May 2023

During the last ice age, the land surface of Drenthe was covered with glaciers and ice, slowly moving in from Scandinavia. This shift of stone and ice resulted in the creation of the Hondsrug, an elevation at the centre of Drenthe. It gave Drenthe somewhat of a ‘upside down soup plate’-look.

Some visit the plance to climb and pass the Watzmann, a mountain whose striking summit towers a whopping 2713 metres into the Bavarian sky . Others pose at and around the Königsee to polish their online fame, much to the chagrin of locals and national park rangers plagued by overtourism.

Where the Expedition truly distinguishes itself from the Norden 901 is in componentry. It shares the more stout Xplor suspension with KTM’s 890 R, gets a burly skid plate, as well as touring amenities like a more protective windscreen, centerstand, and luggage as standard.

You’ll get off the main Highway 93 and head onto the more scenic and a lot quieter Route 89, one of Americas most iconic roads that traverses the country all the way to its northern border with Canada. Sometimes called the ‘National Park Highway’.

The result was successful, as the tapered pistons had enough clearance near the top to avoid seizure there, but with smaller clearance and reduced taper along the skirt.

As I sit here in late November looking at weather for the next few days it’s sun and blue skies all the way around, but you need to be prepared for the cold, 7c is the lowest daytime temperature you’d encounter if you left today, but Phoenix is right now sitting 21c.