Just for starters
The coronavirus has knocked the wind out of the Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and, domestically, has forced the cancellation of the Condo 750. But there’s still a good chance that September’s Sunraysia Safari will go ahead.
If you’re dreaming of doing Dakar after it becomes a round of the world title next year, then the Sunraysia rally, based in Wentworth, Vic, is a good place to start. The good news is that while a Dakar effort will cost $100,000 or more, after you’ve done a few rallies to prove you’re not a complete idiot, the Sunraysia lets you dip your toe in the water on a limited budget.
Most cross-country rallies will accept 450cc bikes with an unregistered vehicle permit, but a registered enduro machine is a good place to start. Being registered means you already have lights, plus an electrical package capable of running the Rally Safe monitoring system (the FIM
