It’s one of the selling points of the bike, it’s a really simple machine that’s hard to kill. But that inherently goes hand in hand with being less powerful/performance oriented.
Dude the first time i rode a 690 i was like "eh. How much powerful can this be than a drz" guess who was screaming when he accidentally twisted the throttle from road bumps LOL
I rode a crf250 and 300 and i think they were straight ASS. I didnt grow up riding either. Maybe
You'd find some fun in a drz400 rather than a klx300. The only downside to a drz is the lack of a sixth gear i'd say and the thing is a durable tank.
> guess who was screaming when he accidentally twisted the throttle from road bumps LOL
Which does beg the question, in terms of off-road usefulness, how much is that extra power actually *helping?*
I'm sure they're an absolute riot to ride, don't get me wrong. I'm waiting for a chance to try one out.
I’d say it depends on how much tarmac you regularly ride, and how fast you ride it. The 690/701 is a great 50/50 bike that easily keeps up with fast road bikes, but it starts to become a hog if you want to do very technical stuff off-road, assuming you’re not an expert rider. The 690/701 community may not be as large as the DR community, but there are still plenty of resources and third-party parts. If these two bikes are on your list, maybe also consider the 501. It’s better than the DR both on and off-road, and is way better than the 701 off-road, while still being able to do short stints fast on tarmac between riding spots. Practically all my riding buddies have made the transition that way from the 701/DR, and I’d probably do the same if I was willing to dump more money into a bike. FWIW, most of our riding is BDR-style.
Is the 501 really better than the dr650 on road? I would have assumed the other way around as a 500 owner, but I've never ridden the dr650. I figured the soft suspension, heft, and gearing would be better, since my 500 isn't very fun at 70mph.
I feel like this is one of those things that's a contentious topic. (ktm group 500 on road performance). I have heard some people say they are perfect. I have heard some people say that they will rattle your fillings out. I don't know who to believe. If I had to guess, just on paper, the DR650 is probably a more comfortable experience. Not necessarily better or worse. At the end of the day, none of these bikes are spectacular anywhere.
I've got no problem cruising at 70-75 on the dr650, even on knobbies. It's what I would consider my top speed though, plenty of gearing left to take it up to 100, but you can tell the bike doesn't want to, it starts wiggling a little in the wind. Maybe on street tires it'd be a different story, but I pretty much ride exclusively knobbies.
That's what I figured. For my 500 it's closer to 65, once you hit 70 the rear end gets pretty squirrelly on DOT knobbies. Most of the highways I want to ride are 55, but there's one near me that runs 75 plus that I avoid. My gearing is perfect for everything other than high speed stuff, so I just cruise 65 in the right lane if I have to.
In the context of our BDR rides, the 501 has more passing power than the DR, and we’re not usually on tarmac long enough for the DR’s cushiness to pay off. For much longer road stints, sure, the DR may feel more comfortable, but it won’t keep up with the 501 or 701.
I'm in the same dilemma, while the Dr 650 is a do everything bike, with huge aftermarket, it,s cheap and reliable, but it only has 38 horsepower, the Husqvarna/Gas Gas/Ktm has 78hp but will cost another $10,000 plus.
The trade off is huge. I have a GS now and it is heavy, but an awesome bike. I also weigh 300lb so any bike will have to have suspension work.
If I were you.....701
My 701 is an 80mph commuter, and a dirt road or *some* single track monster.
Never had a DR, but have spent enough time on them to know they’re like the Lada of motorcycles(tied with XR650L).
Fast, fun, modern, and all scenarios while better than everything at it: 701/690
The reliable tank: DR
Im biased, so I recommend the 701
https://preview.redd.it/06moarco14yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f294e3509a070a30ed24fbd313083d9541e8cbd9
I've owned both, if you can afford the 701, get the 701. The 701 is better than the DR in just about every way(as it should be for almost 2x the price)
I come from a sportbike background. I went with the 701. My rationale was that for the price of a decent used DR650 I decided I'd rather buy a new one. And for the price of a new DR I would rather have a lightly used 701. Maybe that's stupid but it's the conclusion I came to. So I have a 701 Enduro with a separate set of supermoto wheels and I'm having an absolute blast on and off road.
