Smithey
Race Dog
Dreamer started planning a trip to Mabibi a few months ago and a post was made on Wild Dogs to secure some riders to join him. It was planned for 10 or so guys with two support vehicles. Due to work and personal commitments we were down to 4 bikes and 1 4x4 with a trailer.
The Team
Dreamer 1200GS
Pistol – 1200GS
Brad – 1200GS
Smithey – KTM 625
Tomas – Jeep and Trailer.
Me and Pistol decided that 750km one shot was just not gonna be fun. We had a chat and organized an extra days leave so we could split the down trip in two. It was a good choice.
By now your thinking, “Hay Smithey rides a 950 not a 625”. Well, the 950’s in the garage with an oil pressure problem. I tried to fix it the night before departure, but no go. Its going in for repairs soon and hopefully its just a faulty sensor or something. This is where Pistol stepped up to the plate and offered me his 625 for the days we would be away. “WHAT A BOYTJIE” :thumleft:
Plan was to meet at his place Wednesday morning – EARLY. I got called just after 8 to find out if I was stuck in traffic. OOOPS, I was still in bed :bueller: A quick scurry round the house and the kit was packed in the car. Off to Jo-burg I go.We load up the two bikes at Pistols and hit the road, thankfully remembering a section of hose pipe to be used in case the 625 ran out of juice on the way.
Our first stop just before Villiers, i made it in on fumes.
Destination – Wakkerstroom Country Inn lodge.
Route – N3 to Villiers and then dirt it out to Standerton, Amersfoort, Daggakraal and then Wakkerstroom. We made it as far as Amersfoort on dirt and then decided to tar it to Volksrus and then on to Wakkerstroom :deal: Sometimes you have to look at the final destination and hope you can make it there in one piece.
The dirt roads were reasonable from Villiers to Standerton. We were getting up to 100kmh on them with a few bad patches in between. From Standerton to Amersfoort it was another story. The mud monster was lurking everywhere.
Pistol out front it was a lot easier for me to see the ass shakes and reduce speed to pop out my tripods. One benefit of being so tall when you ride on your ass and not standing I can just pop the legs out and paddle the mud.
Well, we hit this stretch of goo doing about 40-50 I think. Pistol held it fantastically. Ive never seen a 1200’s ass glide as much as I have till then. But the monster popped out its claw and grabbed the front wheel whilst the bike was in a 75 degree slide and down they went. The old obligatory “Are you alright” before the camera came out. It’s the first time ive helped pick up a 1200 and shit its heavy, really heavy in the mud when you have no real grip under foot.
I paddeled it :imaposer:
Bike up and a slight problem getting it started. 5 minutes later we were at the intersection where it was solid ground and we inspected the damage. Nothing major except a twisted hand grip and a bust mirror. 10 minute repair job and we were on our way.
More kilometers of mud awaited us without incident.
The going was tough as it was and then it started to rain. We headed for the nearest tar to get us to Amersfoort. Amersfoort is a dive of a town so we just pulled in got some petrol and headed off to Volksrus on tar.
At Volksrus we filled up again and Pistol spotted this pub/shabeen/casino across from the garage. :imaposer: what a hole Terrys Place is, but the locals were friendly and the quarts were cold.
On to Wakkerstroom Country Inn.
The Team
Dreamer 1200GS
Pistol – 1200GS
Brad – 1200GS
Smithey – KTM 625
Tomas – Jeep and Trailer.
Me and Pistol decided that 750km one shot was just not gonna be fun. We had a chat and organized an extra days leave so we could split the down trip in two. It was a good choice.
By now your thinking, “Hay Smithey rides a 950 not a 625”. Well, the 950’s in the garage with an oil pressure problem. I tried to fix it the night before departure, but no go. Its going in for repairs soon and hopefully its just a faulty sensor or something. This is where Pistol stepped up to the plate and offered me his 625 for the days we would be away. “WHAT A BOYTJIE” :thumleft:
Plan was to meet at his place Wednesday morning – EARLY. I got called just after 8 to find out if I was stuck in traffic. OOOPS, I was still in bed :bueller: A quick scurry round the house and the kit was packed in the car. Off to Jo-burg I go.We load up the two bikes at Pistols and hit the road, thankfully remembering a section of hose pipe to be used in case the 625 ran out of juice on the way.
Our first stop just before Villiers, i made it in on fumes.
Destination – Wakkerstroom Country Inn lodge.
Route – N3 to Villiers and then dirt it out to Standerton, Amersfoort, Daggakraal and then Wakkerstroom. We made it as far as Amersfoort on dirt and then decided to tar it to Volksrus and then on to Wakkerstroom :deal: Sometimes you have to look at the final destination and hope you can make it there in one piece.
The dirt roads were reasonable from Villiers to Standerton. We were getting up to 100kmh on them with a few bad patches in between. From Standerton to Amersfoort it was another story. The mud monster was lurking everywhere.
Pistol out front it was a lot easier for me to see the ass shakes and reduce speed to pop out my tripods. One benefit of being so tall when you ride on your ass and not standing I can just pop the legs out and paddle the mud.
Well, we hit this stretch of goo doing about 40-50 I think. Pistol held it fantastically. Ive never seen a 1200’s ass glide as much as I have till then. But the monster popped out its claw and grabbed the front wheel whilst the bike was in a 75 degree slide and down they went. The old obligatory “Are you alright” before the camera came out. It’s the first time ive helped pick up a 1200 and shit its heavy, really heavy in the mud when you have no real grip under foot.
I paddeled it :imaposer:
Bike up and a slight problem getting it started. 5 minutes later we were at the intersection where it was solid ground and we inspected the damage. Nothing major except a twisted hand grip and a bust mirror. 10 minute repair job and we were on our way.
More kilometers of mud awaited us without incident.
The going was tough as it was and then it started to rain. We headed for the nearest tar to get us to Amersfoort. Amersfoort is a dive of a town so we just pulled in got some petrol and headed off to Volksrus on tar.
At Volksrus we filled up again and Pistol spotted this pub/shabeen/casino across from the garage. :imaposer: what a hole Terrys Place is, but the locals were friendly and the quarts were cold.
On to Wakkerstroom Country Inn.
