Britannia Composites the 690 Lynx Fairing Review - A year on.

Like any review when a product is new, it is almost not worth reading until you have used it in anger. So 14 months on how is the Lynx Fairing, fairing?

It is a big decision to start cutting off the original light on the KTM 690R and bolting on a larger after-market piece, but as I wanted to use the 690 as a travelling "dual sport" which would see small tracks, 4x4 track and the occasional Italian motorway, I wanted more wind protection, better lights and increase the visibility of the machine on the road.

Firstly the lights are amazing, the daylight headlight is effective bright and a good colour, the full beam LED is quite incredible, it has a huge reach,  absolutely no need for any other lights, total overkill for road riding but amazing off road.

There is a little perceived flicker caused by the normal knobby tire vibration and the suspension setup which I am told can look like it's flashing, but for me anything that makes car drivers a little more aware of you, is good.

Wind protection is good and although the adjustable screen system is simple and good, I find the best position up to 120KMph is actually in the lowest setting, the bike is more stable and wind buffeting is better (less). In the higher positions I find a bit more buffeting and more wind noise. This might be due to the screen material flexing a little at high speeds and the screen design, which slides up and towards the rider and my helmet combo but after a bit of experimenting, now I leave it locked low.

It may be a nice varient if a Lynx was made as a high solid tower, but that may add too much weight.

I have just recently used Sugru https://sugru.com/ moldable rubber glue on a couple of spots where the cables run through the fairing dash board, to reduce wear and vibration and this has eliminated an annoying buzz which appears at certain revs. Also I have  just recently mounted a Garmin Montana 680t and although a little tight for space, the dashboard is solid and easy to cut and drill as you add pieces to the dash.

Between the black dash and the white lighting forward facing panel, at the upper screws, I have damped the interface with a strip of inner tube, this takes the stress out of the system and helps reduce any vibration. It may seem a little hickey, but it is a simple and a logical farkle. There additionally is a small gap between the two fairing parts near the triple clamp and I have taped in another rubber gusset(s) make from inner tube so it protects the electrics from mud, dust and road rain. Amazingly even after riding in the heaviest rain,  mud, dust and dirt the inner tube which is held in with numberplate double sided tape and duct tape the fix still holds firm.

I have the early 2015 Lynx and have ridden 6000km with it on the machine and would recommend it wholeheartedly.

Pros
Lighting on and off road
Wind protection
Presence and visibility
Easy to drill and mount thorough the dashboard
Good looks
Great service from Britannia

Cons
Easy to over tighten the mounts and crack the surface
Some vibrations (Sugru and inner tube helps)







http://www.britanniacomposites.com/lynx-r-dual-sport-fairing-for-ktm-690/

#KTM #KTM690 #adventurebike #dualsport

Garmin Montana 680T Review

Exploring in the French Alps

One of the great joys of a winter is plotting or planning your spring and summer trips and expeditions. If however you are trying to navigate a set of complex routes and tracks it can also be one of the most time consuming and frustrating processes.

Over the years I have used various GPS devices including the Garmin Zumo 660 which is designed for motorcycle road use. Whilst the old Zumo was great for getting from a-to-b on roads, as soon as you ventured off the tarmac, it was basically redundant. Additionally iPhone streamed maps, either using Apple/Google or Motion GPX programs, whilst cheap, have severe limitations especially when things go wrong and mobile service drops.

The Montana directly mounted onto a Lynx fairing on a KTM690

Step in the Garmin Montana 680T. For a few years the more adventurous globetrotting motorcyclists have been using Montana variants, the 680T is the latest, best and clearest of the Garmin "handhelds" .

When sourcing the new Montana, Garmin themselves were quite keen to direct me towards the new Zumo range but for my requirements, they just don't cut it off-raod. Whilst the Zumo's sometimes do have some trails and track features on the basic mapping programs and the ability to add routes, tracks from Basecamp it's complex and very hard to make sense of a landscape without a set of contours and features found on recreational maps, which have landscape and contoured features.

