KTM Adventure Rally - There and Back Again

[SchalkL]

The BLACK and the RED route looks pretty much exactly the same ?  :eek7:

 

[GraZer]

Apparently Black and Red are 80% the same route.

 

[GraZer]

The briefing hall...

 

[Buff]

Looks very well organised, enjoy and travel safe Johno  :thumleft:

 

[171steve]

Thanks 171steve  :thumleft:
I actually feel like I could be carrying less.

Hahaha no thats perfect my girlfriends vanity case is bigger than that.

Its always advisable to carry less you end up enjoying your bike so much more.
Im super jealous enjoy ktm adventure rally wish i could join

 

[Poenabul]

Looks so good man

Question:

I have never used soft luggage.

Is it not better to strap bag on in this direction covering a little of the back seat so it gets less wind grab ?

For me it is better with the bag across the seat, wind a minor, comparing to the bag helped for damage to my bike when I put it down, I know the ideal would also be not putting the bike down but where I ride..........it happens. :imaposer: :imaposer: :'(

 

[Slim Jim]

This is how you go to a rally :thumleft:

 

[GraZer]

Day 7 - KTM Adventure Rally Black Route

Breakfast started at 07h00 with briefing following directly after at 08h30. Everyone set off in their own time. The route was definitely worthy of the grading and made me work hard. All went well and I got through with no falls or any issues. Unfortunately there were quite a few casualties with one severely injured shoulder and a badly broken foot, along with a few other injuries. A few people had a go on the skills challenge course later, including myself. Tomorrow I plan to do something different that is not part of the programme.

Only took one picture today of the lunch stop as there was so much micro nav that I did not have much time to focus on anything else.

 

[scott]

looks epic..
Very keen to see some more pics. Do they do this every year? Would be keen to participate next year.

 

[funky_munky]

The briefing hall...

I had a moment looking at this beauty!

anyway, great report, am enjoying it thoroughly.

 

[Alsdad]

Looking forward to reading the rest of your report on the Rally and your trip! :thumleft:

 

[GraZer]

A somewhat delayed update...

Day 8 - KTM Adventure Rally Black Route

The second day was a bit shorter than the previous day and after a friend loaned me his GPS, I was able to confirm that my GPS issues were not related to the unit but rather the cradle. Now knowing this I pulled the fuse to the cradle and set my GPS up to stay on while on internal power. This made a significant difference as I no longer had to deal with the external power lost message that would keep coming up. Personally I found the route a bit easier than the previous day and was able to enjoy the riding better now that the GPS was not an issue. Just before the lunch stop, there were a few nice step ups which caught a lot of people. Someone on a 1290 Super Adventure R fell just in front of me and was pinned by the bike. After the lunch stop it was a short 12km back to the resort. I arrived back a bit after 13h00 and took the time to clean up before the skills challenge (Read short course races). Some impressive riding was on display and Alfie Cox certainly does not know how to come second.

 

[GraZer]

Day 9 - KTM Adventure Rally to Aliwal North

After having such great accommodation with great food and great company, I was really not feeling motivated for the long road home. I set off in the morning after breakfast and took an easy ride to Aliwal North. The ride through the Golden Gate National Park was nice and scenic and the highlight of the day.

 

[SchalkL]

So was this the red or black route?

 

[GraZer]

Black

I suspect I was first through that point for the day as one of the organisers came running from the other side shouting "wait" while I was trying to hold my bike back from the edge I was now committed to.

 

[GraZer]

Day 10 - Aliwal North to Cape Town

After arriving in Aliwal North quite early, I was really not keen on doing two more days and was motivated to just keep riding. I was able to cancel my accommodation for the last night and got up early to be on the road by 05h30. The ride was very uneventful as I just slabbed all 1000km to Cape Town. It was great to get home and to have an extra day to just relax at home before returning to work.

Total distance 4300km

 

[GraZer]

KTM Adventure Rally Hightlights

Day 1

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydbqkHSV7nY&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

Day 2

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03y7p5fMPRY[/youtube]

 

[Ri]

Golden Gate is on my list of want to rides. I know it's not high adventure but it is so utterly beautiful.

Ah man that Rally looks AMAAAAAAAZING!!! WOW!! Next time can we stick an action cam on your person or bike?

 

[Buff]

That riding terrain looked amazing  :thumleft: Seriously dry and dusty conditions up that way, it hi-lights the severity of the drought in the country