Adventure Rally Rider - Issue 3

Hi Guys, 

It’s been a tough couple of months but the 

RallyMoto Team has come out alive and kicking. 

We have run a number of Adventure Rally Raids 

in the Cotswolds and Hampshire, along with the 

Wales 500 in July. It was a shame we were not 

allowed to run the Wales 500 2 but then maybe 

two large events so close together to each other 

was always going to be a challenge. 

We did manage to run the “Tour of Wales” which 

was incredibly well received by the riders that 

attended this event - so maybe this is one for the 

future as well. 

The Blazing Saddles Challenge is about to kick 

off along with a new Cannonball Cafe Challenge for 

those riders who don’t want to fit “knobby” tyres. 

For the rest of us we have the “big One” coming up 

soon, which we are really looking forward to, which 

is a big forest ride using roadbook and a 

more relaxed social event with evening 

entertainment and music. Add in the Dark Skies 

Rally at the end of October and you can see we 

are very busy indeed. 

Looking ahead to 2025 we are going to have to 

look at the format of our events and look at making 

the navigation much more tricky. We have a few 

plans to challenge you for next year but it is clear 

that we have to be more Adventure Rally rather 

than Rally for UK based events. 

We will continue with our Tour of Portugal Rally 

with a new five day format and we can be more 

competitive with events in Portugal and Spain. 

I look forward to catching up with riders at the 

“Big One” and the Dark Skies Rally and of course, 

bring on the Ice Breaker Challenge. 

3 - 2 - 1 Goooo! 

Burt 

Burt 

03

Editor 

Rick Kemp 

Editorial Production 

Gabriella Linford 

Jon Bentman 

Design 

Andy Riley 

Publisher 

Robert Hughes 

robert@rallymoto.co.uk 

Cover picture: 

Jonathan Bentman 

2024 TOUR OF Once a year in April, riders of enduro, adventure 

06PORTUGAL 

and rally bikes gather in Portugal to embark 

on a three-day off-road navigational escapade 

12 

FIRST RIDE: 

KOVE 450 RALLY 

The Kove 450 Rally is significant in many ways. 

The reputation of Chinese-made motorcycles 

and parts has not been great for many years, however, 

Kove could be about to alter that perception... 

28 

THE 2024 SILK 

WAY RALLY 

The International Silk Way Rally has been uniting 

countries, peoples and cultures since 2009. 

This year saw the events 15th anniversary and 

competitors were offered one of the most challenging 

and diverse routes in the history of the competition 

38 PRODUCT 

REVIEW 

German-engineered SW-Motech adventure handguards 

with impact protection and replaceable shells 

Contact Information: 

t: 0770 392 4448 

e: robert@rallymoto.co.uk 

info@rallymoto.co.uk 

Adventure Rally Rider magazine is 

published quarterly by RallyMoto Ltd, 

Suite 1a, 70 Copt Elm Road, 

Cheltenham, Glos. GL53 8AW. 

The views expressed by individual 

members in RallyMoto are not 

necessarily those of RallyMoto Ltd 

20 

THE ABR ROADBOOK 

EXPERIENCE 

At this year’s ABR Festival, the RallyMoto Team 

offered something different, and a bit special 

39 COMING 

IN 2024 

A handy guide to all the RallyMoto events 

coming up in the year ahead 

40 

THE BIG ONE– 

ADVENTURE CAMP 

Do you have a BIG sense of adventure, 

a BIG passion for roadbook, and a BIG love 

of riding in BIG wilderness areas? 

If so, RallyMoto has some BIG news for you! 

24 

DIGITAL ROADBOOK 

DOUBLE DOSE 

This summer RallyMoto offers two remote 

digital challenges for both dirt lovers and 

road-only riders. The Cannonball Cafe 

Challenge and the Blazing Saddles Challenge 

04 

05

TOUR OF 

Portugal ‘24 

The Tour of Portugal is an increasingly 

popular Adventure Rally, hosted by 

RallyMoto in partnership with Portugal 

Offroad, and offers riders of all levels of experience 

the unique opportunity to roadbook abroad with 

fellow club members. 

The event was born 12 years ago, after Rui 

Matias of Portugal Offroad and Robert (Burt) 

“ 

Hughes met each other at the Dirt Bike Show in 

Coventry. Being the only representatives there of 

roadbook rallying, they decided to collaborate. After 

several years of running the Tour of Portugal, they 

were faced with a series of setbacks including the 

devastating forest fires of 2018, which ripped 

through central Portugal, followed by the pandemic 

years. In 2022 the team returned to the region to 

Some of the best riding i’ve ever done. 

