Rally raids are as much about navigation, endurance and mechanical knowledge as they are about riding ability. KTM’s Adventure Rally Extreme is designed to give customers a taste of all that, with the added attraction of having 2018 Dakar winner Matthias Walkner at the event. It brought together 31 riders, including KTM customers and six media personnel. Customers paid a very reasonable Rs 5,000 to participate, which covered the event setup and meals. The day was split into four stages, each designed to test a different aspect of rally raid riding.
We started with a prologue, where we were timed around a short course featuring jumps, technical turns and a particularly slushy section. The results determined our starting positions for the following stage. I was riding the 349cc KTM 390 Adventure, but because it was a box-fresh new unit, it wouldn’t allow me to switch off traction control and ABS. That meant I wasn’t permitted to start, but KTM’s technicians quickly sorted the issue, and I was able to get going. The course was challenging but enjoyable, and I did get stuck in the mucky section towards the end. Although my timing still put me in P5.
The second stage was roadbook navigation. We were given a digital roadbook on our phones and had to find our way around a 3.5km course as quickly as possible. Taking a wrong turn could easily leave you lost, while steep descents and slippery terrain made things even more complicated after the rain.
It took a while to get comfortable with the navigation, but once I understood how to read the roadbook, the challenge became more about maintaining momentum and staying on the motorcycle. After the finish, I was surprised to see a time of around 32 minutes. I knew that couldn’t be right, so I checked my action-camera footage. It showed that I had completed the course in roughly 20 minutes, so I raised this issue with the timing team, who rechecked their records and acknowledged the error.
The third stage was simulating riding with a disability, where our gear levers were removed and the motorcycles were locked in second gear. We then had to negotiate a technical course across slippery grass using only one hand, with the left hand preferred, so that riders could continue to modulate the clutch. The rules were simple: put a foot down or use the other hand and you incurred a penalty.
The final challenge moved away from riding and focused on mechanical ability. We first had to refit the gear lever before removing and reinstalling the air filter. This demonstrated an important part of a rally raid competition: being able to work on your motorcycle quickly when you’re tired, dirty and out on the trail.
At the end of the day, the timings from all four stages were added together to determine the overall standings, with the top three riders receiving awards. It was a fitting conclusion to an event designed to replicate the competitive nature of a rally raid.
Overall, the experience was enjoyable and offered a good introduction to what a rally raid competition demands. But, there were a few areas that could have been handled better. The event was scheduled to start early, but registration delays and the subsequent process of lining motorcycles up according to their numbers pushed everything back by 2 hours.
There was also the question of Matthias Walkner’s involvement. While his riding demonstration was impressive and he did help out with a few tips and tricks, this came after the two main riding stages. Given that the event was promoted around his presence, some participants expressed their expectation to have had more opportunities to learn directly from the Dakar winner during the stages themselves.
Still, at Rs 5,000, the event offered a worthwhile taste of a rally raid race. From navigating with a roadbook and tackling difficult terrain to riding with restrictions and carrying out basic mechanical work, it provided a glimmer of insight into just how demanding the discipline can be. For me, finishing P5 overall was a satisfying way to cap the day, and the event certainly left me with a better idea of what to expect before taking on a proper rally.