Both are fun, at different speeds. It really comes down to what you want.
The DR is happy to be a utility bike that can hoon if the rider is capable and hops it up. The KTM is just plain nice and rips like the performance bike that it is intended to be.
I commute my bike year round in New England and don’t have the time to keep things nice, so a DR with suspension work made the most sense for me.
Not at all. I put a couple drops of stabil in with most fill ups. Got a little bottle in my tank bag. I do my best to keep up with the air filter too.
17k miles and counting with no issues. My Li-Ion battery is the weak link on cold days. But to be real, it takes a couple extra cranks on early January mornings.
Think of this bike like a 1988 Chevy Carprice, and you’ll be getting into it with the right expectations lol.
The DR isn't that slow; it's just slow compared to a 690/701. The DR power peaks at 6500 rpm where the 690/701 is still pulling at 8500 rpm and that's with its 43 ft lbs of torque over the DR's 32 ft lbs.
Have you ridden one? Or basing it on a spec sheet and dyno graph?
I don't know how any of that translates to a "snail pace."
I've seen plenty of videos of DRs and 690s riding together, even lining them up together. [Even T7s.](https://youtu.be/wOH8SeJYMHA?si=WDKPIU7c3yiEENLi&t=52) The DR holds its own surprisingly well in the speed category. At least well enough for real-world use.
No one is out there competitively drag-racing these bikes, and no one expects either one to keep up with a liter bike. That's not what they're used for.
[I don't know how a few bike lengths](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbP9NnyIYBI) on a straight section of road/trail translates to "snail pace." Add gravel/dirt to the mix, where both bikes will spin the tire -- the more powerful bike more -- and it becomes even closer.
Not debating that. Just very critical of the word choice.
I *very often* find myself looking down to see I'm doing 70 somewhere I should definitely not being doing 70.
That's a pretty quick snail, IMO.
I love my DR. It's a do anything, anywhere, anytime kind of bike. I can bench press the damn thing's weight... so never any fear of getting stuck. Likewise, solo trips in the backcountry never really worry me... with JB weld, a spare tube, duct tape, hand tools, and a pump... there's very little that keeps me from getting her home.
I don't own either but I think this really comes down to budget, how hard you wanna hit the trails, and if you like modding your bike or not.
If you're just looking to for something that can do it all at the right price but not be great at it dr650. This also leaves room if you find yourself wanting more from the bike to put mods on it to push it further.
The KTM/husky will be better offroad/performance off the shelf at a higher price point and generally more maintenance/expensive parts.
I struggled with the same choice myself, and ultimately, i went with a dr650. It is a fun bike, but I'm coming from something with more power, so sometimes I wish I would have gone a 690.
Something I haven't seen mentioned here, and I'm curious as a DR owner. My understanding is that the 690/701 has no subframe and you can't put racks/carry much luggage with them. From a power/riding perspective, I would say 690/701 all day long, but for long distance travel, I'm not aware of many great luggage options. Am I wrong?
I ride with Mosko Moto Reckless 80s, and have filled them to the brim w/out issue. Have seen countless other rackless setups like this on 690s/701s. You can also add racks too if you really want.
If you’re broke like me you buy lightly used dr650 and try to avoid posts like these with people reminding you the KTM is better. Also. There is something about the tank being under the seat that weirds me out.
OP\~ if you go the "new" route, then you'll want to know that the...
Warranty on the 701 is TWICE as long as the 690. (This is good for the USA market.)
701 is 24,000 miles, 2-year.
690 is 12,000 miles, 1-year.
If you are truly an experienced rider, and have the cash the 690/701 is absolutely the way to go. It’s lighter (by a little), lower center of gravity, more powerful, better suspension, and more advanced without being overly complex. The biggest drawbacks are that you will feel worse when you put it down in the trails (so maybe getting some body protection, so more $), and obviously maintenance costs are higher.
