Watch BEFORE You Buy!! | KTM 690 SMCR Owners 4 Year Review

[@moza1080]

My 701 sm lives in the living room for winter 😁

[@ShaneVerhoogt]

Take the brake calliper off, and master cylinder... Turn upside down, calliper in a vice and lver assembly on the floor. Start bleeding, air bubbles will rise up and out. Pressure bleeding with a pump will work wonders as well. Good luck lamb chop

[@steveb6593]

I'm lucky enough to have 2 of these a 2023 smcr and a 2019 enduro r the enduro r has 20,000 miles on only minor issues 2 oil seals have put 5000 miles on smc r so far so good. I have had both dealer serviced. The 2023 gear box and quick shifter is night and day better than 2019. Which like you I rarely use as can give false neutrals usually when overtaking. Can't recommend these both highly enough they seriously are so much fun on smaller roads

[@paulb6501]

Glad youre keeping it chops, I bought one off the back of your video series and i love it, i bought a tuono factory as my distance missile, I believe i have the best of both worlds.

[@jamesblessett7612]

Thanks for the video Chopsy! I’ll be picking one up in January! Can’t bloody wait! Absolutely love KTM! ❤ great video as always!

[@DirkDiggler007]

You look like Donkey Kong on that bike Chops

[@Steve-motorcycles]

@@DirkDiggler007 That’s harsh. 🤣

[@Jimmy_TV]

🙊

[@LambChopRides]

Thanks 😬

[@Jay690x]

Just clocked 1000 miles on my 2022 690. I love it and it’s my favourite bike I’ve owned.

[@DYNOSRR]

Dreambike! My friend got a 2017 SMCR at the start of this season and ever since then I've been in love

[@Luckys7evin]

22:40 good job you weren’t turning right there.. Incredible bike, I’ve got the 2020 model. I often forget it has the quick shifter coz it clutchless shifts so easily

[@ragerider6283]

Cool vid. Forgot you even had this lol. Looks & sounds great. So many nice mods! On a related subject, really looking forward to you reviewing the new Suzuki DRZ -SM 400 next year. Not a patch on yours obviously but looks fun & you can also mod the hell out of it relatively cheaply too.

[@scottjohnson1740]

Love the side camera view

[@CPUspeed]

Wow you explained it so well. I’ve struggled. “It’s not KZbin friendly” 🤓 YES. Btw I got a bike suited for large riders… 890 SMT. I found the 690 too small. Thats the dilemma of tall and heavy riders. We love bikes we don’t fit on. The SMT is the supermoto for fat people 😂 because the rear end, subframe and shock are designed for more weight.

[@TheSweetasanut]

Morning brilliant vid as normal have you got a new air vest ?

[@Kapilasgarage]

The brake problem could possibly be the connection to the abs module. You may need to tighten the banjo bolts. Or change the copper washer.

[@R-Tap]

KTM 690smcr Edition LCR Lovely bike. Great stance.

[@paul.vanhout57]

Lots of goodies on that SMC-R; wonderful machine! I had the oil in my 2019 690 lab tested after 3,000 miles and overall good results with no signs of abnormal wear or contamination. Lab suggested that I could go with a 4,000 mile interval with no issue. I was running Motorex 10w50 Power Synt 4T.

[@LambChopRides]

Very good to know, I'm actually doing the same for all my bikes 👍

[@anxiousappliance]

I think - and you can double check: Husky had the new engine in 2017 and KTM got it a couple of years later.

[@cecilwilson5442]

That's next to your hypermotard as my favourite one off your bikes ,yes Ducati has a supermoto but costs a fortune,, and more special parts for the KTM,,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland great to see it out 👍👍😍

[@geneshaw1234]

Had same issue with front brake bleeding on my 690 SMC-R. I read that if you cracked the front brake reservoir open just a bit and then zip tied the brake lever closed over night it would fix the issue. I have done this fix on mine and it really firmed up the front brake for me.

[@LambChopRides]

I did try that in the past... Didn't help

[@BikeGunCarGav]

Cool looking bike, and the mods were not difficult to get it to this level of cool 😎

[@digger8180]

701 , if I have to go any distance I use a bit of sheep skin on the seat . Great bikes, only really needs the 02 dongle and a good exhaust for road use, the Wings exhaust can is great. +1 for the oil change, although it is synthetic I still change around 3K.

[@boblynch7535]

I’m finding hard to believe, but I’ve actually turned 70. I mean, WTF! If this bike had been available in the 70’s I most likely wouldn’t be here. My crazy ride was a 1974 Ducati 750 Sport (I still have it and ride it now and again) 62HP, and I got into enough trouble with that!

[@talkingrock7011]

Chops you have to cycle the ABS pump to completely bleed the brakes and that is completed by hooking the bike up to a computer at a dealership , nice bike you have !

[@LambChopRides]

Ah that's probably why I can't do it!! 😅👍

[@WSMK-oz6ru]

I’ve changed my fluid twice on my 2019 bike with no issue using a Laser vacuum bleeder.

