From the mountains of Greece to the Italian Alps and across the borders to Austria, and most recently the east coast of Australia, here’s what I’ve learned after 30,000 km on the latest generation KTM 890 ADVENTURE.
A WEEKEND ADVENTURE IN THE GREEK MOUNTAINS
Can a smaller displacement ADVENTURE bike be fun? That’s exactly the question we set off to answer with Quinn Cody riding the new KTM 390 ADVENTURE for a long weekend in the Greek wilderness.
The European KTM ADVENTURE RALLY 2021 turned out to be exactly what we all anticipated: a thrilling motorcycle adventure in an exciting new destination, Greece. This is one of the best countries in Europe to ride bikes; a destination where all mountain roads can be ridden and explored freely.
There was one recognizable figure keeping a close eye on the inaugural event of the European Junior e-Motocross series at this year’s Motocross of Nations. As Red Bull & KTM stunt/FMX icon Robbie Maddison plugged in the KTM SX-E 5 of 7-year-old son Jagger to charge in the Mantova paddock, we asked the high-flying, wave-surfing likeable Australian about becoming a ‘motocross dad’…
The Motocross of Nations is the most prestigious event on the motocross calendar – it’s the Olympics of the sport let’s say, where the best of the best take part. Regular rivals become teammates to compete for their nations and they battle it out with pride for their country and the coveted Chamberlain Trophy. The event is in its 74th year, but the 2021 edition in Mantova, Italy had something extra on the agenda, with a new and futuristic junior class.
When Kevin Leuenberger from San Francisco is not crunching numbers in the financial realm, he’s wheeling his 2017 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R and wondering “I can’t believe they actually sell this thing to people. I can’t believe I’m legally allowed to have this!”
French rider Thibaut Clerc grew up riding the epic alpine roads in and around Grenoble, cutting his teeth on the sweeping switchbacks of the mountains. On a DUKE, these roads are the perfect playground – one that Thibaut knows all too well.
South African-born Michael Grove is no stranger to the KTM world or getting his hands dirty, be it when riding in the dirt or wrangling tools in the workshop. When it comes to being a true rev-head, Mike has his hand tightly around the throttle grip.
Argentinian Miguel Garay is no slouch when it comes to hustling a motorcycle. Regardless if it’s the smooth asphalt of a well-maintained racetrack, the potholed and rough edges of the street, or the dirt stages of the Dakar, Miquel has turned a wheel on all of them.
Austrian rider and occasional racer Andreas Burgschachner – or simply ‘Andi’ to his mates – is all about the SUPER DUKE lifestyle. Having discovered just how well the big naked bike handles on the track, he has dedicated his time to introducing other SUPER DUKE R owners to the racetracks of Europe.
