Yeah, I had a 2011 Ninja 1000 for a couple years. Put a full race dual Akropovic on it, lots of other stuff, but had the same feeling you described about the FZ10. Just a monster egging you on to try more and more. I realized that and sold it...lol. Now I have a 1986 Yamaha SRX600 and I stomp on that thing and love it! Thinking about a Duke 690 because I l love thumpers. Running a Supertrapp unbaffled on my SRX, stock carbs jetted and needles adjusted. Harley ain't got nothing on this sound. They wave until they see Yamaha on the tank...lol. Point is, thumpers are fun at any age.
Great points you made. I was going to get a CBR1000 but I felt that it would of been too much. I instead settled for a 690.....and I don't regret it. Enough power to be comfortable with with control and keep a grin on my face. My buddy with a Gsxr 1000 and love the pace I led him at. Great bike to start and keep.
Great review! It helped me to choose the right bike. I was thinking about 390 (new rider) but you made some great points and 690 it is 😉. Greetings from 🇸🇮
Great video, i got 14 690 as literally my first bike with 0 miles a year and a half ago, and now have 17K on it have loved every secound of the cornering and just riding. Has some pilot road 4s on it, and before i put it away for a bit since i need another back tire, i have a road near me that is amazing great corners and now i virtually have no rear chicken strips and i even have saddles bags and a top case that i rarely ride without. It is just a amazing bike and dont plan on getting rid of it anytime soon.
Hey man, this is Jack from the plane, awesome video, professional level quality, if you could get this back going somehow, that would be insane, you might be able to really pick up
Very informative video man! I want to get back into riding, coming from a 2007 CBR 600rr + and 2006 R6... your 690 looks fun. What exhaust do or did you have on that baby?
@@johnDukemaster Great for you. The bike is lots of fun. I call mine Scrappy Doo, because it is cantankerous and always trying to punch above his weight.
I heard the fz09 is less civilized than the fz10. I would venture to guess it's because it's only ~100cc smaller but it's got one less cylinder making the remaining 3 cylinders slightly bigger and therefore making it torque-ier.
Ride a triple before you decide on a 690. The triple is amazing. I had my heart set on a 790 until I rode the triple. All but one 790 was spoken for at the dealer so they were begging for a deposit but I never looked back
TGL, I rode a BSA 441VS back in the late 70's. I'm looking into getting back on a bike. I really like the 690 Duke, but, one RUclips guy showed a lot of vibration from the single thumper. I watched a bunch of your vids and don't see any vibration in your mirrors. How is the vibration on a 2017 model year 690 Duke?
Mine is a 2015. Vibration has never been an issue for me. I do have heated grips which are thick and add a little bit of weight to the bars which probably helps.
I have a 2023 klx300 and had it for just under a year and i feel it is a under powered and i want to drive it 8 hours. I live in Illinois but i have properties in tennessee. I like the klx on my property and around town but i will not drive it more than hour in the highway. So ktm 690?
That bike = instant hooligan and confidence inspiring. NOT a starter bike! The low RPM torque on that bike could get one in trouble in a hurry. For people who use to ride sport bikes and want get back into riding, it is bliss.
I'm quite tall, 1.94m. You think the 690 is big enough for my length? I'm also considering the Yamaha MT-07 and Honda CB650F (which is also the bike I use for my lessons).
No no no it's far to much fun, I'm in my 60s and just got one and it's up there with the best I've ever had, and I have had lots of bikes, don't know how you could get better for a quick blast
NEED OPNIONS. I’m thinking of getting this bike for my first bike. I grew up riding dirt bikes and have a calling for a sport. It’s been years since I have been on a motorcycle but I feel the reckluse clutch , good seat height, I’m 5,10 , and not to mention the easy and intermediate options of power. I know that my right hand is the most important tool on the bike. I am 22 and beginning the starting safety course soon. I feel I can handle it but have gotten negative feedback. Please give me your feedback.
