Moaarrr Powahhh
 

I recently acquired my Ten after looking for a reliable long distance bike with a decent tank range. Now, I've ridden the Ten before and I know they arent really known for earth shattering power. They do however get the job done and will get you where you want to be.

I come from a long line of LC8 KTM's (950's and 990s for those not familiar) I also had a XR650R, so I sort of know what a decent performing single should run like. I was looked at funny by my mates when I eventually took possession of the bike and I must say I really like the ergo's. Im 1.95 and about 110kg so im not small by any means.

The bike came stock with a DNA 2 and a decatted OEM exhaust. I didnt care much for the exhaust, so I dumped it for a 2 into 1. This gave the bike a decent gain in bottom end and made it sound a little better too.

Now, I have no idea what a good performing 660 should feel like, but im guessing im missing a bit of ponies up top. The bike seems the holding back and im almost always going everywhere at 90 % throttle. I seem to feel a slight surge at 4500rpm too.


So ideally... Id like the bike to near a stock 690 KTM power levels. Can this be done without too much drama?

Low 50s rwhp is easily possible without spending too much money - PCV, stage 1-3 air filters, pipes and a bit of dyno time. To get any more than that (and to get close to 690 power) you're going to have to invest a lot of time, money and effort - big bore, longer stroke, heads, cams etc. All of which will ruin your low to mid-range power on the XT motor. However, it will go like sh!t off a stick if you give it some revs! ;)

Don't forget the KTM is 50kg lighter

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Lol

Don't be that guy.

So a pcv us really necessary?

Out of intrest... what sort of power does a stock 690 make? 55 rwhp ?

Stock 690 is somewhere around 70 hp

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Surely not rear wheel power?

Wow really? Doesn't feel that strong.... feels kinda choked up in stock form.

Stock 690 power is quoted by KTM at 49kW (66.6hp).

Rear wheel power is normally on a chain driven bike about 8% less so theoretically the 61.3hp and according to the dyno it pretty much is...

http://www.tuneboy.com.au/images/690_Remap.jpg

Most stock XTs make around 43.5hp on the dyno. The 690 in stock trim is 41% more powerful than an XT (on paper anyway) - which is, in any ones book, a LOT more!

Combine that with the weight difference and you have chalk and cheese.


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The trouble is if you do too much to the Tenere 's engine in the pursuit of horsepower you will as Pleiades says ruin the bottom end grunt and just end up with a bike that's nearly as powerful as the KTM but still much heavier. ..if you look at what JaumeV has done, and Jmo, great grunty, lighter better handling bikes .. but not so far on the tuning front as to spoil the low end grunt and reliability. I was worried I'd miss the grunt of my XR650R, but as I rack up more miles on it I'm loving it! The thought of tearing down a Green Lane on a 70bhp Tenere is too scary for me!! Steve

Problem is performance usually comes at the price of reliability. The only KTM I ever had (1981 two stroke 495) went like stink but it needed loads of expensive parts and I spent way too much time fixing instead of riding. Just my pennies worth. Formula 1 cars are lovely but look at the pit crews they need. Take your pick and analyse whats important to you.

I've decided to make peace with the lack of power. (well maybe thats the wrong description) I rode it with a mate over the weekend on a KLR that I've just bought for him to ride a bit and the bike was in its element just ticking along. The low end grunt is actually pretty good up to about 4k rpm. I just found myself short shifting everywhere.

I might give the 14T front a bit of a go. Either that or a 47/8 rear and hope it doesnt mess with the speedo even more. The smaller front should give a false sense of hp, but give more fun on the gravel sections where I tend to ride it mostly.

Astute choice of riding companion. As a KLR can't pull the skin off a bowl of custard, what with its 37hp (even less at the rear wheel), any bike is going to feel like a rocket in comparison - not least your Tenere! ;)

For what it is, the bike actually impressed me. Its got a fair amount of torque down low and seems to tractor up everywhere. I need to learn to ride slower.

more power
 

I bet very few of us use more than 15 of the XTs 43 horses if you do use them all you must be touching 60mph. For me the are too many immoveable objects such as trees, rocks and drystone walls to even comtemplate high speed off road.:hmh:

Well said Keithy2. I was out camping at the weekend and fully loaded up I was having a blast. I came back from the Dales and got stuck behind some traffic. I could have blasted past, one at a time, but there was just more and more traffic, so I just sat back and enjoyed the view and dinked in to Skipton for a cuppa.
There is plenty enough power for our small congested roads and any legal speed limit is easy to break. Ride more smart I say!

right on...

The amount of people who add HP to a bike
that can't use what it already has...
but big hp sounds alot kooler I surpose...

My XTR is prob faster than most offroad & has nothing
done to the motor..
But the suspension is another story..
easyer to ride/faster offroad etc/ can ride faster
for longer/ don't come off as much...

Bad point...
When yer do come off it hurts more as yer going
alot faster....

The dream....
If only it was possable to get rid of 30kgs.....





..

Strangely the excess weight on the road is not a bad thing. It makes it more stable in the wind, this off course is a problem in the dirt were the weight is a major pain. But it is a DUAL purpose, which means compromise to do it all. Therein lies its strength. A one bike do it all. Big bore dirt bikes are only any good in flat wide open country, like farm roads.

If you watch my little video of me bimbling up Chalkpit lane and then watch a video called Procesgnilny. ..fast off road action, it's the same bike as mine, the same Chalkpit lane and I admire his skill....but...my bikes too precious and my bones are too precious! , although it does show what the Ten's capable of. Look at JaumeV for example. I was beating myself up a bit for not riding harder faster off road , but the reality is I don't want to trash my bike and I want my green laning to be relaxed and enjoyable . Steve

I think the best performance gain on the Tenere after a pcv and filter is to shed weight.....change the stock exhaust, remove the pillion footrests and bracket that holds the number plate/long fender on and try not to add heavy accessories. Lighter wheels are a great performance mod although quite expensive.