TASSIE
MOTO AMORO TOURO
A new bike needs testing. And what better place to try out the new KTM 1290 Super Adventure R than a lap of Tasmania.
After a few nights mapping out plans and researching the best turns and trails, we hopped on the overnight ferry for a quick four-day blast around the island.
SHOW US YOUR LAP O’ TASSIE
KICK START. THROTTLE OPEN.
Ignoring an early warning of Tas Police’s 8 new trailer-based speed camera units, we took a deep breath, kicked up our stands and wrenched the throttle. We had 460clicks on the day’s agenda and there was no time to waste.
So much packed into day one: A jaw dropping mountain ascent. A few back-hill dirt tracks. Some north-east forest sweepers. And an east-side coast-hugger to Freycinet to close the day.
Dramatic and awe-inspiring. The gravel road to the edge of the Ben Lomond plateau is a must ride for any explorer. Its steep ascents and hairpin turns make it one of the most spectacular zig-zags in the world.
Carved out of the cliff in 1964 it winds its way up the hill to a dramatic finish through a gap in the dolerite cliffs.
AUSTRALIA’S CRAZIEST ROAD
Nothing better than a days recap over beers on a deck. We chose Freycinet Lodge because it serves cold beer and has a perfect platform for ride reflection.
DECK DEBRIEF
START THE DAY WITH A WINEGLASS
Day two began with a pacy hike up the Hazards mountain range to the most photographed location in Tasmania – Wineglass Bay. A great leg stretch before mounting up for a fast track day.
The tip we’d been given was to ride the stretch from Cranbrook to Campbelltown - the ‘CC Rider’.
Dips and banked turns make this one of the longest stretches of fast sweepers we’ve ever seen.
CC RIDER
Heading into Hobart on some rocky and rough grit tracks east of Ross delivered some slide and got us dirty.
And we found the perfect little spot to dust off at day’s end - Sonny a tiny ‘10-seater’ in Hobart with very good vinyl and vino.
SONNY SUN-DOWNERS
An egg and bacon roll at the Farmers Market’s and we filled the panniers with supplies before we hugged the Derwent out of Hobart on our way to Lake St Clair.
PACKING THE PANNIERS
THE WILD WILD WEST
The rugged west coast has one place that’s straight out of a western movie.
‘99 Bends’ is a curvy stretch of endless turns through a seriously stark lunar landscape. This is as close to cowboy territory as you can get.
Desolate terrain from the mining town of Queenstown to the ghost town of Gormanston had us singing Glen Campbell’s ‘Galveston’ into the Cardo mikes in our helmets.
Yee-haw!
Out of Strahan we took the Zeehan/Roseberry/Tullah route through the Granite Tor Conservation Area. Rocky outcrops and steep slopes all the way to Cradle Mountain and its Crater Lake.
TOR-A, TOR-A, TOR-A
TASSIE DEVIL SIGHTED
We’d heard the new KTM was a weapon. And after four days of pulling its trigger, it’s fair to say it is their primo ADV for a reason. Grunt and punch in a package.
And there’s electronics to help with everything. Pick a mode, any mode and it will maximise the performance pleasure. Street. Sports. Rally. Rain. Off-road….all noticeably different.
Blasting down some of the dirt roads on the island at full power was a heart pumping experience. The bike is a weapon and naming it ‘The Tassie Devil’ for this tour was a title well earned.
Loved this journey for its variety.
Loved the lack of traffic.
We kicked our stands down after 1363km dialled up and are loving the idea of getting back there soon.
TOURO AMORO