Anyone try Racing a KTM 690 for fun?

Well, seems ridiculous to me when you could hop on a much lighter 500.

you can really clear laps and small jumps on it. Will be heavy feeling but its a dual sport at the end of the day. Interestingly it does have a linkage, which i think every ktm should have

Maybe its just that im a shitty rider, but I couldnt never really tell too much between the PDS bikes and linkage bikes.

Most people are absolutely fine with PDS, like yourself, spring rate seems to be a little more critical to it behaving properly 👍

It was always supercross where fast folks seem to have an issue with it, not good with legit supercross whoops and biggg pointy rhythms.

Some people just have a negative, often uniformed, opinion about everything.

Besides the weight, 88hp on an MX track seems like more of a hindrance than a help.

"Never seen before: a Baja 690 KTM"

Lol. That's actually how it was launched 15 years ago...

Xavier actually raced it... 
Let's just say it's more in its proper place in the second vid...

I've never raced my 690, but I did take it on a local moto track not too long ago...

https://youtu.be/jGEZCodHnyw?si=ynzn_eAAe4s6LabJ&t=43

Have you ever sat on a 690? Huge compared to a 450. I wouldn't ever want to race one. 

Craig Anderson on the Castrol KTM 620 on a club day at the local track in '97.

That's not a cradle frame. Anyone measure the wheelbase before and after? I bet they're not identical lol. 

I’d say Chris Birch has or would race any KTM adventure bike. 

How about Pol beating a 700 Tenere at Erzberg?

Not a 690 but I've raced an 1190 ADV R. Rode it to the race and back. It did great! 

Yeah, seems really problematic.

They feel big and heavy to me, even on trails. 
I’ve got a 701 SM that’s 79.78hp at the rear wheel. It’s fun in the hills, but for racing I prefer my 450 FS. 

It's a Lattice / Trellis frame. I've made quite a few, and, they can be incredibly strong. Triangulation, Rules!

The only riding failures I've seen from them are the Alloy Front 'Hangers' - and that takes something monumental, or just an owner / mechanic Not keeping bolts tight - and the Frame shock mount. That, the shock mount, and I've repaired and  improved a couple,  Has been a bone of contention. Buggered if I know if KTM have rectified that, they do seem to ignore issues.

Build a bike - someone will race it.

I'm not sure of 'Rallye' rules, well, other than The Dakar and the World Rallye Championship rounds with their 450 limit, but I'm pretty sure these (various) KTM / KTHusky, KTGGs are being used, as are various big twins (and Triples), in the non  / ever so slightly lesser series and individual events .

I'd love to see the "Jumbo Class" come back to the ISDE, and EWC / WEC series. Genuinely BIG bikes, out there, hammering.  The Great (and Giant) Herbert Schek, a long time BMW and Maico rider / racer / builder  /developer:

Just as an aside, there's a couple ( well I saw 1 KTM, and 1 KTHusky Rallye 450) being hurled around in a day 4 or 5 video of the Argentinian ISDE. Even seen blokes ripping them in some WEC rounds. Mad Bastards - though with a fuel load more like a 'normal' Enduro bike, they aren't that impossibly porky, But the Bulk, well, aye caramba!

Oh, and the 690 / 701 engine has become a main 4 stroke player in Sidecarcross, too.