KTM 690 Enduro R Touring screen [765.08.065.000]

As far as I know the KTM powerparts screen is pretty much the only option for the 690. Yes the Basel kits and the like include a screen, but it's not really a comparable product since the powerparts screen is $50 and the Basel kit is...well thousands.

I would have preferred a taller screen, but I couldn't find any other bolt-on options besides the powerparts version.

Installation

The installation requires you to take off the whole headlight assembly and disconnect the indicators and headlight. Easy peasy.



Then comes the part where you need to pay attention. If you are sloppy with the template and marking / drilling the holes you may end up with holes that don't match the screen and you can also end up with a screen that's tilted to one side. There is very little to work with, the screen holes don't have much play so you better get it right the firs

Once installed there is a nice gap between the screen and the headlight mask. Makes cleaning a lot easier!

KTM Tank Bag [750.12.919.000]

I was able to get the KTM luggage (tank bag and rear bag)  very cheap so I didn't go with the Giant Loop, Wolfman etc. alternatives even though they are very likely better products. I have found very little information on both the rear bag or the tank bag on the net. Especially pictures of the bag mounted seem to be surprisingly scarce. With this in mind I took a few pictures so people considering the KTM bags could get a better idea how they fit and what can be fitted in them.

KTM powerparts tank bag on KTM 690 Enduro R

Tank bag

The tank bag seems better suited for the 690 than the rear bag. The tank bag does not actually sit on top of the tank on the 690 as it would on most bikes. Instead it sits on the front portion of the seat. This is a huge plus as it does not need to be moved out of the way when filling the tank.

The bag comes with rear mounting straps that have a loop sewn on them. The front strap is a one piece that loops under the bike and meets the buckle on the other side. It is sewn on the bike from the left side. The rear straps are quick release, but the front is a traditional hook & loop thingy.

The bag fits the 690 quite nicely and while it's not a perfect fit, it's plenty good enough. Unlike the rear bag that can be "made to work" with the 690 the tank bag just does.

Like the rear bag, the tank bag is not water proof and comes with a separate rain cover. No paint protecting film was provided with the tank bag.

After a short trip to the archipelago it was clear that the tank bag is far more useful than the rear bag. It's instantly accessible and while not as spacious it's still large enough (especially when extended) to hold a good bunch of gear. The bag has a clear plastic window on top so you can slip in your phone, tablet, map or whatever and have a peek at it when riding. There is also a dedicated hole for a charging cable on the front of the bag. The bag has three smaller pockets in addition to the main compartment, two on the sides and one on the back. 

It is worth mentioning that the bag can be unzipped from the attachment "bra" so that you don't need to unhook everything if you don't want to leave the bag with the bike.

UPDATE [Oct. 12th.2014]

After some real world riding and testing I have to say, I can not recommend the KTM bag 100% . It works fine until you need to start fiddling with the rain cover. The rain cover inflates to a huge balloon if attached carelessly and it makes accessing the bag less than ideal. Even if the previous weren't true, it's annoying having tot mess with a separate rain cover. Spend a few extra bucks and get a waterproof bag if you plan on riding in bad weather.




This is the KTM bag

This is probably better

Archipelago run - some photos

KTM 690 Enduro R night shot

KTM large rear bag [613.12.928.000] for 690 Enduro R - review

I was able to get some KTM luggage (tank bag and rear bag) very cheap so I didn't go with the Giant Loop, Wolfman etc. alternatives even though they are very likely better products. I have found very little information on both the KTM large rear bag or the tank bag on the net. Especially pictures of the bags mounted seem to be surprisingly scarce. With this in mind I took a few pictures so people considering the KTM bags could get a better idea how they fit and what can be fitted in them.

