KTM is celebrating its 13th Dakar Rally victory with a 450 Rally Replica with long-range tanks, navigation chart reader, Akropovic pipe and other rally accessories for ultimate adventurers. But where is the 690 Adventure we really want?
Unfortunately, the Replica is not based on the 690 which would have made it a true long-range adventure bike. It would have been a decent replacement for the 640 Adventure withdrawn from the market in 2010 and sorely missed by Aussies and desert-riding Americans ever since.
Dalby Moto has produced a kit that turns a 690 Enduro into a KTM 700 RR Adventure and there are other kits available around the world. Meanwhile, you may have to make do with this replica of the bike Marc Coma rode 9000km to victory last month in South America.
The KTM Rally Replica is designed by their design house, Kiska, and features a slimmer frame with a better seating position, re-worked rear suspension, carbon tower front screen/fairing and a new overhead single cam 450cc fuel-injection engine. It also has a front and rear fuel-pump system with multiple tanks, which allows the rider to pick a fuel source to match the weight balance with the terrain.
The limited-edition KTM Rally Replica certainly looks the part, but it isn’t cheap at $36,500 plus taxes,
but at least you will be one of a rare breed with this machine. You can order it through a KTM dealer and a service and support package is available at an additional cost. Looks like it is ready to go straight into the Finke Desert Race, Baja 1000 or Australasian Safari.