Andymann

We're also based in Pretoria and have been using Hot Spot for ages. They are a nice bunch. Shameless plug here but Dinamic Coaching Gauteng is also based in Pretoria so if you really want to take your Triathlon journey further, or just have questions you are welcome to drop me a message and I will help wherever I can.

Unless those Dura Ace shifters are worn out they should be fine with the 105 RD - I wouldn't spend money replacing them. A set of TT clip-ons isn't that expensive - there will be loads of used ones for you to buy. The rule of thumb for speed is to look at everything that rotates - so check that your BB is in good condition and then keep an eye out for a nice set of wheels - there are lots available now that everyone is going to disk brakes and because you are still on 10sp, there are really bargains - a lot of the older Zipp 303 and 404 wheels can't be upgraded to 11sp so they are basically only useful to someone like yourself. And they are bulletproof too,

Looked back to see if I could see what bike you used in the end - was it a road bike or did you settle on the MTB? A lot of Athletes that we coach use MTB cleats in place of Road cleats - they actually prefer it because they are able to put their MTB shoes on in transition and run with their shoes already on - running in road shoes is always a bit sketchy. Unless you have budget to buy new Tri shoes with new pedals I don't think that is something you need to worry about right now.

My Brother in CT is selling his 748R and his 999R but both red unfortunately..... And I recently started putting feelers out to sell my XTZ - After the recent Fairest Cape I just don't see myself doing another Rally and I really only bought it to ride with my Dad. It's not the most desirable Tenere of the bunch but the XT/Thumper FB page where I put the ad had quite a few hits, just nothing concrete. Time of the year I guess.....

Thanks - Story of my life - I literally just ordered two new ones from Merlin yesterday!

19th Overall 156 second penalty on day 1 and 172 second penalty on day 2 for a total error of 328 seconds. The highlight being Monday evening where my Wife and I blasted up Baineskloof with my Dad's ashes blowing out behind us in he wind - exactly as he would have wanted it! And then on day 2 coming up Baineskloof chasing an MGA driven by someone who clearly knew what they were doing! I gave up in the end and pulled off for a breather https://www.facebook.com/652321141/videos/2533257360198376/

That would be awesome if you did!

Anyone converted to 1 x and have one of these lying around? Doesn't need to be new, just needs to be less worn than the one I need replace before this weekend!

So I'm not that brave to ride it down! I'm towing it over two days and then on Monday and Tuesday next week is the "Fairest Cape Tour"- it's a ride from Goudini Spa on Monday and Tuesday for bikes older than 25 years. My Dad used to regularly ride it and loved blasting down Baineskloof - he even crashed on year on a 450 Honda! I'll do the two days and then depending on how the bike is running at sea level I might ride it to Stilbaai where my Wife and I are taking a few days breather

Next weekend the big drive down to Cape Town happens for the ride in memory of my Dad. I planned to to the minimal on the XTZ because the plan was always to get rid of it after the ride but since I did the valves it's become a lot nicer to live with. The carb is still not 100% - it's a difficult old thing to get spot on but I'm waiting for the 6Sigma jet kit to arrive from the US - apparently that's the kit to get. The US market sold 1000's of 660 Raptors and 660 Rhinos before the move to FI and they have really got that YDIS carb setup spot on they say. Even includes spacers for between the circlip on the needle so you can set the needle *between* the standard grooves. Of course when you chat to the guys in the US they recommend ditching the standard exhaust system for something a little more free-flowing, so who am I to argue with the experts! Jaco from Stealth came to the party again. Only problem now is something I would never have said 25 years ago: "It's a little too loud for me now....."

I'll check on the way home this afternoon but going West only the "Freeway Ends" signs opposite the new School. I saw yesterday on the way back to Pta there were "Cyclists and Pedestrians" prohibited signs as you climb the hill past the Avianto Offramp just before the 120kph speed restriction sign but to my knowledge there are no Freeway begins signs going East, just Freeway Ends signs going West.

I checked this morning. There are two "Freeway Ends" signs on both sides of the road about 500m from the Riverstone offramp directly opposite the new school that was built. There is also however a clear "No Pedestrians/No Cyclists sign" about 1km before the Freeway ends signs - but nothing else after that. So if you are coming from Avianto you would see neither signs. My interpretation - the section from the Riverstone bridge to the Traffic light at Hendrik Potgieter is not a Freeway so no reason why the Police could arrest you for cycling there.