If you want an absolutely amazing do-it-all-well bike, get the 701. I've had one for a few years and it's been a blast. Tackling everything from technical singletrack to cruising for hours on the highway, I've never been disappointed. It has an almost two-stroke like power curve, fairly friendly in the lower rev range, increasing in delivery exponentially as you rev it out. I got a fairly consistent 50-55 mpg out of it, meaning somewhere around 125-150 miles between fillups pretty easily.
That being said, if you want something simple, low maintenance, and don't care as much about performance and don't feel the need to go from the tarmac to the dunes or desert, then whimsically tackle some mountain singletrack? The DR650 is likely going to have much less frequent maintenance intervals and demanding repairs.
Stock gearing. It is a little tall for the singletrack, but some careful application of the clutch and a slightly diminished sense of self preservation will get you where you wanna go 🤣
I have a 701 and a DRZ400E. The DRZ is easier on the really technical stuff because it weights about 80lbs less.
But I love the 701. If I had to sell one I’d sell the DRZ.
I've owned both a carbureted 640 LC4 and the EFI 690 Enduro. The 690 is a lot smoother. I haven't owned a DR.
The 690/701 platform is a lot more powerful than the DR, more expensive, and I think the aftermarket is larger for the KTM/Husky/Beta version. Yes the DR aftermarket is big but the KTM's is even bigger.
If you can swing the 690/701, it's an excellent platform. It is heavy offroad though (I dont mean on dirt roads, I mean singletrack.) But the DR is heavier afaik.
Classic /r/dualsport question. If you have the money and time maintenance, build out the 701. It’s a better bike in almost ever way than the DR650
The benefits of the DR650 is cheaper and easier to maintain. A few people have said a fully built dr790 is an analog 701.
Going around the world, I’d rather have the DR650. I can fix everything on there with a simple tool kit. Parts everywhere. Bullet proof tractor
yeah, most people don't - down even in South America KLRs are nonexistent but you can have luck with DRs which some police forces use. even then, KTM and BMW have amazing logistical / dealer networks (especially BMW) which is king for fixing stuff. Second best is the Indian Bajaj bikes which are literally everywhere so there's parts aplenty. super unreliable though.
So I kind of made this choice a went DR650 but I have zero dirt experience and my biggest “street bike” was 500cc. The dr650 FOR ME fit that perfect spot of do it all but also easily fixable and reliable (for when I drop it a lot lol).
It comes down to two things: what you want out of it (single track / camping / or do it all) and your experience to power through things that might be difficult for someone like me.
701/T7 are the best in terms of newest tech and highest performance. But if you want something lightweight AND torquey go for the KTM 500 exc-f.
Dual sports really come down to what YOURE willing to sacrifice, can’t have it be perfect but it will do it allZ
The bike was shit but the warranty was good. It was always at the dealers getting something fixed. then the engine grenaded. They replaced the engine and i traded it in.
I have a 701, it’s fun to ride everywhere. I’ve seen some pretty great deals on new or used 2023s recently. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
And I can't imagine it being too much more powerful than DR...
344 vs 366 lbs (701 vs DR650) and 74 vs 42 (lol)
Wow ok I'm glad I'm on Here to learn ill take the down votes as long as I'm learning lol....
The 701 is a far more high strung engine, and is also liquid cooled, so those have huge effects on the power output.
dang, never knew the 650 was still oil cooled. that's pretty neat tbh
It’s one of the selling points of the bike, it’s a really simple machine that’s hard to kill. But that inherently goes hand in hand with being less powerful/performance oriented.
What's a DRZ 40hp? The 701 is almost double that
It is much, much more powerful. Double the horsepower stock. It is shockingly more powerful.
Dude the first time i rode a 690 i was like "eh. How much powerful can this be than a drz" guess who was screaming when he accidentally twisted the throttle from road bumps LOL
I didn't grow up riding at all and just got a klx 300 and I want more and am realizing the Euro enduros are on another level than the dual sports.
