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ADV NewsRound the World Thru the Poles on KTM 1090 Adventure R Snow Bikes?

Round the World Thru the Poles on KTM 1090 Adventure R Snow Bikes?

Ambitious expedition sets out to circumnavigate Earth across both Poles.

Published on 03.12.2021

Round-the-world motorcycle journeys, although still an incredible feat of determination and endurance, have become almost common in the past decade or so. From the legendary Long Way Round series to everyday riders embarking on a quest to circumnavigate the world on their motorcycles, a round-the-world motorcycle trip is now nowhere as extreme or astonishing as it once was. However, Luke Berlet, 42, and Jim Otto, 30, out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, are preparing to wow the adventure motorcycling world with an ambitious plan: to ride around the world across the North and the South Poles.

The duo is working on snow bike conversion kits for two KTM 1090 Adventure R motorcycles which they plan to use for the Poles and is hoping to hit the road as early as this year, COVID-19 situation permitting. Starting in the US, Berlet and Otto hope to ride to Argentina, Ushuaia, and ship the bikes to Antarctica from where they expect to convert the KTMs into snow bikes to be able to ride the South Pole. Then, the journey will continue to New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Russia hitting the North Pole via Siberia, and finally, a ride across Greenland and into Canada to return to the US in 2025.

KTM 1090 Adventure R snow bike

What will this ambitious expedition entail and will the mammoth task of riding across the Poles become a reality this year? We caught up with Luke Berlet to find out.

Combining Two Passions

Berlet, who owns a roofing company in Steamboat Springs and is a father of three, says he started riding motorcycles in his thirties and only got into adventure motorcycling some seven years ago. However, adventure riding instantly became an obsession, and in 2017, Berlet started thinking of circumnavigating the world. “Being from Colorado, snow biking has always appealed to me. What I love most about snow biking is the diversity it offers, so Jim and I began thinking of combining the two passions: adventure riding and snow biking,” Berlet explains.

KTM 1090 Adventure R snow bike

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For him, the idea to ride around the world hitting the South and the North Poles is all about the challenge and the adventure. Historically, this feat was achieved by the Transglobe Expedition when a team of British explorers followed the Greenwich Meridian from the UK in September 1979 traveling south until they arrived at the South Pole in 1980, then turning North until they reached the North Pole in 1982. “It has not been done on a motorcycle, however. Lots of people do world rides, but crossing both poles on a bike is just ridiculous – and that’s why we want to do it. We want to inspire people to go beyond their limits,” Berlet says. According to him, the North Pole is a physical challenge, whereas reaching the South Pole is tougher because of environmental concerns, but the duo is determined to make it – even if the entire journey takes five years.

KTM 1090 Adventure R round the world journey

KTM 1090 Adventure R Snow Bike Conversion

Having gone on multiple adventure rides in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, and raced the Baja 500, Berlet says the KTM 1090 Adventure R was a natural choice because of its versatility. Once the expedition idea (dubbed “Under Over”) was born, Otto and Berlet began experimenting with converting the KTM 1090 into a snow bike using heavily modified Timbersled conversion kits. However, Timbersled kits are aimed at smaller dirt bikes, so to convert a KTM 1090, Beret and Otto had to get creative and reinforce the driveline, the bearings, and the jackshaft. “The Timbersled frame itself may not be enough, either, so we are still working on a fully custom conversion kit,” Berlet explains. 

KTM 1090 Adventure R snow bike globe circumnavigation

According to him, converting the KTMs into snow bikes takes around three hours and it can be done on the side of the road. The plan is to ride on wheels and convert the bikes into snow bikes when absolutely necessary. “If and when needed, we will convert back and forth,” explained Luke. 

In addition to bike conversion, the duo says they may need to get a support vehicle not only to carry the conversion kits but as pulling a sled with luggage and spares is proving difficult, especially when going uphill. “Last year, I did over a thousand miles in the snow to test out the bike, and this year, we‘ve been able to get out on the Continental Divide to do some more trial runs. There were major avalanche concerns, so we couldn’t cover as much ground as we wanted, but we now have a clearer picture of what further mods we need to make. For example, starting the bike in subzero temperatures after it has sat idle for a while is a challenge that we’ll need to figure out,” Berlet explains. 

KTM 1090 Adventure R snow bike globe circumnavigation
“Last year, I did over a thousand miles in the snow to test out the bike, and this year, we‘ve been able to get out on the Continental Divide to do some more trial runs.” — Luke Berlet.

The duo says some other challenges include the difficulty of picking the loaded bikes up in the snow, especially in fine powder. In addition, they may need to carry lots of additional spares: the secondary drive sprockets and chains wear down fast, even with proper lubrication, and there is metal fatigue to consider as the bikes will have to endure extreme temperature changes. Another issue is carrying all the necessary camping gear to be able to survive in the cold. “Cold, to be honest, is our biggest concern for the entire trip – there is a lot that can go wrong in subzero temperatures,” Berlet says. Extreme weather and wildlife are their biggest concerns when riding across the poles.

