A new Continent, but as tough as ever. This is the spirit of the Dakar 2009, a race which despite its change of setting will provide exactly the same type of demands as the legendary raid in Africa, one which will cover all the ground in the cone of South America from coast to coast. To maintain its high level of performance the KTM company has continued improving the jewel that it has dominated off-road competitions with over the last three years, the 690 Rally. The development work done over the last few months has concentrated on the search for greater agility, work that focussed its attention above all on adapting the handling to the conditions it will come across on the tracks in South America.
The KTM 690 Rally was built from scratch in 2006 with one very clear objective: to help the riders and that of the mechanics in their work in all possible ways. KTM started out with this goal but has constantly been refining this motorbike; one that Marc Coma rode to victory on in the 2006 & 2007 World Championships, and one which Despres won the Dakar on in the same year. The engineers at KTM manufactured a bike which was not only easy to ride but also to repair; the mechanical part and its easy access made the solution to any problems encountered straightforward and simple.
One of the most notable characteristics on the bike that the riders in the Team Repsol KTM will ride in the Dakar 2009 is the overall sensation of lightness that is transmitted. It weighs 162kg and its distribution plays a vital role in its performance. The weight on the 690 Rally was located lower down and towards the rear wheel, this modified the centre of gravity in such a way that the sensations when riding it are much more precise than on the previous model. These modifications, regarding the weight and the centre of gravity, provide better handling and greater agility on any type of terrain.
The chassis is another of the bike`s strongpoints, and an aspect that has also evolved over the course of the season. The KTM 690 Rally uses a trellis structure, this means that its reactions to and cushioning of any changes in the land surface, as well as how the bike reacts, is now transmitted to the rider in a different way from before. This is most noticeable at high speeds because the chassis bends less and provides a greater level of stability than on the previous model, Something similar happens on sand, and at high speeds the rear end does not not move around so much, that means it is simpler and safer to ride.
On the other hand on the very technical zones, either with a lot of stones or just very soft, a motorbike with very good agility is also needed. Although the KTM 690 Rally has not been subjected to any large structural change compared to the last year`s model, these small modifications to the chassis all help to make the ride easier. Something that has also been improved with the constant evolution seen in the field of bike suspension, another aspect that has been worked on.
The engine is a 654cc single cylinder four stroke unit linked to a six-speed gearbox. The number of components on the KTM 690 Rally bike`s engine have been reduced a little, so as to significantly modernise the whole unit. This model uses a shorter connecting-rod than on the previous model meaning that the revs rise much faster than before. The actual position of the engine is another of its strongpoints. It is mounted from underneath and fixed with two metal brackets, this makes it much easier to mount and take out. In the forthcoming edition of the Dakar special attention will have to be paid to the carburation because on the high altitude stages it will be affected by the changes in atmospheric pressure.
The KTM 690 Rally ridden by the Team Repsol KTM riders, Marc Coma, Jordi Viladoms and Gerard Farrés, is a motorbike that has been thoroughly tried and tested at top level, and now it has been evolved. After its recent wins at the Pink Lake and in the World Raid Championship, the next objective is in South America: the Dakar 2009 which starts on January 3rd in Buenos Aires.
Dimensions
Weigth: approx. 162 kg.
Engine
Engine type: 1-cylinder 4-stroke
Displacement: 653,7 cc.
Cooling: Liquid
Starter: Electric
Carburettor: Keihin MX FCR 41
Ignition: Keihin DC ECU
