Looks like the KTM Adventure Rally Canada is back for this year, running once more in the province of Quebec!
If you want to the rally before—particularly if you went last year—all you need to know is that the rules appear to be pretty much the same, and it’s running out of the same location as the 2022 event, the Auberge du Lac Taureau (Lawrence Hacking’s write-up of the 2022 event is here).
If you’ve never done this event before, well, here are the basics. It’s open to adventure bikes with engines over 600cc, although they do make an exception for the KTM 390 ADV. No exceptions mentioned for riders who modify their enduros into street-legal ADVs, though—if you want to run your KTM 450, 525, etc, you’d better check before you bring it. Note that all brands are welcome; this isn’t just an event for KTMs.
The event itself is team-based, for groups of 2-4 riders (solo riders will be joined into a team on-site, as per KTM’s rules). It’s a two-day ride through Quebec’s Lanaudière region, with two routes. The R1 route offers more challenging riding, including single-track, and KTM says “Knobby tires are mandatory to ride in this class. (Dunlop 908 Rally raid, Mitas MT-09 or similar design).” The R2 route is easier, including two-track, gravel roads and pavement. While it’s less difficult, be aware that weather can really increase the challenge on this route as well, so be prepared with your bike set up properly. 90/10 street-dirt tires might be a bad choice.
Whichever option you choose, each team must have at least one GPS on-hand, and use it to track their ride. The team that gets closest to the KTM-charted route, with minimal mistakes, wins. This is not a race.
The actual ride runs Friday-Saturday of July 7-8, but the event really begins that Thursday, with demo rides and registration. There’s an awards dinner on Saturday after the event, and you leave to go home on Sunday morning. See a schedule below, and more details at the Eventbrite site here.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, July 6th, 2023
10:00am – 4:00pm: RIDE ORANGE Demo Tour (open to the public and rally participants)
2:00pm – 7:00pm: Rally Registration
7:00pm – 9:00pm: Riders Meeting & Dinner
Friday, July 7th, 2023
6:30am – 7:30am: Breakfast
8:00am: R1 Departure
8:30am: R2 Departure
4:00pm – 5:00pm: Return to home base
7:00pm – 9:00pm Dinner
Saturday, July 8th, 2023
6:30am – 7:30am: Breakfast
8:00am: R1 Departure
8:30am: R2 Departure
5:00pm – 7:00pm: Apres & Drinks
7:00pm – 10:00pm: Awards Dinner
Sunday, July 9th, 2023
-Departures