Massive flowing tracks, just flat out, absolutely insane… 

Best event of the year - Jack Brazier 

” 

▲ 

Once a year in April, when the landscape is still rich in colour and vitality from the 

winter rains, riders of enduro, adventure and rally bikes gather at a bivouac in central 

Portugal ready to embark on a three day offroad navigation escapade 

06 

07

e-ride the routes they knew and loved, and the 

following year the Tour of Portugal was re-born. 

The event is divided into two classes, ‘Adventure’ 

and ‘Rally’, with the former appealing to those on 

bigger bikes and to riders still mastering their 

off-road riding skills. Those who opt for Rally Class 

are often eager for a challenge, with more 

demanding terrain to tackle, more miles to cover 

and special stages timed to the second. 

The routes are put together by Rui, who grew 

up exploring the mountainous region of central 

Portugal by dirt bike. His local knowledge of the 

seemingly never-ending network of dirt tracks 

shines through, and each year the riders are 

presented with three days‘ worth of some of the 

best rally riding terrain in all of Europe. 

The 2024 edition was no exception, as Rui 

proudly revealed a whole new region of trails 

that wound alongside the River Zêzere and 

climbed high up into the mountain tops south of 

Pampilhosa. 

▲ 

“ 

It was amazing, the roadbook was incredible, 

the scenery is stunning... - Matt Gooch 

” 

TOUR OF 


08 

09

TOUR OF 


There are big plans for next year’s Tour of 

Portugal, with a new five-star, lakeside bivouac 

location, but most importantly the event now 

includes a prologue (a short, fast, first day of under 

100km to determine start positions) followed by 

four full days of rallying. This has always been a 

great ‘stepping-stone’ event to prepare riders for 

the more serious international rallies such as 

Hellas, and now it will even more closely replicate 

those real rally conditions. Adventure riders don’t 

fret! The Adventure Class will remain toned down 

in terms of distance and technicality of terrain, 

ensuring an incredibly enjoyable experience riding 

through some of the most breathtaking and 

remote regions in the country. 

To register for the 2025 Tour of Portugal, head to 

rallymoto.co.uk/tour-of-portugal-2025/ ■ 

2024 RESULTS: 

Rally Class: 

1st JACK BRAZIER 268:03:00 

2nd NICK TUCKER 277:51:00 

3rd ROB GAWTHORPE 291:14:00 

Adventure Class: 

RICHARD BRADDOCK 415:55:00 

JON BILLINGS 495:03:00 

STEVE BOTTOMLEY 521:43:00 

I’ve moved from the Adventure Class in 2023 up to the Rally Class this 

year. 

“ 

I bought myself a 450 and found a totally new experience in rallying. 

When you come over here it’s beyond belief. It’s better than anything you 

can ever do in the UK. It’s absolutely fabulous. It’s a fabulous sport, can’t 

get enough of it. - Rob Gawthorpe 

” 

10 

11

FIRST RIDE 

Words: Rick Kemp Pics: Jon Bentman 

There’s a bit of a clue in the price. The Rally 

Standard version can be yours for £8,500 but if 

you want the fully-loaded Rally Pro, as featured 

in the Dakar finishing results, you’ll have to dig a little 

deeper and come up with £13,500, definitely not your 

standard Chinese pricing. 

Kove models are imported into the UK by the same 

company that brings in GPX Moto, an American brand 

made in China to US specifications. Kove Motorcycles 

was founded in 2007 by Zhang Xue, a former 

professional enduro rider. The company now has 

several factories in Chongqing, which is the massive 

Chinese hub of motorcycle and parts manufacturing. 

All the components and finished motorcycles are 

produced in-house and the emphasis is decidedly 

off–road. Of all the bikes produced, one has been 

developed over four years and eagerly anticipated by 

Rally riders and enthusiasts – the Kove 450 Rally. 

The engine is a tuned, counter-balanced Zongshen 

NC450 engine with a completely new top end that isn’t 

used in any other models. The Rally motor is double 

overhead cam, whereas the normal engine is single. 

This, combined with more dedicated mapping, Bosch 

fuel-injection and a tuned exhaust system, contributes 

to its increased performance. Which takes the power to 

52 bhp and impressive torque figures of 42nm at 7000 

rpm. The power delivery from this liquid-cooled 8-valve 

engine is smooth, and the twin-cams and altered 

mapping have turned the engine from a thumper into 

▲ 

KOVE 450 Rally 

The Kove 450 is significant in many ways. We know that many 

motorcycles or parts of motorcycles are made in China but the 

manufacturers do their best to conceal that fact as the general 

reputation of Chinese-made products also begins with a C. 

Kove however could well alter that perception... 

