Steve Berento, better known as Stevo, has just completed his epic 2023 Outback Adventure Ride aboard his KTM 1290 Super Adventure R. His recent adventure ride saw him travel from his hometown of Mandurah Western Australia through the centre of Australia's pout back to Darwin, Northern Territory, then continuing through the Kimberly Region before zig zagging his way back to to Mandurah.
Stevo isn't new to Outback Adventure riding, racking up 40,000km of outback riding on his KTM 1290 that he only purchased 12 months ago. Taking the roads less travelled, we have seen him ride through the centre of Uluru up to Far North Queensland's Lion’s Den then down to Phillip Island before making the Journey back to Western Australia through the Nullarbor Plain. And now, keen for more unforgettable adventures, Stevo has completed yet another magnificent journey through the top-end of Australia.
Day one was a tough one. With a goal in mind to reach Laverton WA in the first stint, Stevo instead found himself at Ray Moore Motorcycles in Kalgoorlie, needing some assistance. Self-installing the air filters on the wrong side of the mesh lead Stevo into some trouble, but it was nothing Ray Moore couldn’t fix for him. A great lesson learned before going remote. It is always a great idea to touch base with your local dealer before heading into the Outback!
With the KTM 1290 back on the road, the adventure truly began. Dodging wallabies, dingo's, donkeys, buffalos, & whatever else the outback had to offer, Stevo road his KTM 1290 Super Adventure R through to the iconic Uluru (where he learned to play the didgeridoo from the masters themselves), then from Katherine to Nhulunbuy in one day. Reaching East Arnhem, Stevo was met with some great coastal views and desert relief. Bike maintenance was a top priority at this stage before making his way across to Darwin. Stevo's bike has almost done 30,000 km since he bought it this time last year & he was amazed how well the chain & sprockets were holding up. Few small dents in the front rim was expected from hitting pot holes at 100kmph off-road. But luckily, he chose to run my tyre pressures a little harder so it can handle some hard hits when riding unpredictable outback roads. So, with the bike fully prepared, he can now enjoy the next leg of his journey.
"Thankyou to all the super friendly people in Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala Community & Hog Shed for you kindness & warm welcome to this absolutely wonderful part of Australia The Outback Adventure continues from East Arnhem to Jabiru...see ya" - Stevo!
Next up was spending some time in Katherine catching up with some old friends, before heading towards Jabiru & Coburg NT. This is the part of the ride Stevo was most excited about having been 15 years since visiting Jabiru. Then making his way across to Darwin, and with all going well, Stevo pre-emptively got a new rear tyre to be fitted on the 23/6 in Darwin at NT Motorcycle Centre whilst checking out some places like Dundee Beach, Adelaide River, Humpty Doo , Litchfield Natural Park & many other amazing places to experience throughout the Northern Territory. Riding throughout Litchfield National Park & Crab Claw Island was a sensational experience. One to recommend!
At Cahill’s Crossing After carefully watching the crocodiles snapping at the barramundi for a couple of hours & also waiting for the water levels from the tide to go down, he counted eight crocodiles on the day and could see a couple being big ones around 5 meters in size. Adjusting the slip control to seven & keeping an eye out for approaching crocodiles Stevo choose to cross with a reasonable speed with smooth throttle to avoid sliding out. The front end immediately got pushed sideways and he used as much balance as he could to keep her upright. And after a successful crossing, in true Stevo form, he turned around & came back again!
"The KTM 1290 Super Adventure R did the job well." - Stevo
Stevo had many other amazing experiences on this Adventure Ride, and that’s what it’s all about! Exploring the roads less travelled to reach new places and have unforgettable experiences.
We can’t wait to see where Stevo will journey in 2024!
Do you have an epic #WeRideOrange story? We want to hear about it. Whether you’re an off-road adventurer, street warrior or racer, we want to hear from you! Share your #WeRideOrange story to riders-au@ktm.com !