Looking for adventure! 2022 middleweight mud plugger shoot-out | MCN group test

#Adventure#Dualsport#offroad
Sport Editor, Michael Guy has been on the lookout for the ultimate adventure bike to own for himself. To find out, he assembled a range of possible candidates for some serious off-road testing. Find the written reviews of each bike below:
- Aprilia Tuareg 660: www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-r...
- Yamaha Ténéré 700: www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-r...
- Honda CRF300 Rally: www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-r...
- KTM 690 Enduro R: www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-r...
- AJP PR7: www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-r...
We'd love to hear your views so get them down in the comment section!
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[@motorcyclenewsdotcom]

Ep2 coming soon!

[@saturatedfat6542]

The 690 is a great bike ... but given you need to address the seat and will most likely have to address the fuel capacity I think you should have also tested the Long Range edition of the Husky 701 ... it may cost more but the seat and fuel capacity and done ... A mate told me the Husky 701 LR might be a little snatchy and vibey but id think its as snatchy and vibey as the 690 given its based off that bike ... its just a suggestion.

[@shaunbknight1]

Rally Raid tower, Seat concepts, lose the stock can and its sorted….

[@wrenchride]

@@saturatedfat6542 the Husqvarna 701 LR isnt available in the uk only the standard bike and then the LR kit is a powerparts add on which is nearly always on back order and around £1800 to purchase and the seat is just like the stock seat in comfort. Also the 21+ ktm 690 & husqvarna 701 are now the same bike in essence

[@wrenchride]

@@shaunbknight1 Rally raid dont produce a kit for the 2019+ ktm 690 unfortunately but there are other options and yes a Seat concepts seat and aftermarket end can are great upgradea for sure 👍

[@TheChindoboi]

Gas gas es700?

[@anaveragehuman2937]

I really don't understand why Honda isn't doing a Africa Twin 500. Something like the CRF300L Rally but with their 471cc ptwin and decent suspension at $8K USD would really float my boat.

[@Adamjmckay]

They kind of do with cb500x

[@anaveragehuman2937]

@@Adamjmckay Yeah, kinda. You can Rally Raid stage 2 a CB500x and it's a huge leap toward Afric Twin-ness. Maybe I'm thinking of something more like a CRF500L Rally, that parallel twin in a 350lb-ish package, dirt bike that can comfy highway at 70-80mph. I know I know, the never ending search for the unicorn bike.

[@Hettilo]

They do make the transalp 750 which is ment to compeet with t7 and co, i assume the market for an additional bike between those two bikes would be very small

[@billwiley7216]

In all honesty in most parts of the world the bike market mainly consist of 300cc and smaller bikes. In places like Asia and India, Africa and even parts of South America where two wheels are mainstream transportation a 300cc bike is getting on the larger engine size. The bikes we want say here in the states make up a very small part of the sales worldwide. Even then many new bike models are released up to several years sooner overseas if they ever make it to the states at all. That should give you an idea of where the manufacturers prioritize their models to match the buying trends. Motorcycle popularity in the U.S.A. is basically for only enjoyment for the majority of buyers.

[@deandee8082]

yes, if they can keep the weight down, so far for me its the yamaha, 442lbs wet, 74hp, 54 mpg, those are my 3 main parameters, weight HP and mpg,lets face it, touring MPG is a factor as range isa factor there may not be a gas station every 150 miles on your choice of itinerary, then if you are getting off road then you don't want a 500lb bike, so you need the lighter weight which means better components, lightweight alloys, composites.. they want to charge you for a good bike but dont deliver, the 800DE.. $14k fora 512lb adventure bike with 76hp? I dont mind the HP and range but the weight? I cant have the fun I want to have on it, a real adventure bike should be able to hit the moderate goat trails in my book.. my hayabusa weighs 500 lbs? soif honda did a 500CC hi performance with 65 hp and kept the wight down to 420 or so yea it may be a good one... if I got on right now it would be the tenerere. 442lbs, 74 hp, and 54 mpg, someo report 60 mpg... remember the lighter the weight your bike is the more your HP to weight ratio is so HP isn't as much as a factor, a 500lb bike for me on the freeway needs at least 150hp cua I am not getting onthestree with all these crazy freeks on a bike that does not DOMINATE, why I am on a sportbike, i don't have to deal with all these lamo drivers I hit and wave good bye.. don't think you wont be stuck in bad weather and bad drivers na duel sport, evenmore reason you need to be able to check out at the drop of hat, then you have all your gear, maybe a passenger you s don't want to be down shifting on a mountain pass, why the honda 300 wont cut it, 27 hp? nah, I carry about 165lbs of gear, plus I am 180, I wuldbe in 3rd gear up mointain apsses at 45mph... no thanks if it was an all offroad adventure sue then it works your averaging like 40 mph topps and that's fine, but if there are freeways and surface streets involved, which all good adventure riding there is, I need my power to weight ratio in my favor, not some cager who just arrive cross the river no insurance nota clue how to road road signs and its their first time driving in USA... no thanks been there done that cost me about $10k and my credit score for 7 years, I think Suzuki made a good adventure in the 800 for japan, its all surface streets for the most, their speeds aren't that high and its a small island, but make no mistake when your itinerary has 500 miles of freeway to your next trail head yo want to be able to make up time with decent MPG, Busa gets 44 mpg anything under say 125mph, so i can float at 120 at night and make someo good time, I schedule accordingly, ride through the night grab some shut eye that day get up and go.. frame there is touring, slow speed surface street lookie lou stuff, nothing over speed limits, not for me, too many half witted cagers.. then there is sport touring, I can do that, its point A to point B sightseeing in a nutshell as apposed to straight touring where its sightseeing as you ride, speed limit stuff or slow surface streets and back roads.. harley stuff.. then there is adventure touring, this is a combination of the former with off road capabilities and for this you need a special bike, a lightweight, good handling on and off road, HP and MPG.. 442lbs is a lot but I'm fair rider, string enough, prolly need to hit the gym fora fe months first so I can pick the darn thing up cuz I am going down, those are the best stories, long as you walk away, better stories if you ride away... also need storage capacity or capability, I use soft saddlebags upon the busa, large tank bag and large rear seat bag, have plenty, with bag and tent strapped to all that, I have enough space for laptop, clothes, towels food, everything, fact is my rear seat bag is a fridge.. I had a large rear bag come off and melt on a pipe so I converted it to a fridge, insulated it, dry ice or a few ice packs I can keep stuff frozen if need be.. in the heat.. I don't see this a problem on those middle weights but how are they going to handle the added weight on the freeways and mountain passes? when the larger bikes are floating at 90-110 making up time where would I be on a 700? if you're on a schedule and have a ferry to catch runs once week or month, gotta be there that may mean wicking it up for 400 miles? so far the Yamaha is the winner for me but will it be enough HP on the wicking it up adventures and how much MPG do I lose at that speed? need to speak with a rider that who owns one rides like me, late and generally in a hurry ... maybe the KTM is a possibility of I can work on it and its not an arm and leg as all those european bikes are, not a twin fan tho

