Motorcycle specifications KTM690 Enduro R 2023 The world is ours

Behind its Enduro R name, this big Austrian actually hides other skills. While it's clear that it won't be the queen of the single, the KTM 690 Enduro R offers you the world. Whether it's asphalt, Baja sand or forest tracks, it can do it all.

The ambiguity comes from the name..

KTM calls it Enduro, but places it in its "Travel" range like the Adventure models. This 690 Enduro R is designed to be ridden everywhere, efficiently, but with less obvious performance and ease than a pure enduro like the 500 EXC-F. This spirit is best expressed by the Mitas E07 tires, which offer a less aggressive profile than the big studs of pure enduro racing machines like the Trèfle Lozérien or the Six Days. Less conspicuous but equally in keeping with the spirit of the bike, the under-seat fuel tank has a capacity of 13.5 liters (compared with less than 9 liters on a classic enduro). So long day trips won't scare off this enduro, which you'll want to take for a "bike packing" as the cyclists say. With the 690 Enduro R, you'll want to pack a backpack and a tent and set off for 3 days on back roads and trails to smell the scent of nature, if possible accompanied by a few good buddies for the evening bivouac.

For 2021, the frame is still made of chromium-molybdenum steel tubes. Its settings should enable you to keep up with the pace, so that the machine is less tiring during excursions. In the same spirit, KTM specifies that the WP XPLOR suspensions have been specially adapted from the Enduro range for the KTM 690 ENDURO R. They should, and I quote, " channel the power transmitted to the ground, and guarantee an optimum level of traction and confidence ". At the same time, it's a good idea to offer a machine that's a little less steep, as you'll still have to deal with a weight of 149 kg (without fuel) in the most technical sections. If you want to keep up a sporty pace, you can pay for a gym membership to carve out some big arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger in"Conan the Barbarian" to avoid arriving exhausted.

Ground clearance is 269 mm, thanks to 250 mm of suspension travel. Still, seat height peaks at 929 mm. On the handlebars, the rider will have at his disposal a 300 mm brake disc at the front (two-piston floating caliper) and 240 mm at the rear (single-piston floating caliper). Braking is handled by Brembo. ABS, on the other hand, uses a Bosch 9.1 MP central unit with efficient cornering ABS and an offroad mode for deactivating brake assist.

In fact, KTM offers its rider two riding modes: STREET, with ABS active on both wheels, and an OFFROAD mode which deactivates ABS on the rear wheel. The modes are controlled via a new ABS "button" on the dashboard. The display now includes a rev counter and gear indicator.

Engine: an iron fist in a velvet glove..

Despite being adapted to Euro 5 standards by 2021, the big single remains extremely impressive. The LC4 offers no less than 74 hp for rutting and a maximum torque of 73.5 Nm to clear the mud from the rear wheel! On asphalt with mixed tires, you'll need to slow down your right wrist a little to ensure constant traction. The new catalytic converter means you can continue to enjoy the big 692.7 cm3 single. The engine is equipped with two balancer shafts to limit vibrations, an anti-dribble clutch to smooth out gear changes, and a ride-by-wire throttle for fine injection management. KTM has therefore made a particular effort to offer a high-performance engine that is not brutal.

In addition to its internal design, the single-cylinder is also equipped with traction control and engine slip control to perfect your "softened" riding experience. With all this, will there be any left? Yes, there will! It's going to take a lot of courage to open up wide on the plains or forest tracks. 74 horses off-road, that's a lot of power!

If your god is dust..

Despite all these qualities, the KTM 690 Enduro R still requires a lot of faith, or a lifestyle to go with it! If you live up in the mountains and the last 10 km of your commute from work to bed is dirt, this will more than justify the price. For the rest of us, what would you do with over 11,000 euros?

Vincent Beaucousin - Manufacturer's photos