Two KTM-mounted riders have embarked on an epic cross-continental adventure – and Akrapovič exhausts form a major part of their challenge. Riders Darren Higginson and Dave Darcy are riding their KTM 690 Enduro R machines from London to Sydney, in an expedition entitled Continental Drift, which will last three months and cover 20,000 km.
Higginson has already proved he's tough enough to handle whatever life on the road may throw at him. A serious break to one of his wrists from being knocked off his bike by a London car driver threatened to delay the 1 July start date. But true grit prevailed and the duo left on time.
From the UK starting point, the two riders took their chosen route of France Germany, Austria Czech, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine and Russia before crossing into Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and East Timor, all before heading to the finish line in Sydney, Australia.
The latest update from the two-man team sees them with fingers crossed and prayers’ waiting to be answered in Almaty, Kazakhstan – fuel contamination has damaged the bikes’ fuel pumps and urgent replacements have been delayed en route. This is causing much angst because further delay will see border crossing windows being slammed shut…
Dave Darcy explains: “Darren and I are looking forward to riding the foothills of the Himalayas in the far western provinces of China. These foothills average 14,000ft in height and we’ll be spending a couple of weeks at this altitude.
“But to be rewarded with this stunning landscape, which includes the views of Mount Everest, we must get to the Chinese border by 3 August; otherwise we risk being turned away. The pressure is on to get to that border crossing on time. We have a long way to go and we'll do our best.”
The intrepid pair’s trip is self-funded and unsupported, although sponsors like Akrapovič have donated bikes and equipment. Akrapovič has supplied bike-specific titanium Evolution Slip-On Line systems to realise maximum power and torque with less weight than their stock counterparts. Created to meet the incredibly tough demands of adventure riding, the Slip-On Line exhausts showcase the Slovenian manufacturer’s ability to create exhausts for every motorsport discipline.
When Dave Darcy exchanged his regular muffler for the Akrapovič version, he was blown away by the weight difference: "It really was amazing. I immediately thought the Akrapovič system was less than half the weight of the standard muffler. Best of all, it sounds so sweet and ensures maximum performance from the engine,” said Dave.
The ride will be raising money in aid of cancer charities in their respective countries: Darren for Cancer Research and Dave for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Darren and Aussie riding partner Dave are well-prepared for their trip, having spent months organising entry visas and ensuring the itinerary is up-to-scratch.
Constant updates by way of photos and news snippets on the two riders’ adventures can be accessed on their Facebook page. Akrapovič kindly asks for support to be shown to Continental Drift on their
Facebook page.
For more on the Akrapovič line of adventure riding products, visit;
www.akrapovic.com.