Snoozin

Well, I've been pretty busy with work and life... add to that the weather's been pretty average so I haven't had a lot of time to go motorbikin' of late. But managed a couple of minor hoons into the Central part of the North Island. 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R Phone (143) by Richard Opie, on Flickr 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R Phone (146) by Richard Opie, on Flickr 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R Phone (151) by Richard Opie, on Flickr I did however pick up a Nomad-ADV rally tower off marketplace in pretty good order. I needed to get a couple of new parts and some missing fasteners, so also bought the graphics kit from the manufacturer who kindly offered to assist with product support, even though I didn't buy it new. So on the lift it goes. 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R Phone (155) by Richard Opie, on Flickr You know what though? I SUCK at taking progress photos, because these days I get so immersed in the process. This wasn't a pleasant job. All of the wiring/connectors for the controls, the ABS wiring, almost EVERYTHING is smooshed up inside the factory headlight mask. So it's tedious to remove it, there's a good 18 or so connectors in there. Then you need to carefully remove the (interference fit) idiot lights from the original dash plastics... and actually cut a portion of it up to get the clutch line and brake line to the ABS unit clear, lest I disconnect them and go through the process of refitting and bleeding and no doubt opening a whole shit show of hassle. Mounting the actual unit itself wasn't too much of a headache. Routing the wiring is one thing - but at least there's a little more room inside the tower frame vs the original setup. I think it's a bonus now too, the main loom that used to run into the headlight mask and turn with the bars, now does not, as the tower is frame mounted. One less pinch/pivot point to cause a problem. Anyway this is it now, I'll get some more detailed ones when the weather isn't garbage. It has turned the bike into this luxurious thing though. It's actually quieter with a proper screen. Even the rain was less, uh, wet. I suppose it was being swept in other directions instead of on me. And the headlights. OMFG. No longer do I have to make do with Austria's finest candle. Instead I have 60w or so of LED firepower at my disposal. 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R Phone (160) by Richard Opie, on Flickr Also got my full license, woo. But am on a promise to not do anything too hectic until we come back from a holiday in January... Bex thinks my track record could potentially be a holiday ruiner.

Is there a TL;DR version pls? Jokes, that was a killer sharn. Looking forward to subsequent sharnations and developments on this sweet machine.

I put a POR15 kit through my KP tank after modifying it, to treat the haggard old metal, seal the newly installed metal and give me some future proofing. It's not a fun job and it's quite tricky to ensure even and thorough coverage. Not to mention making sure it is absolutely bone dry internally after descaling. However, 4 years and 15,000km later everything is fine with no blockages or scuzz in the filters. The tank is due to come out for some other reasons so I'll update after inspection if the lining is not holding up.

Too many valves. No one wants that.

If you're going Endless, I would defo chat to Mike at Prosport regarding compound selection. He's a total whizz on these matters and has never set me crook. The midrange thing can be fixed with a flash tune I understand. I spent a lot of time researching these things and ultimately decided the Integra was better, and I already had it.

I think the power levels and the way it's delivered looks fantastic, who cares about justifying it with the size of wheels and things! It's grunty, a very useful power curve and you don't seem to have to lean on it too hard to do it which should hopefully make for some longevity? Great success in my view.

Smiles4Miles hp @ SatisfyingDoorts rpm will be fine to see thank you.

Also, welcome to the build ethos of my red car tbh. It's not fast like KPRs. It's not low like Matts. But it hit the brief right on the nose.

Driving the front wheels from a rear/mid mounted engine is a bold call but I like it.

Wee hoon yesterday. 437km from home and back, via Turakina Valley gravel, up to Tukino, back down the main drag with a detour at Manui Rd, onto Te Kapua Rd which looped back onto SH1 just South of Mangaweka. By this point the rain had really set in and it was home time, as the light was fading. Shots of the cool bit. Couldn't make it the full way, 2 4WDs were blocking the track just up from where I was here, and I was a bit hesitant to go off-piste should there be a hole or rock hidden by snow. 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R Phone (131) by Richard Opie, on Flickr 2020 KTM 690 Enduro R Phone (135) by Richard Opie, on Flickr

A while ago I updated the plastics on the 350, and had some graphics designed and applied by @Chunky_t via some ideas and inspiration from early 1980s KTM enduro bikes. I also fitted some flush mount sort of LED rear blinkers, as the original ones were prone to being ruined via crashes and were so cooked you could barely see them when on. I just need to sort out a reflector and bodge a number plate light so I can get this WOF'd and go get my full license. This is the result. 2019 KTM 350 EXC-F-43 by Richard Opie, on Flickr 2019 KTM 350 EXC-F-50 by Richard Opie, on Flickr 2019 KTM 350 EXC-F-57 by Richard Opie, on Flickr 2019 KTM 350 EXC-F-74 by Richard Opie, on Flickr 2019 KTM 350 EXC-F-114 by Richard Opie, on Flickr 2019 KTM 350 EXC-F-144 by Richard Opie, on Flickr The #775 is tribute to my very much missed late uncle Tony, who passed away 11 years ago from MND. This was his race number on bikes. 2019 KTM 350 EXC-F-63 by Richard Opie, on Flickr

FUCK GO MARK SKAIFE WOOO YEAH KING OF THE MOUNTAIN!

1981 Toyota Starlet KP61 4AGE (341)-Edit by Richard Opie, on Flickr I present to thee, a fine example of a super scary, gonna crash and kill a busload of nuns, 'stretched' tyre fitment.

Nah nah nah no need for RB25, RB20 sounds so much better on the booiiiill.

We didn't get up Patriarch - instead chose some other routes and up to Black Birch Ridge instead. I'll be back down to have a go at Mt Patriarch and I'm keen to run through Maungatapu too!