KLIM - American Dream: Ned Suesse Finishes Dakar

American Dream: Ned Suesse Finishes Dakar

January 19, 2012

Ned Suesse has been dreaming about racing and finishing the Dakar Rally—arguably the most grueling off-road race in the world—for years. After 14 days and 9,000 km of racing, the friendly Coloradan made that dream come true, crossing the finish line in Lima, Peru in 53rd position out of 97 who completed the rally (188 motorcycle racers entered the rally on January 1st, 2012).

To learn more about KLIM’s motorcycle lineup and why riders like Ned Suesse depend on it to improve their rides, visit www.KLIM.com

Ned Suesse flanked by his mechanic Tim Morton of Baja Bound Adventures and Ted Johnson

In a particularly nasty Dakar Rally for American motorcycle competitors, Suesse became the last American standing after crashes, mechanical problems, injuries and other Dakar pitfalls took out every other U.S.-based racer. From front-running contenders Jonah Street (GYTR Yamaha) and Quinn Cody (JCR Honda) to the privateer efforts of Bill Conger and James Embro, the Rally simply had it out for Americans and plenty of other competitors the world over.

Sticking to his pre-race plan of “Racing to finish”, Suesse stayed on his own pace, luckily avoiding many of the unforeseeable obstacles that made many motorcycle racers withdrawal.
KLIM Technical Riding Gear is proud to have been the only gear Ned Suesse (and nearly every other American Dakar Rally competitor) wore at this year’s Dakar Rally.

“I’ve been wearing KLIM since it first came to the off-road scene,” Suesse said while relaxing at his home in Colorado after the rally. “The instant benefits of more durability, more comfort and more of the features real riders like me need from gear is simply unmatched. There is no equal. There is only KLIM in my book.”

Ned Suesse rode the entire Dakar Rally in the KLIM Adventure Rally Jacket, Dakar Pants and Dakar Gloves along with KLIM accessories like Vented Socks, Aggressor Briefs, and even the Togwotee Snowmobile Bibs for protection from the elements during the highest Andes pass he crossed.

KLIM's Adventure Rally Jacket

“I knew I wanted to use the Adventure Rally Jacket for this race because it’s the absolute ultimate in versatility. It incorporates the best armor, cargo and comfort available. I rode every day, from sub-zero temps at 16,000-feet to 120-degrees in the sand dunes in the Adventure Rally Jacket and was comfortable all of the time. The benefits of KLIM’s GORE-TEX® Pro Shell construction are awesome. Being fully weatherproof and breathable, and with the jacket’s unbelievable ventilation system, I stayed warm when necessary and cool my core instantly. It has integrated d3o™ armor throughout, massive storage capacity, hydration and an integrated harness system to keep it in place over the roughest terrain. With the cargo capacity, I had everything I needed in one place, which is key when you’re getting up at 4AM for yet another long liaison, and when I stopped, I took off one layer and was down to my Safety 3rd T-shirt where other riders struggled with many layers of armor and clothing. It’s an all-in-one solution to extreme adventure riding needs and it has proven itself to me, once again, in the most demanding conditions possible.

KLIM's Dakar Pant

“I can’t say anything about the Dakar Pant that hasn’t already been said. But I’ll say it again! They work better than any off-road pant in every way. They’re light weight, brutally durable, offer outstanding comfort and the zippered ventilation system lets me dial in the right temperature without stopping. What other pant can hold up to 14 days of racing Dakar and still be ready to trail ride when I get home? None that I’ve tried.”

To learn more about KLIM’s motorcycle lineup and why riders like Ned Suesse depend on it to improve all of their rides, visit your local KLIM dealer (Find them here)