[@BigRockMoto]

The modern 690 is the best platform for a unicorn, all around lightweight ADV bike. RADE garage rally fairing, Rade fuel tank, seat concepts XL seat, some soft luggage... you'll be in heaven. I know, because I own one set up like this. I borrowed it for filming, and ended up buying it.

[@americandude3825]

And you have the best channel! Haha. How’s the ktm reliabilty compared to Yamaha tho???

[@bobbybecker8834]

@@jibinraj6058 not even close. You can get all that, crash bars and a storage/ skidplate combo and still be 20kg less than a stripped down t7. I do admire the t7 and have thought about getting one and selling my 701, but the 701/690 platform will crush the t7 offroad and they way it carries its weight it feels much much lighter than the T7. Of course on road handling with go to the t7 because of the twin motor and planted/heavier feel. Both very awesome bikes and both reliable.

[@bobbybecker8834]

@@jibinraj6058 I can not speak for the kits you listed above, but the rade tank and rally kit both weigh less that 7 kg total. Add the 1.5 gallons of fuel that's give or take 5 kg. But even with the kits you mentioned above, of you're picking up that kitted 690 and the stripped t7, the 690 will feel lighter because of mass centralization. I'm not sure where you can remove 15kg off the T7 but I would like to know. I'm sure Pol could have placed better on the 690, but we will never know lol

[@kiriath]

@@jibinraj6058 Rade garage rakky kit is not 15kg, not even closes. I would guess its 3, 5 kg MAX over the standard fairing. I own a 690 adventure with rade rally fairing.

[@kiriath]

@@jibinraj6058 Your right, I got that kit confused with the rade garage rally kit. I got the rade garage rally kit on my bike.

[@gordonshaw6231]

Got a 790 adv and just added the tuareg to my stable, like night and day. Aprilia have knocked the ball out of the park with the Tuareg.

[@cp4512]

I’m really enjoying watching Itchy Boots ride up to Alaska from South America on a CRF300 Rally on her KZbin channel. I’m not convinced she’d have made it so far on the KTM!

[@beborodner930]

I'm an itchy boots fan too! I wonder if the upgraded spring package that she had installed is all this bike really needs.

[@XtremeCoke]

itchy boots is lighter than me even fully loaded with gear🤣. so yea CRF300 indeed suits her better.

[@erixlast6020]

If going in real wild then honda, but euro civilizaciton ktm is more fun factor

[@THX5000]

I don't think she is riding fully loaded with camping gear. Seems like she stays in motels. Great channel though.

[@11breaper68]

Check out SHONKY PRODUCTIONS, what he's done with the 300rally is pretty epic. Long AUS adventures, raced in rallies and so on. Great bike

[@mihaelbitola3812]

One girl from Holland is traveling the world with her Honda 300 rally, she has a KZbin channel itchy boots, she is amazing. Nobody can compete with the Japanese bike's, they are extremely reliable. For long journey everybody needs reliable bike.

[@waynejewell-sw8qg]

All these bikes have good reliability scores . itchy also rides really slow and no technical difficult trails . Also working as a powersports tech Suz , Yam , Hon come in for repairs more often than you think .

[@nomojo1110]

There's no disputing Colin Chapman's, "Light is right." because it just is.

[@alvarosanchez2426]

I love my AJP PR7 As in the video is said: great suspension, powerful engine. Other relevant things: 17 liters fuel tank that makes an autonomy of aprox 350 km vs 13.5 l in KTM , also it has a steel subframe, that means you can add your luggage directly on the rear rack or on the seat without additional side racks which add weight and volume as it is required in the KTM as it does not have subframe and all the weight goes on the plastic tank. Love the tablet for navigation, as standard it has real wide foot pegs, fairing and seat is very comfortable.I love the -old school- engine, that means real low and mid range power what is what I need most of the time and on the other hand is very reliable as this is the same husqvarna 630 engine. I havent had any problem and I know people that travelled around the world that did more than 80k km I love the simplicity and almost no electronics that let you maintain the bike easily at home or by any local mechanic.