12 

13

FIRST RIDE 

KOVE 450 

Rally 

14 

Handlebar Switch gear is pretty standard, plus there’s the 

display screen for all the electronic stuff like ABS 

what many have described as feeling more like a twin. 

Zongshen makes about two million engines a year, 

which is significantly more than other manufacturers. 

The technology and production is spot on. Its engines 

can be found in other bikes including Fantic, Norton 

and AJP, and it also produces engine parts for Yamaha 

and Suzuki. 

Kove UK will be stocking all parts here in the UK 

including service kits. Extra general maintenance 

parts can be supplied with the machine. Parts are 

reasonably priced. 

To get a leg over the Standard Rally model we were 

advised by the importers, GPX Moto UK, to contact Off 

The Kerb, which offers the full range of motorcycle 

training courses including guided Trail and Adventure 

rides in the Surrey Hills. Also on offer here is the range 

of GPX Moto off-road mounts. This all fits well with the 

growing trend in this sales sector of getting bums on 

seats, rather than a different type of guided tour 

around a particular model by a sales person in a 

smart showroom. 

You’re unlikely to mistake the 450 Kove for any 

other brand. It has a distinctive shape and large 

graphics with the option of red or green colourways. 

The motor is fully shrouded with an integral bash 

plate, which adds a degree of protection not normally 

provided as standard and adds to the ‘tough’ Rally 

appearance. Dry weight is a competitive 145kg. Part of 

the smart bodywork design incorporates three petrol 

tanks, two forward and one rear, which facilitates an 

15 

▲

FIRST RIDE 

KOVE 450 

Rally 

all-day range of 31 litres. It is possible to isolate one 

tank for water storage to comply with rally rules. 

The top fairing and screen provide enough room 

for dedicated navigational equipment to be added if 

required. Handlebar Switch gear is pretty standard, 

plus there’s the display screen for all the electronic 

stuff like ABS. 

For those not familiar with the trails in the Surrey 

Hills, there’s a lot of dirt track where you have to try 

quite hard to fall off – great recreational riding linked 

by narrow tarmac roads, stunning views and a chance 

to glimpse where the other half live. We were also 

lucky with the weather – sunny but with enough 

moisture on the trails to keep the dust down. 

The Kove 450 Rally at our disposal had been 

lowered in both seat height and gearing to suit a 

wider range of customers. No bad thing in my case, 

as it was easier to ride. Riding on black roads was a 

doddle. All the controls fell easily to hand, the seat/ 

handlebar/footrest relationship was spot on and the 

Tasko brakes with their Nissin pads had the right 

amount of feel for playing in the traffic. Don’t know 

about you, but I tend to be easy on the brakes on 

the loose stuff and, hands up, I didn’t put the ABS 

to the test. Having said that, the lowered overall 

gearing – thanks to a larger rear sprocket – offered a 

▲ 

16 

17

FIRST RIDE 

KOVE 450 Rally 

Contacts: 

Kove UK 

Tel: 07411 364803 

www.kovepower.com 

Off The Kerb 

www.offthekerbadventurerides.com 

bit more engine braking and possibly snappier 

response. 

I had no complaints regarding the suspension 

but then Public Rights of Way don’t normally 

involve big jumps and drop-offs. That aside it was 

a comfortable couple of hours in the saddle. If you 

want to steer with the rear wheel by shifting your 

footpeg weight and spinning the wheel up, then 

the power delivery makes it easy enough. 

Okay, I’ve never ridden a rally event but that’s 

about to change – Blazing Saddles here we come! 

But when you’ve been riding other off-road events 

for the best part of five decades, including a couple 

of National Enduro Championships, beach races, 

no MX, quite a few press launches and invitation 

events, you develop a sixth sense about how an 

off-road motorcycle feels. In the case of the Kove 

450, you get the sense that it has been designed 

and built by people who know what they’re doing. 

You can usually tell this in half-an-hour and if it’s a 

load of rubbish, you’ll know in about ten minutes. 

There is definitely a new kid on the block 

that looks like it might be around for quite some 

time to come. ■ 

Rick Kemp 

18 

2024 KOVE 450 RALLY 

Engine 

Zongshen NC450 

DOHC, single cylinder 

Transmission 6-Speed 

Fuelling: Bosch EFI 

Frame: 

Steel Perimeter 

Front suspension: YU-AN 49mm USD fork 

Rear suspension: YU-AN Piggy-Back 

shock 

Wheels: 21in front, 18in rear 

Brakes: Tasko 280mm disc 

Front and 240mm Rear 

with selectable ABS 

Wheelbase: 1490mm 

Seat height: 960mm or 910mm 

Ground clearance: 310mm 

Weight (dry): 145kg 

Fuel capacity: 31 Litres 

SRP: Rally Standard £8,500 

(Rally Race version 

£13,500)

The Adventure Bike Rider Festival needs no introduction. The annual 

summer event attracts thousands of adventure minded motorcycle 

enthusiasts from across the world to enjoy the workshops, talks and riding 

activities on offer there. The team from RallyMoto have attended the ABR 

Festival several years running, however this year they offered something 

different and a bit special 

It was fab. Loads of little trail sections which were 

“ easy to handle and get to grips with using the 

roadbook. Thanks guys! 

