KTM 690E - All Things Suspension Related

[Mudguts]

CC = twin chamber

I running the 300mm fork 13mm down in the triples that are adjusted to the 22mm offset with rear seg set to 85 mm i think ( can't remember )

I find it handle's real nice no pushing or tucking under in the front
I have yet to bottom out the fork hard they just seem to soak it up


I need to get the shock revalved again still much hi speed damping for me
as for the linkage I believe it will make it harsher but theres nothing like trying it out the goal is to elongate the holes and make some ecentric spaces , there's some photos of cyril's & chris's baja bike and there factory linkages on KTMTALK there hard to find but their there but that bike also used a different swing arm 690RR

[crankshaft]

Originally Posted by Mudguts

CC = twin chamber

I running the 300mm fork 13mm down in the triples that are adjusted to the 22mm offset with rear seg set to 85 mm i think ( can't remember )

I find it handle's real nice no pushing or tucking under in the front
I have yet to bottom out the fork hard they just seem to soak it up


I need to get the shock revalved again still much hi speed damping for me
as for the linkage I believe it will make it harsher but theres nothing like trying it out the goal is to elongate the holes and make some ecentric spaces , there's some photos of cyril's & chris's baja bike and there factory linkages on KTMTALK there hard to find but their there but that bike also used a different swing arm 690RR

Excellent, thank you for explaining it. Seems like we're pointing in the same direction but coming from different directions
I'm trying to build a bike to do some racing this year and I like what I'm hearing. I've also been checking out the Baja bike pics and noticed the differences you mentioned.

[Mudguts]

The fork springs I using are .48 polished and one rate up on the rear , for my 95kg


I also thinking of going the whole hog and ordering some SXS factory forks
but the KTM AUS , KTM US TRADE imbargo don't make things as easy as what the use to be
don't know what I'll do with the shock , maybe get the in ternals polished
as there is no after maket shocks available , stiction is the biggest problem with my current set up ,but first I'll get the new 2010 seals in the forks they are supose to help a heap .

I have been thinking a of a hybred rear shock but need to speak to an ohlin's mech , somthing of a Ohlin TTX yami R6 gas chamber MX piston chamber and sharft, just need to know if this is possible then need to see if the gas chamber is in the correct possition . but working with what i have is far easier.

[crankshaft]

Originally Posted by Mudguts

The fork springs I using are .48 polished and one rate up on the rear , for my 95kg


I also thinking of going the whole hog and ordering some SXS factory forks
but the KTM AUS , KTM US TRADE imbargo don't make things as easy as what the use to be
don't know what I'll do with the shock , maybe get the in ternals polished
as there is no after maket shocks available , stiction is the biggest problem with my current set up ,but first I'll get the new 2010 seals in the forks they are supose to help a heap .

I have been thinking a of a hybred rear shock but need to speak to an ohlin's mech , somthing of a Ohlin TTX yami R6 gas chamber MX piston chamber and sharft, just need to know if this is possible then need to see if the gas chamber is in the correct possition . but working with what i have is far easier.

A good friend of mine has a set of custom made shocks for his hill climb car made by AFCO. You give them all the specs and they build it for you custom.
http://www.afcoracing.com/hr_shocks.html
Maybe I'm crazy but why would they not work? Obviously we don't need to worry about bump steer, so it might be easier to figure out

Shot in the dark I guess....

If you need anything shipped to you, drop me a PM and I'll help you out.

[bigborefan]

Hey Crank, I started this thread but I am still running stock suspension on my 08. I am a cheap ass sometimes.. I have perfromed a service on the front end due to a leaking seal, and that is it. The biggest problem with the 08 suspension in my opinion anyway, is it is too stiff on small hits, tree roots, rocks, frozen dirt road with ripples and ruts, you really feel everything there. Lots of feedback at the bar. Then it is too soft on big hits, especially g-out situations. I think it needs softer valving, or at least initially softer and progressive valving, and stiffer springs.

I am not racing mine, using it for a back roads cruiser bike, with an occasional AMA Dual Sport event, but they are mild Dual Sports. I did ride it across CO once, but jeep roads, not any single track, The only time the bike has scared me was in CO. I found a whooped out riding area outside of Montrose CO and the bike really wanted to swap side to side there. It felt way to soft for that stuff. It was fine in Michigan whoops though, they were not as deep and softer dirt as well.

