Dirt_Dad
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Hard to believe it's eleven. 1 - First Tenere Ride * 2 - Tenere #2 * 3 - WR 250 * 4 - XT 250 * 5 - DR 650 * 6 - Tenere #3 * 7 - Tenere #4 * 8 - BMW 750 * 9 - KTM 690 * KTM 1290
After a long wait, the 890 is finally here...with all the parts.
The last photo of a clean bike.
The break-in process began with a 40 mile ride home yesterday.
First impressions
I'd always read the R has amazing suspension and is very confidence inspiring. Initially I was thinking to myself, "this doesn't seem all that different, there's no magical feeling that I'm confident all of a sudden." My second dirt road was a steep downhill, with good twists, then a more off road like section.
I notice the suspension does glide over any bumps and ruts. I then realize I've never felt any hesitation to take this unfamiliar, 900cc bike over anything I've seen so far. I guess that's the definition of confidence inspiring. While I've done nothing difficult, still on my SAS I would have been more selective about what line I took. On the 890, I just don't care. Interesting...
It's quickly obvious the short windscreen, mixed with my Arai XD4 is not going to be an acceptable combination. Although the air is clean and there is no bobbling, even with my custom ear plugs, the helmet is just too loud. The windscreen will need to be changed.
The seat is firm, but not horrible. We'll see how it breaks in.
The TFT is much more colorful than my SAS unit. I love the convienient voltage reading in the bottom right corner of the display. Overall TFT is very attractive, but I'll have to get used to the delay moving from the first screen to the second. It's only that first transition that is not instant. They wipe away the old information in a deliberate way before presenting the second screen. I'm sure it seemed like a good idea to someone, but I don't care for the 1 to 1.5 second delay. I imagine I'll get used to it.
There are endless settings on the TFT. I have a lot to learn about settings on this bike. That will take time.
KTM no longer gives owners an owners manual. Instead you get a QR code and have to download it. Regardless of how much you spend, that's all you get. Kinda sucks. I have not had a chance to download it yet.
I don't want to make any judgements about engine performance at this point. I'm one who breaks in by the book. I don't push a new bike, so I don't know real capabilities yet. What little I've done makes me confident to say this bike will not displace my SAS. The 890 definitely seems spunky, and will be a great addition, but the SAS absolutely looks safe.
Rain was forecast today and DM was pushing me out the door to get in a ride in before it hit. Who am I to argue? 38 degrees, so the heated vest will be joining me for anticipated 90 minute ride.
The electrical issue???
Backstory: Before deciding if I would purchase an extended warranty on the SAS I had a discussion with the manager of the dealership's Service Department. To summarize, with the 25K + miles on my SAS, I was likely safe. He said if KTMs have an issue it will show up very early. Interesting....noted.
DM calls me to say it's starting to rain at home. I tell her I already have it in my head I'm going to the water crossing and I'll be riding away from home for a bit longer.
I notice the voltage is down to 14.3...then 14.1. Interesting...then 14.9. Then my heated vest dies. I check the bike connection to the vest, all good. I assume the voltage spike to almost 15 killed a fuse. 40 degrees and starting to rain. Time to turn around and head towards home. I then notice the white line around the outside of the tach seems to be fading out, even disappearing. Is the electrical system causing issues for the TFT? Change of plans. I call DM and tell her I'm heading over to the dealership to get it checked out. I shoot the GM a text I'm on my way and why.
As I ride up to the building the building GM comes out, open the bay door and I ride straight into the service department. I'm answering questions before I can get my helmet off. I show the disappearing white line. The mechanic says, "do you mean the gas gauge there?" Umm, so that's the gas gauge?, okay, guess I'm burning fuel. I mention the voltage fluctuation and the suspicion of a blown fuse. Fuse makes sense to everyone. They want to hook up the bike and check the books for expected normal voltage. They are going to check. I head to my buddy's office.
I shed my coat in the office and notice my vest is disconnected under my coat. Did that just happen taking off my coat? Not sure, it's never happened before.
A bit later the service department tells me the fuse was not blown, and KTM say any voltage between 13.5 and 15 is just fine. No worry about the fluctuation. Bike is 100% fine.
Every single time I suspected I had a mechanical issue with a KTM it has turned out to be an owner issue... yes,100% of the time. The trend continues on the 890.
Raining and 41 degrees, I head back out with a working heated vest. Time to ride. I go over to the water crossing. It's a ripped up road heading to the stream. Slightly muddy and rutted, the bike didn't care. Just a joy in those conditions.
I inspect the stream. It's up quite a bit. No doubt the bike could do it. I do know the important secret route through, but alone on this day, I decided to save it for another time. I retreat for now and go enjoy another 25 miles of rain soaked dirt roads.