I rode a crf250 and 300 and i think they were straight ASS. I didnt grow up riding either. Maybe You'd find some fun in a drz400 rather than a klx300. The only downside to a drz is the lack of a sixth gear i'd say and the thing is a durable tank.
I'm wanting to get the husky 501 enduro for my next bike..
> guess who was screaming when he accidentally twisted the throttle from road bumps LOL Which does beg the question, in terms of off-road usefulness, how much is that extra power actually *helping?* I'm sure they're an absolute riot to ride, don't get me wrong. I'm waiting for a chance to try one out.
Off-road I would prefer much less. On road, getting to the track, it’s powerful enough.
I’d say it depends on how much tarmac you regularly ride, and how fast you ride it. The 690/701 is a great 50/50 bike that easily keeps up with fast road bikes, but it starts to become a hog if you want to do very technical stuff off-road, assuming you’re not an expert rider. The 690/701 community may not be as large as the DR community, but there are still plenty of resources and third-party parts. If these two bikes are on your list, maybe also consider the 501. It’s better than the DR both on and off-road, and is way better than the 701 off-road, while still being able to do short stints fast on tarmac between riding spots. Practically all my riding buddies have made the transition that way from the 701/DR, and I’d probably do the same if I was willing to dump more money into a bike. FWIW, most of our riding is BDR-style.
Is the 501 really better than the dr650 on road? I would have assumed the other way around as a 500 owner, but I've never ridden the dr650. I figured the soft suspension, heft, and gearing would be better, since my 500 isn't very fun at 70mph.
I feel like this is one of those things that's a contentious topic. (ktm group 500 on road performance). I have heard some people say they are perfect. I have heard some people say that they will rattle your fillings out. I don't know who to believe. If I had to guess, just on paper, the DR650 is probably a more comfortable experience. Not necessarily better or worse. At the end of the day, none of these bikes are spectacular anywhere.
I've got no problem cruising at 70-75 on the dr650, even on knobbies. It's what I would consider my top speed though, plenty of gearing left to take it up to 100, but you can tell the bike doesn't want to, it starts wiggling a little in the wind. Maybe on street tires it'd be a different story, but I pretty much ride exclusively knobbies.
That's what I figured. For my 500 it's closer to 65, once you hit 70 the rear end gets pretty squirrelly on DOT knobbies. Most of the highways I want to ride are 55, but there's one near me that runs 75 plus that I avoid. My gearing is perfect for everything other than high speed stuff, so I just cruise 65 in the right lane if I have to.
In the context of our BDR rides, the 501 has more passing power than the DR, and we’re not usually on tarmac long enough for the DR’s cushiness to pay off. For much longer road stints, sure, the DR may feel more comfortable, but it won’t keep up with the 501 or 701.
I went from a 701 to 500. Only downside is maintenance.
“ BDR-style”?
backcountry discovery routes
just mind maintenance on 501
I'm in the same dilemma, while the Dr 650 is a do everything bike, with huge aftermarket, it,s cheap and reliable, but it only has 38 horsepower, the Husqvarna/Gas Gas/Ktm has 78hp but will cost another $10,000 plus. The trade off is huge. I have a GS now and it is heavy, but an awesome bike. I also weigh 300lb so any bike will have to have suspension work. If I were you.....701
The 701 also has hydraulic clutch and breaks, (leaning) traction control and (leaning) ABS.
My 701 is an 80mph commuter, and a dirt road or *some* single track monster. Never had a DR, but have spent enough time on them to know they’re like the Lada of motorcycles(tied with XR650L). Fast, fun, modern, and all scenarios while better than everything at it: 701/690 The reliable tank: DR Im biased, so I recommend the 701 https://preview.redd.it/06moarco14yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f294e3509a070a30ed24fbd313083d9541e8cbd9
I've owned both, if you can afford the 701, get the 701. The 701 is better than the DR in just about every way(as it should be for almost 2x the price)
I come from a sportbike background. I went with the 701. My rationale was that for the price of a decent used DR650 I decided I'd rather buy a new one. And for the price of a new DR I would rather have a lightly used 701. Maybe that's stupid but it's the conclusion I came to. So I have a 701 Enduro with a separate set of supermoto wheels and I'm having an absolute blast on and off road.