” - Jen 

ABR 

ROADBOOK 

Experience 

“ 

I’ve just come out of RallyMoto 

and done my first ever trip on my 

nice and vintage 95 Cagiva 750 

Elephant and it absolutely aced it. 

Brilliant organization, would 100% 

recommend it if you want to get out 

on the trails 

” - Bobby 21 

It was at the ABR 2024 that the fleet of digital 

roadbook hire units made their debut, enabling 

punters to have a go at roadbook navigation 

without the need for any of their own kit. The ABR 

Roadbook Experience proved extremely popular, 

with over 100 riders taking part throughout the 

event, and many returning to extend their rental 

for another session. 

So what did it entail? Five roadbook routes were 

created, which started and finished at the festival 

site. Three of the routes included sections of 

off-road tracks and byways, whereas the other two 

stuck to the tarmac. One of the tarmac routes 

▲ 

20

It was my first time using the 

roadbook. “ All really easy to understand 

once it was explained. And 

such a feeling of achievement when 

you reached the finish. The trails 

were amazing, going along new 

routes where you don’t know the 

environment and someone’s done it 

all for you. We are total converts 

- Steve ” 

included a couple of cafe stops, providing a taster 

for the ‘Cafe to Cafe Cannonball Challenge’ (another 

digital roadbook offering from RallyMoto, see p.26). 

For those totally unfamiliar with roadbook 

navigation, there was also the opportunity to sit in 

on one of the two daily roadbook training sessions, 

which brought riders up to speed with what they 

needed to know to get started. The whole 

experience was very well received and thoroughly 

enjoyed by adventure riders of all backgrounds and 

levels of experience. And once again, the digital 

roadbook app proved to be an effective and 

hassle-free way of introducing newcomers to 

roadbook navigation. ■ 

“ 

Good to get away from people, a 

different challenge that tested the brain. 

A really well set up route and a great fun 

afternoon 

” - Vicky 

Wasn’t too sure what to make of roadbooking, 

“ but have to say I absolutely loved it. Added a 

whole new dimension to riding. Will definitely 

sign up for more 

” - Fraser 

ABR 

ROADBOOK 

Experience 

22 

23

Digital 

ROADBOOK 

Double Dose 

There’s no rest from roadbooking this summer with two remote digital 

roadbook challenges on offer from RallyMoto providing routes for both 

dirt lovers and road-only riders 

24 

So what is a ‘digital roadbook challenge’? 

These ‘remote style’ events are structured 

so that riders can sign up, download the 

RallyMoto roadbook app, and ride the available 

routes within a predetermined time frame. 

The challenge is to hit all the waypoints along 

each route, achieved simply by navigating 

accurately, and to ride as many routes as possible, 

with prizes awarded for meeting certain targets. 

Penalty points are incurred for missed waypoints 

and not adhering to the speed limits imposed in 

certain places. 

The digital app enables users to submit their 

results to Rally HQ at the end of each route, where 

their results are verified and added to an online 

leaderboard. The fewer points one accumulates by 

not missing any waypoints and not accruing any 

speeding penalties, the higher up the leaderboard 

they go! 

25 

PREVIEW 

BLAZING SADDLES CHALLENGE: 

Entry Fee: £99.00 

Dates: 16 Aug – 31 Oct 2024 

Six roadbook routes around the UK, which include a 

mix of byways, minor lanes and scenic roads. 

Mostly easygoing off-road sections but expect the 

odd technical challenge! 

CANNONBALL CAFE CHALLENGE: 

Entry Fee: £135.00 

(24 routes @ £5.63 per route) 

Dates: 16 Aug – 31 Oct 2024 

A navigational spin on the regular ‘Cafe to Cafe’ 

ride out, 100% tarmac. Over 2400km of Cafe to 

Cafe roadbook routes to ride all across the UK! 

There are 24 available roadbooks in total: 12 routes 

in the North and 12 routes in the South. 

Each roadbook starts and finishes at a bike-friendly 

cafe. Finish the route, enjoy a brew, load the return 

roadbook and head back to the start! 

