710RR Hard Kits Series 3
Adventure Rider Magazine|April - May 2019

Hard Kits has been refining its aftermarket rallye set up for KTM’s 690 and Husqvarna’s 701 for a while now. The new Series 3 kit is a ball-tearer.

710RR Hard Kits Series 3

Australian owned and manufactured Hard Kits – ‘HARD’ stands for ‘Horizon Adventure Rallye Designs’ – has come a long way since it kicked off eight years ago. Designer and manufacturer Darren ‘Big Dog’ Wilson has listened to customers and the kit has evolved into this, the Series 3, with the most noticeable inclusion, the genuine 450 Rallye clear screen.

Initially the Hard Kits design was intended to fill the void left by the KTM 640R Adventure in 2007 as customers flocked to the 950 and then the 990 and 1190, all exceptionally good bikes that filled the gap.

More than 12 years has passed since then and the once mid-40-year-old owners who had stepped onto the larger adventure bikes are now between 50 and 60 years old. The flame still burns strong, and they still want to tackle the trip of a lifetime. The steep, stone-strewn hills, the rocky river crossings and the sand dunes of central Australia are still calling to be explored and defeated. But the back, body and muscles of those riders aren’t what they used to be, and they don’t want to lift 250kg of bike and luggage after a fall.

At the same dry weight as the legendary DR650, a fully set up Hard Kits Husqvarna or KTM is ticking the boxes for many.

Experience counts

As mentioned, the average age for the rider of a Hard Kits bike is between 50-65.

Wilson says, “We’re dealing with guys who are very experienced when it comes to riding and adventuring. They know what they want, usually down to the finest detail, and they know what works for them and what doesn’t.

This story is from the April - May 2019 edition of Adventure Rider Magazine.

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This story is from the April - May 2019 edition of Adventure Rider Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.