Kalahari Rally 2019 - Support and Advise

[CDog]

Hey Mark,

Happy to hear that you are just about done with the build.

I would really like to get my build started sooner rather than later, and have time to give it all a thorough shake down before the Rally. But time is certainly against me at the moment, as I will be travelling most of September.  Gonna have to put in a few late nights and get it done.

What ave you been doing for RB training? Do you have a few routes marked out or not?!

I know there are RB routes up here in JHB. If anyone has a copy of the Harties Canals RB that would be greatly appreciated.

[SparkMark]

Been on the PS playing dakar 18. Its really good.

Will make plan to create some locally here and try them out. Hamish has some for Atlantis

[SparkMark]

So the Tankwa Cross Country was baptism by fire as they say. It was harsh ... but a great experience none the less.

Only a few more days until KR 19 !!!

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

Hey Mark, did we meet at Tankwa?

I would be keen to know what the total cost will be for KR19 taking into account

1. Bike prep
2. transport costs
3. Daily costs for the bivouac

The only way I can do a ride like this is to get a sponsorship, so i have to knock together a good proposal based on actual costs.

Please update your experience here .. thanks a mil

[Buff]

Keen to know as well. If they change the dates next year then I might be keen to give it a bash. Currently it's just too close to Tankwa to allow me any financial recovery.

[CDog]

Interested to see what Marks feedback is here.

I will also be participating in the KR, and haven't kept a strict budget per say.
But excluding the bike. Including Nav Gear (RB, RB Mount, 2 x ICO MAX G's), LR Tanks (17l front & 5l rear), Desert Tyres & Mousses. As well as a whole host of spares and all the consumables for daily services, I think I have spent at least 40k this far. If not more....... As I upgraded the Headlight to a Baja Designs LED Headlight, this alone was like 6,5k 
Taking into account, I have also been a quite conservative in the sense of; If something has needed to be replaced, I have done so! (Case & Point, decided to put new chain & sprockets on today, just to be safe)

The above is just costs pertaining to the bike.
Over and above would be;
Entry Fee
Accommodation - I have chosen to take the B&B option.
Crew Entry Fee.
And then transportation costs, etc.

Of course we also have to lay down CASH deposits for the Rally Safety System..... hopefully refundable, if we don't destroy anything 

Anyone else participating, and has vastly different figures to mine, would be interested to get some feedback here.

[SparkMark]

Hey Mark, did we meet at Tankwa?

I would be keen to know what the total cost will be for KR19 taking into account

1. Bike prep
2. transport costs
3. Daily costs for the bivouac

The only way I can do a ride like this is to get a sponsorship, so i have to knock together a good proposal based on actual costs.

Please update your experience here .. thanks a mil

We did indeed ... I couldn't remember your real name ;-) .... just know you as Fuzzy Muzzy !!

So yeah let me try and break it down for you ... for the most part I went new or lightly used:

Bike R90k ... 2017 FE 501 with about 40 hours. It had an FMF exhaust and steering damper
Nav R30k ... two new RNS GFX units, 1 used RNS trip master, roadbook and switchgear
Tower R10k ... from highway dirt bikes. That includes the headlights (baja)
Front fuel tank ... about R6k
Rear fuel tank ... about R12k (Rebel X Sports)
Sticker Kit ... R3500
If you are like me, you upgrade the suspension too R70k (but that you keep at least)
Fuse holders / relays / wiring etc R2500
Bash plate R??
Shock protector R??
Exhaust header protector R??
Oodles of hours to build it all 

Then I would work on the following for running costs:

2 sets of michilen desert race tyres and mousses at R8k a set
1 set new sprocket and chain at R3k
6 air filters at about R300 each (including cleaning and oiling)
6 oil changes at R450 each

Then fuel to get there from here at about 2500km's
Then fuel for the race at about 3600 km's

Then clothing ... you want to take at least 2 of everything

Then entry fee and crew fee at about R36k I think
Deposit for the safety gear R7500
We are also doing B&B ... at about R450 a night per person
Hope this helps ...

[Buff]

It has sadly just dawned on me that I won't be doing the KR anytime soon  It would be cheaper just to buy Johnno's KTM450 Dakar bike for R180K 

[CDog]

It has sadly just dawned on me that I won't be doing the KR anytime soon  It would be cheaper just to buy Johnno's KTM450 Dakar bike for R180K 

I considered the same thing, and had quite some discussions surrounding the possible purchase of his bike, but by the time, I sat down and did calcs on the maintenance costs of those thoroughbred machines  It made more sense, to me atleast, to keep the 500.

[Cracker]

It has sadly just dawned on me that I won't be doing the KR anytime soon It would be cheaper just to buy Johnno's KTM450 Dakar bike for R180K 

Snap! .................. 

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

Is it just me of does a lot of the links not really work on their website, doesn't seem to be updated much either. Click on KR19 accomodation and nothing there. Or the euro shipping and entry package, or the rally safety system etc etc

[Monkey#13]

Is it just me of does a lot of the links not really work on their website, doesn't seem to be updated much either. Click on KR19 accomodation and nothing there. Or the euro shipping and entry package, or the rally safety system etc etc

I've had the same experience with their website. Would love to go and spectate a bit. It's one of only a few events close and easy enough for me to attend but the wesite is pretty much useless and has not been updated for at least 6 months it seems. Just my 2c.

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

Is it just me of does a lot of the links not really work on their website, doesn't seem to be updated much either. Click on KR19 accomodation and nothing there. Or the euro shipping and entry package, or the rally safety system etc etc

I've had the same experience with their website. Would love to go and spectate a bit. It's one of only a few events close and easy enough for me to attend but the wesite is pretty much useless and has not been updated for at least 6 months it seems. Just my 2c.

Last year they were on the ball with live tracking and the likes, now all the links seem broken.. very big pity.  Its not easy to update websites when you organizing a rally I know.. but it would be nice. I was hoping we would be able to follow the guys as they race.

[BossPierreLombard]

https://live.geotraq.org/kalahari-rally-2019/live.php

https://live.geotraq.org/kalahari-rally-2019/


These links worked lekker today.

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

I hear the live tracking will not be lekker today due to poor reception,

So if you see riders standing a long time just be patient it will upload.

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

Im officially not getting any work done.. following the guys criss crossing with the navigation.

[SparkMark]

And just like that its all over ... kinda bummed to be honest. As hard as it was, and as brutal as it was, I still enjoyed it.

The rally spirit was huge ... CDOG, you were a legend and rode like a champ.

So now onto next year ... let's see what that brings