Author Topic: 6500KM around Mzanzi on a 500EXC (Read 5358 times)

Xpat · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2019, 07:26:12 am »

Yes that Loch Maree guest farm is great place.

Did you do the whole 50 km loop in the dunes on the farm next day? That is heaven, especially on 500 - I battled there a bit on heavy 690.

Black_Hawk · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2019, 07:57:51 am »

Awesome photo's

I&horse · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2019, 08:28:18 am »

Awesome bike that 500!!!!

Pom17 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2019, 08:51:42 am »

Awesome setup

Dwerg · « **Reply #24 on:** January 04, 2019, 09:12:32 am »

Nice RR. Good to know it's possible to go ride those sand routes. I did them as part of an event. I'd love to go back

m0lt3n · « **Reply #25 on:** January 04, 2019, 11:01:48 am »

awesomeness!

Can you maybe share the route for day 3 so we have a better idea of where not to go (against fence)?

Bike looks great!

m0lt3n · « **Reply #26 on:** January 04, 2019, 11:02:35 am »

Oh, these loved ones of you...how did you convince them to take 3 weeks off?

Tank Slap · « **Reply #27 on:** January 05, 2019, 06:16:46 am »

Quote from: Xpat on January 04, 2019, 07:26:12 am

Yes that Loch Maree guest farm is great place.

Did you do the whole 50 km loop in the dunes on the farm next day? That is heaven, especially on 500 - I battled there a bit on heavy 690.

Yes I did it the following morning, such beautiful riding. Thanks so much for the heads up, it was one of the highlights of my trip. The 500 was the perfect bike, didn't struggle at all.

Tank Slap · « **Reply #28 on:** January 05, 2019, 06:33:17 am »

Quote from: m0lt3n on January 04, 2019, 11:01:48 am

awesomeness!

Can you maybe share the route for day 3 so we have a better idea of where not to go (against fence)?

Bike looks great!

Sorry about the small file but only allowed 700KB Max

Tank Slap · « **Reply #29 on:** January 05, 2019, 06:36:14 am »

Quote from: m0lt3n on January 04, 2019, 11:02:35 am

Oh, these loved ones of you...how did you convince them to take 3 weeks off?

Easy, divorce the wife, ask mom to help with kids and tell work you need to take all your leave at once

Tank Slap · « **Reply #30 on:** January 05, 2019, 06:42:16 am »

Quote from: Xpat on January 04, 2019, 07:26:12 am

Yes that Loch Maree guest farm is great place.

Did you do the whole 50 km loop in the dunes on the farm next day? That is heaven, especially on 500 - I battled there a bit on heavy 690.

I have never ridden a 690 and don't feel the need to, for me the 500 can do everything the 690 can and better. There is more than enough power to have serious fun. The only downfalls are the short service intervals and it was quite expensive to get it ready to adventure spec but I will discuss more of that later.

punisher · « **Reply #31 on:** January 05, 2019, 08:36:46 am »

Straatkat · « **Reply #32 on:** January 05, 2019, 09:26:28 am »

TS I am with you on that one, the 500 does everything you ask of it, your bike looks really nice, but I am afraid for the riding (and crashing) I do regularly that screen will become a casualty in no time.
There is nothing on my bike that is not absolutely essential, bare bones if you like. That Giant loop Coyote is ace, love mine. Minimalist all the way! Enjoy the rest of your ride. Not many people get that much time off.

Tank Slap · « **Reply #33 on:** January 05, 2019, 10:19:20 am »

Quote from: Straatkat on January 05, 2019, 09:26:28 am

TS I am with you on that one, the 500 does everything you ask of it, your bike looks really nice, but I am afraid for the riding (and crashing) I do regularly that screen will become a casualty in no time.
There is nothing on my bike that is not absolutely essential, bare bones if you like. That Giant loop Coyote is ace, love mine. Minimalist all the way! Enjoy the rest of your ride. Not many people get that much time off.

Yes crashing can be a problem

The nice thing about this screen is it comes off the 450 rally bike so should be available from your local KTM Dealer. Price Im not sure though.

Tank Slap · « **Reply #34 on:** January 05, 2019, 10:44:08 am »

Day 4 Loch Maree - Kakamas 290KM + 50KM Dune Trail

I had some unfinished business from the previous day, but first had a proper farmhouse breakfast from my host Retha then I kitted up and hit the 4x4 trail. It was a 50km route across a few farms consisting of sandy jeep tracks and nice soft red dunes. It was loads of fun although opening and closing the farm gates became a pain. I have some great video on the GoPro, once i have it converted I will upload it. I got to do the 1/4 Mile sprint on the active salt pan on the far side of the farm which could have been fun if there was somebody to race against.
After the track I went back to the farm loaded up all my luggage and headed off to a pretty bland days ride. There wasn’t much in terms of scenery from there but I did traverse the thickest sand I had encountered thus far on the trip. I hit the green oasis of the orange river and the town Kakamas. I passed large grape farms covered by some form of shade netting, due to the arid conditions there is lots of dust and the dust apparently kills the grapes so all of them are covered. The massive, lush greenery was a welcome change to the arid conditions of the last two days. I checked into the Vergelegen Hotel the headed into town to service my bike. The guys at “Fit It” we really accommodating and allowed me to do the service in their shop. I also had a small puncture in the front wheel that the slime was slightly oozing out of. I plugged the hole and headed back to have a rest and a swim. The following days route takes me through the Augrabies park and Riemsvasmak and finally to Klein Pella camp.

XT JOE · « **Reply #35 on:** January 06, 2019, 08:12:19 pm »

thanks for sharing- awesome bike and pics

Tank Slap · « **Reply #36 on:** January 07, 2019, 11:16:02 am »

Day 5 Kakamas - Klein Pella 280KM

I left Kakamas around 8am, headed past Augrabies and Riemvasmaak. I took a quick ride down to the natural hot springs in Riemvasmaak, nobody was around and I came across two man made pools obviously fed from the hot spring. It was baking hot already so decided just to take a few photos and left. There was a nice little challenge on the way up which the 500 handled with no problems at all. I passed a bakkie making its way down and he mentioned that the natural rock pools were just a little further on so unfortunately I must have missed them, oh well next time

The riding from there was very pretty, narrow sandy jeep tracks curving their way through the rock formations, from there I crossed over the river and ride some long stretches of gravel roads with the occasional farm gate. Somewhere in the process I lost my tent so I guess i’m now confined to guest houses (not a bad thing).I had planned to camp a few nights on the trip but after long hot days sometimes its just better to have some comforts, another problem with being solo and in very remote places is that if I had camped I would have probably been the only person in the campsite which wasn't the most appealing idea. Once I made the left turn on the road down to Pofadder, I had 26Km of the thickest sand I’ve encountered on the whole trip, I had to stand and stay on the throttle the entire time to prevent my front wheel from getting sucked in, after that my arms and legs were finished. I refueled in Pofadder and headed to camp. Klein Pella is another gem of a find, nestled in rocky outcrops, its the largest date farm in the southern hemisphere or so I'm told. It was so hot that I had a swim and retreated to the air-conditioned room and ended up napping most of the afternoon. It was so unbearable outside that even sitting on the shaded patio was not an option. I hydrated and got as much rest as possible as I knew the next day would be demanding as I would be doing the Namaqua 4x4 route as well as the Road To Hell.