[@richbrett7268]

Yeah- im with you on that. I had an old husky 610sm carb model loved that bike too it was a standout for pure fun. Many other bikes to compare by. The ajp is probably up specked on the swm version with that engine?

[@oliverstaudinger5003]

You are on the right way Alvaro, i think the AJP ist better because you get the complete device. That means in my world, i don´t have noting to change

[@marscruz]

The two Michaels at MCN are the reason why I subscribe. But we don't see nearly enough of Michael Guy. Can we please have more content from this engaging and knowledgeable editor? I'd love to see how he makes the 690 into a more suitable all-rounder.

[@wrenchride]

Watch the next episode you wont be disappointed 😉

[@philipTOMPSETT]

Yeah Micheal Cycle News is great.

[@TommyAngelo1337]

The Man(n) and the Guy.

[@marscruz]

@@TommyAngelo1337 I was thinking *Neeves* and *Guy*

[@diveimage]

I've got a 690. The KTM power parts screen and comfort seat make a big difference.

[@dualsportadventure]

Excellent review of these bikes. Thank-you for the good work. I love that you acknowledge rider preference, ability, and type of riding when selecting "best" bikes.

[@Showmetheevidence-]

Whilst bigger engine have some advantages there’s still something about the smaller bikes… the lighter weight, an engine you can really use/wring it’s neck better etc all make em fun in a different way.

[@chrishart8548]

small bikes are definitely more fun. but sometimes you just need to get where you're going without the fun, just comfort security and a relaxed stable ride.

[@scoobydan8042]

Great field test and round up. I was a long time KTM owner and had very little reliability issues. That was a ghost from their long distance past. I did however switch to the T7 - being taller and not doing really techy off road the bike is perfect for me. I love it's simplicity, power and fun level on and off road.

[@dualsportscandinavia353]

What the motorcycle community aka riders aka global market needs are flyweight 500cc + 600cc Enduro Dual-Sport and ADV Rally bikes with long intervals. Groundbreaking models like GasGas 500 + 600 ES Enduro and ADV rally models, Husqvarna Norden 501 + 601 and in Enduro versions, CRF500L/-Rally, Yamaha WR500R and Tenere 500 and so forth!

[@blakemoore2567]

Congrats on the purchase. I bought a 21 Enduro beginning of last season and I'm completely happy with it. Regarding the seat, I found my boys were actually going literally numb after about an hour of riding. The seat concepts seat fixed that problem and no more pins and needles in my nethers. I did a supermoto conversion to mine and it works great giving me 2 bikes for the price of 1.5 lol. Happy riding

[@RedC63AMG]

If only Honda would build a 450 Rally with reasonable intervals and decent suspension.

[@gt7500]

"If only the Japanese would build a serious Enduro bike."That's what I heard before the Honda CRF450L was released! Then when it came out, people poo pooed it! That's why we'll probably never see a 450\500 c.c. model from another Japanese Maker, 450 Rally bikes included! My 2019 model rocks.

[@koejoe]

CB500x engine in CRF frame ? That’s what I want.

[@mattwilliams7454]

Getting those intervals really means a different engine.

[@BAARDREIL]

I did the same research 2 years ago, and concluded as you. However, I wanted more range and bought the Husky 701LR. Got myself a Seat Concepts XL comfort seat, a NAV tower, lower footpegs, OEM saddlebags with skeleton frame, a tankbag, low front fender for better aspiration, and some other upgrades. Costly, sure, but couldn't be happier. My other ADV bike, a Beemer boxer GS, will have to go. The Husky does the same and more, with 100 kg/220 pounds less weight.

[@PleasantPaul]

As a 701 owner (690), I agree with your evaluation. I'm sure you've already looked at it, but at a minimum, I'd put on the KTM windscreen and the Seat Concepts seat. Next step up is a rally tower. I often poo-poo people who screw with the exhaust, but in the 690s case, I'd consider replacing the exhaust with the Wings or Arrow, removing the airbox and going with the Raid or Rotweiller, and putting in the fuel dongle (if it works properly on a euro 5) to just get those first few RPMs a little richer. I've done all of those things plus a handlebar GPS mount and perverted my enduro bike into a very respectable lightweight ADV bike.

[@javahaxxor]

What's the cost of all those add-ons, except for the pipe?

[@philipTOMPSETT]

I’m very much looking forward to following the mods and outcome on this one👍🏼

[@markreynolds8630]

Good choice! Looking forward to your updates.

[@seanholland9576]

I've done the adventurised 701 Enduro and I use it on trails and enduro days, its a great bike for what you intend to use it for. A rally screen and tower with a seat concepts saddle will start you off, mine has more alterations with extra tank, suspension rally pegs and BRP mount with Scotts damper. I now have a magic bike for trails and road. Heated grips on those wet days are a true luxury.you made the right choice.

[@dtroughton]

I would make the same choice. I have a 2017 Husqvarna 701 Enduro and have put it to the ADV test with 2 Baja trips (9K kms in total) and a BDR version of Oregon. The Oregon trip was a true test as it required that I ride on pavement from Canada to the northern California and more pavement from the Oregon/Washington border back to Canada. What surprised me the most about this bike was how much I enjoyed the pavement. With a Seat Concepts seat and an added KTM 690 windscreen, it was good enough on the interstates at 70 mph and an absolute gas on paved twisty roads (puts a smile on my face just thinking about it). The Oregon trip was full camping and the 701 handled all the gear with no issues. It's definitely worth spending some money to get the suspension dialed for the added weight. Of note - I also have a 2010 R1200GSA.