I was in a similar scenario as yourself. Had mixed opinions on getting a bike with that much power as a new rider. I said fuck it and got the 690 Duke! The bike is super light and so easy to maneuver, the clutch is like butter, and the ABS system works phenomenally! I’ve put about 1500 kms on it so far and I don’t regret my decision at all. I do live deep in the mountains in British Columbia in a small town so it’s perfect for my needs. If I lived in a big city with lots of traffic, it would be a different story. The 690 doesn’t like to be babied, it hates being ridden below 4000 rpm, even with a fuelling dongle and different sprockets. It just begs you to open it up, and when you do it has enough power to throw you back so be cautious! If you let out the clutch too fast, you will feel it! It’s scrappy, it vibrates, it’s jerky at low revs and it’s raw AF. But honestly, that’s what makes it so wonderful. It’s a hot mess, it can’t make up it’s mind on what type of bike it is (hooligan machine seems to be the best fit to describe it) it’s perfectly imperfect, oh and I hope you have at least some basic level of mechanical knowledge… because KTM. If you have self control, and you are smart about how and when you open it up, go for it! If you’re smooth with your hand movements and always respect the bike, it’s fine as a beginner bike. I love it to death and it puts the biggest smile on my face every time I ride it. Make smart decisions, always scan ahead, and respect the power of the LC4 engine because it has enough punch in it to get you into some real trouble, it is not a 300cc sub 40hp bike so it will not be forgiving if you ride beyond your limits. Invest in a good set of tires, some crash bars, and proper riding gear too. Safe Riding out there! Keep the rubber side down.
If you drove 2000 miles on a Ninja 300, then you started on a Ninja 300 LOL not a 690 Duke. 2000 miles is a few months of riding for most. You would have to be riding between 60 and 70 miles per day everyday, that's a lot of riding. Great video, great-sounding bike!
That's a great place to.start. if you like the sports bike full fairing the RC390 is amazing as well. You can start on a bigger bike but depending on the person you'll have a greater learning curve.
Depends on how you ride it. Ive got 12k miles on mine. Only major thing I have done was replace the clutch slave cylinder. I change my oil every 3k miles and change the filters each time. In my opinion these bikes are very reliable. Easy to work on, and parts are relatively cheap compared to many other bikes.
Hey TheGreatLaker, could you tell me which exhaust you got for your duke 690? Mine has an Akrapovic slip on and it sounds horrible :( I want the same exhaust you've got! An answer would be nice and of course nice video :)
Mine is the Competition Werkes full satin black system. It thumps like no other. They are only $850 for the full system. The microphone does not do a justice on how good it actually sounds in person.
TheGreatLaker Ok, How many miles on your bike? Looking at buying a new 690 duke. I've heard that some people end up having really bad oil use, 1qt/1k miles, or some have almost none.
How were you paying 450 a month, AFTER a trade in.. I mean really that seems impossible, you could be on a Ducati V4s with no trade in for that much. It doesn’t take rocket science to ballpark how much a bike is going to cost monthly, most are on 48 month terms, an mt-10 can be had for around 12-13 grand brand new, let’s just say your trade in paid for only the tax/title/fees and you had to finance the MSRP of 12,000, that comes out to $250 a month and that’s being super generous on your trade in. I’ve never in my life heard of anyone paying almost 500 a month for any bike that didn’t cost at least 20,000+ W/ no trade in. Love to hear the specifics of why you got raped on the payments of that bike and why you got super raped by the insurance on that bike, you must have had the worst driving record and a shit ton of accidents and have been 20 years old to even remotely get close to that terrible of a rate, and even then that’s a stretch. In a year and a half you’d have paid the MSRP of the bike in insurance payments, if that was how insurance worked a Toyota Camry with the MSRP of 24k would cost a 1,200 a month to insure. The insurance of an MT-10 would be around 1,000 dollars a YEAR, not whatever you’re claiming.
I would have continued watching your video but your rude comments against cyclists prevent me from watching your video. As a mountain biker not everybody on a bicycle is like that. thank you for showing your ignorance.
Just got the 2017 690 and love it. Totally different from my old R6 & zx10r. Way more chill and comfortable to ride.
