Spokey

Thanks! Late reply! I am out at work, currently in US and heading to Mid East tomorrow. This 1190R is everything I expected. I am a huge fan of my S model and that old girl has 75000 kms on and is well used. She will be able to take a break!

Right, so I went and did it. Bought the 1190 R. I was sold on a ZZR1400 and then realised that I do not need such a road bike. I took my ZRX1200R around my local tar loop and decided the roads are shite! So…..my Big Orange 1190 S now becomes my road bike and this is my new dirt bike. Okay……..this is a ridiculous big enduro bike. I will never be able to ride it to its full capability but am willing to give it a go! It is a delight in the dirt despite its weight. The difference to the S model is absolutely evident. The S is way superior on the road and this undeniably offroad. I reset the suspension to standard as the previous owner had it on comfort. Way to wobbly for me. So…….swapping the crash bars between the bikes and semi restoring the S model Big Orange! Pics to follow. The exhaust is an interesting thing. It is a KTM option extra but is surprisingly quiet. The baffles can be removed but with a lot of extra work.(drilling out the rivets) I will leave it as is. The Ostriches in the Klein Karoo were not disturbed by my passing!

Seems that this little 1190 R may just follow me home in the next day or two. 2015, just 24000 kms on the clock. I am looking to put the panniers on to my old S model and all the off road bits from the S on to the R. I am a big fan of these LC8 engines. My S model has 76 000;kms on her.

So I decided I need to try motorcycle camping…. Eeisshhhh, okay, was great, but my choice of destination was perhaps a bit much…. I left home for the Roggeland plateau and Sterland Camping. It was a good 400 kms, Kamanassie road to Oudsthoorn then the tar to Seweweekspoort with a lekker breaky at Bella de Karoo on the R62. Dirt to Laingsburg and a bit more to the Sutherland road. In camp and fire on by 1730………..and the cold set in……OMG, the kipsack was not up to it. Tonight was due to be colder, so I broke camp and road down to the Tankwa via Ouberg Pass…..that was a huge work up with a loaded bike! Travelled via an exceptional dirt road to the Maitjiesfontein road then dirt to Laingsburg again. Tonight in a hotel in Prince Alfred, no camping until I upgreade the kipsack!!

I lost my Mom during Covid, not from Covid but I believe as a result of the isolation from friends when she was ill from an unrelated issue….so Covid, anyways, it has brought my brother and I closer together. He is looking to do his bike license and I hope wevan ride together some day. Hope you and your boet can be involved together in the bike way.

Gosh. This is stupid money!

Certainly sounds like it. Mine is similar…..encouraging my bike purchases, well, to a point! She still thinks we need a yellow Ducati to go with the red 1098 and Matt Black “dark” 749.

Jeeze, sorry to read this. I have a bit of an interest in a 950 in Josie at a dealer……..lots of rands though……then I take my T7 on some trips and wonder why I still feel the need for the earlier Katoom…..and I am a Katoom fan boy!

I need to find a nice 1980’s XT 600 in same colours to be a garage partner!

I took my T7 for its first “long….ish” jaunt to visit the Hederberg Motorcycle Museum. What an excellent few days. Meed to rethink my packing but overall was a good trip. Bike did not disappoint with easy enthusiastic cruising on both tar and dirt. Pics show a little of the home stretch around Greyton and the dirt roads south of van Wyksdorp.

Instead of flying to Josie for my aviation medical, I chose to ride Big Orange up. Has been an excellent trip, crossing the Orange River on the R717 and a short dirt track to Springfontein. Hot during the day in Josie. Tomorrow I head back……..looks to be a cold ride and a really cold start on Thursday after my overnight tomorrow in Middleberg.

This past week we left Kuwait to take the aeroplane to Biggen for a 3 week long maintenance event. The pics show the end of the Red Sea with Aqaba and Eilat then the Suez Canal from FL430. There is Charles de Gaul with Le Bourget behind. The Nice photo displays a bit of our aerie’s performance. Zero pax and 14800lbs fuel at take off. Airborne of 04R at Nice, cross wind turn, downwind turn and just about to turn right to cross the landing threshold at FL120……Yes, headings, released from the SID.. Finally the gorgeous IWC sponsored Spittie!

I have been home for a week during my normal work rotation. The Boss is chilling on his boat so sent us home. I have managed two long “ish” rides on my smaller ADV bikes. 400 kms on the 690 around to Calitzdorp via van Wyksdorp and Rooiberg Pass and then 380 km’s on the T7 to Calitzdorp via Outdshoorn and back along the track running just south of the Swartberg. Different bikes and different experiences. The lightness of the Katoom is a winner but the CP2 engine in the T7 is a dream on any tar stretches. Over all the comfort of the T7 would likely win the day……though I cannot get rid of the 690 yet! Perhaps the tyre choice has much to do with it. Pirellii MT21 on the Katoom and Michelin Anakee Wilds on the T7…….The MT21’s are harsh on the tar.

I do like this bike……a lot!

I was in London for RIAT but decided that the return travel on public transport was too much trouble. I would have loved to see some of those aeries but the thought of 2 to 2, 5 hours each way did it in for me.