RUST Magazine: RUST #43
It's been a mad couple of months (and more) since the last issue as we've been working overtime on digital projects that should come to fruition very soon. But we've taken time out to get on the bikes as often as we can. And so this issue is still a 128-page cracker – not least because we've got seriously detailed ride reports on the two of the biggest stories in Adventure in 2019 – the amazing Yamaha Tenere 700 and KTM 790 Adventure R – enduro enthusiasts might like to skip the first 40 pages... Talking of enduro, one of KTM's biggest rivals – Beta – just released some of their meanest, bestest enduros yet!
It's been a mad couple of months (and more) since the last issue as we've been working overtime on digital projects that should come to fruition very soon. But we've taken time out to get on the bikes as often as we can. And so this issue is still a 128-page cracker – not least because we've got seriously detailed ride reports on the two of the biggest stories in Adventure in 2019 – the amazing Yamaha Tenere 700 and KTM 790 Adventure R – enduro enthusiasts might like to skip the first 40 pages... Talking of enduro, one of KTM's biggest rivals – Beta – just released some of their meanest, bestest enduros yet!
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LONG TERMER<br />
w<br />
one steep step, not thinking – or<br />
muff the little leap-down – and with<br />
no under-engine frame rails you’ve<br />
got an engine sump and an exhaust<br />
that’s going to take a big impact.<br />
In 6mm aluminium plate this is<br />
heavy duty kit that’s heavy – but it<br />
is at least positioned low-down so<br />
you don’t feel the weight so much,<br />
if at all. And so far I’ve not noticed<br />
it reflecting engine noises any<br />
more than the standard mini-plate.<br />
Result!<br />
CARBON CLUTCH COVER & IGNITION<br />
COVER PROTECTION £121.74 +<br />
£130.50<br />
I’m getting fussy here, but on the<br />
upside at least these items weigh<br />
very little. Point being, engine<br />
cases, often thin die-cast metal<br />
in construction, regularly suffer<br />
puncture wounds when a bike is<br />
laid over on rocks, even gently.<br />
These aren’t quite the awesome Fort<br />
Knox covers that I had from R&G<br />
for my long term Honda CRF250L<br />
some years back, but they’re of help<br />
nonetheless. They’re not cheap<br />
either. Luxury items to an extent, but<br />
they have a purpose.<br />
FOOTPEG SET £139.26<br />
Sometimes I think it’s my age<br />
speaking, but I like an oversized<br />
footpeg. BMW GSs have notoriously<br />
come with the thinnest daftest pegs<br />
and they need a peg change as a<br />
matter of course. By comparison,<br />
this 1290 has a pretty decent set<br />
as standard, but even so a bigger<br />
set – and I put these ones in the<br />
super-sized ‘rally’ category – can’t go<br />
amiss, especially if standing for long<br />
hours. And these are a nice size. Not<br />
too big I hope, but I’ll let you know<br />
on that.<br />
BRIDGESTONE ADVENTURECROSS<br />
AX41<br />
As much as the Adventure Spec<br />
Challenges are designed to be ridden<br />
on ‘road’ tyres, a half decent knob<br />
gives more assurity (‘she said’ – can<br />
you name that TV reference?) on the<br />
trails so rather than push my luck<br />
with the cut slicks the 1290 came<br />
with I’ve swapped to a set of the new<br />
Bridgestone Adventurecross AX41s.<br />
I’d give them a 50/50 rating (road/<br />
dirt), they’re looking comparable<br />
to the likes of Conti TKC80s and<br />
Metzeler Karoo 3s.<br />
So far on the road, yes, you can<br />
obviously feel there’s a little more<br />
movement between bike and road<br />
than on the road tyres, but this will<br />
be more than compensated when it<br />
comes to off-road grip. And as it is<br />
with adventure bikes, they always<br />
look better with proper off-road<br />
tyres!<br />
112<br />
www.rustsports.com
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