Morning.
Kawasaki gave a small dual-sport the touring bits riders kept adding themselves, and the KLX300 XPL is our lead this week. The KLR650 DF and Beta’s 2027 RS models ride along with it.
There are new adventure backpacks and a look at hard panniers, Chris Birch on how to wheelie a big bike, and a six-day enduro across four Balkan countries.
— Keith and Andrea
Reading time: 5 minutes.
WELCOME ABOARD
148
riders have joined us since last week’s issue.
If this is your first Dispatch, we are glad you found us. We are Keith and Andrea, two riders in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and we put this report together every week. If you have been with us a while, thank you for riding along. Reply any time with a trail, a fix or a question. We read every one.
✦ THIS WEEK'S LEAD
Photo: Ultimate Motorcycling
2027 Kawasaki KLX300 XPL first look ARTICLE
What it is — Ultimate Motorcycling takes a first look at the KLX300 XPL, a 2027 version of the KLX300 dual sport set up for longer days on the bike.
The detail — It adds a tall windshield, handguards, a round LED headlight, a rear carrier with tie-down hooks and its own graphics. The engine, chassis and 2.0-gallon tank are unchanged. It is priced at US$6,499 and reaches dealers in early January 2027.
Why it matters — If you want a light dual sport for long gravel days without moving up to a 450, this is a factory-built option to price out. Plan fuel stops around the small tank.
Source: Ultimate Motorcycling
FROM OUR PARTNER
Image: Cardo Systems
Why we ride with an intercom
We ride our own bikes, so most of the day there is some distance between us. Our intercoms close that gap. Andrea rides with a Packtalk Edge, and Keith rides with a Packtalk Neo. When Andrea was a new rider, they sped up her learning. We were always in touch, and Keith could coach her in real time. On a steep descent, the rider in front can call the line, the loose rock or the rut that wants your front tire. The rider behind can say “stopping” before it turns into a tip-over. We still ride with both units today. They make the hard sections feel less lonely, and the easy ones more fun.
Use code WAARMOTO at cardosystems.com for 10% off list price on PACKTALK, FREECOM X, SPIRIT and EDGEPHONES. Affiliate-only flash sales may change the discount.
WaarMoto earns a small commission on purchases made with this code.
✦ INDUSTRY & BIKES
Photo: Kawasaki via ADVrider
Kawasaki adds a KLR650 DF ARTICLE
What it is — ADVrider looks at the new 2027 KLR650 DF. Kawasaki says DF stands for “Durable Force.”
The detail — You get crash bars built to protect the fairing and the side of the engine in a tip-over. The DF skips the Adventure model’s charging plugs, fog lamps and hard luggage. MSRP starts at US$7,699 in the US market.
Why it matters — If you'd fit your own bags anyway, this is factory tip-over protection without paying for touring kit you'd replace.
Source: ADVrider
Photo: Beta via Upshift
Beta announces its 2027 RS models ARTICLE
What it is — Upshift lays out the 2027 Beta RS line, the street-legal dual-sport version of Beta’s enduro bikes.
The detail — It comes in 350, 390, 430 and 500 sizes, with a Trail Tech Voyager GPS. The seat sits at 36.6 inches, almost an inch lower than the RR race models. Prices run from US$12,390 to US$12,690, with bikes due at dealers in December.
Why it matters — If you want a dual sport that's really an enduro bike with plates, this is the spec sheet to read first.
Source: Upshift
Image: Cross Training Adventure / YouTube
The lightest 2027 adventure and dual-sport bikes, under 175 kg VIDEO
What it is — Cross Training Adventure rounds up 2027 adventure and dual-sport bikes that come in under 175 kg (386 lb).
The detail — The light end of the 2027 market in one sitting.
Why it matters — If you're shopping light, it's a quick way to build a test-ride list.
Source: Cross Training Adventure (YouTube)
✦ GEAR & PARTS
Photo: REV’IT via ADV Pulse
REV’IT launches its own adventure backpacks and bags ARTICLE
What it is — ADV Pulse reports REV’IT is moving away from its long-running Kriega backpack collaboration to fully in-house designs.
The detail — The new range spans nine models, from 5-litre waist packs to 22-litre backpacks. The Eolian H2O is a compact 9-litre backpack built for hydration.
Why it matters — If your hydration pack bounces around when you stand, this is a new lineup to compare before you replace it.
Source: ADV Pulse
Image: Bret Tkacs ADV / YouTube
Hard panniers, a buyer’s guide VIDEO
What it is — Bret Tkacs walks through what to look for when you buy hard panniers.
The detail — A coach’s view on what matters in a hard case.
Why it matters — If you're weighing hard against soft luggage this winter, watch this before you spend.
Source: Bret Tkacs ADV (YouTube)
10 things to pack for a fall ride ARTICLE
What it is — Rider Magazine lists what its staff always pack when the weather turns.
The detail — The list includes heated grips, a packable rain suit, a tire repair kit and a compact compressor to go with it.
Why it matters — If your season runs into frosty mornings, use it as a checklist.
Source: Rider Magazine
✦ ONE BIG NUMBER
1,005 miles
The length of a six-day coast-to-coast enduro across Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania (1,618 km). More than 22,000 m (72,000 ft) of climbing, partly on TET sections, and not one big adventure bike in the lineup.
✦ RIDING SKILLS
Image: MOTOTREK / YouTube
Beginner’s guide to the basics of adventure bike control VIDEO
What it is — MOTOTREK instructor Rob Day films a foundation lesson near the top of Mount Hough, just off the NorCal BDR.