[@MrAndrew1953]

Honestly I never thought I’d see this bike ride out from cardboard boxes again. So much so I’d forgotten about its very existence. Do the mirrors pick up cars with flashing blue lights? They usually have sirens as well. No problems with KTM cam wear?

[@jthemighty690r]

Such a smart looking bike! Would love to take one round a circuit.

[@950boy2]

I just picked up a 690 duke to add go the garage love the 690s

[@alf9638]

Built mine just like yours, followed your build series to the t. Got the 701, hand polished the Ti pipes....best and most fun bike ive ever had. Got totalled by a woman driver who didnt look before she pulled out on me at 50mph. A year on and I'm fine, but the dream is over. PS I also got the Brembo RCS 15 - MUCH better than stock.

[@LambChopRides]

Oh no sorry to hear that Alf 😢

[@hunterm8297]

I had a new 2017 it looked lovely but spent all its first summer in the dealer waiting for a new rocker arm 😢.

[@Logsi27]

Surprised when you mentioned the quickshifter, I guess mine had the update being a 2022! The only thing it does poorly is without a positive up shift I can false neutral...usually when overtaking...

[@cp4512]

Hope it was built before KTM started building their engine components out of cheese.

[@tonyedwards892]

Hello Mr chops any idea when you'll get your hands on the r9😃

[@oswaldvanbeerendonk6882]

Bet the local villages love you at 7am on a Sunday morning Chops, between the Hyper, SMC-R and H2... How is project R1 going? Looking forward to seeing what you do to that.

[@LambChopRides]

Haha yes indeed they do 😄 Yes R1 project is still go, just been so busy with everything it's taken a back seat 😳

[@andyturner9836]

Daft comment but, have you bled the abs pump itself? Never owned a KTM but previous experience with abs systems suggest it may need doing. Just a thought.

[@glennollerenshaw8466]

Hey Choppsey, i work for Mackay motorcycles in QLD ,Aust we,ve got a GAS GAS 701 sm on the floor wondering wether the ecu upgrade would work on that with airfilter upgrade as they want it gone and im in a good position to get it cheers Glenn.

[@davidk5937]

Zero issues with my ‘23 as well. Couldn’t be happier with my purchase. Any chance we can get a ‘How To’ from Chopsy for the valve check/adjustment?

[@LambChopRides]

Haha, well in 2k miles time maybe 😁👍

[@Steve-motorcycles]

I love this bike. However, how can you have any problems to report, when you have only done 4k miles 🤔

[@loafnugget3088]

Spites corner just had a likely coolant temp sensor issue happen with under 400.miles. kept the fan from coming on. so with a KTM,yes,aparently.

[@Steve-motorcycles]

😬

[@svracing3]

I had a 22 model loved it but it pissed all its coolant out after 800 miles spent 3 months at the dealer and on the ride home did it again , Would love another tho

[@debbieclegg2485]

Superb machine 👏 (I'd need platform boots lol!)

[@69USD]

Is that brake hose loop necessary on the shorter travel smcr and would you consider deleting the abs?

[@LambChopRides]

Yeah I'm at the stage where ABS deletion is looking like the best option now 😕

[@blooperbooper]

Loved mine but the false neutrals killed it for me. Did every upgrade etc etc never sorted it

[@MuscleBandit]

Chopsy my credit goes green in Jan so I'll give ya 10k for it if you wanna sell. I'm only in Sussex. Keep em coming :)

[@Kurlach]

My mate got pulled for having a numberplate at that angle. Just something to watch out for mate

[@LambChopRides]

If I'm being pulled over on this the numberplate is the least of my worries 😅👍

[@Kurlach]

@@LambChopRides Fair point that 😂😂

[@fantastic_voyage]

Take it to a shop and get them to put it on their bleeding machine....I had the same problem with my tenere...sorted in minutes....😅

[@LambChopRides]

Yeah good idea.. 👍

[@fantastic_voyage]

Crescent yamaha at bursledon did mine...it's air in the abs pump...can't do it at home without the right tools....

[@ducky237]

Think you could swap 'fat' for strongman frame,or wrestler body, or warrior frame 😊💪💪💪👍👍

[@socialising6037]

Thumb brake never seen that before. Guessing its for wheelies.

[@aidens04]

Did you sell your H2? Thought I saw it on one of those raffle competitions the other day.

[@LambChopRides]

No still got it 👍

[@luketerry1745]

I’d love one but I’m a one bike at a time person, been looking at them but not sure if it’ll be too impractical. Most of my riding is just local brapping, occasional track days, occasional dual carriageway

[@neodurden6793]

So, it is a brilliant bike for that ! It is just not a convenient bike for highway or long trips.