If you are inclined to wanting to head into the back-country the Montana 680T has proven itself to be amazingly useful and accurate, even when using the European recreational standard map which does lack some of the fine detail an OS or similar would have.

Often for my trips I am plotting trails or finding routes on Google earth, then creating a KMZ file from Google Earth and then via Basecamp trying to get them into a GPS. With the 680T this has proven to be remarkably easy. Plot the trail in Google Earth, drag it into Basecap and then drop it straight into the Montana. No need to modify the format, navigate horrible menus and search complex folders in the device when you are in the field.


Everything appears in the Montana's Track manager menu which by way of a nifty screen setting can sit on the opening screen of the 680T.  Navigating a track is simply a matter of then following the trail/line though the landscape using the Recreational Map of Europe V4. For walking and trail running and MTB use when you are moving quite slowly you can zoom into accuracy down to a 50m screen view. For Enduro use 50m passses quucikly so I prefered the 80m and 120m screen view.

Whilst the RecMApV4 lacked some of the trails it's easy whilst on a track to swipe over a landscape to find features which help place you in the landscape. For really detailed work you can also download into the GPS, using the BridsEye feature a satellite image of the area.  For a big trip the "real" images do take up a lot of memory so are not so practical, but for a 20-50mile complex trail or a mountain navigational exercise, this is really useful. Switching between a satellite image and the RecMaps is done through the "map information" icon/menu which once again can be added to your home or startup page.

For successful mixed navigation on the Motorcycle (in Europe) you really need to use two map sources

CN Europe NT 2016 (or USA)
and the
Recreational Map of Europe V4

The CN (City Navigator) is the road navigational program/map which you need to get from home to the trailheads and the RecV4 maps to then follow your imported Tracks. Tracks do show up in the CN road map so you can Pin mark the start of an imported track and navigate to the start of a Track/Trail and then switch to the RecV4 when you head into the wild. It is a shame that the two systems don't overlay, but it's best to think of them as two different programs which don't overlay. The imported "tracks" do however remain visible on both map/operating systems, a useful and highly necessary feature.

As a hand held although a little on the large side when GeoCaching with the kids or navigation off a misty mountain top the Montana is super accurate, down to about 5m, unthinkable just a few years ago. I am still in the first month of using the Montana, but I have to say it saved our recent trip to Sardinia where there are so many overlapping track and 4x4 tracks without it we would have wasted hours searching for the correct track.

It like any tool is a little complex to start with but the menu is more intuitive than previous GPS's I have used and adding in coordinates which on some devices is super slow, the Montana is easy and a breath of fresh air, if in the past you have struggled fumbling through complex menus and multiple button pressings, the new Montana eliminates that pain, and is actually something you want to use actively rather than something complex and clunky which you only revert to as a last resort.

Pros
Brilliant interface between Basecamp/GoogleEarth/Montana
Accurate and easy to follow imported tracks
Good Menu and features
In field Nav good and amazing with Bridseye images
City Nav road maps and Recreation V4 maps work well and quickly
Good screen size (even for motorcycle use)
Lockable bike mount

Cons
City Nav and Rec V4 maps do not interact
Buttons sometimes don't work when wearing gloves

Remote Sardinian Trail

Another Year on the 690.

At the start of each riding season especially if you live in a mountain town where the roads are snow, salt grit and ice bound for 4-6 months getting back on the Iron Horse can be a foreign thing. It also comes with questions about the bike. Another year another set of bike launches, the new Africa Twin, the SWM Adventure, another megalithic GS, and the credible CCM450 Adventure and a plethora Triumph Tigers and XC and serve to push you to re-evaluate your machine of choice.

For me I am on my 2014 KTM 690 Enduro R for the 2nd full season.  The only thing that comes close to the mix I wanted is the Husqvarna 701 but hey its 690 in Blue White and Yellow and without the large supply chain making aftermarket bits (this may come). The CCM of course would be ideal but for the 450cc engine.

