T
he KTM Adventure Rallye offers
something different to a bog-stock
five-day adventure ride with a
couple of latte stops thrown in, but
then you’d expect nothing less from
Kato. It takes adventure riding to the next level
by seeking terrain not usually associated with
adventure bikes, to show KTM owners what
their machines are capable of.
The Rallye attracts all sorts of riders. From
die-hard enduro nuts and motocrossers to
easy-going adventure riders who are happy to
stick to the easy route.
This year started in the Blue Mountains in
New South Wales before heading up into the
Central West and New England, the Upper
Hunter Va lley t hen back to t he Blue Mountains.
DAY 1 WISEMANS FERRY
TO JENOLAN CAVES
There were nerves going into the first day and it
wasn’t helped by a sore head thanks to my new
‘mates’, Dave, Tim and Brett, who had kept the
beer f lowing the night before. It wasn’t the best
way to start, but as the week went on I learnt
riding makes up one-third of the adventure
and socialising the other two-thirds.
All 200 bikes rolled out in dribs and drabs.
The 1190s were a popular choice and one was
my ride for the duration, but there were 950
Super Enduros, 990 Adventures, 690 Enduros
and even a few old 640 LC4s. You could tell
some were only there for the dirt and the
promise of challenging terrain.
I rode with KTM General Manager Jeff
Leisk in the morning as we headed for Zig Zag
Railway through Portland and Bells Line Of
Road towards some epic riding in the Blue
Mountains. Starting on a section of easy dirt
road and bitumen helped me settle in on
the 1190R as I don’t normally ride big bikes.
Judgingfromtheskidsoncornerexits,some
riders were getting straight dow n to business.
The main attraction of day one was
Blackfellows Hand Trail. Thanks to recent
rain, the conditions were perfect. Steering big
adventure bikes through the soft sand is still
challenging, but it’s nothing a big handful of
throttle can’t fix.
As we followed the trail, we passed a couple
of fallen riders having issues w ith the sand,
then made our way down some steep rock
sections before eventually popping out on
Wolgan Valley Road. The first serious optional
breakout route started here, and it was a doozy.
It was a steep, rocky hill climb, full of ledges
and better suited to an EXC.
I got the big 1190 stuck between a rock and
a hard place. Lucky for me there were a few
riders hanging around to capture the action –
and help out, eventually. The trail continued
to climb and eventually plateaued out where I
came across a group standing around beside
the trail. As you do, I stopped for a chat and
they told me there’d been a head-on between
Motology Films’ Adam Riemann and one of
the Rallye riders. The two met on a tight corner
and the resulting impact snapped the frame
on Riemann’s brand-new KTM 1190R! Luckily
neither were badly injured, although the
punter had a sore back.
The route dove off into the trees for some
singletrack. Singletrack on an 1190? I wasn’t
sure but it did surprisingly well. You can ride
it like an enduro if you stand up and use the
footpegs. It’s just more difficult to stop and
change direction quickly.
I missed a sign that would have helpedWORDS OLLY MALONE PHOTOGRAPHY DANNY WILKINSONThe soft sand
is challenging,
but it’s nothing
a big handful of
throttle can’t fix