KTM 690 smc r

[2ono]

Hi all, I am interested in getting one of these, had a KTM Duke II few years back, just wondered if there were any owners out there with good/bad experiences to share. Thanks in advance.

[Tim85]

I had a 2012 for 2 months ish. i managed to ride it twice. On the bike side i have nothing but good things to say...when it worked. The dealership side where a complete joke.

In brief, the bike is awesome, its a right laugh, it brakes well, it wheelies for fun, itl keep up with most things until you get onto big a roads. The front end does feel completely vague at high speed corners i think due to the gigantic suspension travel, it sounds alright for a single. The seat is fine although mine didnt work long enough for me to do any proper miles. Anything over 100 and you get some interesting bar wobble which i think is due to the wind on the bar protector things.
My bad experience came from the dealers.The bike would cut out all the time. Mostly when you were just about to pull away from traffic lights so youd filter through try to set off itd die then all the cars would have to slam on which wasnt fun. I bought it from a shop then when i had the problems they bent over backwards to help me out. when they couldnt sort it they sent it to ktm paying for all the work etc. When i went in to pick it up the staff were idiots. They didnt seem to know what a smc was they didnt know which one my bike was or what work it had done, then they gave me the keys, pushed it outside the shutters then closed the shutters behind me beforwe i was even through them. Then when i started it up and it cut out straight away i saw the guy running back to the office. At this point i just limped it back to the place i bought it from and got my money back.

If the dealership weren't rude and basically aholes id buy another ktm as ive no doubt if got one that worked id still be loving it now but that experience and the next nearest ktm dealership being miles away has put me off ever buying another. Basically if youve already had a ktm and trust the dealership i dont see why it wouldnt be fine as any make/model can have problems its just how they deal with it that puts me off places.

[obscene]

What year? 2014 had the new twin spark engine. In complete contrast to the above, mine has been 110% reliable and I've wanted nothing more from it. Cracking bike. Any questions, just ask!

[2ono]

obscene said:

What year? 2014 had the new twin spark engine. In complete contrast to the above, mine has been 110% reliable and I've wanted nothing more from it. Cracking bike. Any questions, just ask!

It is a 2013 model, only done 3000 miles, full dealer service history, akra can tail tidy etc. I spoke to a dealer in Hemmel and he said there is not a huge difference in single and twin spark engines, not buying it from him by the way.

Guy who owns it wants to do a swap for my 2012 speed triple.

I have a V4 Tuono as well so really fancy the complete contrast in bikes, plus I really miss my Duke II.