Is motorcycling allowed?

[Andymann]

I wanted him to do my TRX for me - he wasn't interested which I thought was odd.  

I would also like my XTZ done at some stage, but also not sure if he will do that.

Quite an interesting character I hear

[Hairy]

6 hours ago, Andymann said:

If you can find an XR650 it will probably outlast everyone currently active on this forum!

That was on my radar this weekend

[Hairy]

Roller coaster emotions .... the 625 will be brought back to life.

 

Workshop have made some big concessions RE their rates to help give the bike another chance at life, using the same bottom end, refreshing her.

 

Also offered up my time on the weekends when they are open to do work on the bike ... even if just cleaning parts and sweeping the workshop floor / making coffee.

 

Any thoughts on what her race no. will be :P?

[Andymann]

Has to be number 7 - Barry Sheene's number.  He also pretty much came back from the dead and rode again. 

 

[Hairy]

3 hours ago, Andymann said:

Has to be number 7 - Barry Sheene's number.  He also pretty much came back from the dead and rode again. 

 

No. 7 is my lucky no.

[Andymann]

On 9/8/2025 at 8:40 AM, mazambaan said:

On the face of it a rat. As Andy says, expensive to repair properly on a bike where spares may be available, let alone an old KTM where there were never too many of that model in SA anyway. IMHO those LC4; 620, 625, 640 and 690 KTM's were/are more powerful and had better offroad suspension than XT, DR, KLR and XL etc but that comes at a price; shorter life and more likely to get / have been thrashed; motard style.

A real dilemma for the 625 (donor motor?) but if you want a big single, learn from this and look again, very carefully.  The XT, DR and KLR are lower, somewhat less powerful, last better and not as well suspended but they go really well. You just have to be very careful with older ones. Disclaimer; I have only ever owned a TT600 and XR600 which went well but kick start only soured.

https://www.bikebound.com/2025/09/09/feral-princess/?omhide=true

[Hairy]

8 hours ago, Andymann said:

https://www.bikebound.com/2025/09/09/feral-princess/?omhide=true

That is pretty damned awesome.

[Hairy]

Apologies if this is dragging along.

Update.

Gaskets will be in the country in around 3 weeks from this week and Tuesday.
Mechanic breaking down the motor from tomorrow. Will clean the parts and inspect all. Crank shaft going to eng. to inspect and and make good if required.....in particular the thread that receives the lock nut.

So assuming 4/5 weeks to rolling her out the workshop?!?!

[WaynejG]

At this rate, you will end up with a 3 digit race number

[Hairy]

2 hours ago, WaynejG said:

At this rate, you will end up with a 3 digit race number

85 - 95 maybe ..... 86 has a nice ring to it.

[Andymann]

15 hours ago, Hairy said:

Apologies if this is dragging along.

Update.

Gaskets will be in the country in around 3 weeks from this week and Tuesday.
Mechanic breaking down the motor from tomorrow. Will clean the parts and inspect all. Crank shaft going to eng. to inspect and and make good if required.....in particular the thread that receives the lock nut.

So assuming 4/5 weeks to rolling her out the workshop?!?!

When I bought my 125LC I got it running and it had a terrible noise from the clutch.  Pulled off the cover and found that the main drive pinion nut had come loose and made a real mess of the threads on the crankshaft.  I knew eventually that I would have to replace the crank, but in the interim, I carefully cleaned up the threads as best I could with a triangular needle file, found a new(ish) nut in my spares and reassembled everything with Loctite after careful cleaning with the Loctite activation solvent (acetone!).  For the next three years I waited for the nut to come off and when I finally got round to putting in a new crankshaft, that nut was as tight as the day I put it on.

Granted, your 690 makes way more power than a little 125, but don't underestimate the power of Loctite.  Honestly, that motor is probably on the edge anyway.  I would have given it a good flush, replaced that Stator Assembly, put on a new nut with Loctite and ridden the bike to see if it's actually what you want - it will probably use a bit of oil and smoke a bit, but at least then you can make an educated decision on whether you want to do a complete rebuild.

[IceCreamMan]

12 hours ago, Hairy said:

85 - 95 maybe ..... 86 has a nice ring to it.

Always the optimist. 😂

 

reckon a Nelson would look cool as a number. 

[mazambaan]

4 hours ago, Andymann said:

When I bought my 125LC I got it running and it had a terrible noise from the clutch.  Pulled off the cover and found that the main drive pinion nut had come loose and made a real mess of the threads on the crankshaft.  I knew eventually that I would have to replace the crank, but in the interim, I carefully cleaned up the threads as best I could with a triangular needle file, found a new(ish) nut in my spares and reassembled everything with Loctite after careful cleaning with the Loctite activation solvent (acetone!).  For the next three years I waited for the nut to come off and when I finally got round to putting in a new crankshaft, that nut was as tight as the day I put it on.

Granted, your 690 makes way more power than a little 125, but don't underestimate the power of Loctite.  Honestly, that motor is probably on the edge anyway.  I would have given it a good flush, replaced that Stator Assembly, put on a new nut with Loctite and ridden the bike to see if it's actually what you want - it will probably use a bit of oil and smoke a bit, but at least then you can make an educated decision on whether you want to do a complete rebuild.

Agreed; I had a late 70's Husky 360 two stroke and it needed the flywheel left hand thread nut re-tightened a few hours after re-assembly. I went for a ride that lasted longer than expected and the nut came loose, chewing up the threads and keyway. I took it to the university engineering shop and a kind fitter and turner took a file and die grinder to it and cleaned it all up. A drop of Loctite and it never troubled me again.

[Hairy]

In and between this whole saga, I have been chatting to another 625 rider who has a rather deep knowledge of the bikes, and he has been great in being able to bounce questions off of, and to vent a bit when frustrated.

This weekend he sent some motivational pics from his recent 625 escapades, these have just got me more excited to get the bike up and rolling now!

Pics and vid for your viewing pleasure.

[Hairy]

[WaynejG]