• Welcome to the Two Wheeled Texans community! Feel free to hang out and lurk as long as you like. However, we would like to encourage you to register so that you can join the community and use the numerous features on the site. After registering, don't forget to post up an introduction!

I'm Torn! 500 EXC or 690 Enduro R or ???

Forums New posts
JMZ said:
trice is wrong. The 690r is a way better dual sport bike , don't kid yourself
Click to expand...

But I'll give you partial credit if you post up a pick of your dual sport kitted 690 out in the real world on an adventure......
 
Big%20Bend%20027_zps3vimohst.jpg
 
tricepilot said:
But I'll give you partial credit if you post up a pick of your dual sport kitted 690 out in the real world on an adventure......
Click to expand...

My 690 :confused:...................:lol2:.:lol2:.:lol2:..............................................:doh::doh:
 
copb8 said:
... With the 690 can't you only fill the stock tank if you're riding single track and only fill the Safari tank if you're traveling longer distances. ...
Click to expand...

You could; there are shutoff valves on each side and a x-conn valve, and if a hundred miles or so are sufficient, that'd work. The best way may be to fill the Safari abt half-way, keeping the additional weight low in the bike, but shutting off the fuel valves until you need to "refill" the OEM tank then open one valve, run that out, and do the same for the other side.

P.S.! - If you fill the OEM tank first, then the Safari, and you forget to shut the individual Safari valves before filling the tank, the fuel at the top of the Safari (in that "saddle") will run all over the bike thru the OEM tank vent! DAMHIK!:eek2:

It's not that the 690 is a big pig, it's definitely NOT, but it's a heckuva lot bigger than the EXC and the weight's higher so I really feel the difference.
 
You boys are having too much fun.

A quick word in my defense regarding taking action. Although it didn't work out as well as I'd hoped I read a thread on TWT about a trip to Mexico. Never been. Signed up. Bought a bike. Spent months making it ready. And then headed on down there. It was awesome and I can't wait to do it again.

I'm not afraid of commitment, drama or adventure but if I'm at a crossroads I'm going to sit and think about out it for a bit before I pick a road. There's no sane reason not to.
 
Bart, you've got two great bikes. Use the Tenere to go to Mexico and the KTM for technical offroad. If you do this the KTM should not need much. And the Tenere can do fine in Mexico with simple mods like tires.

As for me, the decision to quit dual-sport and offroad motorcycling was the right one for me. I learned too late to get any good at it, and was missing the joy and comfort of doing 400 miles a day on a sport touring bike. Now with just the Tiger I have no tradeoffs to make... I ride it lots, commuting, short and long trips and feel confident with my experience and skills on pavement. Glad I did Utah & Colorado trails, but don't miss it. Thinking of picking up offroad bicycling to see how much I like it.

Good luck with your choice!
 
Last edited:
texxter said:
Bart, you've got two great bikes. Use the Tenere to go to Mexico and the KTM for technical offroad. If you do this the KTM should not need much. And the Tenere can do fine in Mexico with simple mods like tires.

As for me, the decision to quit dual-sport and offroad motorcycling was the right one for me. I learned too late to get any good at it, and was missing the joy and comfort of doing 400 miles a day on a sport touring bike. Now with just the Tiger I have no tradeoffs to make... I ride it lots, commuting, short and long trips and feel confident with my experience and skills on pavement. Glad I did Utah & Colorado trails, but don't miss it. Thinking of picking up offroad bicycling to see how much I like it.

Good luck with your choice!
Click to expand...

Well the good news is that picking up an offroad bicycle is going to be WAY easier that a dual sport! :lol2: I shudder to think of having to pick up the Tenere a bunch of times.

From what I saw personally and from the follow up ride reports I read on TWT I'm not sure the Tenere would have been as much fun in Mexico as a good DS bike. Would've been nice for the commute but after that it would've been a lot of weight to lug around.


BTW, I followed your CO trip on FB. Looked like a great ride.
 
A generous TWT member who lives right around the corner from me has offered to let me ride his 690 Enduro R. He owns both the 690 and the 500 so will have a great perspective. This will really help me solidify a decision one way or the other.

I'm ready to get on with it so I can have a bike ready for the fall!
 
tricepilot said:
Bart, I'd skip the HT oil cooler thing even if they made one to fit your bike. If you're not racing the bike just change the oil after every adventure trip and move on to other tasks.

Skip the screen as well, I'll save that for a phone conversation.

Here's my recommended priority list:

(1) Acerbis after market tank. You're making a dual sport adventure bike and you'll need the range but remember there's no law that says you have to fill the tank all the way if you don't need to - save weight.

