Winter projects 1 - battery charger plug and status indicator

Comfort Indicator Eyelet as it is called by CTEK

I've installed the CTEK battery charging plug with LED charge indicator lights to my last four bikes. It's really handy during the winter as you can charge the battery (and see the battery status) without the need to remove the seat or dig out the battery terminals. On the 690 the battery is easily accessible, but on my 696 Ducati Monster for example you needed to lift off the fuel tank to access the battery. Yes, really. I also had some regulator issues on my previous (Yamaha Tenere) bike so I mounted the plug on the dash to be able to see if I the regulator was working properly. It once saved my but, as I was able to react in time when the light went from green to orange while riding.

2015 KTM 690 Enduro R

2015 KTM Enduro R [21.11.2014]

It seems that KTM has updated their product page about the 2015 KTM Enduro R. Only thing that seems to have changed is the year on the title. To my eye the 2014 and 2015 bikes look identical. In fact even the file name on the picture is exactly the same. Surely something must have changed?

2014 KTM Enduro R

Perun Moto products

Perun rear rack for the 690 Enduro R

I wanted to share the Perun Moto find I made as I really like his work. I first ran into Perun and his products at a ADVrider.com luggage & rack thread. He is a one man shop operating from Serbia and manufacturing and designing the products himself. What makes him special is that, to my eye, he has been able to come up with stuff that is better thought out than anything else out there (including the big manufacturers). The rear rack above for example is similar to the Nomadic rack, but with much better attachment/strapping options. The rack has also been designed to be easily integrated with Touratech pannier racks, Happy Trail pannier rack, Wolfman side racks and Rally Raid side racks. A good example of good design and though put into the product is that the rack comes two sets of aluminium spacers are provided - one for rack alone and other for using luggage rack with pannier racks.

Perun Moto provides good photos of the installation

Another big plus is that Perun Moto site has very good installation instructions. Usually what you get is a folded foto copy with rather suggestive instructions. Oh, and Peruns stuff is very reasonably priced too, the rack priced at $120. If I had known about Perun's products I would have absolutely chosen his rack over anything else.

Another example of Peruns excellent design is his skid plate project. He has really taken time to research problems (based on user reports) with other similar products and came up with his own improved design. Sadly this product is not currently for sale. Read more about the project at Perun Moto

Go visit Perun Moto site : http://perun-motorcycle-store.myshopify.com/collections/all

Husqvarna 701 - A KTM SMC R in disguise

New EICMA releases are popping up everywhere. Nothing that interests me to the point of seriously contemplating trading in the 690 has yet surfaced. The new Africa Twin prototype is certainly interesting but it doesn't look like it's that different from a Triumph 800 XC or a GS 800. Too heavy for someone used to a 150 kg bike. The new KTM 1050 Adventure is also interesting, but again more of the same.

The new Husqvarna 701 however tickles my fancy a little bit. Sure it's a basically a rebadged KTM SMC and it has lost some (or most) of the edge the concept had, but still. I do think the KTM version looks better, but the Husky has a sort of fresh look to it.


Technically the KTM and Husqvarna supermotos are nearly identical (67hp , 320 lbs (145kg), APTC slipper clutch, ABS brakes, WP suspension, and ride-by-wire with different riding modes) so the differentiating factor is the color and bodywork, Rumor has it that the 690 line will be Husqvarnas in the future and that as of 2016 the KTM 690 Enduro will no longer be available. I'm not buying it until I see some evidence.

Oh,and  check out the 401 Vitpilen and 401 Svartpile concept at the Husky website.

the original concept

30000 visitors

30 000 hits on this blog. Wow. Winter is coming and even though I've still been able to commute daily there's going to be a long break from riding. I'll try to come up with something even remotely interesting to post during the winter months. If nothing else, I will keep a close eye to potential new bikes to dethrone the 690 Enduro.