▲

THE ROUTES 

Blazing Saddles Challenge: 

Roadbook routes will each be around 150–180km 

in length 

Route 1: The Peak District 

Route 2: Salisbury Plain 

Route 3: The Cotswolds 

Route 4: Thetford 

Route 5: Kent Coast to Coast (north to south) 

Route 6: Kent Coast to Coast (south to north) 

Cannonball Cafe Challenge: 

Each route starts and ends at a different cafe and 

is around 100–120km in length, with a separate 

return roadbook to get you back to the start 

location along a whole new route. So it is a great 

round trip. 

2 x roadbooks = 1 x round trip = 1 x route 

completed. 

NORTH WEST: 

Route 1: Craggies Farm Shop, Hebden Bridge – 

Cafe @ The Cavern, Derbyshire 

Route 2: Costa Coffee, Chester – Sparrow Cafe, 

Battlefield 

Route 3: Starbucks, Middlewich – Clough Head 

Visitor Centre Cafe, Rossendale 

NORTH EAST: 

Route 1: The Motorist, Leeds – Time Cafe, 

Yorkshire 

Route 2: Costa Coffee, Mansfield – The Carding 

Shed, Holmfirth 

Route 3: Hill Top Farm Shop, Melton Mowbray – 

The Boat House, Lincoln 

SOUTH WEST: 

Route 1: The Classic Motor Hub, Cirencester – 

Gilks’ Garage Cafe, Warwickshire 

Route 2: The Rest, Kings Stanley – Stourport Farm 

Shop & Kitchen, 

Stourport-on-Severn 

Route 3: Allington Cafe, Chippenham – Kingsley 

Cafe, Witney 

SOUTH EAST: 

Route 1: Henley Piazza, Henley-on-Thames – 

Caffeine & Machine, Bedford 

Route 2: 2MT Caffe, Chelmsford – Alder Carr 

Farm Shop, Ipswich 

Route 3: Leafy Oak Tea Room, Ware – Costa 

Coffee, Cambridge 

REWARDS ON COMPLETION 


Mission Accomplished T-Shirt on completion of 

three return routes with all waypoints confirmed. 

Completing all the routes correctly earns you a 

special edition ‘Dust Devil’ Hoodie. 


Mission Accomplished T-Shirt on completion of 

three return routes with all waypoints confirmed. 

Completing all the routes correctly earns you a 

special edition ‘CCC’ Hoodie. ■ 

Digital 

ROADBOOK 

Double Dose 

26 

HOW TO SIGN UP 


https://rallymoto.co.uk/blazing-saddles-challenge- 

2024/ 


https://rallymoto.co.uk/cannonball-cafe-challenge/ 

27

Cross-Country 450 Overall Winner 

Aleksey Naumov, Federation Free 

Bikers, Husqvarna 450 

The International Silk Way Rally has been uniting countries, peoples and cultures 

since its inception in 2009. This year saw the event‘s 15th anniversary and to 

mark the occasion, competitors were offered a new route, one of the most 

diverse and challenging in the competition‘s history 

Words:ThomasPfister Images:SWR 

International 

SILK WAY 

Rally 2024 

Often regarded as the greatest rally in 

Eurasia, the Silk Way Rally took place over 

11 days in July and passed through three 

countries with a ceremonial finish in Ulaanbaatar, 

the capital of Mongolia. Over the course of the 

11 stages, competitors encountered a range of 

climatic conditions and surfaces — from 

permafrost to sun-dried deserts – covering some 

5500km. With two levels of entrants, Moto and 

G-Moto, for motorcycles, which were first 

introduced in 2019, it‘s the latter class that is 

reserved for amateur riders. It also means no 

assistance and life lived out of a box. All must 

complete selective sections of the itinerary 

and pass through compulsory waypoints. 

Any competitor who fails to complete a selective 

section is allowed to continue the race but with 

a penalty. 

The ceremonial start took place in Lenin Square 

in the centre of Tomsk, a city on the River Tom 

in Siberia. Competitors had to take part in a 

selective section of just under 25km, the results 

determining the order for Day 2. 

28 29 

Day 

1 

Official Start in Tomsk 

Day 

2 

Early Challenges 

Total distance: 618.77 km 

The Silk Way Rally was now in full swing. Day 2 

saw competitors cover over 600km from Tomsk to 

Barnaul in the mountainous Altai region of Siberia, 

across fast and difficult tracks for both riding and 

navigation. Those who got into the rhythm of the 

rally early had the advantage. 

