WELCOME ABOARD

205

new riders joined us since Issue 15.

Nearly half of those 205 rode in from South Africa — 98 — with more from the United States (31), Australia (21), Canada (15), New Zealand (13), the United Kingdom (6), Sweden (4) and Ireland (3), plus one each from Indonesia, Chad, Mexico, Germany, Lesotho, Greece and Czechia.

If this is your first Dispatch, welcome. We are Keith and Andrea, two riders in Calgary, Alberta, Canada who put this field report together every week. To everyone who has been here a while, thank you for sticking with us. Hit reply any time with a route, a repair or a question. We read every one.

What it is — ADV Pulse covers Kawasaki's expanded KLE line with the new 649cc KLE650 ABS and SE ABS models.

The detail — Kawasaki claims 70 horsepower and 47.2 lb-ft of torque from the parallel twin.

Why it matters — If you're cross-shopping mid-weight ADVs, this fills the gap above the KLE500 - ADV Pulse lists the 2027 KLE650 ABS at $8,799 (SE ABS at $9,999), with dealer arrivals expected in February 2027.

Source: ADV Pulse  Read it →

ALSO WORTH A LOOK

KTM’s 2027 lineup adds cruise control to the 390 Adventure R and a TFT to the 390 Adventure X, with an off-road surprise saved for EICMA.

Triumph’s Tiger 1200 lineup gains power, radar and self-lowering suspension for 2027.

Dakar leaves Saudi Arabia for 2027, with the next host still to be named.

BMW’s midweight F 650 GS is spotted testing as a Ténéré 700 rival ahead of EICMA.

What it is — Upshift Online's hands-on test of the Alpinestars Tech 10 Enduro boot.

The detail — The piece runs through fit, protection and flex after real trail use, not just a spec sheet.

Why it matters — If you're deciding between a motocross-style boot and something more ADV-friendly, this is a data point worth reading before you spend the money.

Source: Upshift Online  Read it →

What it is — ADV Pulse walks through GIVI's first accessory kit built for Kawasaki's new KLE 500 and KLE 500 SE.

The detail — The lineup covers the practical bits: radiator and engine guards, a taller windscreen, a rear rack, Monokey and CAM side-case holders, and a wider sidestand foot, with MSRPs from US$57.60 for the foot up to US$266.40 for the engine guard.

Why it matters — If a mid-size KLE is on your shortlist, this is the bolt-on menu for luggage and tip-over protection before the waitlists start stacking up.

Source: ADV Pulse  Read it →

ALSO WORTH A LOOK

Dainese’s Smart GO airbag vest lands at £329, phone-powered, with Level 2 chest and back.

Held’s Carese jacket and Torno EVO pants get a full wet-weather ADV test.

Continental’s ContiTrailAttack 4 succeeds the 3 as a 90/10 adventure tire for early 2027.

What it is — Adventure Tomek's second day testing a T-Tech 48mm fork conversion and Tractive rear shock on a Yamaha Ténéré 700.

The detail — He's back in the dirt pushing the upgraded suspension to see what it actually changes, not just reading off specs.

Why it matters — If you're considering a big-bore fork swap on your Ténéré 700, this gives a real-world sense of what changes before you spend four figures on it.

Source: Adventure Tomek (YouTube)  Watch it →

+23.4%

Year-to-date growth in new adventure motorcycle registrations in the UK through September 2026, versus the same period in 2025. Adventure is outrunning the wider market, which grew 6.8% in September alone.

Source: Visordown, citing MCIA figures (Oct 12, 2026)

THE TIP JAR

We read the forums so you don’t have to.

Every issue costs us a couple of evenings, a worrying amount of coffee, and at least one argument about tire pressures. If the Dispatch saved you a scroll this week, a coffee keeps the garage lights on. No paywall, no sponsored tiers, no guilt trip - the next one lands Thursday either way.

FROM OUR PARTNER

We ride our own bikes, so most of the day there's some distance between us. An intercom closes that gap.

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.

What it is — ADVMotoSkillZ walks through cresting sand dunes on a full-size adventure bike, from reading the dune to recovering when you bog down.

The detail — The key move is approaching the crest at roughly 45 degrees so you can see what's on the far side before committing, then managing momentum with throttle and clutch rather than pinning it - he also covers how windward and leeward sand behave differently.

Why it matters — Sand is where heavy ADVs punish guesswork; if a desert trip or a sandy BDR section is on your list, this is a short, practical primer on not getting stuck at the top.

Source: ADVMotoSkillZ (YouTube)  Watch it →

What it is — The Idaho Adventure Motorcycle Club breaks down the three off-road positions - sitting, standing and paddling - and when each one earns its place.

The detail — Sit on smooth stretches and slide back to load the rear for traction; stand for rocks, roots, ruts and whoops with knees and elbows bent so your legs act as suspension; and drop to a seated paddle when slow, slippery terrain makes a foot down the safer call. It also covers adjusting levers and shifter so standing feels natural.

Why it matters — Picking the right position for the terrain saves energy on long travelling days and keeps you in control when the trail turns technical - a simple framework to practise on every ride.

Source: Idaho Adventure Motorcycle Club  Read it →

A rider pushes on through Arctic air and cold fog out of Happy Valley-Goose Bay rather than holing up for the night. A good reminder that some of the best riding days in eastern Canada start in weather that makes staying in bed look reasonable.

Source: Motorcycle Mojo  Read it →

Episode 5 of Joe Ryan's Mongolia series follows a ride out of a lakeside camp into terrain he calls the best tracks he's found in the country - water crossings, mud, and single-track grassland back to back. Worth watching for how he reads the line through standing water and soft ground, the kind of thing that's hard to explain in text.

Source: Joe Ryan (YouTube)  Watch it →

What it is — A Mad or Nomad overland guide to riding South Africa by motorcycle, updated April 15, 2026.

The detail — Andy and Alissa draw on three months of riding after shipping their bikes into Cape Town: paperwork and carnets, when to go, shipping and storage, safety, and the routes they rate highest — Swartberg Pass, Sani Pass, the Garden Route, Route 62, and the Panorama Route.

Why it matters — South Africa is easy to skip on the way north into Namibia or Botswana. This is the practical starting point if you're planning an Africa run and want seasons, borders, and dirt passes in one place.

Source: Mad or Nomad  Read it →

Adventure Rider Radio sits down with Woodrow "Pack" Landfair, who bought a motorcycle, got his licence, and rode across America to try living other people's lives - the kind of episode that asks whether the bike is the point or just the way in.

Source: Adventure Rider Radio  Listen to it →

At 50, Jacqui Furneaux set off on a Royal Enfield Bullet and ended up on a seven-year ride home from India to Bristol. Host Clive gets into how a planned trip turned into seven years on the road - the kind of story that makes a long weekend trip feel small.

Source: Trail and Adventure Motorbike Podcast  Listen to it →

On Friday, November 13th, we will send our first ever post-EICMA show special edition of the World ADV Dispatch.

A couple of notes from readers that stuck with us this week —

“Great job on the Dispatch! Keep up the good work!” — Justin

“I look forward to your email every week… As a new-to-adventure-bike-riding enthusiast, I love the content you folks share.” — @ajrugby

— Andrea

ONE FOR THE ROAD

“The real cycle you’re working on is a cycle called yourself.”

— Robert M. Pirsig

KNOW A RIDER WHO’D USE THIS?

Forward it to them — or hit reply with a route, a repair, or a correction. We read every one.

WORLD ADV DISPATCH · A FIELD REPORT FROM WAARMOTO.COM

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