After a 10 year lay off I'm getting back in the saddle (mid-life crisis?), looking at a XT660X (2012) and KTM Duke 690 (2104) both 10k miles, to get my road sense back and a bit of fun, and I'm stuck between the two. Obviously big difference in cost but not too worried about that. I've ridden the XTX and I love it but want to know if it's worth a 200+ mile round trip to test ride the KTM.
Would appreciate any feedback from anyone who's had experience of both in terms of low/mid/high range torque, top end vibrations, handling and anything else relevant.
Thanks!

and to

My honest reply to you is for you to try both, we can recommend one or the other but at the end of the day you are the one who will have to ride it.

Depends a bit what year the KTM is as they had a pretty big engine update a year or two back. I rode a 2014 690 Enduro rather than a Duke, but it's the same engine. It's more powerful, spins up faster and has considerably more urgency to it. It brings out the hooligan in you. But it vibrates more and had one or two noticeable flat spots. As a road bike I'm certain the Duke will be a sportier ride. I liked the KTMs performance but I didn't like the engines character as much as the XTs. (My XT is nicely set up with exhaust, airbox and Kev mods, so rides nicer than a non modified XT). You really would need to ride one to know if it's for you or not.

Hi Cro Magnon and welcome.

I would also recommend trying both bikes.
Perhaps you can reach out on some KTM forums and find a nearer owner who would let you try their Duke?

It is such a personal thing that you can't really take advice from somebody else on how the bike will make you feel...when I was looking I basically knew what I wanted (a petrol version of my burliest mtb!), but everybody I spoke to tried to steer me towards a Honda hornet or a bmw or... whatever it was that they enjoyed. As to the bike reviews in the press, not very objective is all I can say...

Personally I love my Tenere so far, I have only had it a couple of weeks and put about 400 miles on it due to cold wet weather, but I like its single torque and that fact it is not too much of a hooligan, it is a bit like a quality turbo diesel engine if that makes any sense! Also the riding position is very good for me, you can see over the top of all those annoying 4x4s and you feel like the king of the road..

You may find the Duke is just the thing for you though..

__________________
idler

Thanks Everyone... really appreciate your comments!

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=24296

Thanks Waynovetten... v. interesting and useful. Appreciate it!

Welcome on board mate.

Let us know what you end up getting... whatever it may be.

__________________