With a new KTM 690 Enduro R purchased, my deposit paid and the initial boxes of Jon’s 10th kit on the way, it was time to get to work.
As my mates will confirm, while I’ve improved hugely over the years, I’m definately what you’d call ‘mechanically challenged’. Although I was a bit apprehensive, I was looking forward to pulling all the OEM parts off the bike in preparation for reinstalling the kit. It would be good to get started and finally on the way to building a rally bike.
Despite the performance of the 1190 on my Central Australian run last September, on reflection, I did have a few doubts. It did an awesome job and the challenges were really solid, but there’s no avoiding the fact that it’s a big bike and I’m just not that good. Competent, sure, but I started riding late in life and don’t have the natural skill that people who grew up on bikes do. The most difficult riding I faced was steep rocky trails and there were so many times when I could easily have ended up having pretty serious off’s. The sand was fine, but didn’t end up in any really, really deep stuff. I think I was pretty lucky to get away with a lot of what I did.
It hadn’t rained properly for close to 2 years and the roads sure showed it. What an introduction to the desert! The bitchi slab to Thargomindah had been uneventful and the dirt on the way to Innamincka, on my first desert ride, was a great introduction. I had lots of ‘moments’ but had kept it together and was feeling strong. We were heading for Birdsville and the Cordillo Downs Road continued the pattern of atrocious conditions – dust, deep sand, flies, heat, dry creeks, bulldust and rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. My first off was just before smoko in the morning – some bruising, a cracked tappet cover and a bit of a reality check. However, by afternoon, I was well back in the groove – prophetic words! It was a long, long sandy sweeper with a nasty creek in the middle. I was on the pegs, but inexperience was going to dictate the outcome and taking the wrong line, with the sand really starting to bite, led to more and more speed. The edge of the track was drawing inexorably closer, but I was just about through. Then the front wheel crossed over the lip of the berm and ….. highside! My mates later joked that my ‘fifth’ off for the day was my best. Who was I to argue – the concussion, broken ribs and the near written off R1200GS certainly suggested as much. Am sure it was only ‘two’ though! The next few days were a blur of pain, not helped by an air mattress that went flat every few hours – blowing that up 3 or 4 times every night was probably the worst part of the experience, other than getting on and off the bike. I limped back into Toowoomba 3 or 4 days later, battered, bruised and very sore, but a lot wiser for the experience. Incorrect tyre pressures, a 19 inch front wheel, less than ideal packing, poor weigh distribution, not enough preparation and, most significantly, over confidence. Yup, it was always going to end one way!
Adventure USA 