I suppose you need to be honest about what sort of riding you will do and how and where you want to ride it. 15,000 British GS riders in the last 8 years bought into the rufty tufty round the world dream, complete with matching suits and plenty add-ons to add weight to your monster. Most will never see dirt, let alone a sand storm or a single track. So if you like the image, and your idea of an adventure is a French motorway to a GS meet near Nice, knock yourself out. However if you want rocks, rubble, dust and skinny trails, then The GS or any weighty machine is not for you.

Also be honest, do you need a 300mile range tank, are you really going to travel from Khartoum to Dar-es-Salaam and never pass a fuel station and if you ever do, then a couple Rotopax bolt fuel canisters or a fuel bladder will get you there. Fuel is heavy and unless mounted low seriously affects the handling of the bike.

Most “adventure bikes” are 200kg plus, add some luggage (even you manage to travel light) you will be close to 230kg, some may top 260kg.

Having been pinned under a GS800 with 2x15kg panniers made me rethink what the GS I was doing.

There are not many sub 180kg bikes and none off the peg that really fit the bill of what I wanted.

My criteria are

I need to drive to the trailhead and unlike the USA these distances can be long, often a day or two on the flat top. A small 250-450cc engine would seem just to be under a lot of pressure doing this day in, day out.

I stick to the A and B roads generally but it needs to sit at 110kmph/70mph and still be relatively comfortable and handle. Some wind protection would be nice and it should be able to carry some luggage.

14+ litres offering up to a 350k range means we can ride for two trail days and not panic about finding fuel.

It strikes me as odd that no-one makes a 600cc sub 180kg machine with a reasonable range and good suspension for the trails. But having just ridden 6 days on the best trails in Europe in Sardinia and meet no other riders, whilst on the nearby roads hundreds of BMW’s and Multi Stradas it maybe should be no surprise.

These ubiquitous hard panniers machines piloted by multi pocketed Cyberman, suggests to me what we are doing, whilst is a strong aspirational marketing image that is selling the machines to the masses, is actually pursued by only a few.

So if you want adjustable good suspension, the ability to ride road, some single track and trails, and feel as though you are riding not just surviving then few machines are as capable as the KTM 690 Enduro with its added bits.

x

Monkey Butt 2 - Creams potions and lotions

.
 As an ass-side, monkey butt or chafing either riding a road bike or a  motorcycle can literally be a pain in the ass. Chamois cream which can work well for bike riding, does involve spreading lubricant over the offending area. Great for a day but really unpleasant if you have to squeeze into the same lycra for more than a day. Enter Crotch Guard!

I read about Crotch Guard on a long distance cyclists blog, the poor guy had a real issue as he rode across the USA, things were getting painful in the hinterland, that was until he tried Crotch Guard.

It is a simple mix of essential oils and antibacterial liquid  which is sprayed onto the offending area at the start of each day. I used Crotch Guard for a 6 day period riding an Endruo Bike in Sardinia. We rode on and off road, standing, sitting and on long 7 - 10 hour road rides to and from the trails.

Crotch Guard is brilliant, smells good, feels good (when applying) non messy and made the days in the saddle more than bearable. Highly recommended for preventing chafing and monkey butt.

KTM 690 Enduro R Bash Guard/Plate - Adventure Spec

The main body protection problem with the 690R is the plastic bash plate. Its not bad if you are just flopping around in the mud but if your trails are rocky or very rough then you'll want to protect your engine with something better.

Having looked at pretty much all the alternatives, including the KTM Powerparts plate, (which the machine should come with) The Adventure Spec plate comes out tops. 

Pros

It has a flat base so you can sit the bike on a stand

It protects the oil pump better than the competition

It protects the rear brake better than the competition

It's beautifully made (look at the welds)

It is also very easy to fit and then remove for servicing. 

Cons

It makes a rather hollow sound when the engine is running unless you damp the bolts with inner tube. 