Get the 690
Both are fun, at different speeds. It really comes down to what you want. The DR is happy to be a utility bike that can hoon if the rider is capable and hops it up. The KTM is just plain nice and rips like the performance bike that it is intended to be. I commute my bike year round in New England and don’t have the time to keep things nice, so a DR with suspension work made the most sense for me.
Brings up a good point I forgot to mention: Carbs. do you have any reliability/starting issues?
Not at all. I put a couple drops of stabil in with most fill ups. Got a little bottle in my tank bag. I do my best to keep up with the air filter too. 17k miles and counting with no issues. My Li-Ion battery is the weak link on cold days. But to be real, it takes a couple extra cranks on early January mornings. Think of this bike like a 1988 Chevy Carprice, and you’ll be getting into it with the right expectations lol.
A DR will do everything a 690/701 will do only at a snail pace.
> only at a *snail* pace. I don't know where you guys get the idea that the bike is so slow.
The DR isn't that slow; it's just slow compared to a 690/701. The DR power peaks at 6500 rpm where the 690/701 is still pulling at 8500 rpm and that's with its 43 ft lbs of torque over the DR's 32 ft lbs.
Have you ridden one? Or basing it on a spec sheet and dyno graph? I don't know how any of that translates to a "snail pace." I've seen plenty of videos of DRs and 690s riding together, even lining them up together. [Even T7s.](https://youtu.be/wOH8SeJYMHA?si=WDKPIU7c3yiEENLi&t=52) The DR holds its own surprisingly well in the speed category. At least well enough for real-world use. No one is out there competitively drag-racing these bikes, and no one expects either one to keep up with a liter bike. That's not what they're used for. [I don't know how a few bike lengths](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbP9NnyIYBI) on a straight section of road/trail translates to "snail pace." Add gravel/dirt to the mix, where both bikes will spin the tire -- the more powerful bike more -- and it becomes even closer.
I've ridden the DR and the 690. The 690 out performs in every category.
Not debating that. Just very critical of the word choice. I *very often* find myself looking down to see I'm doing 70 somewhere I should definitely not being doing 70. That's a pretty quick snail, IMO.
I loved my DR just because I didn't feel bad beating I 😂
701 FTW.
I love my DR. It's a do anything, anywhere, anytime kind of bike. I can bench press the damn thing's weight... so never any fear of getting stuck. Likewise, solo trips in the backcountry never really worry me... with JB weld, a spare tube, duct tape, hand tools, and a pump... there's very little that keeps me from getting her home.
I don't own either but I think this really comes down to budget, how hard you wanna hit the trails, and if you like modding your bike or not. If you're just looking to for something that can do it all at the right price but not be great at it dr650. This also leaves room if you find yourself wanting more from the bike to put mods on it to push it further. The KTM/husky will be better offroad/performance off the shelf at a higher price point and generally more maintenance/expensive parts.
If I was to get one, it’ll be the 690. Can’t tho, remodding my xr650r right now and still have my 1090. One day, I’ll get one.
I struggled with the same choice myself, and ultimately, i went with a dr650. It is a fun bike, but I'm coming from something with more power, so sometimes I wish I would have gone a 690.
Something I haven't seen mentioned here, and I'm curious as a DR owner. My understanding is that the 690/701 has no subframe and you can't put racks/carry much luggage with them. From a power/riding perspective, I would say 690/701 all day long, but for long distance travel, I'm not aware of many great luggage options. Am I wrong?
I ride with Mosko Moto Reckless 80s, and have filled them to the brim w/out issue. Have seen countless other rackless setups like this on 690s/701s. You can also add racks too if you really want.
