun and forget about practicing deadlifts with motorcycle".

I have just got off an Africa Twin Adventure Sports and onto a 2023 KTM 690. I loved the Africa Twin on the highway and on fast dirt roads, but at 64, I found it increasingly difficult to man handle the Africa when off the bike. I have also managed to fall over a number of times with the Africa, mainly due to seat height (I am short) and had some-one else had not been there on each occasion I would not have been able to stand the big girl up. I previously owned a 2010 690 which influenced the decision to buy the 2023 model. My early observations are consistent with yours in the vid. I am doing very little to my new 690 other than a pipe, mosko, Puig windscreen, air filter and a lowering kit. The big issue I see is the highway comfort compromise, but the upside is the 690 will encourage more difficult off-road type adventures. Anyway excellent vid I think your spot on with your thoughts, and it really comes down to do you want one or two bikes. For me happy to have one and accept the good and bad.

When people ask what I think of my 690 I sum it up as a "jack of all trades and master of none". It can do everything but has some limitations in most applications. I ride in the Pacific Northwest on logging roads and two track which in my opinion is the where the 690/701 shines.

Great video, thanks for all your work. I've a 701 as I've no money or space for multiple bikes. I feel its made me a better off road rider and a more Hardy adventure rider. 6 to 8 hours a day in the saddle for more than a week is no joke, though, and off road solo has to be undertaken with caution and respect

I'm a proponent of having the right bike for the ride. Its just more enjoyable to ride a machine purpose built for the type of ride.

I understand all of those motorcycles if you look at them separately. Basically it comes down to what your preferences are, what you are going to use it for and if it is possible. A Toureg, T7 or similar is made to go long distance and off the beaten track, but it got its limitations (i.e. weight, less offroad oriented> worse offroad handling). A 690/701 is made to do long distance with luggage as well but are much more off-road focused. So they got their limitations (comfort, less road (long distance) oriented> worse road handling). A 350 is just a dirt bike. Made to go on a trailer and hoon around at the destination location. It also depends on where you live. Where I live in Europe, there are almost no tracks around you could ride to with a 690/701. Than you basically have to choose an allroad motorcycle such as a Toureg/T7 OR trailer something around. Distance to get to decent tracks exceed the 1000km mark. I.e. if I look at some videos on KZfaq of people in Australia, I understand the 690 completely. They have lots of tracks around and very difficult ones for that matter as well.

Nice man. Not surprised, thanks for keeping it real.

Had my 500 for a few weeks now. Love it. I ride 45 mins on the street to get to the dirt and then have a so much fun. So glad I didn’t opt for the 690.

Very informative and helped me understand how to talk my wife into allowing me to get a second motorcycle.😅

I have an EXC 500 and an 890 Adv R. I want a 690 to fill in the gap because THAT is exactly what it is meant to do. Nice update.

I have an 08 690 and the 950 super enduro ended up being better on AND off-road. The 690 needed more flywheel and wider gear range. Mine was 1st year in the series so I know they’ve made improvements.

Everything you said is as true now as back in the late 90's/early aughts when I had a 640E and the 2 cylinder middleweight alternative I had was a Moto Morini 501 Camel (a truly under-appreciated very capable bike) and then a Honda TransAlp. Replaced them all with first, a 950S and then the real unicorn- 950SE. It would seem the closest thing to a modern unicorn for most people is the KTM 890 platform (regardless of which color you choose) and the Aprilia Tuareg. The 650 class relatively lightweight single idea will always be intriguing, but the limitations of the design will always have the same issues. As you say- some will tolerate it, but most won't.

I just picked up an 18 690. I have other dirt bikes but I have this unique bike nitche that the 690 fills perfectly (so far). I have a family, wife, kids and dog, so my adventure moto trips are super limited. But with the 690, I can leave from the house with light overnight gear. I can be in Big Sur in an hour or the Gabilan Range in 10 minutes, both have great FCFS camp grounds, and backcountry to explore, within reason. All said and done probably 150-200 miles of riding per adventure, usually a night or two. When I finally get the time to do real longer ADV rides, I'll jump up to an 890 or something. But you said the 690 was the only game in town, I think it competes directly with the XR650L and the KLR650.

I have a 701 rally build and its amazing king class in Dualsport. - Easy doing rallys in mid enduro trails. Also the comfort, long highway rides and traveling is great with it, Rade Rallymask, comfort seat and side bags like Enduristan Bilzzard brought back the lack of comfort/travel skills. - Hard to understand your critics (bad on highway/wind or hard to drive offroad trails). - Even onroad, in combo with my good riding skills i win asphalt competitions (zB a KTM Duke) and i had a 50:50 TKC80 tyre.

Great video 👍👍 and really great KTM 690 Enduro 👏 many greetings.

As someone who made mistake of buying 640adv thinking itll be "unicorn" i fully agree with all your points. Singles just arent good adv bikes, period. Its not matter of opinion, thats fact. Thing is on the internet too many people confuse beating your bike in nearby forests with adv riding, have zero skills and just bitch about "fat cows", too heavy for offroad etc i always laught at those stupid comments ;

I sold my 701 after a about 6 weeks. Did like it. Great on twisty roads. But just didn’t quite like it enough off road. (Compared to my 350excf)

Great perspective . From a KTM 690 Enduro R owner.

I had a feeling you would sell quite quickly. I think the 690/701 does have a particular place, even if you have other bikes. I have a Husky FE350, Husky 701, Multi V4, and a 996…… and where the 701 fits in for me, is if I’ve got some twisty mountain tarmac in between home and the trail, or if a shortish run to the beach, added to some around town. With that mix of journey, I don’t think anything can quite come close to the 690/701 enduro. It’s a joy, on the twisties, much moreso than a light adv, and still has the sharp power to excite for brief straight blasts in between corners, or to confidently pass a fast moving truck, or away from the lights.

Almost 50 now and the older I get the lower my comfort tolerance becomes, so I go to the gym to offset it but that only helps so much. Honestly after flipping a few models in recent years I've decided to just stick with my 1250GS. However, I've never had or even rode an Africa Twin and for some reason that bike just sings to me every time I look at it.

I have a 701 SM and it has been great. I'm looking at getting a more touring friendly bike as I have plans to eventually travel cross country. Specifically I'd like a sport tourer, but haven't ruled out a big ADV bike either. My problem is that I'm not in a good position to have more than 1 bike. I don't want to get rid of my 701 as it's a great bike for poodling around the area and for short 2-3 hour trips. It can even do some lighter offroading from time to time. On the other hand, it's not a bike that I will have a great time doing the cross country trips that I want to do. However I don't feel great about trading it in for a Multistrada, or K1600, or Goldwing, or whatever else for that purpose. Getting a second bike isn't much of an option for me though, as much as that would be the ideal. That leaves me in a bind as to what I should really do and what I should prioritize. Not easy. I suppose I may be the elusive niche case for the 890 SMT, but I'm not 100% convinced on that bike's touring potential at this time. All this to say that since you have the privilege of being able to own multiple bikes, I think, that for you and your case, you made the right call. No point having a compromised bike if you are able to have multiple bikes, each for their own purpose. I would have very likely done the same.

Thanks Ian! Light is right after all.

Bought mine and sold it 6 months later. Got a Beta 480rr instead and love it. 👍😜