[@rstrakovsky]

Loved this, glad you got a go at the AJP, it's a really cool bike, even though you have to take a leap of faith with a small manufacturer. The KTM is sweet too, they should sell it with a good seat and a decent screen from the factory.

[@glossblack1098]

The 690 is awesome. Lots of negative comments on KTM reliability here. Mine perfect so far after 2 years. KTM do a small screen for $130 which is brilliant. I got the Seat Concepts seat as I like doing long days in the saddle. It’s a really comfortable travel bike now. When you hit the dirt it really shines. Magic on twisties too. Cheers

[@williamrae9954]

Fuel pumps...always and Austrian problem, Husaberg(exhaust heat),KTM/Husqvarna dirty fuel, they don't like it...filter sock, way to go,and I've spent an age on the 'Berg getting it to run cooler, including lining under the tank with space age material

[@wonkywheels1037]

That's because it's a fact. My ktm 690 nothing but problems. list of issues is long for 690, 790 and 890.

[@nathanf1934]

2 years? Please be more subjective. How many km's/miles?

[@glossblack1098]

@@nathanf1934 13000 km. My mates 2019 model just passed 44000 km, no issues yet.

[@rpthaus]

@@wonkywheels1037 You left the 1290 off your list. I have the 2019 SA-S and it has been in the shop at least 15 times, starting within a month of purchase, with electrical problems and not a single one was recognized or remedied by KTM.

[@motorcyclingsoul4573]

The best presentation on motorcycles I've ever seen ! It covered so many points that everyone should have in consideration when buying a new bike ... Even the arguments on not having included the Honda 450L in the test ! Something that I always said to myself ... It should be a really strong contender for the win, if it only had the US ECU, some wind protection and a little cheaper. All the other aspects on what do you want the bike for (which is definitely THE question everyone should put to themselves) were covered in this test. I'm struggling to replace my really old Honda XR650R and this has just added some light into my decision .. or on the other hand, maybe I just got more confused ! :) The funny thing here is, like we used to say in Portugal about soccer : "The game is 11 vs 11 and in the end Germany wins" ... if you know what I mean ! ;) I'm pretty sure that the "problems" found on the 690 can be "easily" (€€€) solved with an aftermarket rally tower and a comfy seat. And while talking about KTM's, the 500EXC seems to be a very valid option as well ... At least I see a lot of people choosing that bike and doing proper adventure riding. Thank you for that. I'm definitely following your channel and waiting for what's to come | ;) Cheers !

[@thetwowheeledintrovert3367]

Great format, brilliant to see a reviewer who has some skin in the game.

[@REDROCKMAN2010]

Nice choice! I have a 2021 690 and love the hell out of it! Seat concepts seat and $100 KTM windscreen and larger foot pegs and it is transformed !

[@bernhardhappach9392]

fantastic comparism, exactly what i was looking for. Keep on guys!

[@markfishersolosailing7033]

I just lowered my T7 World raid with lowering links, I'm so pleased that I did it, it's really boosted my confidence at low speeds and at standstill, the handling and riding position is the same and the bike feels much lighter and more manageable. I lowered it 40mm on the links and 18mm on the forks, I left the pre load the same but will have the option now to wind it up a bit if I load it up with panniers. The bike now feels great. I'm 6.1" so not short but it's made a huge difference.

[@AdventureGlide]

Thanks for sharing this. Great Shoot-out video.

[@marcochavanne]

Put a little over 5,000 daily miles in a CRF300L Rally since late June. I am biased of course, but after adding Rally Raid Level II suspension and a new set of tires it is a completely different and far more capable bike. I have taken it on a 26 miles hard enduro loop used for hare scrambles and Enduro circuits for our region and it just hoofed it through all of it. Definitely not the style of riding it was designed for, but it will take whatever you can throw at it once suspension is addressed. Also eats highway miles. At 6'3" 265lbs in my undies, I don't have the Japanese physique these were designed for, but its very comfortable and can easily carry me down the highway at 75mph every day on my 45 mile commute. My favorite all time bike, The honorable WR250R has been dethroned by this little Red Rooster. Uncorking it with a quiet pipe, CBR300 Cams, and ECU flash will make a huge difference. But that can be said about any bike frankly. Its biggest strength is the size and affordability of the aftermarket. There are hundreds of vendors in Thailand and the prices are incredible. Would love a Tenere for longer trips, but the scalpers have created criminal enterprise for those. So I will make due with what I've got until the market stabilizes.

[@jasonzerbini2375]

I'm with you on your comment. I know late to the game here but just ran across the video. I have had big cc bikes but my 300 Rally is an incredible machine and at this point want for nothing else. I takes me anywhere I want to go and I like it so much, for first time in 45 years of riding I intentionally ride in winter months and not so nice weather when no one else is out! Ride for hours and its comfortable. Unless one is in some level of competition riding alongside bigger bore machines, the 300 Rally is an amazing bike for dirt cheap money.

[@drifterdave01]

Awesome to see the diversity of bikes here! So happy to see the PR7 in the conversation.

[@davidmallia628]

This reviewer is great. I remember buying a Versys 650 based on his reviews. He said it was more fun to ride than the competitors. He was absolutely right.

[@Farmaci86]

I do not understand negativity related to KTM's??? I had 1290R, still have 890R, and rode my buddy's 690; They are impeccable motorcycles (NEVER ANY ISSUES). I will never sell my 890R, It is the best off-road motorcycle on the planet! 🙌

[@andrewcraig8404]

Nice review - liked that it was for you (rather than just what was fun for the test ride). Another 701 owner here - knew you’d get to the ‘right’ answer. (Have a 660z too and agree with the assessment the 200kgs bikes are for a different role) Had my 701 for 4 years now with only the usual clutch issue. Just back from a 1600 mile road trip in Romania (no screen/stock seat). You get used to it after a while (but 70 was plenty on the motorway using a peaked helmet!!). Enjoy the bike!

