Jesse Ziegler | November 9, 2016
We ride Klim’s ultra-built, 2016 KTM 690 Enduro and, well, adventure happens.
The Venture in Adventure
Despite our best intentions, we always find the “A” word. Like weak marketing wordplay and youth outdoor program mantras, we can’t seem to avoid the cliché one-word depiction of what happens to us in Idaho on motorcycles.
Makes you want to go for an adventure, doesn’t it?
This was supposed to be a simple two-day ride on a cool bike to showcase its versatility, performance and sheer cool factor. It turned out, like a lot of my experiences with Klim-types, into a dark, hungry and enjoyable you-know-what.
This quest began months ago when I first saw Klim’s latest project bike show up on my radar. They have a knack for building eye-catching and sometimes-ridiculous powersports toys with cool names (check out the Klim Monster 2.0—a big-bore 500cc two-stroke, electric start snowbike built on a KTM frame—for a perfect example).
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Photography By Stephen Clark
But this bike struck me as a viable solution build, not just a custom scary idea someone had (Monster 2.0). And I really wanted to see how it worked in person; on terrain I’d like to conquer on a long-range and massively random ride.
Could it fill a void in the adventure bike market? Will it make me feel awesome? Will I laugh and want to high-five wildlife? Seemed likely to me.
The Parts of a Build
This bike has a name. It’s called the Backcountry Assault Vehicle (BAV) and Klim’s West Coast Sales Manager, Dustin Pancheri, built it in-house with the direction of their marketing manager, John Summers, after Summers suffered a full-size Adventure bike mishap a couple summers ago. He’s never really forgiven the gigantic, superbike-powered battleship that took him down. And this build was to take him where we wanted, how he wanted.
“This project started as the ultimate do-all backcountry bike,” Pancheri said. “One capable of multiday single-track but with highway clout. It needed enough fuel capacity to ride all day yet we wanted it lighter and more maneuverable than traditional adventure bikes. This is leaning to the dirt bike side way more than anything we see in the adventure market right now.”
This would not be so easy. Or cheap.
Fully loaded: Our Klim-built KTM 690 in all its glory.
To be at home and agile in Jeep, ATV and even tighter single-track trails, the weight of this build would need to be significantly less than the current crop of mainstream full-size ADV bikes. Sure, riders ride massive bikes in these areas. But that doesn’t mean it makes the most sense for most riders.
The KTM 690 Enduro looks about right on paper. It has a big single-cylinder engine that makes manageable, yet plentiful, power. It has dirt bike handling and positioning to make you feel at home over the rough stuff. It has highway legs in the engine and transmission. But it certainly has its shortcomings in stock, as wind protection is non-existent and 100-mile days are stretching it with stock fuel capacity, despite impressive mpg numbers. Comfort is certainly not king, either.
Still, the 690 was the closest thing they could find. So, the building began.
Much of this project’s cool-factor is its rally-fighter styling and do-all functionality. The Klim crew went straight to the source here—UK-based Rally Raid. With them, they discussed what were the best parts for their needs. Rally Raid, conveniently, has them all. And while they’re not a budget-minded solution, they are complete, knowledgeable and the parts are available. Before the goodies went on a few bits went in to make the bike work better.
The 690 is already a fantastic ADV bike, but even the 690 can be made better.
A new water temperature-sending unit was bolted up to kick the fan on at lower temps. A kickstand sensor bypass plug came aboard to stop annoying floppy-stand stalls and a Rottweiler air intake kit opened up the voice box of the 690 and promised to make routine dirty filter maintenance quick and easy.
Other upgrades were added for functionality, as well, including a Trail Tech Voyager GPS, Wolfman Saddle Bags, Black Dog Cycle Works’ footpegs, Fastway Hand Guards, a Flatland Racing skid plate, Double Take Adventure Mirrors and a blessing of a seat from Seat Concepts.
From there, Rally Raid sort of monopolized the build. Nearly everything you see on the outside of this bike’s body is from the Rally Raid catalog. It transforms the 690 into a bike with legit rally looks, fuel capacity and function. Klim used two additional rally tanks (10L, 2.64 gallons total), a complete fairing kit (headlight, screen, cockpit support and hardware), radiator and tank protection, hardware galore and a rear rack from Rally Raid.
Add a fresh set of Dunlop 606 meats you have yourselves a weapon!
The Proof
Okay, this bike sort of kills it for a backcountry-riding junkie. But it comes at a cost.
We rolled straight out of Klim’s Rigby, Idaho-based headquarters and pointed east towards Kelly Canyon and the Big Holes—an area I’ve personally ridden a lot. Then, as the plan went, we’d cruise into Teton Valley in the evening looking dirty and super cool as we grabbed a hearty meal over war stories.
We were going across two-track and a bit of single track (not too gnarly) to see how fun a cruise on this bike could be. We’d stop for obligatory photo and video ops, and do a little exploring.
We started (late). And it got dark (early).
Wolfman Expedition Dry Saddle Bags are both affordable and functional.
We were a long way from dinner with the headlights on and a choice—take the ATV trail to the pass and the long way around, or go straight ahead into the belly of the beast via single-track, spotty memory and moose. Yes, moose. We chose moose.
