RUST magazine: RUST#41

2019 KTM 690 ENDURO R
For those who don’t use that kind of a
metric this translates into 25km/litre or
70mpg. Which sounds like a best, not an
average. And for fuel range this means
a best of 335km/210 miles to a tankful.
Now that’s not quite super-tour brilliant,
but for this kind of a bike, good enough
– to be safe you’d be looking to refuel
around the 250km/150 mile mark.
Tyres for this test were Continental
TKC80s – quite worn after two weeks
battle, but plenty good enough for
the conditions. No argument there.
However, the standard fitment will be
Mitas E07s, which are a little more 50/50
– which depending on your intended
riding is either good or bad.
I’m getting bored now, but yes there
are mirrors that work and hand guards.
And the handlebars (fat bar type) you
could move forward and back in four
positions. Even the triple clamps are
adjustable, say KTM, set at 24mm offset
with an option to sharpen up to 22mm.
The lighting looks adequate – not tested
of course. I’ll stop there.
TRAIL OR ADVENTURE?
So I gotta say I loved the KTM 690
Enduro R. I definitely have a soft spot
for this kind of 650-690cc single
cylinder trail bike (I’ve been a big fan
of the Honda XR650R, Yamaha Ténéré
660 and Husqvarna Terra 650) – they
really work in that sweet spot between
enduro and adventure. Where you want
to ride further but still over technical
terrain, and really don’t fancy hauling
a lumbering 1200. Trails like those in
Moab, Utah that we rode in November
are just made for bikes like the 690
Enduro R – you’re not sweating the
refuel in your enduro bike, not in
pain as that enduro skitters along the
highway on sketchy knobblies, not in
mortal fear of lowing 275 kilos of 1200
super-adv over a three-foot drop off.
There are a lot of trails that suit the
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