Looking forward to your test of the upcoming KTM Freeride 350… that thing looks cool.

Damn.

I was thinking of selling my f800gs, with all of its hardware (TT bling, hard panniers,etc….), and getting a 2012 690r.
How heavy would you say your bike is now with all the mods (fully fueled)?
The extra 9.5 liters of gasoline is about 6.8 kilograms = 15 pounds additional weight. So it’s going to be over 350 lbs with a full tank.
My f800gs is 490.5lbs/222.48kg wet! That’s an improvement!

Motorcycle Consumer News actually weighed the f800gs themselves:
“As this was also our first occasion to weigh the new machine, we were eager to see its actual difference versus the larger R1200GS…While BMW quotes 455 lbs. wet for the base machine, our scales noted 490.5 lbs wet, wearing the options of ABS (said to be on the order of 5 lbs), saddlebag mounts and a centerstand.”

I’d like some wind protection for those trips on the highway (to get to the dirt, of course).
How does your bike do on the highway? I’m not trying to do an Iron Butt ride on a 690r, but I’d like to know how miserable it is. I know from experience that there are very long highways in BC and people drive very fast.
I’m not sure if I want to get those large rally fairings, probably just a taller windscreen.

For luggage I’d get some soft throw over panniers. I’m not into the aluminum panniers look anymore. I’ve done enough dirt riding to see the light. I don’t need the extra weight. Plus they have clipped my legs during a drop.

Other mods would be an outlet for heated gear, sae lead, gps wiring, Denali lights, bash plate and radiator guard.
I had risers/scotts dampeners on my old dirtbikes. Love them. You just aren’t as tired at the end of the ride.

Did I say lighter is better???!!!! I’m planning to add more weight! But hey it’s easier to scale up than down.

Does your bike run well on 89 octane? Does it have a knock sensor? The f800gs does not, although I’ve run it on 89 octane in remote areas just fine

Future mods:
Save up for some supermoto wheels when I feel like being a hooligan.

Thanks for your articles and any feedback you provide. Looking forward to some long distance trip reports with the 690r.

As far as concerns over police abuse, well there are at least 106 compelling examples that hint at the possibility: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/11/05/bc-police-misconduct-cases.html

Was there a paragraph dropped in editing somewhere? The article mentions talking about the zippers later, then refers back to the zipper problem, but i don’t see it actually described. I actually found the front zipper on the 4 to be an improvement over the 3pro as it raises the wind/waterproof mark to the actual top of the collar. Also the zipper pulls feel better constructed, needed because i had the main zipper pull and both wrists break on the 3pro. The most sever disappointment has been that the connecting zipper is apparently sewed in wrong. My 3pro was a size 110 and zipped perfectly to my size 106 ProEmotion pants. However, the size 106 4 jacket zips in to the 106 pants at an offset so it feels like the jacket is twisted 2 inches counter clockwise around my waist. Very disconcerting.

As far as your comments about weather suitability, my experience has been the opposite. At temps above 30C it grows too hot and extremely uncomfortable when not rolling. On the other hand, how many suits out there take you comfortably below 10C without a separate liner or layers added? I have a Sentinel rain jacket i put on to seal wind at the throat, wrists, and waist better, which also provides and extra layer of wind insulation. This and a good base layer lets me ride below -10C with heated gear only for hands and feet.

I’ll have to see how the connecting zipper works and have to see if i can find the pants in my size somewhere, but other than a mesh jacket to swap into in hot weather, this kit gives everything i want from a riding suit.

Thanks!

Thanks
Billy