Very enjoyable review. I've been considering a 690 Duke for a while. Your video made me feel like I was riding it.
Hilarious first min man haha! Thanks for all the pointers, definitely going to get this bike as my starter now
I have owned a 2008 690 for about 6 years now and still love it!
Yeah, I had a 2011 Ninja 1000 for a couple years. Put a full race dual Akropovic on it, lots of other stuff, but had the same feeling you described about the FZ10. Just a monster egging you on to try more and more. I realized that and sold it...lol. Now I have a 1986 Yamaha SRX600 and I stomp on that thing and love it! Thinking about a Duke 690 because I l love thumpers. Running a Supertrapp unbaffled on my SRX, stock carbs jetted and needles adjusted. Harley ain't got nothing on this sound. They wave until they see Yamaha on the tank...lol. Point is, thumpers are fun at any age.
Cool video bro, I want to buy one of these and this video makes me really want one now!!
I totally love mine. It's a great bike.
Great points you made. I was going to get a CBR1000 but I felt that it would of been too much. I instead settled for a 690.....and I don't regret it. Enough power to be comfortable with with control and keep a grin on my face. My buddy with a Gsxr 1000 and love the pace I led him at. Great bike to start and keep.
yall americans are wild af, been riding for 3 years my main bike is a 250 2tXD
Great review! It helped me to choose the right bike. I was thinking about 390 (new rider) but you made some great points and 690 it is 😉. Greetings from 🇸🇮
Did you end up getting a 690 Duke?
@@stanza77 i would say so
would that be an issue though?
Great video, i got 14 690 as literally my first bike with 0 miles a year and a half ago, and now have 17K on it have loved every secound of the cornering and just riding. Has some pilot road 4s on it, and before i put it away for a bit since i need another back tire, i have a road near me that is amazing great corners and now i virtually have no rear chicken strips and i even have saddles bags and a top case that i rarely ride without. It is just a amazing bike and dont plan on getting rid of it anytime soon.
Yota Guy Which bags & top case did you go with? Has your opinion changed over the past year? Thank you very much in advance!
your exhaust sounds amazing, which one do you have on your bike? I just bought the hurric pro 2 for my 2015 690, sounds brutal. :)
Thanks for this review. I am considering buying a 2013 just like it right now. Regards
most badass looking bike ive ever seen
Hey man, this is Jack from the plane, awesome video, professional level quality, if you could get this back going somehow, that would be insane, you might be able to really pick up
Very informative video man! I want to get back into riding, coming from a 2007 CBR 600rr + and 2006 R6... your 690 looks fun. What exhaust do or did you have on that baby?
I’m getting a 2014 in 3 days! 7/21/2023
1st bike, can’t wait !
Thank you! Very informative
Hi, what exhaust system did you go with? Sounds great! Thanks
How much more aggressive is it in comparison to the 300?
I just bought a 2014 690 and pick it up Friday. I can’t wait.
I just bought a 2018 and pick it up Friday! I can't wait!
@@johnDukemaster Great for you. The bike is lots of fun. I call mine Scrappy Doo, because it is cantankerous and always trying to punch above his weight.
I heard the fz09 is less civilized than the fz10. I would venture to guess it's because it's only ~100cc smaller but it's got one less cylinder making the remaining 3 cylinders slightly bigger and therefore making it torque-ier.
Was thinking of getting a bmw 310 for a year then upgrading to a street triple or the duke 690. Nice video man.
Ride a triple before you decide on a 690. The triple is amazing. I had my heart set on a 790 until I rode the triple. All but one 790 was spoken for at the dealer so they were begging for a deposit but I never looked back
Does it have the overheating problem of the 390?
TGL, I rode a BSA 441VS back in the late 70's. I'm looking into getting back on a bike. I really like the 690 Duke, but, one RUclips guy showed a lot of vibration from the single thumper. I watched a bunch of your vids and don't see any vibration in your mirrors. How is the vibration on a 2017 model year 690 Duke?
Mine is a 2015. Vibration has never been an issue for me. I do have heated grips which are thick and add a little bit of weight to the bars which probably helps.