(I have now strapped a tool tube to the front of the plate and the reverb has gone) 

It's a 10min job to fit and inspires confidence when riding.
Another great piece from Adventure Spec - Thanks

Pirelli - MT21 Rallycross

Despite the fact that I asked, more maybe in hope than anything else, KTM Laguna did not supply the bike with the tyres I wanted. The bike came with the UK street option, Metzler Sahara's. Whilst these are amazing on the road and can cope with moderate tracks and trails, they are very poor on loose rocks, mud and the side walls seem soft. Oddly the KTM is supplied with the MT21's in the USA. So the MT21's arrived yesterday, they look taller than the stock and the business for the off-road. Described at a 10-90 or an 20-80 road/off-road, fitted with heavy duty tube, with tougher side walls and with a very aggressive looking knobbly tread, if they are not to loose on the hardtop, these maybe the perfect tyre. 

KTM 690 Enduro - How it rides?

Its temping to get stuck into the discussion about after-market parts, tyres, lights etc before actually looking at the basic bike as a riding experience. But lets not, just yet.

Well, its amazing, but thats not quite enough if you are about to spank close to £8000 of your quids!
Ok, it rides like a hot wind stripping a cat?, a deification on a polished shovel or other meaningless superlatives. I have read so many of these types of comments they blur into cliche'.

So really, this is how I see it. It's a tall bike that feels small and light, a friend commented on when following me on and off-road that I looked completely "at one" with the bike. This is so, its very natural and balanced, with handeling that really inspires confidence.

The lack of screen at the moment, and having no petrol tank at the front of the bike leaves you feeling a little exposed but then off road you ride it like an MX bike, shifting your weight forward and dropping you leg out in the bends. It's a totally normal action and great fun.

And fun it is, it feels like more of a toy than anything I have ever ridden.

The short gear shift criticised by some is not an issue for me, yes you do use the gears a lot more on the road but the slipper clutch works very well on the road and downshifting even at high revs is smooth and very predictable. It feels safe and very useable.

When standing and downshifting without using the clutch is smooth and easy, great when you need a spurt of power on a steep trail.

When using the Yamaha 660 or the BMW F800GS I used to stand a lot, but on the KTM I find myself sitting a lot more especially in the corners, leg out and weight forward. It is the real deal off-road where as the BMW especially, was a big bike with an off-road sticker on it.

Throttle response - Well its very quick indeed, it will hike from slow speeds to overtaking much faster than the two bikes mentioned above. I have not been brave enough to put the bike in sport mode as the "Normal"map  is more than enough at the moment, and I am still riding it under 6000rpm.

The suspension set up may take a bit of tweaking. I though I would follow the manual and set it to "standard" after a couple of days on very rocky trails the rebound seems a little harsh. The result is that the rear end skips over loose ground a little to quickly and you don't have the lovely weight and unweighting I have on my DH MTB. So I have dialled the bike (in the slow settings) to 12 clicks softening the bike. Its much better, Maybe with another few long rides it will loosen up.

So on the trails I have gone from BMW survival mode to attack. Well more like go, it feels very planted and safe. Although travelling faster if something goes wrong it will will be a faster fall.

It rails in corners, accelerates quickly, the brakes on and off-road are very good indeed. I have to say its a bit of a revelation.  I its un-farkled state the bike is very good indeed. Its not a long distant traveller but an amazing platform for the evolution.

KTM 690 Enduro R 2014 - Performance Test

So the machine has just drunk its first tank of full and surprise surprise its not close to the 80 mpg claimed by some of the bloggers , writers or KTM.

It used 10.55 Ltrs for 215km. Which is 57 Mpg.  The trails were steep rocky and often dragging away in 1st and 2nd. A pretty tough intro for the poor machine

But my riding has been typical of how I would want to use the bike ongoing 50/50, i.e. loads of time off-road and using hardtop to link the dirt sections. I also have been following the running in guidelines and have kept it below 6000 rpm (for the first 1000km)

So unladen and not run in, on typical ground and some riding above 2000m close to 60 mpg is pretty good. However on a long day out, I think the range is short without a refuel.

