VOL. 53 ISSUE 25 JUNE 28 2016 P89
ing it is more recre-
ational than this bike is
a massive understate-
ment. My bike=Couch.
This bike=Trophy truck.
"Just keep it buried
and it will keep pulling,"
he said.
Apparently, that's all
there is to it.
At around 80 mph,
the KTM floats across
the desert floor, not
really sticking anywhere
but massively moving
forward. It wants to go
faster, for sure. The
Dunlop 606 is trench-
ing the soil looking for
traction—evident by the
book, odometer and compass
headings!
The bike is ultimately predict-
able in the middle of the power
and speed spectrum. The sus-
pension soaks up the sharpest,
most abrupt bumps and stones
and has plenty of hold-up for
surprise washouts and bigger
impacts at speed. All the time,
the ride stays high and on alert.
This is a great suspension/chas-
sis package for nearly every
riding style I can imagine. I want
to take it home.
The bike doesn't feel big and
bulky at all. A lot of this has to do
with the really great fitting IMS
tank. The 450's power helps it
feel light, as well. It comes on in
the lower-mid range (after get-
ting past the gearing teeth) and
purrs with just the right blend of
Cody's
rally-winning
bike can be
replicated
in your own
garage.
"AT AROUND 80 MPH, THE KTM FLOATS ACROSS
THE DESERT FLOOR, NOT REALLY STICKING
ANYWHERE BUT MASSIVELY MOVING FORWARD."
rut forming in our high-speed run
route. The side-to-side move-
ment is freaking me out. I can't
mentally process the terrain fast
enough and I have to back off
the throttle more than once to let
my eyeballs catch up.
I imagine this is where I would
lose a rally race.
I pass the vans (trying to look
cool) and head up a gradually
inclined desert road. Here, I'm
able to keep it held wide open
longer. The increase in road
pitch is just enough to slow the
motor down and give the rear
tire some welcome traction. The
entire machine settles and ac-
celerates more controllably and
calmly. I finally feel what he was
talking about with his "it will keep
pulling" remark. I can't read the
instrumentation at all—it's a blur
at over 90.
I imagine this is where I would
lose a rally race, too.
I do some high-speed loops
to get the feeling of the top-
speed and enjoy the rush. Then,
I dive into the desert looking for
intersections and some sense of
riding ability. Since rally is about
going fast in the right direction,
I figure this is where the bike
should shine. And I am correct.
Heck, I can even read the road-