Great video buddy
sounds great
i ride a 690 from 2017 :-) what a little beast :D
Beautiful ride, what exhaust is on the bike ? Sounds great !!
I have a 2023 klx300 and had it for just under a year and i feel it is a under powered and i want to drive it 8 hours. I live in Illinois but i have properties in tennessee. I like the klx on my property and around town but i will not drive it more than hour in the highway. So ktm 690?
Good video production
What about the KTM LC4 640?
That bike = instant hooligan and confidence inspiring. NOT a starter bike! The low RPM torque on that bike could get one in trouble in a hurry. For people who use to ride sport bikes and want get back into riding, it is bliss.
Good video dude..
is this a good bike for touring?
I could be wrong , but I think thats the competition werkes exhaust . Kinda has a distinct tone if you've ever used their products before .
9:40 you got lucky there.
Man I'm thinking about getting one of these suckers
I'm quite tall, 1.94m. You think the 690 is big enough for my length? I'm also considering the Yamaha MT-07 and Honda CB650F (which is also the bike I use for my lessons).
Duke 690 is higher than both of the other ones (I believe)
I just got a 690 smc r for my first bike. I did ride a ttr125 like four or five times then I bought the 690 smc r. WOOHOO!
How's it going? I'm seriously considering grabbing the same bike for my first!
@@vluri258 fucken amazing. I don't regret It for one second. Every day is blessed now.
Newbie q can you trips with this? I got to see the bike and feels so good and comfortable
Many people do but it comes down to your experience
Great review
Good bye R6 welcome ktm 690
No no no it's far to much fun, I'm in my 60s and just got one and it's up there with the best I've ever had, and I have had lots of bikes, don't know how you could get better for a quick blast
I will stick with the 390 for now. The 690 is tempting but too much for now.
I f*cking love this bike!
NEED OPNIONS.
I’m thinking of getting this bike for my first bike. I grew up riding dirt bikes and have a calling for a sport. It’s been years since I have been on a motorcycle but I feel the reckluse clutch , good seat height, I’m 5,10 , and not to mention the easy and intermediate options of power. I know that my right hand is the most important tool on the bike. I am 22 and beginning the starting safety course soon. I feel I can handle it but have gotten negative feedback. Please give me your feedback.
I was in a similar scenario as yourself. Had mixed opinions on getting a bike with that much power as a new rider. I said fuck it and got the 690 Duke!
The bike is super light and so easy to maneuver, the clutch is like butter, and the ABS system works phenomenally! I’ve put about 1500 kms on it so far and I don’t regret my decision at all.
I do live deep in the mountains in British Columbia in a small town so it’s perfect for my needs. If I lived in a big city with lots of traffic, it would be a different story.
The 690 doesn’t like to be babied, it hates being ridden below 4000 rpm, even with a fuelling dongle and different sprockets. It just begs you to open it up, and when you do it has enough power to throw you back so be cautious!
If you let out the clutch too fast, you will feel it! It’s scrappy, it vibrates, it’s jerky at low revs and it’s raw AF. But honestly, that’s what makes it so wonderful. It’s a hot mess, it can’t make up it’s mind on what type of bike it is (hooligan machine seems to be the best fit to describe it) it’s perfectly imperfect, oh and I hope you have at least some basic level of mechanical knowledge… because KTM.
If you have self control, and you are smart about how and when you open it up, go for it! If you’re smooth with your hand movements and always respect the bike, it’s fine as a beginner bike. I love it to death and it puts the biggest smile on my face every time I ride it.
Make smart decisions, always scan ahead, and respect the power of the LC4 engine because it has enough punch in it to get you into some real trouble, it is not a 300cc sub 40hp bike so it will not be forgiving if you ride beyond your limits.
Invest in a good set of tires, some crash bars, and proper riding gear too.
Safe Riding out there! Keep the rubber side down.
If you drove 2000 miles on a Ninja 300, then you started on a Ninja 300 LOL not a 690 Duke. 2000 miles is a few months of riding for most. You would have to be riding between 60 and 70 miles per day everyday, that's a lot of riding. Great video, great-sounding bike!
