Recently, we showcased Chris Birch’s latest bike build — a KTM 500 EXC-F he’s been shaping into what he calls the “ultimate all‑rounder.” The modified bike checks all the boxes that the enduro champ says make his dream do-it-all machine: a bike light enough for technical trails, comfortable enough for long days in the saddle, and capable of tackling everything from rally stages to weekend exploration. 

Now, a new video from Kriega follows Birch as he packs the essentials, and heads into the New Zealand backcountry to put months of tinkering to the test. True to form, he sets the tone early with a line that sums up his approach to riding: “A bit of struggling is good for you in the morning.” 

This wasn’t the first outing for the new bike. Birch had already taken it on a few overnight shakedown trips to sort out the initial bugs. The build started when he was handed a set of rally twin tanks to test, which became the foundation for a machine he modified to bridge the gap between travel and hard‑enduro terrain. Birch is clear about his priorities: performance comes first. He’s seen too many long‑range builds that sacrifice capability for comfort, and he already has larger ADV bikes for that role. The 500, in his mind, needed to remain sharp.

Besides the extended range provided by the bigger tanks, the TACS PRO on‑the‑fly tire‑pressure system is one of the other standout features of Chris’ 500, giving him the ability to switch from trail pressures to soft hard‑enduro settings with a button press. For suspension, he’s running WP Pro Components front and rear, custom‑tuned for him by Solid Performance in the U.S. It wasn’t a cheap upgrade, but he considers it essential, especially with the added weight of the tanks and gear. 

Versatility of the bike was taken up several notches by the TSP ERM (ECU Reflash Module) device — a plug‑in ECU tuning tool that allows riders to reprogram and adjust the stock mapping and more on the fly. And up front, a lightweight rally tower from Aurora that houses GPS, roadbook, and digital instruments, transforming the EXC into a machine capable of rally navigation

On the ride shown in the film, Chris is seen heading out on the tarmac before putting the bike through the wringer in the wilderness. Of course you’d expect the action to be top shelf, this is Chris Birch after all, an eight time New Zealand Enduro overall champion, Dakar vet and three time Roof of Africa winner. 

Birch wasn’t riding alone. James Scott joined him on a Yamaha — a fourth‑generation farmer from the area and a decorated New Zealand Enduro, cross‑country and MX2 champion, as well as an ISDE gold medalist. The third rider was his long‑time friend Liam, also on a KTM 500. The three have logged plenty of adventures together, and the familiarity shows in the way they move through the terrain.

The video doesn’t disappoint with a strong adrenaline dose of shredding, rock crawling jumps and high-speed wheelies. In spite of the gnarly terrain conquered, Chris says the only real struggle of the day was one brought on himself. After confidently claiming he could ride up a waterfall without properly inspecting it, his bike ended up drowning sideways in the water. He managed the climb with the bike restarting without a problem, which he counts as a win.

The video also shows the trio riding along a remote beach. Birch notes that the location is one of the few beaches in New Zealand where riding is legal, and they were far enough from civilization that they weren’t disturbing anyone. The fun-filled day ends with Chris heading back home — a 2 hour ride on the tarmac that puts the bike’s street-oriented mods to the test.

Since filming, he’s made a few refinements — heavier fork springs and a different GPS mount — and says the setup now feels dialed‑in. With the platform sorted, he’s already thinking about where to send it next. Idaho’s endless single‑track network is high on his list, though that trip may have to wait until next year.

Photos courtesy of Kriega