This is a gem of a bike for this trip, Brian bought it especially for the trip, it's a 2014 model & it seems to handle everything that is thrown at it on the trail without batting an eyelid. This bike cost $10k with all the taxes etc.
Mods to the bike included a new saddle, hand made by Fisher, based in Idaho. The standard tank is 2.25 US gallon tank which Brian changed to a KTM supplied Acerbis 5 gallon tank. A KTM bash plate protected the heart of the beast & a set of hand guards, supplied by Cycra protected the levers. There is also a rare luggage rack supplied by Globetrottin.com which is specific for the KTM.
Mods to the bike included a new saddle, hand made by Fisher, based in Idaho. The standard tank is 2.25 US gallon tank which Brian changed to a KTM supplied Acerbis 5 gallon tank. A KTM bash plate protected the heart of the beast & a set of hand guards, supplied by Cycra protected the levers. There is also a rare luggage rack supplied by Globetrottin.com which is specific for the KTM.
Other additions were a pannier rack, which supplied by Real Tyme Engineering & a set of Wolfman rolltop bags. Final additions were Garmin Satnav's, there are two, one is a Nuvi, the other is a Zumo motorcycle specific version.
On the whole there was very little to change on this bike, the bike is so well thought out for this kind of thing, the ground clearance is better than all the the other bikes I've seen so far, the suspension & the braking system are all well set up, although the suspension is a little stiff on a new bike, it settles & softens with a few miles under it.
I like this bike, it'll be my choice for a future trip, it handles the road stuff, seems quick & nimble & so far has been very reliable with not even the little bits to repair as the trail passes by, this is also partly down to Brian's skill in riding the off road sections, his experience shows & of course he's quick as!!
The downside seems to be the height of the bike from the ground. I sat on one of these in a show room & its the first bike I've ever been on where I struggled to touch the ground, apparently it can be lowered & this is a standard process for most of these bikes, so that's worth looking into.
Great team of bike & rider...
On the whole there was very little to change on this bike, the bike is so well thought out for this kind of thing, the ground clearance is better than all the the other bikes I've seen so far, the suspension & the braking system are all well set up, although the suspension is a little stiff on a new bike, it settles & softens with a few miles under it.
I like this bike, it'll be my choice for a future trip, it handles the road stuff, seems quick & nimble & so far has been very reliable with not even the little bits to repair as the trail passes by, this is also partly down to Brian's skill in riding the off road sections, his experience shows & of course he's quick as!!
The downside seems to be the height of the bike from the ground. I sat on one of these in a show room & its the first bike I've ever been on where I struggled to touch the ground, apparently it can be lowered & this is a standard process for most of these bikes, so that's worth looking into.
Great team of bike & rider...
