F
or what seems like 20 years, I've watched the aftermarket finish what
KTM started in the 690 Enduro lineup. I've enjoyed testing and riding
completed rally kit setups. I've also thrown a leg over this bike's spiritual
predecessor, the 640 Adventure. And all those versions of a midsize, single-
cylinder adventure motorcycle make a lot of sense. They do justice to the legend-
ary LC4 motor by giving it wind protection and more fuel capacity. Now that we
have the KTM 690 Rally in our grips, it's like it should have been there all along.
I've even fallen into the fun trap of imagining my own perfect 690-based,
off-road-first adventure/rally/dual sport weapon. You know the type: a Dakar-
inspired 990-esque profile and some fat front tanks full of endless miles of
road-drifting, water bar-hopping bliss and probably a million LED-fired
lumens lighting the way. Budget be damned!
THE KTM 690
RALLY IS HERE,
AND SUDDENLY IT
ALL MAKES
SENSE.
BY JESSE ZIEGLER I PHOTOS BY KTM AND MARCO CAMPELLI
VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P99
Finally built to get you out where you want to go, the new 690 Rally is here.