(2) Scott Damper. A real life saver in the deep sand and actually makes sand riding a blast. Also great for river crossings. Set the damper right and keep your eyes focused on the far shore and not the water in front of you. The damper will take the ricochet away from the hidden bolder.

(3) Pro Moto billet rack. A must to attach your Giant Loop or similar soft luggage.

(4) Garmin Montana or similar GPS

Down the road consider the Rekluse and the Seat Concepts and other mods. Those first four will let you go rip and have fun!

PS - here's a photo from the twtex.com photo rotation:

i-VQP67nv-L.jpg


Stephen Cover wrote the book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Habit #2 is "Begin With The End In Mind"

Visualize that that's you and your bike in that photo.

Quit staring at that new bike parked in the garage, or chasing other's views of better bikes on the internet.

You have the king of dual sports in your hands. Go make experiences.
Click to expand...

I'm sure considering going this direction. Question, the Scott's really make a difference at low speed with the hidden boulders? Never considered that.
 
woodsguy said:
I'm sure considering going this direction. Question, the Scott's really make a difference at low speed with the hidden boulders? Never considered that.
Click to expand...

A friend of mine has 2 BMW G450X's, one with a Scott's damper and one without. Took a little getting used to having resistance in the handlebars when turning but really made a big difference in sand and rocky creek bottoms.

I rode the 500EXC on the highway and felt the bars were very 'loose' at speed. I little tendency to wobble. There's no doubt the Scott's damper will settle it down. I consider it a must-have for the bike.
 
copb8 said:
... I rode the 500EXC on the highway and felt the bars were very 'loose' at speed. I little tendency to wobble. There's no doubt the Scott's damper will settle it down. I consider it a must-have for the bike.
Click to expand...

I'm mos def not arguing against a steering damper but a little tweak on the steering stem nut might be all that's needed to tame that twitch.
 
copb8 said:
A friend of mine has 2 BMW G450X's, one with a Scott's damper and one without. Took a little getting used to having resistance in the handlebars when turning but really made a big difference in sand and rocky creek bottoms.

I rode the 500EXC on the highway and felt the bars were very 'loose' at speed. I little tendency to wobble. There's no doubt the Scott's damper will settle it down. I consider it a must-have for the bike.
Click to expand...

With a combination of aggressive knobby`s and the light weight they do get twitchy on the highway, and throw in a few trucks. I have a 500 with a D606 on the front with a Scotts and crank it up a few notches when on the road..
 
garfey said:
I'm mos def not arguing against a steering damper but a little tweak on the steering stem nut might be all that's needed to tame that twitch.
Click to expand...

Not true. Not even close to being true, at least in the sense of trying to copy a Scott system. Not only is this advice potentially not good for the bearing system in terms of adjustment, it will have zero rebound effect a.k.a. dampening effect. It will do absolutely zero to mimic the return of a Scott system.

Of course, there may be two separate impressions of what Bart means by loose here, or if that's what he even means by twitch. A loose headset is a different matter entirely, requiring a bearing inspection and the adjustment described above, but a proper adjustment and an indiscriminate tightening are two different things, one good and one not so good.
 
Last edited:
tricepilot said:
Of course, there may be two separate impressions of what Bart means by loose here, or if that's what he even means by twitch. A loose headset is a different matter entirely, requiring a bearing inspection and the adjustment described above, but a proper adjustment and an indiscriminate tightening are two different things, one good and one not so good.
Click to expand...

To clarify, I was referring to loose as in it was too easy to turn and somewhat oscillated. Mechanically it's as tight as it should be with zero slop in the movement between the forks and frame.
 
copb8 said:
To clarify, I was referring to loose as in it was too easy to turn and somewhat oscillated. Mechanically it's as tight as it should be with zero slop in the movement between the forks and frame.
Click to expand...

Looks like we're ordering a Scott damper today!
 
tricepilot said:
Not true. Not even close to being true, at least in the sense of trying to copy a Scott system. Not only is this advice potentially not good for the bearing system in terms of adjustment, it will have zero rebound effect a.k.a. dampening effect. It will do absolutely zero to mimic the return of a Scott system.

Of course, there may be two separate impressions of what Bart means by loose here, or if that's what he even means by twitch. A loose headset is a different matter entirely, requiring a bearing inspection and the adjustment described above, but a proper adjustment and an indiscriminate tightening are two different things, one good and one not so good.
Click to expand...

Congratulations! You completely misread, or misinterpreted, or maybe you just like to hear your voice "roar," rewording what's just been said.
 
If something on my xrl is the slightest little eenth off from where it likes to be, she'll get all "slappy" on me at highway speeds.

So yes, a SLIGHT change on his 500 will almost certainly have the sake effect. For better or worse. Be in the stem nut, or even putting the bike on the stand, breaking everything loose, then retorquing it all may alleviate it completely
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top