Going East, It's a 100 zone from the Hendrik Potgieter traffic light to just after the Riverstone offramp - where it changes to 120. Going West it goes from 120 down to 100 as you drop down the hill towards the bridge. There aren't any signs saying Freeway starts/Ends when the speed limit changes, but I'm assuming they changed the speed there for a good reason - probably to denote the end of the Freeway. If so, strictly speaking you could argue that the stretch between Hendrik Potgieter and the Riverstone Bridge isn't part of the N14 and therefore you are allowed to be there but it's such a grey area because these days they don't put up signs like they used to saying where the freeway starts and ends. I used to see big bunches in the morning on my way to Krugersdorp on that stretch - there's a nice big shoulder and they didn't really get in the way, but come to think of it, given that 94.7 is around the corner I haven't seen that many of late. Maybe the Police have been clamping down a bit?

I'm really enjoying these - thanks for posting!

I have access via my Brother in the UK to the BSB races. It's the most exciting racing of the lot - reminds me of the early 90's superbike racing with Haga, Chile, Edwards and Foggy

I was always a bit underwhelmed with my XTZ - it went well enough but on tar it would barely get to 130 which I attributed to having done almost 70000km (even thought it wasn't using oil or smoking) and maybe because it was better off-road. It was also getting hard to start when cold which was a pain so I actually just stopped using it. As I mentioned I finally decided to rebuild the carb and also did the inlet valves which were tight. I was a bit scared of the carb - it was one of Yamaha's wierd 90's experiments - CV carbs don't work well on big singles where the pulses are unlike on a multi but they are really good at wide open throttle. Slide carbs work well on singles but not as well at WOT. So Yamaha combined the two. YDIS they called it. I've heard horror stories about setting them up but I read the manual, used some experience from working on carbs over the years. Anyway, long story short it's a completely different bike - to a point where I reckon the previous owner probably wouldn't have sold it if it was running properly. Starts right up from cold and settles into a nice idle. As Allen Millyard always says " I am well pleased with that" Oh and my new YouTube fix - this guy https://www.youtube.com/@SuperbikeSurgeryTV

I tried to be smart - but my German is terrible! https://www.motoritz.de/ I do follow them on Instagram, I just had to put two and two together.

You might be right there. Didn't think of that. I just listened to it idling in the video and it seems very regular and smooth - very modern - not like my old XTZ that skips a beat every now and again. They have either got it dialled in with a fancy carb or there is FI

My guess is a completely modern wiring harness - and probably an updated ignition system with new CDI. A lot of electrics on the old Yamaha's are discontinued so I would be surprised if they sent her into the journey with a 38yo ignition system. Forks and shock will probably have new internals and the frame probably braced in places where they didn't expect it to break in 1987. Motor wise I think those old 600's are bombproof and a lot of stuff is still available - so probably just a rebuild. Maybe a modern carb too - something off a YZ450 or WR450 might work. I doubt if they would convert it to FI but the German TUV test is very stringent especially on emissions so maybe they have converted to FI from one of the later XT660's

For those who follow Itchy Boots - interesting choice..... i

"That's not a knife......"

Thanks. I actually plucked up the courage to go and see a Psychologist. Took a lot of convincing on my part because hey 50-something Men don't need to talk about their emotional state right..... Was worth the money. Still have a few sessions to go, but I think now I can start getting back on track

I told her the Motorcycle Hubbers say I have a good wife. She said please to remind everyone it was also her who told me to buy them as well...

Maybe - my wife says I need to wait a year before I sell anything!

So after a difficult few months where I didn't really want anything to do with bikes I figured I better get the XTZ sorted for the Fairest Cape. My Dad and I did it together last year so in memory my brothers and I are going to do it one last time this year and sprinkle some of his ashes down Bainskloof Pass where I couldn't keep up with him last year! The XTZ was becoming difficult to start when cold and was also backfiring on the overrun so I ordered new inlet rubbers and an air shutoff valve and then decided to check the valves while I was at it. What a mission - for a bike supposedly designed to be repaired in the bush somewhere between Paris and Dakar checking the valves what almost impossible without removing the Valve cover. Even the Radiator had to come off. Anyway, we're making progress and I found a few more small issues that needed to be sorted - wiring related so did that too. You might notice the DT in the background has no wheels - also finally got round to stripping those down so that I can rebuild them with new Gold Anodised alloy rims and spokes. Also needed new tyres. The TRX sadly doesn't get used much anymore - I need to make some decisions in the future regarding it and the XTZ - I bought the XTZ to use on Rallys with my Dad and I don't think I will be doing many more after November so it might have to go. And the TRX really just sits there - which isn't good for a bike.