[@mancavemoto]

Great video thanks, it obviously depends on how people personally define an adventure bike. These I guess with the exception of the Tuareg and Tenere are more dual sport biased maybe. The road/split always brings about a compromise on one side or the other. Nice format to the video, looking at a lot of the points that others miss or don’t cover.

[@modzso2]

I picked the AJP PR7. It already has decent wind protection, 17l fuel tank, great foot pegs, plush seat. And a nice looking swingarm :) But it need a valve check every 5000km... Tried the 701, but it needed too much modding. (Windshield, tank, sidestand disable, seat, etc).

[@_FOTI]

What a great comparison, always loved the ktm 690 and the point of jumping on a highway with no wind protection was always on my mind, it just needs a Rebel X front protection and new seat. Maybe a CRF450 vs the KTM690 next :)

[@raypetrocelli595]

Awesome video, I was replacing my 2007 Honda XR650L & checked all models in that category & chose my KTM 2020 690R ENDURO and just can't say enough about it, I installed a seat concepts low seat for more comfort & helps my footing, added rally footpegs, wings exhaust, handlebar bag & rear fender bag & have cortec side bags in case of a long journey, don't mind the wind so never added a rally screen. All I can say is it's just a incredible motorcycle, everyone ride safe 🙏

[@chrisvantassel8867]

I had a Husky 701 that I turned into a Rally bike, it was great but man, single cylinders for long distance just beat you up. I finally just came to the conclusion that I need 2 bikes. I ended up with a Beta 390 RR and Desert X....of course the DX was not an option at the time of this vid. If I had to choose one like you have in this vid I believe you made the right choice. It is easy to turn that 690 into basically the same as the AJP but with a better engine, suspension and dealer network. I think if AJP threw on a top spec KYB or Tractive suspension it might make a splash but no dealer network makes it a no go for me. The Unicorn bike has yet to be made. I think the closest to a unicorn bike would be the engine from the Tenere, suspension from the 890 rally all on a 701 frame along with the RADE garage rally kit.

[@stevemiller10]

27000km trouble-free on my 690 throughout Africa. With a few juicy parts (and there are so many after market suppliers to choose from) they make fantastic, reliable adventure bikes. And they put a smile on your face every time you start it (particularly with a Wings exhaust). Enjoy the toy - it's going to be a blast!

[@Gofr5]

Been looking at getting a wings exhaust for my 701 SM. They say no fuel remapping is required with either of the baffles in. What has been your experience with it?

[@williamrae9954]

@@Gofr5 Sharon exhaust from Rade Garage, good looking pipe,reasonable price too?

[@stevemiller10]

@@Gofr5 It’s a simple plug ‘n play. My bike required no fuel remapping. It’s lighter, sounds great and doesn’t get nearly as hot as oem. You won’t regret it.

[@andydowson8248]

Great video. I will be interested to follow your progress with the 690 and making improvements. 👍

[@ktmtravels3727]

A man of obvious good taste, that Michael Guy😉

[@shadowred1980]

Great review. I would like to see the updates on how Michael gets on with the bike.

[@rfk76]

I was smiling during of this video as I went exactly through same process and ended up with... 701 Enduro! :) Just install a rally tower on your 690, get a softer seat and you will absolutely love it. Have fun and I can't wait for the ep02.

[@colinmcnally5931]

Brilliant Video. No nonsense!! Great knowledge. Thank you!!

[@motorcyclenewsdotcom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ws8080]

To be honest, completely surprised by the decision. If we had a chart, it would have shown zero issues stated for the Aprilia and the AGP. The KTM had multiple negatives including the most uncomfortable.... so it wins? That seems like an emotional decision and that was confirmed by the "it puts a smile on your face [while riding off-road]". Sure emotion is important, but I'm all for the logic of scoring and charts so that my head wins over my heart and I make the smart decision. If you were just going for "this bike is the most fun off-road" then save us the comparison as it turned out to be irrelevant.

[@TubbyTrialTeam]

Great review, and good choice I thought you were going to go the way of the AJP for a minute. Hope you’ve got over the baja and repaired well. Still very glad I didn’t bounce into the Ducati and you on that slippy grass on My ktm 950!

[@MrAdambinnie]

Absolutely love it, more of this please 🤘

[@motorcyclenewsdotcom]

More to come!

[@davesnowpros6785]

Really enjoyed this. Thank you

[@steveball2307]

Loads of qualty accessory options to address your issues with the bike. I've always liked the looked the Rade Garage stuff.

[@lawriemoto]

I used to own 690 with rade garage rally tower, the bike was perfect for me road and off road after that

[@thetrueself]

Ive got a 2020 KTM 690 and I only use for green laning. Its on full knobby tyres and gets a right hammering, not had one problem with it. Changed the massive silencer for a Remus, rade air box and a power commander. Love the bike off road and its even not too bad onroad with the knobby tyres. I can easily go out and do 170 miles in a day 70/30 green laning/road and not feel crippled afterwards, fantastic bike!!

[@SeasonalTherapy]

Bloodey good break down mate! I test rode the T7 and the 890.. and tomorrow I’m going out on the 690 so I’ll let u know 😎

[@sammigrunow1972]

I bought a 2020 ktm 690 and it has been a dream. Had to do a few mods (windscreen, crash bars, air box replacement with extra gas tank) and it is everything I could ever want.

