KTM 690 Rally turns the 690 Enduro R into a factory rally bike
KTM has launched the 2027 690 Rally, bringing its tried-and-tested 692.7cc single-cylinder platform into a more rally-focused package. The new model gets a rally tower, integrated windshield, additional fuel tanks and other equipment aimed at riders looking for more range and off-road capability.
This formula may look very familiar to 690 Enduro R owners. For years, these riders have been fitting their bikes with aftermarket rally towers, auxiliary fuel tanks and navigation equipment to create something closer to a lightweight rally-adventure machine.
Photo courtesy of Joel Munoz, showing an earlier model of the 690 Enduro R with modifications.
The new 690 Rally is based on the latest 690 Enduro R, keeping its 692.7cc LC4 single-cylinder engine with 79 PS and 73 Nm, along with its 21/18-inch wheels and WP XPLOR suspension.
What KTM has added is what sets the Rally apart. The biggest change is fuel capacity. Two 3.5-liter front-mounted auxiliary tanks add 7 liters to the rear tank, bringing total capacity to 20 liters. A handlebar-mounted switch lets the rider select between the front and rear tanks, allowing the fuel load to be managed while riding.
Up front is an all-new rally tower with an integrated windshield, a 4.2-inch TFT display, KTMconnect smartphone connectivity, USB-C charging and a 12V socket. The tower also uses a headlight design inspired by KTM’s 450 Rally race bike.
KTM has also added dedicated mounting points for the rally tower and front fuel tanks, along with a tool-pouch mounting area behind the bodywork.
The 690 Rally weighs 161.5 kg without fuel, around 9.5 kg more than the 690 Enduro R.
For many Pinoys, the 690 will still be a bike for taller riders, as it retains the Enduro R’s 935-mm seat height and 265-mm ground clearance.
As mentioned, the changes may be already familiar to anyone who has spent time looking at 690 Enduro R builds, as riders wanting more range and better long-distance dirt capability have already been adding these extra equipment to their bikes.
But, it isn’t simply an Enduro R with aftermarket parts bolted on, at least from KTM’s point of view. The tower, fuel tanks and mounting hardware were designed as part of the motorcycle.
KTM calls the new 690 Rally the spiritual successor to the 640 Adventure. But for anyone familiar with the 690 Enduro R community, it looks like KTM has finally built what its customers have been doing to their bikes for years.