Five hours after leaving on my 90 minute ride, I stop for the first fill up. After wiping the muddy water off the tank before opening, I realize I failed to keep my 22 hour old bike clean.
Thank god I only buy bikes that look good dirty.
More discoveries to follow...
After a long wait, the 890 is finally here...with all the parts.
The last photo of a clean bike.
The break-in process began with a 40 mile ride home yesterday.
First impressions
I'd always read the R has amazing suspension and is very confidence inspiring. Initially I was thinking to myself, "this doesn't seem all that different, there's no magical feeling that I'm confident all of a sudden." My second dirt road was a steep downhill, with good twists, then a more off road like section.
I notice the suspension does glide over any bumps and ruts. I then realize I've never felt any hesitation to take this unfamiliar, 900cc bike over anything I've seen so far. I guess that's the definition of confidence inspiring. While I've done nothing difficult, still on my SAS I would have been more selective about what line I took. On the 890, I just don't care. Interesting...
It's quickly obvious the short windscreen, mixed with my Arai XD4 is not going to be an acceptable combination. Although the air is clean and there is no bobbling, even with my custom ear plugs, the helmet is just too loud. The windscreen will need to be changed.
The seat is firm, but not horrible. We'll see how it breaks in.
The TFT is much more colorful than my SAS unit. I love the convienient voltage reading in the bottom right corner of the display. Overall TFT is very attractive, but I'll have to get used to the delay moving from the first screen to the second. It's only that first transition that is not instant. They wipe away the old information in a deliberate way before presenting the second screen. I'm sure it seemed like a good idea to someone, but I don't care for the 1 to 1.5 second delay. I imagine I'll get used to it.
There are endless settings on the TFT. I have a lot to learn about settings on this bike. That will take time.
KTM no longer gives owners an owners manual. Instead you get a QR code and have to download it. Regardless of how much you spend, that's all you get. Kinda sucks. I have not had a chance to download it yet.
I don't want to make any judgements about engine performance at this point. I'm one who breaks in by the book. I don't push a new bike, so I don't know real capabilities yet. What little I've done makes me confident to say this bike will not displace my SAS. The 890 definitely seems spunky, and will be a great addition, but the SAS absolutely looks safe.
Rain was forecast today and DM was pushing me out the door to get in a ride in before it hit. Who am I to argue? 38 degrees, so the heated vest will be joining me for anticipated 90 minute ride.
The electrical issue???
Backstory: Before deciding if I would purchase an extended warranty on the SAS I had a discussion with the manager of the dealership's Service Department. To summarize, with the 25K + miles on my SAS, I was likely safe. He said if KTMs have an issue it will show up very early. Interesting....noted.
DM calls me to say it's starting to rain at home. I tell her I already have it in my head I'm going to the water crossing and I'll be riding away from home for a bit longer.
I notice the voltage is down to 14.3...then 14.1. Interesting...then 14.9. Then my heated vest dies. I check the bike connection to the vest, all good. I assume the voltage spike to almost 15 killed a fuse. 40 degrees and starting to rain. Time to turn around and head towards home. I then notice the white line around the outside of the tach seems to be fading out, even disappearing. Is the electrical system causing issues for the TFT? Change of plans. I call DM and tell her I'm heading over to the dealership to get it checked out. I shoot the GM a text I'm on my way and why.
As I ride up to the building the building GM comes out, open the bay door and I ride straight into the service department. I'm answering questions before I can get my helmet off. I show the disappearing white line. The mechanic says, "do you mean the gas gauge there?" Umm, so that's the gas gauge?, okay, guess I'm burning fuel. I mention the voltage fluctuation and the suspicion of a blown fuse. Fuse makes sense to everyone. They want to hook up the bike and check the books for expected normal voltage. They are going to check. I head to my buddy's office.
I shed my coat in the office and notice my vest is disconnected under my coat. Did that just happen taking off my coat? Not sure, it's never happened before.
A bit later the service department tells me the fuse was not blown, and KTM say any voltage between 13.5 and 15 is just fine. No worry about the fluctuation. Bike is 100% fine.
Every single time I suspected I had a mechanical issue with a KTM it has turned out to be an owner issue... yes,100% of the time. The trend continues on the 890.
Raining and 41 degrees, I head back out with a working heated vest. Time to ride. I go over to the water crossing. It's a ripped up road heading to the stream. Slightly muddy and rutted, the bike didn't care. Just a joy in those conditions.
I inspect the stream. It's up quite a bit. No doubt the bike could do it. I do know the important secret route through, but alone on this day, I decided to save it for another time. I retreat for now and go enjoy another 25 miles of rain soaked dirt roads.
Five hours after leaving on my 90 minute ride, I stop for the first fill up. After wiping the muddy water off the tank before opening, I realize I failed to keep my 22 hour old bike clean.
Thank god I only buy bikes that look good dirty.
More discoveries to follow...
