Honda Quest, the incredible adventure!

[THROTTLE JOCKEY]

EPIC! and wish I could do this every day. Thank you to all involved including the competitors and especially Grant (McSack) you are one tough son of a bitch. Good luck with your Opp today to plate that color bone. Those that dont know he broke it on the third last day and rode through two of the toughest days in sand. The hard pack corrugations could not have been easy either. Respect brother! 

[Sam]

Jeez - doesn't this make me wish that I was up there right now!! Looks like everyone had the experience of a lifetime.

Thanks to Andrew for keeping us up to date. Only figured out after chatting to a mate that "CraigofCapeTown" was the Craig on the AT in Andrew / Kamanya's first Namibia ride report here many moons back (2006 ish?). Pity to see that he's now in New Zealand - Craig - do you remember the days of smousing cooldrinks and frozfruit on Clifton?

Interesting to hear how the new AT power delivery works compared to KTM. The original "spec" for the NXR back in the 80's (the Dakar predecessor on which the Africa Twin 650's and 750's was based) was quite specific - they didn't really mind / want a huge amount of HP, but were looking for very linear power delivery. If you look at the dyno charts for the XRV750, the torque and HP are extremely linear, with max torque and hp toward the redline, but going up in a straight line from low revs. Unfortunately, being a "V" it doesn't like revs under 2500 though. The parralel twin probably sorted that out.

Looks like they carried that spec forward to the CRF.

Good to see ol Basil from Uis popped along to spectate. If memory serves, his AT is the XRV650?

Looking forward to some writeup's on the Quest.

[Minxy]

So I've added loads of photo's on Facebook and made the albums public. You don't need a facebook account to open these, just click the link and you should be able to view everything

Part 1

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155733938956972.1073741924.730936971&type=1&l=3b77302628

Part 2 (My favourtite album with us riding along the Kunene River, the technical approach to Van Zyls and the pass itself)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155734011176972.1073741925.730936971&type=1&l=10d2b5e3b6

Part 3 (Sandy riverbeds and the Purros Canyon)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155734194336972.1073741926.730936971&type=1&l=65972b329b

Part 4 (Twyfelfontein and riding the red dunes to Brandberg)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155734233086972.1073741927.730936971&type=1&l=3e1e840f5d

[2StrokeDan]

I keep thinking that its no mean feat 20 x AT`s are pulled through this type of terrain and absolutely zero issues, I mean not even a smiley/cracked rim and in that 50 deg heat no overheating!!
Which other manufacturer could likely pull that off??
This says a hell of a lot to me!

The same on the short version CRF250 3day trip, not a single issue. These Honda's are extremely reliable, and this is a long-standing Japanese bike thing, reliability.

[Sam]

I think Basil actually rocked up to show the younsters what a real beard looks like...!!

[Heimer]

So I've added loads of photo's on Facebook and made the albums public. You don't need a facebook account to open these, just click the link and you should be able to view everything

Part 1

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155733938956972.1073741924.730936971&type=1&l=3b77302628

Part 2 (My favourtite album with us riding along the Kunene River, the technical approach to Van Zyls and the pass itself)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155734011176972.1073741925.730936971&type=1&l=10d2b5e3b6

Part 3 (Sandy riverbeds and the Purros Canyon)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155734194336972.1073741926.730936971&type=1&l=65972b329b

Part 4 (Twyfelfontein and riding the red dunes to Brandberg)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155734233086972.1073741927.730936971&type=1&l=3e1e840f5d

Minx you are made of iron. Allow me to congatulate you on this achievement

[isiTututu]

Hi Everyone

The crew only got back late last night after a tough two days on the road etc.

I will try to add value to the detailed ride report that the WD contestants will compile later. I do however would like to thank all of them, the WD contestants, and the crew members, John Webb (Tau), Christoffel Lombard (Hingsding), en Jaco Kirsten (Jacko) for making this the special event it was.
Great riders, great adventurers and great friends, all of them.

Cheers
Hardy

I have to agree with Hardy.

The contestants had a ball but there are some unsung heroes who deserve special mention.

Ockie Vermeulen did an outstanding job to see to everybody's wellbeing and health. Always ready with medical assistance, water and a compressor.

The ladies who saw to all being well fed and having food ready for the hungry masses.