Ilya Shcheglov, Doc32, 

Husqvarna FR450 Rally 

▲

International 

SILK 

RallyWAY 

2024 

Ekaterina Zhanadov, 

Naikom Extreme Motocross, 

KTM 450 EXC F Six-Days 

Murun Purevdoja, 

Team Mongolia, 

KTM 450 Rally 

Day 

3 

In Full Swing 


The third stage of the rally connected Barnaul and 

Gorno-Altaisk, where the highest point of the Altai 

mountain system – Mount Belukha– and one of the 

five deepest lakes in Russia – Teletskoye – are 

located. The competitors faced an eventful and 

dynamic stage, the nature of which changed every 

30 to 40km, with fast dirt roads, forest tracks with 

bumps and holes, sticky sand and high-speed 

sandy clearings. 

The leaders in the two rally categories changed, 

and the competition was intense. 

Galamakh Gantugla, 

Team Mongolia, 

KTM 450 Rally 

Murun Purevdoja, taking a 

few selfies for the crowd 

Rustam Satrudinov, ITF, 

Husqvarna Norden Expedition 

Day 

4 

Last Russian Stage 


The picturesque mountain tracks of the Altai 

became a new challenge. The selective section was 

located at an altitude of 1740-2400m above sea 

level. Not everyone was up to it, but the splendour 

of the landscape left no one indifferent. 

▲ 

30 

31

International 

SILK 


2024 

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Cross-Country 450 Class Winner 

Aleksey Naumov talks to the press 

32 

Day 

5 

Run to Mongolia 


On the fifth day of the rally, competitors crossed the 

Russian-Mongolian border, and continued through 

the vast expanse of the ‘Land of the Eternal Blue 

Sky‘. The selective section began with fast, winding 

tracks between picturesque hills, followed by 

treacherous rocky stretches that passed Lake Achit. 

The finish line was reached through a canyon with 

fast roads, where entrants had the opportunity for 

some flat-out going. 

Day 

6 

First Dunes 


This circular stage near the Mongolian city of 

Khovd was the longest on the Silk Way Rally and 

took competitors through the first dunes of the 

marathon, which became the highlight of the 

selective section. 

Khovd is one of the oldest cities in Mongolia, 

situated 25km from Lake Khar-Us, at an altitude 

of approximately 1400m above sea level. 

Established over three centuries ago, it functioned 

as a fortified base under the authority of the 

▲ 

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Chinese Qing empire. 

The selective section began with fast roads on 

a rocky plateau, followed by loose fine-grained 

sand dunes, and finished along hard roads through 

a mountain gorge. So this stage required a flexible, 

comprehensive approach and extreme 

concentration from the competitors. The slightest 

mistake in the dunes could lead to the loss of 30 

minutes, and lack of attention on the fast track 

could lead to a puncture. 

Day 

7 

The seventh stage of the rally took competitors 

from Khovd to Altai, the administrative centre of the 

Govi-Altai province. The selective section started 

on a rocky plateau, and then the competitors 

faced a 50km navigation quest. 

The route continued alongside a picturesque 

lake and crossed the Mongol-Els sand massif, 

with impassable dunes between mountain ranges 

and dunes with steep reverse slopes. The distance 

was completed by steppe roads that passed 

through a stone canyon. 

Day 

8 

Big Dunes and Rocky Roads 


The eighth stage presented a significant challenge. 

The 314km selective section began on rocky roads 

leading to a stone riverbed, from where the 

marathon rally caravan headed to the Zavkhan 

sand desert, with its 100km of dunes. 

Day 

9 

Zavkhan Sands 


World of Speed 


After leaving Altai, the competitors faced a most 

demanding route through high mountain passes 

to Bayankhongor in south-west Mongolia, along 

riverbeds with snow-white marble cliffs, a distance 

of 558km. 

The selective section was notable for its 

high-speed tracks, which demanded heightened 

vigilance due to the prevalence of transverse 

gullies and complex terrain. 

▲ 

Murun Purevdoja, 

looking a little 

secondhand... 

Ilya Shcheglov, Doc32, 

Husqvarna FR450 Rally 

International 

SILK 


2024 

Ivan Li, Husqvarna FE 450 

34 

35

International 

SILK 


2024 

Day 

10 

High-Speed Marathon 


The penultimate day of the rally connected 

Bayankhongor and Mandalgovi, about 300km south 

of Ulaanbaatar on the border of the Gobi Desert. 

It presented a new challenge for the competitors 

as it was the first part of the high-speed marathon 

stage and took place along steppe roads and 

winding rocky routes, which required increased 

attentiveness and skills. 

Day 

11 

Marathon Outcome 


Rustam Satrudinov, ITF, 

Husqvarna Norden Expedition 

Murun Purevdoja, Team Mongolia, KTM 450 Rally 

The final stage of the Silk Way Rally started in 

Mandalgovi and concluded with a ceremonial finish 

in Ulaanbaatar. The second part of the marathon 

stage required competitors to navigate high-speed 

rocky tracks and dry riverbeds with a selective 

section that exceeded 300km in distance and 

required considerable effort. 

