- Joined
- Feb 6, 2006
- Messages
- 10,625
- Reaction score
- 4,314
- Location
- Cape Town, deep in the lentils
- Bike
- KTM 990 Adventure
The video of the report is about 7minutes. It is still busy uploading to YouTube, I will give the link once its done.
4.45am is really early, especially when 01.10am was the time I went to bed.
5.30am we meet. There is not much to say at that time of the morning, except "Morning. Um, lets go."
The one stop we stop for fuel and to clean the visors. It still dark and misty.
Oh, so that’s what you look like.
Quick snack in Citrusdal of something toasted made the day before. Fill up with fuel.
Algeria looks like the land of Mordor, just black and sad. The roads are great.
Over the mountain and heading towards Wuppertal, take a track that ends in a locked gate after 11k’s of tight jeep track. We try do a bit of offroad in the wild expectation that we can make the next 11k’s to Wuppertal. It’s a kuk idea.
Back track. We swop bikes, I have the standard version Brian has the S. I think the little ride is going to cost him, I can see he likes my suspension upgrade and the carburetion.
We stop to sort out a loose electrical bolt. Not a bad place to stop. But the heat is something fierce.
Wuppertal. One of those landies didn’t want to let us past on the pass. They were a party of Hollanders.
Hot as.
Locals.
Fuel stop. This is where the Aqualines came in handy. I gave Brian 10 litres and still had ample. It really opens up the distance options. For this leg we did 290k's. Riding the way we were, we would not have made it without the tanks.
It is even hotter here.
Finally got to the river. By now it was really hot.
I know the owner of the place, but couldn’t see him when we rode in. I had stopped by what used to be his house but no one came out. We were down at the end of the track before a short walk to the river. Just as we got walking I saw a bakkie coming down.
Bill can be quite feisty and I know that he has had issues with people coming onto his property. Fortunately he recognised me even with my helmet on. He immediately offered us beer and food, but we had to get into the river first.
Later I asked him if it had been any other bikers/4x4’ers who just rode in and tried to go for a swim...?
“yep, they wouldn’t have stayed for long.” Was his reply.
He has built about 7 hay bale houses. The walls and roofs are made of concrete covered hay bales. They are cool in summer and warm in winter.
All of them overlook the river
The beer was ice cold and he had prepared a pasta salad and green salad. As neither of us had had breakfast on only the one toasted sarmie it was highly appreciated.
You can rent these places out. The area is thick with bushman paintings and Bill is an amazing story teller, wonderful host and will take you on a fascinating fynbos tour.
Anyway, places to see, things to do.
Slightly cooler but still hot as.
The heat does strange things to people.
The obligatory river crossing.
The locals playing chicken.
Lamberts bay, tightening loose bolts.
On the railway access road Brian hit a steenbok at 130kph. Not a scratch on his bike, not so sure about his underwear though. Minutes later I narrowly missed two of them. Got it on the video.
Home ward bound. It was a long day 731k’s. Arse was pretty sore.
Some notes on the new Dunlop 908RR in comparison to the Michelin Desert;
It is stickier, way quieter and lasts longer than the Michelin Desert on the tar.
I think it is about the same to slightly less traction on gravel and sand than the Michelin, can’t be certain. Both tires hook up really well and are the best for the beast. I have flogged both tires, the Michelin just wears quicker, although I managed to take some small chunks out of the Dunlop.
It has much harder side walls and I hear that it can be run flat in an emergency.
I rate the 908RR, the only major downside is the cost. Unless I can get the 908RR for less than R1600.00 (not going to happen from any shop I know) then the Michelin is the way to go.
4.45am is really early, especially when 01.10am was the time I went to bed.
5.30am we meet. There is not much to say at that time of the morning, except "Morning. Um, lets go."
The one stop we stop for fuel and to clean the visors. It still dark and misty.
Oh, so that’s what you look like.
Quick snack in Citrusdal of something toasted made the day before. Fill up with fuel.
Algeria looks like the land of Mordor, just black and sad. The roads are great.
Over the mountain and heading towards Wuppertal, take a track that ends in a locked gate after 11k’s of tight jeep track. We try do a bit of offroad in the wild expectation that we can make the next 11k’s to Wuppertal. It’s a kuk idea.
Back track. We swop bikes, I have the standard version Brian has the S. I think the little ride is going to cost him, I can see he likes my suspension upgrade and the carburetion.
We stop to sort out a loose electrical bolt. Not a bad place to stop. But the heat is something fierce.
Wuppertal. One of those landies didn’t want to let us past on the pass. They were a party of Hollanders.
Hot as.
Locals.
Fuel stop. This is where the Aqualines came in handy. I gave Brian 10 litres and still had ample. It really opens up the distance options. For this leg we did 290k's. Riding the way we were, we would not have made it without the tanks.
It is even hotter here.
Finally got to the river. By now it was really hot.
I know the owner of the place, but couldn’t see him when we rode in. I had stopped by what used to be his house but no one came out. We were down at the end of the track before a short walk to the river. Just as we got walking I saw a bakkie coming down.
Bill can be quite feisty and I know that he has had issues with people coming onto his property. Fortunately he recognised me even with my helmet on. He immediately offered us beer and food, but we had to get into the river first.
Later I asked him if it had been any other bikers/4x4’ers who just rode in and tried to go for a swim...?
“yep, they wouldn’t have stayed for long.” Was his reply.
He has built about 7 hay bale houses. The walls and roofs are made of concrete covered hay bales. They are cool in summer and warm in winter.
All of them overlook the river
The beer was ice cold and he had prepared a pasta salad and green salad. As neither of us had had breakfast on only the one toasted sarmie it was highly appreciated.
You can rent these places out. The area is thick with bushman paintings and Bill is an amazing story teller, wonderful host and will take you on a fascinating fynbos tour.
Anyway, places to see, things to do.
Slightly cooler but still hot as.
The heat does strange things to people.
The obligatory river crossing.
The locals playing chicken.
Lamberts bay, tightening loose bolts.
On the railway access road Brian hit a steenbok at 130kph. Not a scratch on his bike, not so sure about his underwear though. Minutes later I narrowly missed two of them. Got it on the video.
Home ward bound. It was a long day 731k’s. Arse was pretty sore.
Some notes on the new Dunlop 908RR in comparison to the Michelin Desert;
It is stickier, way quieter and lasts longer than the Michelin Desert on the tar.
I think it is about the same to slightly less traction on gravel and sand than the Michelin, can’t be certain. Both tires hook up really well and are the best for the beast. I have flogged both tires, the Michelin just wears quicker, although I managed to take some small chunks out of the Dunlop.
It has much harder side walls and I hear that it can be run flat in an emergency.
I rate the 908RR, the only major downside is the cost. Unless I can get the 908RR for less than R1600.00 (not going to happen from any shop I know) then the Michelin is the way to go.
