25 years, 280 DRZs and only one Roy Kunda – Suzuki’s best customer?

Adventure Rider Issue #19

• It’s What We Do
• Kashmir: mystic adventure – Over the top…literally
• 25 years, 280 DRZs and only one Roy Kunda – Suzuki’s best customer?
• BMW Safari Enduro – No bull! No wait…
• Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 – Updated, upgraded and up to the job
• WTF – Not what you think
• LEDs – Light work
• The Precious 3: Peter Payne’s XT1200Z Ténéré
• Industry player – Philth Hodgens
• HARD Kits Husky 710 – Phwoar!
• Reader’s ride – I Finke, therefore I am
• Cornered with Karen Ramsay
• Preparing for adventure with Andrea Box
• How To Ride with Miles Davis
• Checkout
• Fit Out

Cape York Motorcycle Adventures is celebrating its 25th year.

Cape York is still one the world’s great adventure-riding destinations. For riders, the ultimate way to get to there, with maximum adventure and the last word in support, is to sign up with Cape York Motorcycle Adventures and its owner, Roy Kunda.

After two-and-a-half decades running tours back and forth from Cairns to the Australian mainland’s most northerly point, Roy, 52, has some amazing stories to tell.

But the most amazing thing he told us this time was how many Suzuki DRZs CYMA’s purchased over the years.

“Around 280,” offered Roy in his usual quiet and thoughtful way. “It only occurred to us the other day. We started adding up the numbers, and they really added up.”

Cape York Motorcycle Adventures has run other brands and models over the years, including DR250s and 350s, but since the DRZ has been available, it’s been the company’s unchallenged choice of bike.

“The DRZ has the resilience,” said Roy. “With a rider that’ll thrash it, or a rider that short-shifts it, a rider that’ll slip the clutch or a rider that doesn’t use the clutch at all, the DRZ copes.

There’s no wear pattern. It just puts up with the whole lot.

“And the dunkings!” he rolls his eyes and laughs. “They get plenty of dunkings.

There’s nothing else on the market that would put up with the punishment we give those bikes.”

After that many units, tours and hard kilometres, if the DRZ had any problems, Roy would know about them.

“There’s really only two things to watch,” he said, supervising the placement of some very large, very tender steaks on the nearby campfire and ripping the shell off a prawn or two. “The seal around the clutch actuator arm is one, and the countershaft seal is the other. They’ve been pretty much the only problems we’ve come across.”

On past tours with Roy we’ve seen those two seals replaced in less time than it took to grab a soft drink from the immaculately appointed support vehicle.

“That’s right,” smiled Roy. “They’re easy to slip in and out. The sweeps carry a couple of each.”

The long haul

The 25-year milestone is a big one. Cape York Motorcycle Adventures has been an industry leader for all that time, thanks in no small part to the vision and energy of Roy’s wife, Renae. While Roy’s doing the hard yards, riding through some of the world’s most amazing terrain, camping in exotic locations and leading groups to fulfil dreams, Renae runs a tight administrative ship and ensures the company keeps moving forward at the headquarters near Cairns.

In 2016 Cape York Motorcycle Tours celebrates its tenth year of eco-certification, and in areas as sensitive as The Daintree, Cape Tribulation, Seisia and a dozen other regions traversed by CYMA many times every year, that’s a big nod of approval from the people who nurture the area.

“Renae has achieved so much for the company,” explained Roy. “The eco-certification means we’re audited each year on sustainable practices, environmental care and treatment of communities among other things, and it’s not an easy thing to get through. Renae keeps us up to the mark and compliant on these important issues as well as running the business.”

Office worker

We had to ask, “What’s the highlight of the last 25 years leading motorcycle tours to the Cape and back?”

Gazing thoughtfully into the distance, reaching for another slice of Brie and a couple of crackers, the Cairns-based adventurer sighed and offered, “It’s every tour, to be honest. I can’t pick one highlight.

It’s just enjoying the job I do and the people I meet.”

Gesturing around the campsite on the banks of the Palmer River where music played, riders relaxed on the clean white sand and the moon blazed overhead as the scent of medium-rare rib-eyes wafted across mirror-like water, he smiled and said, “After all the years of working my arse off, here I am in the office. How good is it.”