Как раз такое и планирую для начала взять.
You should have more subs
“You guys wanna race?” ..... lols
How’s the maintenance as far as cost and ease?
MrScottcoop maintenance should probably be reasonably easy as it’s only a single cylinder engine
Thinking of getting this bike. Good as a daily?
auomauom i use this in malaysia, yes it is
$400+ payment and $500+ monthly insurance 😂
Is the same true of the 790? Still good for sensible beginners?
Hi frend how is service is very expensive for this bike ? Thanks .
I’m looking at buying a 390 never road as much as a dirt bike is it a good start?
That's a great place to.start. if you like the sports bike full fairing the RC390 is amazing as well. You can start on a bigger bike but depending on the person you'll have a greater learning curve.
So you think the new ktm 790 duke would be a good starter bike?
I love my 690
how reliable is the engine , will it last 50k miles
hisham elghazoly nope. These bikes usually last 20-25k with even regular service, then it blows up.. it catches fire and thats it.
@@szb914 bs
How's the reliability on those Duke ?
Depends on how you ride it. Ive got 12k miles on mine. Only major thing I have done was replace the clutch slave cylinder. I change my oil every 3k miles and change the filters each time. In my opinion these bikes are very reliable. Easy to work on, and parts are relatively cheap compared to many other bikes.
TheGreatLaker do you change your filter screens every oil change?
is 10k views far off?
We are at 5,500 total channel views right now. But its increasing at a pretty steady rate. More content coming.
LOL @ Granola munchers :D
Hey TheGreatLaker, could you tell me which exhaust you got for your duke 690? Mine has an Akrapovic slip on and it sounds horrible :( I want the same exhaust you've got! An answer would be nice and of course nice video :)
Mine is the Competition Werkes full satin black system. It thumps like no other. They are only $850 for the full system. The microphone does not do a justice on how good it actually sounds in person.
How's your oil consumption?
1qt for every 4k miles
TheGreatLaker
Ok, How many miles on your bike? Looking at buying a new 690 duke. I've heard that some people end up having really bad oil use, 1qt/1k miles, or some have almost none.
Justin Cabalka Mine stopped completely eating oil @ 6k miles...
What gloves are that? (Super sexy)
I have a 250 dual sport and I wasnt sure if a 690 would be too much but also thought a 390 would be too little I think I will go with a 690 now.
How were you paying 450 a month, AFTER a trade in.. I mean really that seems impossible, you could be on a Ducati V4s with no trade in for that much. It doesn’t take rocket science to ballpark how much a bike is going to cost monthly, most are on 48 month terms, an mt-10 can be had for around 12-13 grand brand new, let’s just say your trade in paid for only the tax/title/fees and you had to finance the MSRP of 12,000, that comes out to $250 a month and that’s being super generous on your trade in. I’ve never in my life heard of anyone paying almost 500 a month for any bike that didn’t cost at least 20,000+ W/ no trade in. Love to hear the specifics of why you got raped on the payments of that bike and why you got super raped by the insurance on that bike, you must have had the worst driving record and a shit ton of accidents and have been 20 years old to even remotely get close to that terrible of a rate, and even then that’s a stretch. In a year and a half you’d have paid the MSRP of the bike in insurance payments, if that was how insurance worked a Toyota Camry with the MSRP of 24k would cost a 1,200 a month to insure. The insurance of an MT-10 would be around 1,000 dollars a YEAR, not whatever you’re claiming.
Short answer. Yes...yes it most definitely is
subdermal13 thanks lol
Du plouck!
Granola munchers ? Let me guess, you're 230 lbs.
Jason Rees that weight could me nothing😂 anything taller then 6ft that’s a normal or even less then normal weight
franklin
I won’t look at a duke 690 if KTM can’t give us the R version then keep your bikes 🖕
I would have continued watching your video but your rude comments against cyclists prevent me from watching your video. As a mountain biker not everybody on a bicycle is like that. thank you for showing your ignorance.