I weight about 225 with no gear, and I am 6'1". I would say I ride 50/50 standing vs seated. I am a pretty smooth rider, and ride light on the bike. I am not a hammer head. Although I have learned the 690 at speed goes where it wants sometimes, so I adjust in those cases.

I know SuperPlush has a solid rep. Slavens Racing in CO supposedly has some magic for the 690, but he ain't cheap. The suspension guy at KTM World in Georgia, he rides a 690 himself, he says he can fix it. I have MX Tech pretty close to me, so I could hand deliver the stuff to them.

TrailTricks on here, I am sure you know him. He did some stuff to his 08, different fork and shock mods.

If you can score an 09/10, you start off a little better, an inch more travel anyway.

Who I used personally would depend on timing and money. I travel a lot, if I was was going to be close and could hand deliver, that would be nice. If money was no issue, I would try Slavens.

6500 miles on mine so far. One of the most fun bikes I have ever owned. I know all you SE guys say the same thing about that bike. I have ridden two SEs, and I liked it.

[crankshaft]

Originally Posted by bigborefan

Hey Crank, I started this thread but I am still running stock suspension on my 08. I am a cheap ass sometimes.. I have perfromed a service on the front end due to a leaking seal, and that is it. The biggest problem with the 08 suspension in my opinion anyway, is it is too stiff on small hits, tree roots, rocks, frozen dirt road with ripples and ruts, you really feel everything there. Lots of feedback at the bar. Then it is too soft on big hits, especially g-out situations. I think it needs softer valving, or at least initially softer and progressive valving, and stiffer springs.

I am not racing mine, using it for a back roads cruiser bike, with an occasional AMA Dual Sport event, but they are mild Dual Sports. I did ride it across CO once, but jeep roads, not any single track, The only time the bike has scared me was in CO. I found a whooped out riding area outside of Montrose CO and the bike really wanted to swap side to side there. It felt way to soft for that stuff. It was fine in Michigan whoops though, they were not as deep and softer dirt as well.

I weight about 225 with no gear, and I am 6'1". I would say I ride 50/50 standing vs seated. I am a pretty smooth rider, and ride light on the bike. I am not a hammer head. Although I have learned the 690 at speed goes where it wants sometimes, so I adjust in those cases.

I know SuperPlush has a solid rep. Slavens Racing in CO supposedly has some magic for the 690, but he ain't cheap. The suspension guy at KTM World in Georgia, he rides a 690 himself, he says he can fix it. I have MX Tech pretty close to me, so I could hand deliver the stuff to them.

TrailTricks on here, I am sure you know him. He did some stuff to his 08, different fork and shock mods.

If you can score an 09/10, you start off a little better, an inch more travel anyway.

Who I used personally would depend on timing and money. I travel a lot, if I was was going to be close and could hand deliver, that would be nice. If money was no issue, I would try Slavens.

6500 miles on mine so far. One of the most fun bikes I have ever owned. I know all you SE guys say the same thing about that bike. I have ridden two SEs, and I liked it.

Thanks for the input. I had the 08 E suspension brought to R specs by Trail tricks and found it harsh for my liking. I like a squishy couch like ride on my bikes and I don't mind wallowing a bit at speed The biggest problem I have is that sending the shocks and forks across the country trying to dial it in gets expensive. How many times do you criss cross back and forth before you get it right, or wave the white flag?

If I could find a local suspension guy with a track, I would be all over it. How else can you tune it? The online form is nice and all but not ideal in my book. If I'm spending the money, I want it to be better than when it left my house. I know nothing about suspension, its obvious, so how can I relate my opinions about my suspension without any knowledge?

I hope I'm making sense.... A traveling suspension tuner would be very cool. Rent an MX track for a day go crazy, just like a pro shop at the golf course

[bigborefan]

Your %1000 right Crank. I have a buddy who used to work for Dave Miller Concepts in the 80s. DMC was a big player in the day. A competitor to Pro Circuit and FMF. Anyway, my buddy is from CA, so we don't get together very often. We got a chance to ride together once, he had my bike set up sweet, motor and suspension. He refuses to fly, or you could hire him. He built me some KX500 suspension a few years back. I was a little nervous it would come back too stiff. But it was straolounger smooth. The bike really squatted nicely and turned very well.

