The power of orange compels you!

[DanTheMan]

So whats your main purpose for the bike, Weekend toy? 95% road 5% dirt? 50/50? Wanting to get into dirt riding, but the sumo setup is a nice option? And for the dirt, are you thinking of single track or just gravel over back roads?

If you plan on mostly street, get the 690. its a better street bike and pilot powers can hold well on dirt roads. Maybe not the most comfortable for a new to dirt rider, but with some dirt exp your fine.

Mostly dirt and occasional street to get there, get the 530/525. They are way better dirt bikes.

But thats just practical reasoning, if you want the kickass hotrod supermoto, go for the 530/525.

[Slide Panda]

Good questions - I'm terribly conflicted is part of the problem. I do want to play on the dirt roads + a bit more. But it's doubtful that I'll be 'hard core off road'. Around where I live there's some travel time to get beyond tight subUrbia where one can find more dirty play areas. So there will be paved miles at the beginning and end of any trip currently.

But of course if I had something more dirt capable, I'm the sort to push, and I'd try harder dirt stuff as I gained skill.. Though folks take 1200 GSs thought some crazy shit so a 3X0 pound 690 should be able to hang.

But the hooligan in me wants the kickass hotrod SuMo. Can't say I'd be comfy taking the Monster to a track (too many hard to find due to age farkles) but something a little more resilient - hell yeah! Axel sliders, some sliders on the barkbusters... Braaap! The closest track, Summit Point, even has/had Friday afternoon SuMo time on the short course that's used by a GoKart operation in the evenings. Blowing off a friday and going to learn from those guys would be tons of fun

Maybe it is the 690 as the all around. A bit big/heavy for real dirt or real SuMo but a good naughty machine that will do it all well if none excellently. But the little hot rod does appeal.

Gah...

[Monsterlover]

The exc bikes have a seal that keeps engine and trans oil separate.

It failed commonly and in the second half of 08 the bikes that rolled off the line with the updated seal got the R designation. In 09 the bikes didn't change but the R got dropped.

6300 for a 530 with sumo setup is a nice deal.

[DanTheMan]

Good questions - I'm terribly conflicted is part of the problem. I do want to play on the dirt roads + a bit more. But it's doubtful that I'll be 'hard core off road'. Around where I live there's some travel time to get beyond tight subUrbia where one can find more dirty play areas. So there will be paved miles at the beginning and end of any trip currently.

But of course if I had something more dirt capable, I'm the sort to push, and I'd try harder dirt stuff as I gained skill.. Though folks take 1200 GSs thought some crazy shit so a 3X0 pound 690 should be able to hang.

But the hooligan in me wants the kickass hotrod SuMo. Can't say I'd be comfy taking the Monster to a track (too many hard to find due to age farkles) but something a little more resilient - hell yeah! Axel sliders, some sliders on the barkbusters... Braaap! The closest track, Summit Point, even has/had Friday afternoon SuMo time on the short course that's used by a GoKart operation in the evenings. Blowing off a friday and going to learn from those guys would be tons of fun

Maybe it is the 690 as the all around. A bit big/heavy for real dirt or real SuMo but a good naughty machine that will do it all well if none excellently. But the little hot rod does appeal.

Gah...

thats it the 5XX will make a better track bike and dirt bike. The suspension setup is completely different but nothing you cant ride around for a non-competitive track day.

I chose the 690 for a street supermoto/touring/dual sport.

[Slide Panda]

The nice 690 Enduro on ADV with the SuMo kit is still on the block. The seller didn't like the SE... Fired off a PM to him

Please pick me!

[lethe]

I've taken my 625 on some actual hardcore rocky trails and it will do it, even with the 17" inch wheel up front it (don't go based off the couple videos I threw up on Youtube, that's mild dirt roads).
So you should be fine as with the enduro you're starting off with a better setup than I'm running at the moment for off road.

[rockaduc]

The exc bikes have a seal that keeps engine and trans oil separate.

It failed commonly and in the second half of 08 the bikes that rolled off the line with the updated seal got the R designation. In 09 the bikes didn't change but the R got dropped.

6300 for a 530 with sumo setup is a nice deal.

The "updated seal" (is actually 2 o rings for the oil pumps) didn't get replaced w/ good results until mid-year 2010.  The engines prior to then still had the o-rings fail even though KTM claimed to have fixed the problem.  The engines for model year 2011 are almost all free of this problem.

[Monsterlover]

Good info.

Hmmm, I hope my 2010 is ok!

[rockaduc]

Good info.

Hmmm, I hope my 2010 is ok!

Keep an eye on it. I'm very suspicious of mine. I'm probably taking it in before I start riding again this spring.  I'm fairly certain I need the thicker o rings. I would do myself if I wasn't so intimidated at the thought of splitting the cases.   

[The Mad King Pepe']

Around where I live there's some travel time to get beyond tight subUrbia where one can find more dirty play areas. So there will be paved miles at the beginning and end of any trip currently.

^^^ this. Is why I think the 690 is the better option (unless you want to trailer the bike).

I went out yesterday and it was about 20+miles (30 mins) to the first fun road, then about 10 miles to the next dirt road, etc, etc... The only slab was at the beginning and the end, the rest was some pretty nice back roads, but I think I covered about 160+ miles. How many of these days can you do with the 690 before you need to service it? How many with the 530? And how many fillings will vibrate loose on the slab... 

[Monsterlover]

 

[rockaduc]

Very cool!! 
Now, how about getting rid of those fork reflectors?

[Monsterlover]

I don't even notice them.

Maybe I should add more?

[kopfjäger]

Yoyodyne has a slipper for the 690.   

[lethe]

how about you throw that thing in the truck and head east some weekend?