Jaco, John and Christoffel - these guys had a massive responsibility in leading the way, assisting any contestant who needed help and seeing to the convoy of bikes ultimately safely getting back to Windhoek. They did an exceptional job from my point of view and deserve as much credit as the organizers and Honda for putting this together.

I do not think anyone realizes how much logistics happens behind the scenes and to execute a huge operation like this one must have a very capable team. Well done to Hardy and Specialized Adventures for the way the whole team pulled together to make this a success.

And it goes quietly beyond...

To have pulled this off, not just without a hitch, but with all machines and all people happy and in one piece, is truly a feat. And I have no doubt that this is going to put Honda, and particularly the Africa Twin right back where they belong - at the top of the dual-sport/adventure pile!

You'd think that Hardy and his team must have been pushed to the absolute limit, working hard to ensure that their own operation ran like clockwork, but still they had the energy and grace to help an errant traveller who'd had a mishap just a day ahead of them. There will be more on this story later in a separate thread, but suffice to say; if it weren't for the good humanity in Hardy and his team, my bike would still be sitting out in the Marienfluss somewhere, instead of in my garage, where it is right now.

Thank you thank you thank you Hardy and friends.  It's people like you that make the world a good place to hang out!

[Minxy]

My helmet camera's mounting broke off on the first day we did any technical riding. So unfortunately not much footage from my side

Did get a few interesting things though, so here's a video of one of the sandy crossings we went through. There were plenty like this on the way:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/i_wpdiPhKbw" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/i_wpdiPhKbw</a>

[XRRX]

1000 Hats-off to you Minxy!!! 

[Sheepman]

Trip of a lifetime 

[KarooKid]

Join us next week Wednesday at Honda Tygerberg for an evening chatting about all things Quest and Honda.

Remember to RSVP

http://readonline.ccs.co.za/dc/2d9ce1ff/101431703/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Oubones]

It seems like Honda is heading for a new headache.
I went to pickup my sons crashbars at Umhlanga and was told that there are only a few dct AT's available in the country, they had a sale due to the customer reading reviews from quest.
Well done to Hardy and Honda.

[craigbarker]

Thanks to Andrew for keeping us up to date. Only figured out after chatting to a mate that "CraigofCapeTown" was the Craig on the AT in Andrew / Kamanya's first Namibia ride report here many moons back (2006 ish?). Pity to see that he's now in New Zealand - Craig - do you remember the days of smousing cooldrinks and frozfruit on Clifton?

Yup - sure do - crazy days!

[Pistonpete]

Question on sound?
Manual vs Auto box
Does the DTC have a flatter sound than the manual?

I notice this on scooters & even bigger auto cars with performance exhausts....the sound sounds 'flat' ?

[THROTTLE JOCKEY]

Pete I dont think I noticed any difference.

[2StrokeDan]

Question on sound?
Manual vs Auto box
Does the DTC have a flatter sound than the manual?

I notice this on scooters & even bigger auto cars with performance exhausts....the sound sounds 'flat' ?

This is because the DCT, and even the elementary scooter varying pulley drive systems, keeps the revs in the powerband. A manual gearbox needs to be a very close-ratio box to come close.

[cheesy]

In my humble opinion; best ride report ever, major respect to all. in many of the photographs Minxy was the only one smiling, well done girl, absolute respect.

[charliepappa]

Question on sound?
Manual vs Auto box
Does the DTC have a flatter sound than the manual?

I notice this on scooters & even bigger auto cars with performance exhausts....the sound sounds 'flat' ?

This is because the DCT, and even the elementary scooter varying pulley drive systems, keeps the revs in the powerband. A manual gearbox needs to be a very close-ratio box to come close.

Stick it in SPORT III and let it rip! 

[Hondsekierie]

Question on sound?
Manual vs Auto box
Does the DTC have a flatter sound than the manual?

I notice this on scooters & even bigger auto cars with performance exhausts....the sound sounds 'flat' ?

This is because the DCT, and even the elementary scooter varying pulley drive systems, keeps the revs in the powerband. A manual gearbox needs to be a very close-ratio box to come close.

Stick it in SPORT III and let it rip! 

Terwyl jy so lekker in SPORT mode is, wil jy nie bietjie gaan inlas op die ander thread sodat hulle kan aanbeweeg na die volgende dag - almal wag om die volle storie te hoor 

[Ri]

In my humble opinion; best ride report ever, major respect to all. in many of the photographs Minxy was the only one smiling, well done girl, absolute respect.

She is something else...