Part 1 Steep Point - Solo Unsupported Crossing Of Australia On My KTM690 ENDURO

[@seqtrailrider]

I’m in. Did the opposite direction in my 640 adventure about 10 years ago. Epic ride.

[@jasonstansborough3037]

Let the adventure begin! Subscribed.

[@Dashy1988]

Top work mate. Subscribed to your channel. Looking forward to seeing this trip unfold!

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Thanks for the sub!

[@paulconnell7605]

Looking forward to watching the adventure ahead

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Cheers, thanks for the support..

[@katojimmybling]

Looking forward to watching your journey 👍

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Cheers mate, hope you enjoyed..

[@somethingelse9535]

Yep, I like vid series's like this. Subbed, watched #1 and looking forward to part 2..

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Cheers, glad you enjoyed it.

[@baumie461]

That's awesome mate! 👌

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Thanks! 👍

[@gregb2873]

Great video and drone shots bringing back memories of my 2019 GAR (Great Australian Ride) from Byron to Steep Point. 22 days of unforgettable memories and chaos via Simpson Desert. My 690 was perfect. Flashed ECU and upgraded suspension helped transport my 115kgs. Recommend you take a spare fuel pump and fuel injector and get good at replacing them. About the only real weakness in these bikes. The rain will challenge you. Our ride was in drought. I am excited to follow your progress. Best of luck.

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Glad you enjoyed it, not sure if they fixed the pump issues on later models but so far I'm 22000km without a drama

[@gregb2873]

@@behindthebarsdownunder The fuel pump problem is increased if you do what I did for that ride. Standard tank with 2 x 4 litre Rotopax auxilary tanks. Riding until you run out of fuel leaves the poor fuel pump operating in air. It overheats and fails sooner. I have replaced 3 fuel pumps so far. Back to the Safari tank now. Still important to change over tanks before main runs out. My spare pump did go into another 690 on that ride. Best of luck.

[@sausagesandwichSA]

Awesome mate look forward to the trip. Ah the horse float, we came across that fella when we were there.

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Yeah he was long gone before I got there but didn't look like the float was going anywhere fast.

[@alftorrisi8795]

Fantastic 💪

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Glad you like it!

[@duketr4]

EPIC !!!!...........I have planned the same ride in March but I will be riding over from Sydney.

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Unfortunately with time constraints I wasn't able to go both ways. Good luck with your trip, it'll still be pretty warm in march

[@dynamadnessadventures205]

Great video ride safe

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Thanks 👍

[@crankylock7844]

Good start to the trip albeit a bit wet and miserable at the start. Are you heading for the most Easterly point of Oz since you started at the most Westerly? Cheers mate and looking forward to part 2. Cheers:-)

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Yeah it was a rough start. Yes mate the goal was to make it from most West to most East points

[@antony04772218433]

Awesome, btw, How did you do the drone shot while riding?

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

I have a Skydio2 drone.

[@stephenlittle8541]

Just subscribe!.What size sprockets you running mate?.

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Thanks for the sub mate. Stock gearing 15/45

[@JarrodCardno]

nice adventure 👍 did you calculator total fuel usage on the trip

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

I did for about the first half of the trip until I started to need fuel bladders and it got a bit hard to keep track of. I was averaging somewhere around 5ltrs per 100km

[@pablo.michelin5362]

@@behindthebarsdownunder I was going to wait until the last video but since you are on the subject of fuel. What was the longest distance between fuel availability. I ask because I want to do it next year but on my 500EXC and don’t have the luxury of long range fuel tanks like for the 690. I crossed the Simpson twice but supported, thanks.

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

@@pablo.michelin5362 longest distance between fuel was around 500/550km. Carnegie Homestead to Warburton, Mt Dare to Birdsville and Birdsville to Innamincka are all around that distance. You just have to be mindful of hard going conditions and if you have to push into a head wind all day over that distance your fuel usage goes way up.

[@pablo.michelin5362]

@@behindthebarsdownunder Thanks for that info.

[@sandrider1406]

What tyres did you use on the tour?

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

I started on Motoz Desert HT's..

[@Mavo1989]

Definately a wild trip from WA to the Cape on a 690 not the most comfortable bike for a trip like that - i guess you would have wished it was a 890 for some extra comfort

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

'Cape Byron' the 690 does it plenty fine. Iv moded it within an inch of its life. The stock seat is a bit average after a long day though.

[@HardEnduroAddict]

we must have been a few days in front of you mate, same ride.

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

I started at Steep Point on the 12/6.

[@HardEnduroAddict]

@@behindthebarsdownunder we were there on the 1st

[@TechnikMeister2]

Take a breath. Its by no means difficult any more. Even if you take the desert routes, there is ample fuel available now and four guys did it on postie bikes unaided in 2023. I would not choose a KTM for this for the simple reason that their motors are much more highly stressed than their competitors. For stone reliability its either Honda or Suzuki, followed by BMW, then Yamaha, with KTM a distant last.

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

Thanks for the comment, nothing wrong with a KTM..

[@pablo.michelin5362]

What bike did you do it on? I’m thinking of doing it this year.

[@behindthebarsdownunder]

@@pablo.michelin5362 modified KTM690 ENDURO

[@pablo.michelin5362]

Thanks, sorry I did see the video and knew it was a 690, I had one in the past. I was actually asking @TechnikMeister2 what bike he used when he did it.

[@duketr4]

I respectfully disagree with your 'reliability' views of KTM or the 690. Having observed over the years these 'reliability' sprays towards KTM's I'm certain it's more of a mental issue than anything else with some people. Those who own 690's as myself happily report the bikes as being very reliable. Dave Darcy rode his 690 from the UK to Australia without any issues, enough to suggest his 2011 690 was relaible.