One of the biggest decisions you have to make on a trip of this magnitude is the motorbike to be used. The Motorbike needs to be extremely robust, easy to maintain, light and capable of tackling the worst tracks in the world. It needs to be able to go through 50 degrees Celsius and battle -20 degrees. It needs to go through rocky mountains, cross rivers and slice through mud. After and extensive research and a few dozen tests of 6 different adventure motorbikes the decision was to go with the KTM 1190 Adventure R . After buying the bike with an amazing discount from KTM to support the cause we started the modification process. The modifications were based on testing and past experience. 3 months later we have the ultimate adventure machine that is ready for travel. For those who are interested in the details I am listing here the full list of the modifications.

I always believed In the do it yourself approach as it would teach you a lot about the bike and you can resolve the problems yourself on the road. So I modified the bike fully myself and it took me around 2 months of work.

 

I bought a lot of parts from different motorcycle adventure companies. These are

The following are the companies I got the parts from:

  1. KTM Power Parts
  2.  Touratech
  3. ADVDEPOT
  4. Twisted Throttle
  5. Unifilter
  6. RG Racing
  7. Revzilla
  8. Alpina Racing

 

The parts are:

  1. KTM (Power Parts)

    • Comfort Kit
    • Heated Grips
    • Ergo Seat (Heated)
    • Pillion Ergo Seat (Heated)
    • Windshield High
    • Sound & Style Kit
    • Akrapovic Slip-on Silencer
    • Brake Lever (Adjustable)
    • Clutch lever (Adjustable)
    • Hydraulic clutch cover
    • Brake fluid reservoir cover
    • Travel R Kit
    • Auxiliary lamp kit
    • Alarm system
    • Mounting for GPS Bracket
    • Tank protective film
    • PHDS Progressive handlebar damping system

  2. Touratech

    • GPS Mounting adapter
    • Chain Guard
    • Chain Guard Fin
    • Crash bars
    • Pannier rack stainless steel
    • Top case rack
    • 2 X 45L panniers (Zega pro)
    • 38L Top case (Zega pro)
    • Handlebar riser 25mm
    • Folding mirrors
    • Headlight protector
    • Pivot pegs
    • Mudguard riser
    • Splash guard number plate
    • Rear break reservoir cover
    • Side stand base extension
    • GPS bracket fitting adapter
    • Lid pannier bags
    • Top pannier bags
    • Integral lock for panniers

  3. Advdepot

    • Techmount Auxiliary Light Mount for Crashbar
    • Rigid Dually D2 Aux Lights
    • BBZ Handguard – Multi-fit, fabric construction, built for BLIZZARD conditions
    • Fenda Extenda fender extender by Pyramid Plastics KTM 1190 Adventure (’13- )
    • R&G Racing Bar End Sliders For KTM Adventure 1190 ’13
    • R&G Racing Stainless Steel Radiator Guard For KTM 1190 Adventure ’13
    • SW-MOTECH Swingarm Sliders KTM 1190 Adventure & 1190 Adventure R ’13-
    • SW-MOTECH Front Axle Sliders KTM 1190 Adventure & 1190 Adventure R ’13-
    • R&G Racing LHS & RHS Engine Case Cover Kit for KTM 1190 Adventure ’13 & 1290 Super Duke

  4. Twisted Throttle

    • Barkbusters Storm Handguards for Tapered Handlebars
    • Barkbusters VPS backbones and mounting hardware for tapered handlebars
    • Barkbusters “Storm” plastic guard set
    • Barkbusters External Handlebar-End Weights
    • Barkbusters 10mm Spacer and Bolt for providing extra clearance around master cylinder
    • DrySpec Tool Tube Kit
    • Adapter to convert SAE to Cigarette Socket and Powerlet Socket
    • SW-MOTECH Bags-Connection 12-volt Electric QUICK-LOCK EVO Trial Tankbag with iPad/Mapholder for SW-MOTECH QUICK-LOCK Mounting System
    • SW-MOTECH Bags-Connection Electrification Kit Type 126 Electrified QUICK-LOCK Tankbag Top & Bottom Tankring
    • Adapter to convert tankring bullet connectors to SAE
    • SW-MOTECH Electrical Topring (for upgrading a non-electric Quick-Lock tankbag)
    • SW-MOTECH Gascap Bottom Ring for Electric Quick-Lock Tankbags
    • Adapter to convert SAE to Dual Cigarette Socket
    • SW-Motech rear brake master cylinder guard (KTM 1190 Adventure/R ’13-’14) Black
    • Denali PowerHub2 fuse block, master ground block and wiring harness for motorcycles
    • R&G “Cotton Reel” swingarm spools for KTM 690 all, 690 Enduro ’08, 690 SMC ’08-’10, 950 Supermoto / R all, 990 Adventure all, 990 SMT ’08, 990R Super, 1190 Adventure

  5. Unifilter

    • Unifilter kit for 1190 Adventure R 2014

  6. RG racing

    • 2 x RG372 : Micro Indicators – LED Type – Aero Style
    • 4 x RGR0002 : Micro LED Indicators – Resistors
    • 2 x EZRG500 : R&G Eazi-GripT Tank Traction Pad for KTM 1190 Adventure
    • 1 x SHOCK3BKREAR : Shocktube [Rear]
    • 1 x FI0060BK : Frame Plug Kit for KTM 1190 Adventure ’13- & 1290 Super Duke R ’14-

  7. Revzilla

    • Rowe Electronics PDM60 Power Distribution Module

  8. Aplina Racing

    • Front and rear tubeless Rims