The final stage of the Silk Way Rally started in 

Mandalgovi and concluded with a ceremonial finish 

in Ulaanbaatar. The second part of the marathon 

stage required competitors to navigate high-speed 

rocky tracks and dry riverbeds with a selective 

section that exceeded 300km in distance and 

required considerable effort. It determined the 

winners of the 2024 rally. 

The awards in the Moto category were the first 

to be announced. Alexey Naumov secured victory 

for the second time. The Russian demonstrated 

consistent performance throughout the rally, outperforming 

Murun Purevdorj of Mongolia. Ekaterina 

Zhadanova was awarded the bronze medal. 

In the G-Moto Challenge, where riders are 

prohibited from receiving mechanical assistance, 

KTM EXC 500-mounted Oleg Pavlenko topped the 

field. In his inaugural Silk Way Rally appearance, Ivan 

Li secured second place with his Husqvarna FE 450, 

while Anton Kruglov, riding a KTM 690R, came third. 

In the Adventure Trophy category, designed for 

motorcyclists without prior competition experience, 

the GS Rally Team was the overall winner this year. 

Under the guidance of experienced instructor Evgeny 

Pyatigorsky, Gleb Koltsov and Konstantin Byakov 

successfully completed the distance. Second place 

finishers were members of the BigBoxer Team, led by 

Stanislav Chvizhenko with third place going to a trio 

from QiMotor, led by Vladimir Khutorovsky. ■ 

36

PRODUCT 

Review 

SW-MOTECH 

ADVENTURE HANDGUARDS 

RRP: £148 

Essential for any dual sport machine, 

SW-Motech Adventure handguards shield 

controls and hands from impacts, wind 

and weather, and even come with replaceable 

parts for a long life. 

More substantial than many OE and aftermarket 

guards, SW-Motech Adventure Handguards feature 

a full width, powder-coated aluminium bracket, 

which wraps around the hands and control levers, 

protecting against impacts and falls. 

Wind and weather is taken care of by the large 

shells. These are made from impact-resistant 

polypropylene, with a matt finish to blend in with 

the styling of most modern bikes. Replacement 

shells are available separately for £41.99, so 

there’s no need to replace the complete guard if 

it is damaged. 

The guards are model specific and mount to 

existing points on the bars. No modifications are 

needed, and they won’t interfere with 

controls. All kits come complete with full 

instructions and all the required fixings. 

An extension kit is also available, to 

increase the protective area, for just £23.99. 

For extra protection in the event of a fall, impactresistant 

Crash Pads (£23.99) can be fitted. 

SW-Motech Adventure Handguard kits retail 

at £148- including VAT, and are available for 

most popular adventure bikes, including the 

BMW R1250GS, Honda Africa Twin, Yamaha’s 

Ténéré 700, Triumph Tiger 1200, the Suzuki 

V-Strom 800/1000/1050 and Ducati’s DesertX. 

All kits come with full instructions and fixings. 

Find them at www.sw-motech.co.uk ■ 

German-engineered adventure-bike handguards with impact 

protection and replaceable shells 

COMING in 2024 

Dinaric Rally 

Sept 8 – Sept 14 

dinaricrally.com 

A challenging Cross-Country Rally Raid through the 

most spectacular outback of the Dinaric Alps. 

“The Big One” Rallymoto 

Adventure Camp 

Sept 13th – 15th 

Kielder Castle, Northumberland 

Join us for an all new, special three-day event in 

the heart of the Kielder Forest, where we will 

celebrate all things adventure rallying and roadbook! 

Discover the thrill of roadbook navigation and 

give adventure rallying a go using Rallymoto’s very 

own roadbook app – no experience required! 

Multiple routes available to ride throughout the 

incredible wilderness of Kielder Forest 

Light off-road routes 100% suitable for big 

bikes and adventure riders 

Experience a real rally bivouac at the famous 

Kielder Castle 

Challenge yourself! Can you hit all of the 

waypoints on all of the routes? 

Dark Skies Rally 2024 

October 26-27 

Centred around the wilderness of the enormous 

Kielder Forest, this event is like the Kielder 500 with 

a 200km night stage. The rally is named the Dark 

Skies Rally as it takes place in the ‘dark skies’ area 

close to the Kielder Observatory. The night stage is 

a real challenge, as it is very, very dark and the 

night sky can be a fantastic spectacle. 

The rally consists of two stages on the 

Saturday, each around 200km long, with one as 

a night stage, followed by another 200km stage 

the next morning. 

For 2024 the event will have a Rally and 

Adventure Class with a new scoring system 

making the rally more competitive. The Dark Skies 

is also the final round of the RallyMoto Cup. 