KTM 1090 Adventure R snow bike globe circumnavigation

Expedition Prep

Motorcycle mods aside, trip preparation and budget will require some serious effort. Berlet estimates that the entire five-year journey will cost around a million USD, and although the adventurers are actively seeking out sponsors, the trip is going to be mostly self-funded. Berlet and Otto plan to mostly stay at budget hotels and camp little, but often cook their own food. “During our previous travels, we have learned that nothing beats a $10 hotel. Meeting the local community is also best at a hostel or a cheap hotel,” Berlet says.

KTM 1090 Adventure R snow bike globe circumnavigation

Among the challenges are logistics and permits to ride the South Pole: due to the fragile environment, it‘s extremely difficult to get the necessary permissions to transport the bike and ride in Antarctica. “We‘re currently discussing our options with Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions in Utah. Hopefully, they will be able to help get us on to the South Pole,” Berlet shares. In addition to the necessary paperwork and permits, refueling is also an issue: having a fuel range of 300 miles, Berlet and Otto may need to organize fuel drops in the poles to be able to complete the ride.

KTM 1090 Adventure R snow bike globe circumnavigation

The duo is now working on the logistics for shipping the bike from continent to continent and considering partnering up with a film crew to be able to document the expedition along the way. “We’d love to produce something like a TV show along the way, but a commitment like that will most likely require a film crew to travel with us. Other than budget and logistics, we are also trying to figure out how to manage work and family:  I am currently making some changes in the way I run my business to be able to travel, and my family is fully on board supporting the expedition. However, it’s likely that we will be taking breaks and flying home during the five years it will take to complete the journey,” Berlet admits. 

Planning to cover 37,000 miles around the world, Berlet and Otto are currently focused on finishing the motorcycle mods and getting ready for the first leg of the journey to Antarctica. Follow them on Facebook to see if “Under Over” succeeds!

Photos courtesy of Luke Berlet.

Author: Egle Gerulaityte

Riding around the world extra slowly and not taking it too seriously, Egle is always on the lookout for interesting stories. Editor of the Women ADV Riders magazine, she focuses on ordinary people doing extraordinary things and hopes to bring travel inspiration to all two-wheeled maniacs out there.

Author: Egle Gerulaityte
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trackback
Round the World Thru the Poles on KTM 1090 Adventure R Snow Bikes? - ADVENTURE & OVERLAND MOTORCYCLE TRAVEL
March 12, 2021 8:50 am

[…] post Round the World Thru the Poles on KTM 1090 Adventure R Snow Bikes? appeared first on ADV […]

Bruce Habel
Bruce Habel
March 12, 2021 4:42 pm

How do they get them started in the cold? Mine won’t start at less than 35*F.

Mario Perotti
Mario Perotti
March 13, 2021 8:57 pm
Reply to  Bruce Habel

Most likely by modifying the radiator and other components. Probably similar mods to what the rider planning on going to the North Pole has done. He even had special oil developed to withstand the temps:. https://www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/all-the-way-up-dutch-adventurer-riding-yamaha-r1-to-north-pole/

trackback
Round the World Thru the Poles on KTM 1090 Adventure R Snow Bikes? – Bikers Connection
March 12, 2021 6:33 pm

[…] Publisher – http://www.advpulse.com View Source […]

Richard Hastings
Richard Hastings
March 13, 2021 2:49 pm

Maybe the trip could be called “Pole Vault”. Just an idea.

Matt Nedbalek
Matt Nedbalek
March 14, 2021 7:25 am

You will need some holes in the chaincase frame on the Timbersled or the chain will get so hot in there it will stretch excessively and burn up the o-rings. Has happened to a lot of guys riding on trails or for a long ride. The newer Aro timbersled comes with holes in the case but not the mountain horse. If you use a uni- bit and put 2- 1 3/8 holes one below the upper sprocket and the other above the lower sprocket it will cure the problem. I even put a washer on each stud bolt before putting the cover on to get some airflow in there as well as snow to help keep it lubed and cool.

Kai
Kai
March 23, 2021 5:21 am

When riding in deep snow I guess fuel consumption will skyrocket. On road you can probsbly get away with below 5l/100km if you ride in ”touring mode”, but with the snowbike conversion kit…? How are they planning to carry all the fuel?

Kai
Kai
March 23, 2021 5:22 am
Reply to  Kai

Ah, I missed the fuel depots!

JC
JC
April 25, 2021 7:17 am
Reply to  Kai

Great point though. The article compares needing fuel depots to an optimum 300 mile range but to your point it will be a fraction of that with the extra load and the low gear ratio inherent in using a Timbersled. I’m sure they have figured out with the test rides what to expect for fuel range and will plan for it-it would be interesting to know what that is.

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Round the World Thru the Poles on KTM 1090 Adventure R Snow Bikes? – ADV Pulse | The Press
April 3, 2021 2:42 pm

[…] This content was originally published here. […]

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