The 690 responded with joy on skinny trails. It was a bit of a handful on some sketchy off-camber and washed-out ravines, but otherwise, the big bike stuck to the rock gardens (thanks Dunlop) and chugged out of trouble excellently. Keep in mind; this isn’t a beginner-level, buffed-out single-track route. This is good trail—for a dirt bike. Even the Rally Raid-spec’d headlight was pretty good in the deep, dark trenches, which you can see in action in the accompanying video.
So when we got in pretty deep and I began to realize how far we had to go, I was on my toes and definitely not relaxing. Then I saw the moose. It belonged there. I instantly felt like I didn’t. But, the bike proved more than capable and chugged past without putting me on the ground for a trample party.
We made it into Driggs, Idaho, just in time to have chips and salsa, Kate’s Bars and beer for dinner (everything else was closed).
The next day we ripped roads all the way back. Sweet, rolling dirt. It was where the BAV really wanted to be, and it was an absolute blast to drift, skid and do really long dirt burnouts in more wide-open terrain. I kept thinking about the trail the night before and how surprisingly well the bike pushed through them. At the same time, I was enjoying highway curves and rocky road passes. I’d say the Klim Backcountry Assault Vehicle hits the mark.
A good skid plate can mean the difference between a great ride and a miserable one.
Pros and Cons
The additional tanks on both sides of the trellis frame are bit bulky at the knees, so getting out of their way took some getting used to. But the handling character of the bike in the tough stuff, with the additional weight of the rally kit and fuel, was remarkably good. The suspension is simply soft up front loaded up and it’s not a bad setup for keeping your speed in check. And rewinding to the beginning of day one, the bike handled the two-track and jeep roads with ease. It can really dissect big acres via dirt road, that’s for sure.
Things I’m truly thankful for in the build include the Flatland Racing skid plate—I used it a lot—and the Dunlop 606 tires give a lot of traction on rocks, and rocks on gravel—a great combo for the 690. I was also thankful for the Rally Raid Fairing blocking massive wind at speed, and it looks fantastic and is never in the way. Seat Concepts seat puts the stock stuff to shame, and having 22 liters of fuel (5.8 gallons!) on a bike that gets up-to 50 MPG means you can have a lot of fun in a day.
Good wind protection is a must for long days in the saddle. The EVO2 Adventure Fairing Kit isn’t cheap but is well worth the money.
I did have an rpm-dependent rattle pop up on the fairing-to-dashboard interface I fixed with just the right-sized stick (wedged in to silence the vibrating plastic) and the Rally Tanks didn’t fit with the front of the Seat flush, so the Rottweiler intake proved to be pretty loud.
There’s that, and the price. Add it up and you’ll see this is a very expensive project pushing $6K in aftermarket build-up. What you get for your money is a totally custom, certainly more capable, longer distance and more comfortable 690—something that checks all the boxes in a lot of peoples’ books. CN
Back to reality.
KTM 690 Backcountry Assault Vehicle Build List
- Trail Tech TTO Switching Temperature Meter – $89.95
- Rottweiler Intake System – $349.00
- Trail Tech Voyager GPS – $289.95
- ToySkinz Custom Wrap – $250.00
- Wolfman Expedition Dry Saddle Bags – $279.99
- Black Dog Cycle Works Platform Footpegs – $244.00
- Fastway/Pro Moto Billet Hand Guards – $131.85
- Flatland Racing Skidplate – $109.95
- Doubletake Adventure Mirror – $120.00 / pair
- Dunlop 606 Front/Rear tires – Check Your Dealer
Rally Raid Products UK
- EVO2 Fuel Tank Kit (RRP 346) – $890.95
- EVO2 Adventure Fairing Kit (RRP 264) – $1,271.37
- EVO2 Tank Protection Bars (RRP 448) – $268.70
- Lower Tank Mount Kit (RRP 351) – $24.32
- 690 Lower Tank Mount Kit (RRP 053) – $24.32
- Subframe Tank Mounting Bolts (RRP 021) – $32.53
- Fan Thermostat Switch (RRP 027) – $70.34
- KTM 690 Fuse and Fault Code Help Sheet (RRP 251) – $4.45
- 690 Rear Rack (RRP 042) – $163.64
- 690 Radiator Protector (RRP 150) – $152.25
- 690 Radiator Screen (RRP 095) – $129.02
- Kickstand Sensor Bypass Plug (RRP 055) – $24.06
- Oil Pressure Hose (RRP 294) – $48.08
- Soft Luggage Racks (RRP 123) – $296.80
- Soft Luggage Pillion Mounts (RRP 211) – $43.91
- Waterproof USB Socket (RRP 318) – $26.16
- Shipping – $400 approx.
GEAR ID’d
PANTS: Klim Dakar In-the-boot Pant
JERSEY: Klim Dakar
JACKET: Klim Dakar
HELMET: Klim F3
GOGGLES: Klim Radius Pro
GLOVES: Klim Dakar Pro
BACKPACK: Klim Scramble Pack
BOOTS: TCX Comp Evo
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