So what to do?  I am looking for 300km between fills minimum.

The rumour mill has long suggested that KTM will make a 690 Adventure with fairings, better lights and crucially a long range tank, but they don,t. and there is no signs they will. So best get on with what we have.

I have looked at many, if not all of the options available and though I would wait a few weeks before looking seriously at after market tanks etc.

Here are the options as I can see them.

Rally Raid UK - Front tanks adding 9.5l in total
Pros - keeps the look of the bike
Cons - very expensive and may never really need the full range provided

Rally Raid UK - Single 4.5l rear tank
Pros - Small and simple to install, would add 100km
Cons - Sits exposed on the rear of the bike - not the cheapest

Safari Tanks - Single 14L Front Tank
Pros - huge range - 26L in total
Cons - Ugly, and heavy, apparently can affect handling more than Rally Raid.

Meca System - 7l Rear Tank
Pros - looks great and a good size
Cons - Can,t find a right hand side version - unknown by UK riders

Fuel Bladders - Desert Fox 5l  - http://www.bikegear.co.za/
Pros - Super Cheap
Cons - not legal in the UK

There are quite a few hard plastic tanks, Rotopax  http://rotopax.com/  and Fuel Friend for example.  www.fuelfriend.de/

I think these are great for adding and emergency 50km but I don,t really think is a permanent solution. So I bought a Desert Fox Bladder from South Africa

 

When it arrived from South Africa, It was much wider than I thought it was going to be. Shame as it will hang very close to the hot exhaust. Not a great look. So as a full 5L option its not great but with 3L folded in half it will be stiffer and not flop onto the hot pipe, I hope. So its only a temporary solution in limited circumstances.

Time to think again...




Here are some range workings...

215 kilometres = with 10.55 litres
133.50 miles  2.32067 Uk gallons

240km with 12 litres on hard off-road.
340km with 17 litres

Metric

Liters per km

0,05

Liters per 10 km

0,5

Liters per 100 km

4,96

Kilometer per liter

20,18

U.S.

Miles per gallon

47,46

Gallons per 100 miles

2,11

British

Miles per gallon

57

Miles per litre

12,54

Gallons per 100 miles

1,7

KTM 690 Enduro R 2014 - Trigger Pulled!

This has been a long time coming. Actually about as long as an Elephants gestation, 22 months. Finally the bike has arrived. Bought from Laguna KTM in Maidstone Kent, and delivered to the Alps by Andy Hillman's van service, it dropped onto the gravel with 12km on the clock. I actually had not seen the 2014 model before I bought it but it does not disappoint.  Buying a new bike is a big commitment to say the least, buying a new model which has seen some signifiant changes adds to the risk and excitement.

The changes to the 2014 model include 

• Bosch ABS as standard. Which can be switched off using a mode button on the dash.
• A ride-by-wire throttle which gives you the choice of four different riding modes - Standard, Sport and Comfort, with a 'Bad Fuel' mode that KTM claim will allow the bike to run on fuel as low as 80 octane. 
• Apparently the different riding modes only adjust fuelling below 4,000rpm, meaning the 690 will deliver its full 67hp in whichever mode is selected.
• The engine has the new twin-spark ignition shared with the Duke, with individual maps for each plug. According to KTM it makes the bike 8-10% more efficient than the 2013 model.
• KTM or journalists writing about the bike are suggesting 80mpg, and the twin-spark is supposed to reduce vibration and give you 10,000km service intervals.

Cosmetically there are a couple of things I don,t like, the antenna like wing mirrors, the plastic bash plate and the huge number plate. 

I bought the bike with the Ergo seat and as soon as I sat on the bike I doubted the claim it is softer for longer trips. But as the dealer had omitted to send the standard seat which I also bought its hard to compare.  

For the next 1000km, before is first service I have to keep the revs below 6000rpm. 

I can't wait to get it dirty...