[@christiangrendel9893]

Thanks ever so much. I really enjoyed your review.

[@janra8653]

Great comparison of bikes. I came to the same conclusion as you but got the 701. Now with fairing and xtra tank, my perfect light weight adventure bike. One thing to know about the good looking AJP, it needs a new cam chain every 20000km. If you are traveling many adventure miles every year, this is a problem.

[@davidnobular9220]

Jeez that's even worse than a CVT interval on a scooter !!

[@billabong123321]

Great choice, I own a KTM 690 2021 Enduro R my self and the first thing i did was to put on a set of 300mm forks upfront, wow what a difference turns the bike into a true EXC and now has unreal stabitily in all terrains and at all speeds feels rock solid well worth the effort. just my 2 cents good luck

[@DakarBlues]

First add-on when buying a KTM, an Oberon clutch slave

[@dustin.bradford]

I built an adventure bike out of a white 690 (Husky 701). I went Nomad ADV on the fairing, and it was a great bike. But I traded it last year for a 300 Rally and havent looked back. Sure I miss the power, but everything about the Honda is more friendly as he said. And it will still run highway speeds all day despite the power difference. Lower power means tires last a lot longer too lol. By the time you put a proper fairing in the KTM, the Honda is half the price. Leaves plenty of extra coin for upgrading the Honda suspension.

[@christianjung8778]

Hi Michael, I agree with you, all the reasons why you didn't choose all the other bikes. But, i wouldn't chopse the KTM as my unicorn for enduroriding or ds. Actually i own three bikes, a Swm rs500r, a Ktm 690 Enduro (from 2008) and my old Yamaha TT600E. I'm following you, the KTM is a great bike, but out of the box it's quite unisable. You need a bashguard and a comfortable seat, but the reason for me, it didn't become my unicorn is the hard suspension and the behavior of the motor in lower revs. You can go off road in high speed mode very well, but in trialsections, it's as hard to handle as a heavier bike. This year i could compare my KTM with the tenere 700 in the western alps. Both of them have their pros and cons, depending on rider and riding conditions. My personal unicorn is my old TT600E, out of the Box quite usable. On the road, comfotable seat, enough power for riding on motorways, off road i'd never ridden another bike, which needs less power of the rider, the bikes does everything you want, the motorcharacteristics are great, low revs and power for fast enduro riding. The suspension, out of the Box works fine, smoother than a modern bike. In comparisuon with modern bikes, ok the frontbreak is a little bit weaker, but thereis a smal german Company called HE Motorradtechnik, which offers a larger disc with 320mm diameter and an adapter for the caliper, both eu streetlegal. This winter i will have a look for my suspension, maybe i'll change the frontfork for one out of the TT600S (that will rise the suspension travel about 3cm) and change the rear suspension to a YSS

[@Gofr5]

I have the husky flavoured 701 supermoto version. Great bike. Excellent street machine with the 17's and still decent for the very light and very un-occasional offroading that I do. I also bought a small windscreen for it to use on the highway rides that I do, but oddly enough after almost 2 full seasons with it, have yet to put the screen on. The wind blast on the highway just doesn't bother me at all. I just lean forward a bit more into the wind do deal with the strong blast on the chest that was mentioned in this video. At any rate, an aftermarket comfort seat is a must. That wooden plank they call a seat is a crime against all butts everywhere. Great machine though, regardless of which colour or spec you choose.

[@flyingfox7252]

Absolutely the correct choice. I own one and all your concerns are fixable. There are at least three windscreens available, get a comfort seat, and buy a compact tower for your navigation etc. They are really fast on the road but do lack fuel range. The RADE Garage has a neat solution. Mine has done 40,000 klms of very hard off road in Australia. It’s had one top end rebuild but the gearbox box and bottom end is still as sweet as a nut!

[@benjy288]

I had the first swm 650 (which is the engine in the ajp) owned it for about a year, it had cold start problems, the thing blew a head gasket and needed a new top end, it took about 4 months to get fixed, so I sold it and brought a dr650 with a 25 liter tank, I upgraded the suspension, did the carb, airbox, and exhaust, and I love it, I'll never sell it.

[@BlackdogADV]

Good choice. I’ve been on KTM 690/Husqvarna 701s for 10 years. I’ve been from Tuktoyaktuk to Ushuaia on them. Look at the Brittania Lynx fairing.

[@user-vf3gf4xq3v]

Good pick! I have 11k miles on my 2016. The 2019 and newer bikes are even better with rider modes to make up for our off road incompetence. It’s a blast to ride. Get a tall comfort seat from seat concepts and a windscreen from Touratech and you’ll be all set.

[@colindeans5972]

So the AGP was rejected because of reliability concerns, then you select a KTM. What??? 🤣🤣

[@rideyourbike]

!

[@cp4512]

I thought the same 😂

[@Noillek]

AJP

[@gnarrrrrrrrrrrr]

the ktm 690's reliability issues have been resolved for many years now

[@IvonaFlakus]

You obviously know nothing about KTMs..

[@brucekendall52]

Good choice.I have owned a 2014(ktm) and a 2020 model.I may still go back and get another one.hard to beat.Thanks.

[@florinflorin8348]

Hi there Michael...this clip was such an inspiration for me. I pick for my needs Husqy 701 enduro and is the fcking best fun adventure, enduro and everithing bike i ever dreamed about.

[@kristofferrydquist8384]

Thanks, really useful comparison, Contrarily to other commenters, I do like that you pitched some slightly different marketed bikes against each other; as a new rider having sat on the 701 and T700 and eyeing the Honda CRF300 the latter might be the better choice for me to learn on for the same reasons you went with the 690(701).