Ice Breaker Challenge 2025 

2 December 2024 Entries Open 

The New Year brings with it the opening of the Ice 

Breaker Challenge, a tough and rewarding program 

of nine roadbook routes to navigate in three 

months. This year sees the biggest challenge for 

riders as they will have to tough it out through the 

winter weather and riding conditions. 

There are the normal routes of Cotswolds, 

Peaks, Salisbury, Essex and Welsh Borders 

combined with a super Coast 2 Coast 2 Coast 

challenge for the hardy riders. Some riders are 

looking to complete the C2C2C route in one 24 

hour period – true adventure rallying – keep an eye 

on the league table and let’s see who can do it! 

RallyMoto Cup 2024 

UK Roadbook Rally Series 

The UK’s only roadbook rally series over three 

events, the Kielder 500, the Wales 500 and the 

final round being the Dark Skies Rally. All riders 

in Rally class are automatically signed up for the 

RallyMoto Cup. 

The points from each round are logged in a 

league table and the rider with the least points 

after all three rounds is crowned the winner of 

the RallyMoto Cup. ■ 

38 39

BIG 

The 

ONE 

Gets Bigger! 

40 

Robbie Wallace, one of the most exciting british 

names on the international rally stage will also be 

sharing his journey to Dakar 2025 

41 

This coming autumn, RallyMoto presents an 

event that’s quite different from the usual. 

The Big One has been a dream of RallyMoto 

director Robert (Burt) Hughes for quite some time. 

The desire to bring together the ever-growing 

roadbook rally community in the UK in one location, 

inviting novices and professionals alike, to mingle, 

to ride, to be social, to learn and experience the 

thrill of roadbook navigation and adventure rallying. 

The ‘Great Northern Rally Camp’ will take place 

at Kielder Castle in the heart of the adventure riding 

paradise of Kielder Forest. Home to England’s 

largest forest and the biggest man-made lake 

in northern Europe, the vast Forest Park is a 

playground for outdoor enthusiasts. It is a haven 

for wildlife and is one of the best dark skies areas 

in England. 

The forest is normally closed to motorised 

vehicles. However, Burt has, over the years, 

fostered a fantastic relationship with local forestry 

and twice a year, for the Kielder 500 in March and 

the Dark Skies Rally in October, the gates are 

opened to 180 RallyMoto members who are 

granted the privilege of riding the seemingly 

endless network of forestry tracks and navigating 

its expansive wilderness. 

For 2024, those gates will be opened for a third 

time. For the first time ever, The Big One offers both 

members and non-members of RallyMoto the 

opportunity to access over 1000km of trails through 

▲

Robbie Wallace, one of the most exciting British 

names on the international rally scene, will be 

sharing his journey to Dakar 2025, for which his 

entry has been accepted. 

Of course, a rally bivouac party wouldn’t be 

complete without some live music and bubbly 

beverages, which will complete the Friday and 

Saturday evenings. The good news is that after 

such an action-packed day, the campsite is 

crawling distance away, so riders can be tucked up 

in their tents within minutes of leaving the bivouac, 

and back for a fresh coffee mere moments after 

waking the next morning. 

Tickets are now on sale via 

rallymoto.co.uk/the-big-one/ and, at well under 

£200, offer incredible value for money for what’s 

shaping up to be a rally-based, adventure-fuelled, 

fun and friendly experience of a lifetime! ■ 

the forest and ride for three full days in the 

remarkable areas along the Scottish border. 

We could talk all day about the riding on offer 

but, to keep it brief, there will be three roadbook 

routes available on each of the three days, one of 

them keeping to the tarmac only for those who 

don’t fancy swapping out their slicks. 

For those who aren’t interested in the navigation 

aspect and just want to enjoy the trails, there will 

be guided rides on offer, which will lead small 

groups along the same routes as those using a 

roadbook. 

For complete navigation newbies, roadbook 

training sessions will be running each morning, 

which will allow riders to progress each day, 

learning more advanced techniques throughout 

the duration of the event. 

So that’s the riding aspect covered … but wait, 

there’s so much more! 

The concept of gathering roadbook rally 

enthusiasts and professionals together in a social 

yet adventure-focused setting has sparked the 

enthusiasm of many big names in the business. 

Each evening after a big day on the bikes, the main 

‘bivouac’ will come alive with talks and workshops 

hosted by representatives of Desert Rose, 

Wrenchride, Adventure Spec, Rally Raid Products, 

Portugal Offroad, Rebel Tyres, GoPro and more. 

42 

43 

BIG ONE 

The 

Gets Bigger!

Adventure Rally Rider - Issue 3

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