Overall impressions

The bag seems to be relatively well made although manufactured in Pakistan or somewhere similar no doubt. The fact that the bag is not water proof is a bit of downer, but I knew that going in. The bottom of the bag is rubberized and the shape of the bottom seems to fit the Nomadic rack pretty well. There is ofcourse some overhang on the sides which may be a concern if the bag gets shifted too close to the exhaust. Naturally the bag also covers the fuel cap, but due to the quick release buckles (or what ever they are called) the front end can be lifted out of the way pretty swiftly. Mounting a rotopax between the bag and Nomadic rack would likely eliminate the pipe burn threat so I will have to look into that. The only problem with that is that the rotopax mount can not be quickly detached which means that the Rotopax canister would always need to be mounted on the bike in order to use the the rear bag.

Mounting

The bag was mounted on a Nomadic rear rack which I installed a little while ago. The four buckles are placed on the four corners of the bag and while not optimal I was able to tie down the bag quite securely. I used the separate pieces of nylon straps that were provided with the bag. The 4 straps have a loop on the other end, so it gives you some options when mounting the bag.

Included accessories

The bag came with 4 separate nylon straps, 2 short straps with plastic loops on the other end, a "triangle strap" for carrying the bag on your back backpack style and a rain cover. The bag also included a sheet of clear self adhesive film that I assume is for protcting the paint on the parts that the bag comes in contact with.

* I'm only assuming the long strap is for the backpack carry and I don't have a clue what the short straps are for. No instructions came with the bag.

Available space

For testing purposes I packed in a pair of jeans and a pair of hiking boots and... Well that was pretty much it. The main compartment was full. I did not use the little extra space that can be utilized by unzipping one of zippers and thus allowing the bag to grow in height. By doing so, it does make some more room, but not much. The side pockets were left empty, but are likely handy on trips although not very spacious. You can easily pack in enough for a nice day trip assuming you don't have to prepare for a variety of weather conditions, but making a weekend trip with this bag alone is pushing it.

Conclusion

Can I recommend the bag? No, not at this point, but then again I wouldn't recommend against getting one either. Time will tell how it holds up. The man selling points for the bag over any $30 waterproof duffel bag are it's ability to hold it's shape when empty and the buckles on the corners.

UPDATE

I would not recommend mounting this back directly to a Nomadic rack or similar. The bag is wide enough to hang over the sides of the luggage rack and once it's buckled down tight, it's just too close to the hot exhaust. With extended use the bag will probable loosen up a bit more and you will end up with burnt luggage for sure.

In this picture the bag is not even strapped on, and it's already nearly touching the exhaust. Note that there is nothing in the bag either. Not good.

KTM foam rubber for tank cap [765.07.008.060]

Honestly the need for this particular "power part" has not presented itself yet, but I ordered it anyway when I ordered the luggage and other stuff. It supposedly prevents debris entering the tank when the tank cap is opened. It was only 6 € so I went for it.

After installing it, I'm not terribly convinced that it will actually do much good. If the bike is encrusted with mud and crap when you open the cap you will get debris in the tank regardless.

KTM Ergo Seat for 2014 KTM 690 Enduro R [765.07.940.000]

The KTM ergo seat arrived today. After closer inspection and a test sitting it seems that it may actually be worse than the stock seat. The shape is rounder which places more pressure on the but cheeks AND it is also noticeably harder than the stock seat. I remember reading somewhere that the stock seat has been recently improved and that the padding has been redesigned. I can't find the info anymore to verify it. 

While the difference is probably millimeters it looks like the ergo site is also actually lower than the stock. I did not notice any difference sitting on the bike though. I need to take a good long ride with both before making a final verdict on which to keep on the bike.

2014 KTM 690 Enduro R ergo seat and stock seat top view

2014 KTM 690 Enduro R ergo seat and stock seat side by side

2014 KTM 690 Enduro R ergo seat and stock seat prfile

UPDATE

Nope. I can't say I like the ergo seat as far as comfort goes. It still feels very hard. I can only imagine what the OEM seat has been like in previous years if this thing has been an improvement. As it is now, the best use I can think for it is to use the seat pan as a base for a Seat Concepts seat etc. Then again, it's still on the bike so it's not that bad.