-From Richard, co-founder Westwind Moto
As hardcore off-road motorcycle travelers, we’ve spent over a decade using every holiday we could get to ride out into the wild. What we needed most was a bike that was light, highly capable off-road, and able to carry enough supplies for journeys lasting more than 10 days.
That’s when the KTM 690R caught our eye.
Lightweight, powerful, and torque-rich, this single-cylinder machine delivered explosive performance with a total weight of just 140 kg. Most importantly, it had enormous potential for customization—making it the perfect base for building a lightweight adventure bike.
We equipped it with an upgraded fuel tank kit, a windscreen, a wider seat, enhanced lighting, heated grips, and extended footpegs… Each modification was carefully chosen to improve comfort and highway capability without compromising its outstanding off-road agility. Even after loading it with our saddlebags, the total weight remained low—making it so much easier to pick up by yourself after a tip-over in the backcountry.
Back then, the KTM 690 wasn’t easy to come by. We had to pull every string and pay a premium to get our hands on a properly imported, road-legal model.
For more than ten years, this bike has been our faithful companion. Together we’ve climbed countless mountains and crossed endless rivers. Dependable, rugged, and truly irreplaceable—it’s still riding with us today.