The detail — Stand whenever traction is questionable. Hold the bars with one or two fingers on the controls. Let the bike roll over rocks instead of steering around them.
Why it matters — If you're a street rider heading onto dirt, this lesson is about taking the anxiety out of it.
Source: MOTOTREK (YouTube)
Image: Chris Birch - Off Road Coach / YouTube
Say no to slow: how to wheelie an adventure bike VIDEO
What it is — Chris Birch breaks the controlled wheelie on a big adventure bike into setup, body movement and clutch work.
The detail — He sets the rear brake pedal slightly above parallel with the foot peg so you can reach it standing, and drops tire pressure to around 20 to 23 psi for the terrain he is on.
Why it matters — If you've ever needed to lift the front over a log or a ditch, this is the controlled way to learn it. It's an older video, still one of the clearest.
Source: Chris Birch - Off Road Coach (YouTube)
Photo: Mike Carroll / ADVMoto
How to cross soft sand without fighting the bike ARTICLE
What it is — A tech tip in Adventure Motorcycle Magazine by Mike Carroll of ADVMotoSkillZ on getting an adventure bike across a short patch of soft sand built up across a trail.
The detail — He rides it standing, dropping into a lower “attack” stance with elbows wide and a loose grip so the front tire can wander. Instead of pinning the throttle, he uses short bursts: stomp on the pegs to compress the suspension, blip the throttle, and let the lighter front end climb onto the sand. He rolls off smoothly before the exit, because a spinning rear wheel that suddenly finds grip can cause a high-side.
Why it matters — Sand is the section a lot of riders dread. This breaks it into a few steps you can practise on a short patch before you meet a long one.
Source: Adventure Motorcycle Magazine (ADVMoto)
✦ TRAVEL & ROUTES
Photo: NastyNils
Coast to coast Balkan enduro: 1,005 miles ARTICLE
What it is — Nils Mueller’s first-person report on a six-day enduro from the Black Sea in Bulgaria, across North Macedonia and Albania, to the Mediterranean.
The detail — He rode a GasGas EC 350F. The group was mostly hard enduros, plus a Kove 450 Rally and a Honda CRF300 Rally.
Why it matters — If the Balkans are on your list, this gives you the scale before you commit.
Source: NastyNils
Photo: ADVMoto / Peter Day
Peter Day: mishap on the Mosquito Coast ARTICLE
What it is — ADVMoto runs Peter Day’s account of riding alone into the remote Moskitia region of northeastern Honduras, near the Nicaragua border.
The detail — The ride ends badly. In the year that followed, Day and his partner designed their own gear and named the company Mosko Moto, short for Mosquito Coast.
Why it matters — If you ride alone in remote places, it's an honest look at what that risk can cost.
Source: ADVMoto
Photo: CFMoto via RideApart
CFMoto’s first MT Trek owner ride ARTICLE
What it is — RideApart reports CFMoto Australia is running its first owner ride, for MT riders, in Australia only.
The detail — It runs November 8 to 12, 2026, from Eildon, Victoria, to Canberra, with three full riding days and about 70 percent dirt. Support vehicles and luggage transport are included. It starts at A$1,490, accommodation included.
Why it matters — If you ride an MT in Australia, it's a supported way to try a multi-day dirt route.
Source: RideApart
Image: Adam Riemann / YouTube
Riding Pakistan is tougher than we imagined VIDEO
What it is — Episode 2 of Adam Riemann’s trip through Pakistan on CFMoto 450MTs.
The detail — As the title says, the riding turns out harder than the group expected.
Why it matters — If you've wondered how a small adventure bike copes with a trip like this, watch it rather than read about it.
Source: Adam Riemann (YouTube)
✦ PODCASTS
Image: Adventure Rider Radio
Chris Birch on choosing ADV tires PODCAST
What it is — Adventure Rider Radio sits down with Chris Birch on why picking tires on someone else’s recommendation often doesn’t work.
The detail — He explains how tread pattern, rubber compound and tire construction affect performance, and why someone else’s favourite tire might not suit you.
Why it matters — If you're buying tires this winter, listen before you order.
Source: Adventure Rider Radio
Liane Langlois, safety advocate and land speed record holder PODCAST
What it is — Chasing the Horizon talks with Liane Langlois, a world land speed record holder.
The detail — Instead of chasing fame, she started the Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society, and now spends a big share of her time on rider safety.
Why it matters — Not ADV-specific, but a good story about where a fast rider put her energy.
Source: Chasing the Horizon
THE TIP JAR
If the Dispatch has earned a coffee, we'd be grateful.
Everything above is free, and it will stay that way. It also takes many evenings a week to put together and, with a list this size, a real bill to send. We don't need everyone to chip in. But if the Dispatch has saved you a scroll or pointed you at a ride you actually went on, and you'd like to help keep the garage lights on, a few dollars does it. If not, no worries at all. We'll be in your inbox next Thursday either way.
✦ FROM OUR GARAGE
Photo: WaarMoto
From behind the fir tree: Andrea’s side of the descent
Andrea’s side of the fir-tree descent near Vernon. She was the rider behind Keith, watching his line from the top, then riding it herself on her Ibex 450. She writes about why bike size matters on a steep, loose hill, how the lowered seat fits her 30-inch inseam, and what it means to be the rider who goes second.
Read the full post on WaarMoto.com — From behind the fir tree: Andrea’s side of the descent.
That’s the stack this week. If you’re shopping for something light, start with the weights and the tank size, and if you’re weighing luggage this winter, watch Bret Tkacs on hard panniers first. See you next Thursday.
ONE FOR THE ROAD
“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.”
— John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley
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