[@JinKazama92]

perfect bike for that

[@inked-96]

When are you expecting chopsy?😂😉

[@nindza20]

It's fish eye effect expectancy

[@nokneedownian8521]

Don't worry about the old dears hearing it seemed to only effect one of her ears

[@ellisroper3008]

Hey mr lamb, new blipper on the 24 model has an f3 ecu error that will likely cause a recall 😢

[@Billsy69]

F3 ECU is the clutch lever switch costs £22 or nothing on warranty. Mine was cracked when new and caused intermittent F3 ECU fault and loss of quick shifter.

[@thecornishbiker9323]

Can you bypass the abs system and just go straight through to the caliper.

[@LambChopRides]

Yes that's an option, wanted to try and keep it though

[@cocky_potato]

KTM makes me mad. They make OUTRAGEOUSLY fun bikes - I was about to purchase an 890 SMT last year, but their build quality, reliability and also their posture regarding their customers, policies such as "pay to unlock features" as if a bike is a bloody video game, etc, really give me pause. I'd love to have more trust in the brand; alas, I do not.

[@RideThatThing69]

I have the smt, it’s been completely trouble free, my advice would be don’t listen to the moaners, quite often they’ve never had a ktm. 👊✊️✊️

[@svracing3]

Stay clear if in doubt

[@cocky_potato]

@svracing3 I will for sure, no doubt, but it's saddening. There's no denying the bikes are a riot... oh well...

[@svracing3]

@@cocky_potato I’ve had 2 now and said never again still find myself looking at them now and then but I know now don’t bother

[@myuserbloodyname]

Takes 1.7 litres of oil! Had my '17 690 Duke R for a few years now and reliability has been solid. It's sad that KTM have moved away from the big single that made them who they are in favour of unreliable short model life span twins which now seem pretty close to killing the company

[@LambChopRides]

Ah only that much! Shows it's due a change 😁

[@myuserbloodyname]

Yeah I put 3k ish miles per year on mine so annually works well

[@davidmallia628]

This smcr 690, or the MT07/MT09. The SMCR could do some minor off road, but otherwise what justifies it against a naked?

[@Chris71920]

Because....why not?! Depends how and where you ride🤷🏻 MTs are a bit...generic I suppose, but not bad bikes of course 👍🏻

[@davidmallia628]

@Chris71920 I am inclined towards a supermoto, because of the ground clearance, and longer suspension travel, that enables you to off road. As for tires, tkc70 front, tkc70 ROCs, at the back l, should do the trick for both road, and dirt. This is how I used my DRZ 400 SM. I always fancied an MT, but as you said, a bit too generic, for having just one bike.

[@davidellis2021]

Be good to see a comparison with the Ducati Mono.

[@LambChopRides]

Yes that was the plan this year but had trouble getting hold of one.. next year for sure 👍

[@churchofbrap876]

​@@LambChopRidesI have both. Very comparable bikes, but too expensive to fix the fueling issues on the Hyper since the only choice right now is to buy Ducatis crazy expensive exhaust package. Once an aftermarket ECU flash is available for the 698, it'll be very comparable to the KTM. Both great bikes 👍

[@smoky2stroke]

DO NOT SELL THAT BIKE!!! Everyone should have a 690.

[@Love4boost]

I’ll probably fall asleep watching this as I’m an American. But I’m curious what hooliganism you’re getting into with that thumb brake Mr. Chops?

[@inked-96]

An amican riding an MT? Gotcha 😂. Chopsy's KTM is a lot more fun.

[@LambChopRides]

Not much with my skills...

[@StoneCold.69]

I’ve had a F3:ECU problem since day 1 of owning my ‘24 KTM 690 smcr. Love the bike, but KTM quality is not there..

[@LambChopRides]

Oh dear that's not good, sorry to hear it

[@Billsy69]

It’s the clutch lever switch. £22 or free on warranty. Check to see if it has a crack from being overtightened at the factory.

[@Yii00T]

Finally back lol.

[@brucekendall52]

Collectors bike

[@th1nktune]

Where’s the hypermotard

[@SteveBrowner]

Don't forget the filler cap! How many people have broken their keys trying to put petrol in 🤔 first thing i did to mine was clutch cylinder to an Oberon and filler cap. Not a better bike to put a stupid grin on your face 👍

[@LambChopRides]

Yeah I never had a problem there with my cap.. but that's because I've swap it to a non locking one 😁👍

[@nickhale117]

Too late, already bought one almost 3 years ago... 😬 lol

[@MiamiJato]

buying a new DRZ400sm 2025

[@LambChopRides]

Yeah looking forward to trying one 👍

[@Kapilasgarage]

Nice choice I’m getting the 390 smcr when it comes out

[@simsimmer250]

You need the ABS dongle! The bike is stopping you from doing endos without that fitted!! Also you can skid the rear and back it in too with it. It’s a major piece of the supermoto puzzle that you’re missing!! I have mentioned this before on your other videos. Come on dude .. get it sorted and show us the results!!! 😊

[@chrisleigh-vd8ew]

Poor engine, you can hear it labouring.... 😮

[@LambChopRides]

Behave never

[@950boy2]

Nice garbage dumped in the ditch lovely english countryside