“It annoys me when people say that,” we’ve unleashed
a beast.
“What defines an adventure bike? I bet this bike has
been on more dirt than most GS’s or Africa Twin’s. Dirt
doesn’t mean adventure … isn’t adventure about ex-
ploring new places? Meeting new people? Challenging
oneself?”
I try to get a word in to little affect, Leigh’s off on a
rant.
“Look at what people ride around the world; Royal
Enfield’s, Triumph Rockets, bloody Honda scooters with
sidecars attached,” I never realised this to be the case.
“The truth of it is that most adventure bikes aren’t
adventure bikes.”
It’s something to contemplate, so I ponder where has
the slug taken Leigh.
“The slug has been all over Australia, even some
outback tracks,” a smile has returned, I think we’re good
again.
“It’s a handful on the dirt, it’s bloody heavy and the
feet forward riding position doesn’t help but it’s still good
fun.”
Heavy? The Yamaha comes in at over 400 kilograms,
wet, and as Leigh puts it ‘when it goes, it really does go’.
“Yeah,” he laughs.
“I dropped it once out the back of the Great Ocean
TRAVERSE 45