TRAVERSE Issue 55 - August 2026 | Page 163

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KTM, Maico, SWM and Bultaco reminded everyone just how fiercely competitive off-road motorcycle development had become during the 1970s and 1980s. Every machine carried its own story. Some had been lovingly restored to showroom condition, every decal perfectly aligned and every spoke polished to within an inch of its life. Others proudly displayed the scars accumulated over decades of trail rides, club events and forgotten adventures. Dented tanks, faded plastics and worn engine cases weren ' t imperfections; they were badges of honour.
Unlike many forms of classic vehicle ownership, Vinduro motorcycles are not static museum exhibits. They are expected to do exactly what they were designed to do all those years ago. They are ridden. Hard. This year ' s course measured just under 60 kilometres and showcased everything that makes the Harrow district such an outstanding location for an event like this. The route wound through the historic township before spreading across the surrounding countryside, linking together an extraordinary network of public roads, bush tracks and privately owned farmland.
The generosity of local landowners has become one of the defining characteristics of the Harrow Vinduro. Numerous farmers once again opened their properties, allowing organisers to create a course that simply couldn ' t exist without their support. It transforms what might otherwise be a pleasant trail ride into something much more memorable, giving participants access to rolling grazing country, winding creek lines, native bushland and tracks that are rarely seen by the public. It ' s a partnership that works for everyone. Visitors fill local accommodation, buy meals at the pub and cafés, purchase fuel and supplies and spend an entire weekend contributing to the local economy. For a small rural community like Harrow, events such as the Vinduro provide an important boost
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