Morning.
Sam Sunderland left London on September 5 aboard an all-new Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer, chasing the round-the-world speed record, and that's our lead this week.
KTM's 690 Rally is drawing its first real reviews, Kawasaki's dusting off the KLE500 name, and there's a phone mount that finally tilts the way you actually sit on the bike.
And one more thing, the kind we don't get to say every week. This issue's From Our Garage is a video. The two of us sat down on camera with some news we have been keeping to ourselves for months, and this is where we say it out loud for the first time. Scroll to the end, hit play, and hear it straight from us before word gets around.
Reading time: 4 minutes, plus one short video worth staying for.
✦ THIS WEEK'S LEAD
Sam Sunderland Sets off on World Record Circumnavigation Attempt Aboard All-New Triumph ARTICLE
What it is — RideApart reports that former Dakar champion Sam Sunderland set off from London on an all-new Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer, attempting to beat the current motorcycle circumnavigation world record.
The detail — He departed London on September 5, aboard a bike Triumph hasn't put through a normal press launch yet.
Where it falls short — This is a send-off story, not a finish line - no route, checkpoints, or timeline yet, so whether the record actually falls is weeks away from being answered.
Why it matters — Worth bookmarking if you want to see how a Tiger 1200 holds up at record pace, and a bike to watch once Triumph starts talking about what they modified for the attempt.
Source: RideApart
✦ INDUSTRY & BIKES
2026 Kawasaki KLE500 SE Review: 17 Fast Facts ARTICLE
What it is — Ultimate Motorcycling reviews the revived Kawasaki KLE500 SE, a model that built a strong reputation in Europe from 1991 to 2007 but was barely sold in the US.
The detail — The piece runs through 17 separate fast facts covering the spec sheet and the bike's overseas history.
Where it falls short — It's a first review, not a long-mile test, so how the SE holds up on real dirt over a season is still an open question.
Why it matters — If you're wondering whether Kawasaki is reviving a genuinely capable old-school ADV platform or just trading on nostalgia, this is the first real look.
Source: Ultimate Motorcycling Read it →
2027 KTM 690 Rally - pros, cons & who will it suit? VIDEO
What it is — Cross Training Adventure walks through the new 2027 KTM 690 Rally, the rally-toured version of the 690 Enduro R riders have been asking for since 2008.
The detail — He covers the rally tower, windscreen, and new 4.2-inch TFT dash that separate it from the base Enduro R.
Where it falls short — It's one rider's first impressions, not a comparison test against the Aprilia Tuareg 660 or Yamaha Ténéré 700 it will actually compete against.
Why it matters — If you've wanted rally-bike looks on a street-legal single, this tells you who the 690 Rally is actually built for before you put down a deposit.
Source: Cross Training Adventure (YouTube) Watch it →
✦ GEAR & PARTS
Quad Lock Introduces Phone Mount With Full Adjustability ARTICLE
What it is — ADV Pulse covers Quad Lock's new Handlebar Mount Pro Adjustable, which adds full articulation to its dual-stage lock phone mount.
The detail — The mount adds 360-degree rotation and up to 80 degrees of tilt while keeping the existing dual-stage locking mechanism.
Where it falls short — It's a manufacturer announcement, not an independent vibration or durability test, so how it holds up over months of washboard gravel is unknown.
Why it matters — If your current phone mount fights you every time you change riding position, this is the upgrade to watch for when it ships.
Source: ADV Pulse Read it →
Insta360 X6: Is This The Only Motovlogging Camera You Need? VIDEO
What it is — Robert Baldinger tests the Insta360 X6 as his sole helmet camera to see if it can replace a dedicated action cam for motovlogging.
The detail — He runs it through road POV, off-road, tunnel, and high-speed wind tests using his own helmet and mirror mounts.
Where it falls short — It's a short-term hands-on test, not a season of trail use, so long-term battery life and mount durability are still open questions.
Why it matters — If you're deciding between a dedicated action cam and an all-in-one 360 unit for documenting rides, this gives you a real-world first read before you buy.
Source: Robert Baldinger (YouTube) Watch it →
✦ ONE BIG NUMBER
+48.5%
That's how much CFMoto's new-motorcycle registrations in the US are up year-to-date through July 2026 - in a market that grew just 0.9% overall. The Chinese brand behind the Ibex 450 and 1000MT-X adventure bikes is finding buyers while nearly everyone else sits flat, which says something about where price-led ADV entries are landing with riders right now.
Source: RideApart, citing MotorCyclesData
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 tyre pressures. If the Dispatch saved you a scroll this week, a coffee keeps the garage lights on. No paywall, no sponsored tyres, no guilt trip - the next one lands Thursday either way.
✦ RIDING SKILLS
Motorcycle Tool Kit for Adventure Riding: What You Actually Need and What's Overkill ARTICLE
RIDE Adventures breaks down what actually belongs in an ADV tool roll versus what riders pack out of habit and never touch - a useful gut-check before your next trip. It's written from guided-tour experience, so solo backcountry riders may want to add a bit more redundancy than they recommend.
Source: RIDE Adventures Read it →
✦ TRAVEL & ROUTES
Chinese Secret Police Is Following Me (S8, EP158) VIDEO
Itchy Boots rides to the China-North Korea border in the latest episode of her long-running series, and what starts as a touristy detour turns into something closer to being followed. A good reminder that border regions run on their own rules no map will show you.
Source: Itchy Boots (YouTube) Watch it →
How The Ride Home Became Another Adventure VIDEO
The Wandering Honda wraps up their French Adventure Country Tracks run and points the bikes toward home, only to find the Trans Euro Trail keeps crossing their path north through France. A tidy illustration of how one named route system bleeds into another - and why heading home rarely means the riding actually stops.
Source: The Wandering Honda (YouTube) Watch it →
✦ FROM OUR GARAGE
Tap the photo to watch the announcement
A Special Announcement From Our Garage VIDEO
No article this week. We pointed a camera at ourselves in the garage instead, because some news should not arrive as text. It is short, it is honest, and it is something we have been waiting a long time to tell you. You will want to see our faces for this one.
Prefer a plain link? Watch it here: youtu.be/T9p4JCjWc54
That's the stack this week: a big send off, a small mount upgrade, and one piece of news we finally get to share out loud. Ride safe out there.
ONE FOR THE ROAD
“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”
— Amelia Earhart
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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