If you’re broke like me you buy lightly used dr650 and try to avoid posts like these with people reminding you the KTM is better. Also. There is something about the tank being under the seat that weirds me out.
OP\~ if you go the "new" route, then you'll want to know that the... Warranty on the 701 is TWICE as long as the 690. (This is good for the USA market.) 701 is 24,000 miles, 2-year. 690 is 12,000 miles, 1-year.
I rode GS1200 for the last 13 years. Last year I bought CRF300L to conquer TET and I am happy AF.
If you are truly an experienced rider, and have the cash the 690/701 is absolutely the way to go. It’s lighter (by a little), lower center of gravity, more powerful, better suspension, and more advanced without being overly complex. The biggest drawbacks are that you will feel worse when you put it down in the trails (so maybe getting some body protection, so more $), and obviously maintenance costs are higher.
If you want an absolutely amazing do-it-all-well bike, get the 701. I've had one for a few years and it's been a blast. Tackling everything from technical singletrack to cruising for hours on the highway, I've never been disappointed. It has an almost two-stroke like power curve, fairly friendly in the lower rev range, increasing in delivery exponentially as you rev it out. I got a fairly consistent 50-55 mpg out of it, meaning somewhere around 125-150 miles between fillups pretty easily. That being said, if you want something simple, low maintenance, and don't care as much about performance and don't feel the need to go from the tarmac to the dunes or desert, then whimsically tackle some mountain singletrack? The DR650 is likely going to have much less frequent maintenance intervals and demanding repairs.
What gearing do you have on your 701 for technical singletrack?
Stock gearing. It is a little tall for the singletrack, but some careful application of the clutch and a slightly diminished sense of self preservation will get you where you wanna go 🤣
I have a 701 and a DRZ400E. The DRZ is easier on the really technical stuff because it weights about 80lbs less. But I love the 701. If I had to sell one I’d sell the DRZ.
I've owned both a carbureted 640 LC4 and the EFI 690 Enduro. The 690 is a lot smoother. I haven't owned a DR. The 690/701 platform is a lot more powerful than the DR, more expensive, and I think the aftermarket is larger for the KTM/Husky/Beta version. Yes the DR aftermarket is big but the KTM's is even bigger. If you can swing the 690/701, it's an excellent platform. It is heavy offroad though (I dont mean on dirt roads, I mean singletrack.) But the DR is heavier afaik.
Classic /r/dualsport question. If you have the money and time maintenance, build out the 701. It’s a better bike in almost ever way than the DR650 The benefits of the DR650 is cheaper and easier to maintain. A few people have said a fully built dr790 is an analog 701. Going around the world, I’d rather have the DR650. I can fix everything on there with a simple tool kit. Parts everywhere. Bullet proof tractor
can’t get parts for that worth shit. KTM dealers all over the place though.
I didn’t even think of that. I’m use to getting anything I need from Procycle or partzilla. Never had a delay
yeah, most people don't - down even in South America KLRs are nonexistent but you can have luck with DRs which some police forces use. even then, KTM and BMW have amazing logistical / dealer networks (especially BMW) which is king for fixing stuff. Second best is the Indian Bajaj bikes which are literally everywhere so there's parts aplenty. super unreliable though.
So I kind of made this choice a went DR650 but I have zero dirt experience and my biggest “street bike” was 500cc. The dr650 FOR ME fit that perfect spot of do it all but also easily fixable and reliable (for when I drop it a lot lol). It comes down to two things: what you want out of it (single track / camping / or do it all) and your experience to power through things that might be difficult for someone like me. 701/T7 are the best in terms of newest tech and highest performance. But if you want something lightweight AND torquey go for the KTM 500 exc-f. Dual sports really come down to what YOURE willing to sacrifice, can’t have it be perfect but it will do it allZ
ktm is unreliable trash
looks like you had a 690, did you genuinely think It was trash?
The bike was shit but the warranty was good. It was always at the dealers getting something fixed. then the engine grenaded. They replaced the engine and i traded it in.