August 5, 2026 · A field report from WaarMoto.com

Morning. Andrea dug up the news this week that Mondo Enduro, the film that talked half of us into this whole thing, is finally streaming again after years of being nearly impossible to find. Beta's dual-sport Alp 4.0 is officially back in the US, BMW's spy shots show a dirt-focused M 1300 GS in testing, and there's a sand-riding checklist below worth saving before your next trip through soft stuff. Short stack this week, but a useful one.

— Keith

Reading time: 5 minutes.

What it is — Ultimate Motorcycling's rundown of the 2026 Beta Alp 4.0, the urban dual-sport half of Beta's returning Alp lineup, told through 15 fast facts.

The detail — The 4.0 is positioned as the true dual-sport in the family, sitting below the Alp X (which UM already reviewed as the urban adventure variant), with the piece walking through all 15 spec points that separate the two.

Where it falls short — It's a fast-facts rundown built off a launch, not a mileage test, so there's nothing yet on how the Alp handles real trail miles or how the clutch and suspension hold up over a season.

Why it matters — If you've been waiting for Beta to bring a proper lightweight dual-sport back to US dealers, this is the spec sheet to read before you go looking for one.

Source: Ultimate Motorcycling

— Keith

What it is — ADV Pulse caught spy shots of a dirt-leaning BMW M 1300 GS, the M performance badge moving from the M 1000 RR/R/XR sportbike line into the adventure lineup.

The detail — Trademark filings and mule photos point to a genuine off-road-leaning M variant, not just a paint-and-badge trim like BMW's other M models.

Where it falls short — It's spy-shot speculation - no confirmed spec sheet, no price, and no word yet on whether M here means more travel and a lighter flywheel or just more horsepower.

Why it matters — If you're shopping the big-bore GS class this year, this is worth watching before you commit to a model that might get outclassed by its own badge within a year.

Source: ADV Pulse

— Keith

What it is — Big Rock Moto rides the KTM 1390 Super Adventure S EVO, the replacement for the 1290 Super Adventure S with a new engine and a standard automated manual transmission.

The detail — It's now KTM's most powerful adventure bike, paired with new electronics and an AMT that used to be a pricier add-on on the outgoing model.

Where it falls short — It's a launch ride, not a long-term test, so how the AMT clutch packs and new electronics hold up over real trail mileage is still an open question.

Why it matters — If you're weighing manual versus AMT on this platform, this is the closest look yet at how the automated gearbox actually behaves off pavement.

Source: Big Rock Moto (YouTube)

—Andrea

What it is — MCN's adventure helmet roundup, built from testers' long miles on ADV bikes, names the Schuberth E2 the standout pick.

The detail — The E2 gets the nod largely for its comms integration and a five-year warranty, longer than most rivals on the list.

Where it falls short — It's a roundup, so it trades depth for breadth - there's no single long-term wear report on any one lid, just a season's worth of testers' impressions.

Why it matters — If your current helmet is aging out, this gives you a shortlist with a warranty length worth comparing before you spend.

Source: MCN

—Andrea

What it is — Cross Training Adventure's long-term review of Doubletake's foldable adventure mirrors, run against the stock mirrors most riders snap off first.

The detail — They've had these mirrors long enough, and dropped the bike on both sides enough times, to call them the toughest foldable mirror they've tested.

Where it falls short — It's one rider's crash history on one bike, so your own durability results will depend on how often you actually go down.

Why it matters — If you've replaced stock mirrors more than once after a tip-over, this is the upgrade to price out before your next drop.

Source: Cross Training Adventure (YouTube)

—Keith

RIDE Adventures lists 14 specific mistakes riders make in sand and pairs each one with a fix, from death-gripping the bars to running the wrong tire pressure. It reads like a pre-trip checklist rather than a lecture, which is exactly what you want before a BDR section drops you into soft sand with no warning. Worth a read even if you've ridden sand before - most of these show up again once fatigue sets in late in the day.

Source: RIDE Adventures

—K/A

TDubsKid pulls a worn steering head bearing race off a TW200 and holds it next to a good one so you can see the pitting that causes vague, heavy steering. It's a check most riders skip until the bike starts feeling wrong on the trail, and this shows exactly what to look for before you take your own headset apart.

Source: TDubsKid (YouTube)

—K/A

Backcountry Discovery Routes posted a June 2026 track revision to the Arizona BDR, rerouting Section 5 around a new solar field near CO Bar Ranch. If you've got an AZBDR run planned, download the updated track first - the old line through that area isn't just rough now, it's gone.

Source: Backcountry Discovery Routes

—K/A

Lois Pryce flags that Austin Vince's 1990s round-the-world dual-sport documentary Mondo Enduro is streaming again after sitting offline for years. It's the film a lot of long-distance riders point to as the one that got them started, shot long before GPS units and satellite messengers made this kind of trip routine.

Source: Lois Pryce Substack

—Andrea

Two Ride Wild close out Part 1 of their Pan-American ride after 8 months and nearly 30,000 km across South America, sitting down on camera to explain why they're pausing instead of pushing on. It's an honest look at the point in a long trip where the road wins and rest matters more than the mileage count.

Source: Two Ride Wild (YouTube)

—K/A

This one's ours - a practical walkthrough for planning a first overnight ADV trip as a pair, covering how much gear to bring, how far to push the first day, and what to leave at home. We wrote it after answering the same questions at rallies for years. If you're planning a first overnight together this season, start here before you buy anything else.

That's the stack for this week - short on volume, long on things worth clicking. Go watch Mondo Enduro if you haven't, and check your steering head bearings while you're at it. See you out there.

— Andrea