Having someone go with you is the ticket if you can get it. There has to be someone near you. How about Factory Connection, aren't they East Coast. Maybe they have someone they can refer you to. You might try some different forums as well.

[crankshaft]

Originally Posted by bigborefan

Your %1000 right Crank. I have a buddy who used to work for Dave Miller Concepts in the 80s. DMC was a big player in the day. A competitor to Pro Circuit and FMF. Anyway, my buddy is from CA, so we don't get together very often. We got a chance to ride together once, he had my bike set up sweet, motor and suspension. He refuses to fly, or you could hire him. He built me some KX500 suspension a few years back. I was a little nervous it would come back too stiff. But it was straolounger smooth. The bike really squatted nicely and turned very well.

Having someone go with you is the ticket if you can get it. There has to be someone near you. How about Factory Connection, aren't they East Coast. Maybe they have someone they can refer you to. You might try some different forums as well.

Factory connection is about an hour from me, so I'm sure I could use them but the 690 is a bit of an odd ball for them I would think. I have a friend that's a former Dirt track and ice racer that happens to be a AA enduro rider. The guy is methodical as all hell and understands suspensions very well. He'll actually wear a weight belt to simulate your weight and tests the suspension on his private enduro loop

Mudguts sounds like he knows his stuff but that is pretty typical for the boys down under, they don't have anyone to hold their hand when things get rough in the bush

[CHRIS_D]

Bigbore,

Thanks for the feedback on the tuners. I was just about to call KTMworld and see if they do suspension work on 690s. And from your post they do! I know they didn't want anything to do with the 990. For once it will be nice to have someone that is with in a few hour ride, has a track and I can talk to in person.

By the way, Is it Paul that rides the 690?

[JNRobert]

What about the suspension off of the 690RR rally bike? (I have no idea what the part numbers are or if its available but I assume its standard WP stuff).

[bigborefan]

Originally Posted by CHRIS_D

Bigbore,

Thanks for the feedback on the tuners. I was just about to call KTMworld and see if they do suspension work on 690s. And from your post they do! I know they didn't want anything to do with the 990. For once it will be nice to have someone that is with in a few hour ride, has a track and I can talk to in person.

By the way, Is it Paul that rides the 690?

I am not sure. I met two guys from there at an AMA Dual Sport in KY, the LBL 200. They had a little vendor display setup. We got to talking and one of them said he mechaniced there and had a 690 himself. We were in agreement on the 690 issues. He told me to drop by and they could fix me up. IIRC, he had reworked his already.

Post on here what you find out.

[crankshaft]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

What about the suspension off of the 690RR rally bike? (I have no idea what the part numbers are or if its available but I assume its standard WP stuff).

I don't even want to know what that would cost.....

[CHRIS_D]

Originally Posted by bigborefan

I am not sure. I met two guys from there at an AMA Dual Sport in KY, the LBL 200. They had a little vendor display setup. We got to talking and one of them said he mechaniced there and had a 690 himself. We were in agreement on the 690 issues. He told me to drop by and they could fix me up. IIRC, he had reworked his already.

Post on here what you find out.

I sure will. It probably won't be for a bit. I still have bunch of other crap to get sorted on this bike first.

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by crankshaft

I don't even want to know what that would cost.....

Me neither. But I have to assume that the forks and shock are based on standard WP stuff. The fork swap seems to be fairly straight forward it's the longer shock that's a question for me. The PDS stuff is obviously not going to work with the 690 linkage. So, what are they using?

[Country Doc]

I had my 450EXC resprung and setup by the guys at KTMWorld when I was riding at Highland Park prior to the last Sandblast. They _really_ seem to know their stuff, and there's a huge trail network right at the shop for testing suspension.

It might be worth dropping in there, Aaron, particularly if you happen upon a 690 before Sandblast, as it's only a few hours west.

At least you can test/ride on trails, singletrack, fireroad, and two different MX tracks to get the setup you want, and stay overnight in their cabins if necessary.

dc