[@steveh100]

A good watch. It's always good to see your bike go up against others from another person's perspective. The rally does ok for my skill level off road, yes its a bit slow on it but comfortable, easy to upgrade blah blah blah... the KTM 500 enduro looks great and will be fun to get it adventure worthy... maybe I need to avoid my KTM dealer as I would deffo be tempted

[@carlosmurgelcddr.1418]

Great review! Cheers from Brazil.

[@_billythekid]

Same decision I have made. Going with Rade Tower and Seat Concepts seat and auxiliary tank for added range. She looks mean and she's really comfy on the highway now

[@Christianthephotographer]

This was an excellent review!!! :-)

[@jemirandav]

Thank you for a really nice (great scenery!) and informative video. I would, however liked to know your hands-on experience with the CRF 450RL. Best regards.

[@jaegermeister1968]

the big adventure bikes are like the powerful SUVs, which are almost exclusively driven on regular roads. The GS BMWs in particular are popular touring motorcycles among older buyers.

[@WileyFox01]

Great review....you can get screen for the 690 from Puig and a softer lower seat from Seat Concepts.

[@stevefowler2112]

Great test/review...graetly appreciated. I am a former AMA Expert License holder in 125 cc Motocross (a LONG time ago in H.S. in the early 70's) and also raced a partial AMA Road Race season on a TZ350 (D) in '75 and have owned a number of superbikes since but am considering getting a light/middle weight ad bike in my retirement days. But I do get a kick out of you mention road speed without a wind screen, lol, as I also owned a '72 Kawasaki H2 750 (the original widow maker) in H.S. when I was racing motcross and obviously it had no wind screen and was capable of some pretty fast road work for the time.

[@randersson3672]

I picked the right one.😊 For me the 690 is everything I want, 23000km no problems, exept the clutchslave.

[@_sneer_]

So, there was a problem.

[@searchingfor6thgear44]

Whoo hoo! The 690 Enduro! Lots of options to address the windscreen issue based on your focus. It's a great platform. If you are hanging bags off of it, get the upgraded bolts for the fuel tank. Godspeed in this journey!

[@HamzaFaruqui]

3:28 The fact that he knew how long of a video he's gonna churn out shows how well planned and thought out these videos are.

[@sptlj7676]

Great video!

[@colinlow1167]

Just done 2000 miles over 3 weeks on a stock 2020 690R. Stock seat, no screen. I find 75mph is a sweet spot on fast roads, but it is quite stable with luggage at 100mph+ Brilliant fun.

[@gnarlybadger690]

Clear winner, my 2020 now has 11,400 trouble free miles most of which has been the Trans Euro Trail covering Europe and the UK. No doubting the need to change a few things to make it ideal but I think you'd do that to any of the bikes on test

[@marscruz]

No need to muck about with the suspension on the Katoom like you would have to on the Honda or Yammie (if you're semi-serious). That can involve a ton of time and money and faffing about. Cheap bikes are cheap for a reason. Expensive bikes? You take your chances.

[@nathanf1934]

For such low miles you'd expect it to be trouble free! True?

[@marscruz]

@@nathanf1934 Expectations and reality don't always line up real nice. At least you would expect the dealer to make things right. Finding a good dealer is almost as important as finding the right bike.

[@gnarlybadger690]

@@nathanf1934 Not sure how many miles you but on a bike in a year, considering I use the 690 purely for pleasure/trail riding I think the bike has been fantastically reliable. I would think around 65/70% has been "off-road" miles whilst traveling on the Trans Euro Trail which the 690/701's seem to be dare I say it the perfect combination 🤷🏼

[@nathanbanks7091]

This is a great video. Thank you. I've put 50k miles on a first gen KLR 650 and done many mods to make it as good a do it all bike as possible. I watched this video because I was interested in the comparison between the Aprilla and the T7. I was shopping for a replacement for the tired old pig. I had never heard of the PR7 (I live in the US) This video started me down a rabbit hole of research and searching. I'm picking up a new PR7 next week. For my style of riding, PR7 is THE perfect bike.

[@dieppe182]

I had the '21 690 and its excellent for the more technical stuff and can be great fun on the road using the grunty power and the quickshifter. The downside is when you are on long, wet, cold road sections, or covering distance as it doesn't have the refinement to be comfortable. I now have the new Tuareg and its a revelation. It can do the majority of what the 690 did, perhaps nearly as much in the right hands, but it has the added comfort that is missing from the KTM. It's centre of balance is spot on and it doesn't feel top heavy. It also feels more planted than the KTM, so gives the rider alot of confidence. It really shines on the road sections and is alot of fun with the soundtrack from the airbox. After a few thousand miles it has been totally reliable, but I guess time will tell.

[@bseidem5112]

At what weight penalty?

[@szymonchalupka]

701 owner here. I test rode Tuareg and had exactly the same impressions as you do. I would switch right away if I haven't owned RS660 before. That one was nothing just issues, during 20 months of ownership I lost 12 months for repairs or waiting for the parts. I said I was done with Aprilia... but that Tuareg keeps coming back to me. I need to follow-up how it performs and if all the issues were resolved.Who knows, maybe I give Aprilia a second chance.

[@dariuszgoc6336]

You made best choice.Grats

[@ktmkevin]

Seat concepts seat plus a rally style fairing from any of several manufacturers (kit690, aurora, rade garage.. Just to name a few) and you've got your unicorn bike right there!

