People ask how I even ended up with the Kove 450 Rally. Honestly, I didn't know much about it at first. I was happy on my second KTM 690 Enduro R with absolutely everything on it. All the accessories, a Rade Garage fairing tower, a fully upgraded machine.
Then I had a bad crash. I wiped out, tried to catch the bike with my leg to stop it from falling, and tore a leg muscle. That put my riding on hold for a while.
One day during my recovery I drove past a Kove dealership. Curiosity got the best of me, so I walked in. First I sat on the Kove 800 and checked out the 800 Rally. But while I was there, I sat on the Kove 450 Rally just to see how it felt. In a single second, something clicked. The sitting position, the width of the bike, the suspension, the handlebars. Everything just felt right. I booked a test ride on the spot. A week after that ride, I owned a Kove.
The main thing that won me over was the weight distribution compared to the 690. The center of gravity is much lower because Kove moved the fuel storage down toward the back. The bike feels incredibly light because of it. You get this sense of freedom and agility, especially when picking your lines on the trail, that I never felt on the 690. The 690 always felt a bit more rigid and stiff.
That said, my first few rides on the Kove were miserable. I suffered. Everything felt harsh. The engine was like an on-off switch with zero linearity, and the suspension was stiff. My hands were cramping up, and I seriously wondered if I had made a huge mistake. Maybe this bike just wasn't for me.
But I've put more miles on it now, close to two thousand kilometers, and I'm about to do the service myself. On these recent rides, something finally connected. Either I learned how to ride the bike properly, or the machine loosened up and got more precise for me. Whatever it is, it works.
I don't know where this adventure with the Kove will lead, but for now I'm keeping it and seeing how much fun I can have with it. I'll keep you guys updated.
No history. No ego. Just Kove. The tee is at advtees.com.
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