[@monocogenit1]

I love Honda. really do...love my XR650L that is old as dirt by todays standards, but it keeps on going. I could not buy the 300 rally. its too much of a compromise due to money. Its a cheap bike. I think made in Thailand. I would like to try the CRF450L, get all the bugs sorted out, prob an awesome bike.

[@auffantre]

The rage garage rally kit would solve the wind and space for navigation/ it also provides fantastic lights for nighttime rides.

[@ascutt]

So, if you buy the £9.5k bike and add another £2k from RADE you're all sorted?

[@biscuitsalive]

Good stuff. I’ve owned the T7 and Honda 300. And agree with all comments there. Question tho. Is the husqvarna 701 pretty much the same as the KTM 690enduro? Is that dialled in a little bit more in for road compared to the KTM. So should tick the boxes for you a tiny bit more?

[@billparke1520]

Great job!

[@ferkuzuel]

I have a 2019 model 690 er and has been very reliable, and so much fun to ride off road and great for back roads, I also have a 300l with upgraded suspension and the 550 ECU, It works good on single track trails but as mentioned the 690 feels like an off road weapon Cheers

[@rotor676]

I'm 56 years old and have owned many many bikes over the years. My 2020 KTM 690 is an amazing bike. Did the Trans-Continental Divide in USA from Canada to Mexico and back this summer some 10,000kls back to cental Canada "home" 90% dirt. Best bike for the job without a dought. Next Upgrade factory rally kit.

[@moorepower13]

Nice to see the simple DRZ400 come out on top once again.

[@ws8080]

Apparently if a bike didn't have brand new tech in it, it was not mentioned or considered. Even the AGP he stated was great and had no negatives, but then didn't choose it in the end because "the engine is old school". Guess what - all single cylinders with counter-balancers are old school.

[@williamrae9954]

@@ws8080 KTM 390 Adventure is the new 'DR-Z400'(more power)...put 'Adventures with Ryan'(KTM390) in the search bar here, 3500miles on it,all off-road...my bike for the Americas trip,I reckon?

[@JustForFun-zh7cy]

The DRZ400 is not available in the UK and hasn't been since 2009 - which I'm fairly sure is why it's not included in a UK motorcycle channel/magazine group test of 2022 bikes "what should you buy" review.

[@swedbear4035]

Is the KTM really more reliable than the Ajp? (Ooops, just realized I may have opened up a whole can there 🤭)

[@roelfkromhout]

I sold my KTM 1090 after becoming disillusioned with it due to a litany of issues big and small. Went back to an old 1150gs. Couldn't be happier.

[@erixlast6020]

​@@roelfkromhout any specific problems on ktm?

[@roelfkromhout]

@@erixlast6020 - faulty tensioner (timing chain), fixed under warranty - flaking paint on the rear spring (not a legitimate warranty issue according to KTM) - cold start issues - random electrical issues - a rear brake that does not stand up to real use. Fading after just a few hairpins on a mountain pass. Never had any such issue on the many other bikes I rode, but not a warranty issue according to KTM. This was on a 1090 I bought new from the dealer. Their attitude with regards to the rear brake was the last straw for me. Just unacceptable. In addition, a friend of mine also bought a 1090. His is even worse: - also fading on the rear brake after minimal use - a faulty / leaking rear head gasket - it doesn't run properly. Random shut-offs and intermittent ignition cut offs during acceleration I bought a 1090 because the press was very positive on it after that Corsica launch event. But it goes to show that riding a bike on an all expenses paid launch is something entirely different from real ownership. Odds of me ever buying a KTM again are low to say the least. Would have been different perhaps if KTM had had a different attitude towards fixing my issues with the bike.

[@NudaMan]

@@erixlast6020 just random electronic errors, literally random lol I work with the bikes everyday and let’s just say the 790 is the worst bike they ever made, we’ve did at least 2-3 engine rebuilds and my tech was not happy… but 1090/1190/1290 are reliable engines I just don’t trust euro electronics because you can’t clear codes unless going to a dealer

[@erixlast6020]

@@NudaMan made in india i guess 😅

[@natural9743]

The Aprilia does it all and is the best one 100%

[@west_adv]

Except the weight. You don't want to have such heavy bike for riding proper offroad alone

[@bgm1911]

I also have read several times that the 660 puts out a tremendous amount of heat.

[@williamrae9954]

@@bgm1911 EU problem... dump the cat, richen the mixture, sorted...same on the KTM 390 Adventure, heat melts the shock seals...choke any exhaust up,heat rises

[@natural9743]

@@bgm1911 true it smokes everything

[@west_adv]

Sometimes it is just a sizing problem. If I was 100kg of muscles and bit younger it could be fine. But as of now 75% size of this bike would be great for me. 75% of power, weight, clerance, etc. 150kg and 60 HP sounds gr8 and would be gr8 for many of us. I don't need 200kg 80HP

[@diamondmidnightgardener]

Great review.... it'd be great to hear about your choices re mods....

[@HerrDeacon]

Would be cool if KTM made a version of the 690 with a fairing/screen, and so have two separate versions for different needs. Similar to what Honda has done with the CRF300L and 300 Rally, one more off-road oriented and one a bit more travel oriented.

[@Jimo368]

Like the 640 Adventure they used to make.

[@rlmartin1988]

Would be cool if Honda made a 450/500 like the 300 rally with similar fuel range and maintenance intervals.

[@mktm1290]

He will put the rally kit on it, that will solve all that and the seat concepts seat, better tires, maybe a back pipe to shed a bit of weight, rear rails for storage, bike sorted

[@motokev2727]

My 2001 Honda XR650R is an adventure bike. Still runs like new and will never die.