Spokey

I love the thing, it is an awesome machine to ride and despite being a bit of a plus size she handles pretty nicely over the Outeniqua Pass. The rumble cruising at 110/120 kph is also super.

This is mine…..Karatara River behind Sedgefield.

In the meantime I am negotiating the sale of a few bikes to fund this. Well, partially fund it. The childrens inheritance is going to take a beating. 2016 Monster 1200R, apparently quite special so far as Monsters go…..

Any of you guys ridden a KTM 790R for any length of time….or perhaps owned one? I recently traded my 1190R on a Tiger 800 XCx and as much as I like the look of the bike I have not gelled with it at all while riding. In fact the longest trip I have managed is Outeniqua Pass and back, a grand day out of less than 100 kms. I have an option on a 2020 790R, which would be, according to the various U Choobers I follow, what I am looking for!! Thoughts please guys if you have gen on the 790R.

At least this guy seems thorough with your bike. You must be itching to be hitting the trails!

So……bit of a read…..the road back from Joburg to home in Hoekwil was long but enjoyable. We left toward Prieska via Kimberley. Light traffic, though a thunderstorm of near Biblical proportions on the road from Kimberly to Douglas. Anyways. Left Prieska to Carnavon on the dirt road, 170 odd kms and just one farm bakkie to deal with. Enjoyable, varied conditions, sand, dried ruts and pools of water which begged me to blast through……I did not, the surface under the pools was deep mud! Carnavon to Fraserburg on the dirt was fast and very open scenery. Big skies, not a lot to look at. Fraserburg to Sutherland, 110 kms of pure joy on a bike. The whole route was not technical at all, just attention to the ruts and sand patches. Camped Sutherland for a few days……cold…..then on to Ceres via the Forgotten Highway, a delightful 130 kms dirt across the Ceres Karoo, south of the Tankwa. It was raining in the Tankwa and the rain chased us over the Bo Swamoed Pass east of Ceres. camped at Moreson Wine Farm on the Breede……….a lekker trip supported by my Missus in the Hilux. Super nice to travel free of spares and tools which are carried by the bakkie.

Neither have I……….but red wine on the other hand!

I brought the 690 to Joburg on the X Ramp when recently up there. Had the opportunity to ride farm roads, trails and railway service roads out to the east of Josie. Was guided by my brother on his Katoom 250 Six Days……that thing is awesome. The 690 suddenly felt too big! Was a splendid day out.

I am now back in Dubai for sim recurrent, luckily I got onto last nights flight after landing from George. I was due to fly today at 1000 but turns out the flight was cancelled. That would have created a large drama for me as I have already postponed the sim by two weeks. Anyways, in the interim I took the 31 year old FZR for a burn up on the Pass. Had to fit a new front tyre as the wheels were resprayed and the muppets stuffed up the bead on refitting my tyre……..yes a very low mileage new Pirelli GT Angel…….so, new one fitted and had to see that the old girl handles as well as she ever did! Turned up all the 7’s……around 125 300 kms.

Around 10 days ago I did a trip to Bike Forge for their Rock Fest. I spent the first day through the Overberg and unfortunately back up to Swellendam after 5 hours as the pont was closed at Malagas. Back on the dirt there was lekker road just outside Riviersonderend that joined the N2 near Caledon. The trip home on the Sunday was stunning…….took the turn to Klondyke cherry farm to cut through to Touws Rivier. At 30 kms up the N1 the Witteburg turnoff is a road worth doing. Runs parallel to the N1 for 62kms to join the tar south of Laingsburg. I then tracked along the mountains to Seweweekspoort, Huiserivierpas one and two then Oudsthoorn and home. The big 1190S never fails to surprise me at the capability of the bike with the correct tyres fitted. Currently running Annakee Wilds at 2 bar front and 2.2 Rear when on the dirt. This bike is a definite keeper. Of interest, perhaps…..I am trying a 110/80/19 profile front V normal 120/70/19. Difference is notable . Marginally less stable on the tar but more accurate on the dirt. Just turned up 85500kms on this trip. Gunning for the 100000 mark!

Hi RocknRolla, if asking due to me being Dubai based, all good, I appreciate your concern……thank you. I was due back to Dubai tomorrow for my annual simulator recurrent but my training admin lady was onto it and postponed me two weeks. So……..am still in SA, all flights and hotels sorted Perhaps to Bike Forge this weekend for the Rock Fest! Thanks again for asking……

One of my favourite areas of the country.

A few more pics

Last week I did a trip up to the Roggeveld via Seweweekspoort and Moordenaars Karoo. We had the little 690 on the X Ramp, unloading at Seweweeks and then a stunning +/- 250 ks to Sutherland. The following day was a 260 km route down into Tankwa via the Ouberg Pass. This was a work up, very steep and more than a few dry mouth moments over the rocks. The Tankwa park is a stunning blast over tremendous sand roads in an unbelievable wide open landscape. We climbed back up to the Roggeveld via the Ganaga Pass, an absolutely beautiful ride/ drive with sweeping bends, largely smooth dirt and stunning views. Prior to Middelpos the thunderstorms struck and I arrived back in Sutherland cold and soaked but still on the bike and not carrying it on the bakkie.

This is pretty lekker. I have a 2018 690 Enduro R and a Yam T700 2022. The 625 in the video is super, not far removed from my 690. I liked this. The T700 is fantastic on longer trips and flatters one’s ability in the dirt. However, when the time comes to let one go I believe the T7 will go first, purely due to the weight V the 690.

I will check it out. I have an option (maybe) on one in CT. Bit difficult to sort as I am currently in US and ideally like to see the bikes I buy now. Back in SA end Feb……or earlier if the Boss gives us Ramadan off!

Yah, a bit late for me, perhaps I was a bit quick to trade, but it is done. I have traded my 2015 1190R on a 2015 Tiger XCx…….will see how it goes. I will give it a year and then if I am dissatisfied…….ditch it. Perhaps swap for a Thruxton ha ha!

If you want to flog that TRX to a garage that will treasure it…….shout. Be a nice fit in alongside my various twins. Ducati 1098 and 749, Suzuki TL1000S, KTM RC8, Yamaha MT01, BMW BCR 1100R Randy Mamola (factory edition).

II really like the Big 1190 R. It is fabulous as a long distance tourer on nice open gravel…….Karoo for instance. But she is just too tall for comfort around town or in confined spaces. The Tiger 800 has my feet flat on the ground easily, ground clearance is not an issue as I realise it is no enduro bike. I fancied a triple in the garage and figured to give this a try. My 1190S is still with me as I really like that machine. I feel that the 800 XCx will be similar to the 1190 S set in Off Road mode but with the 21 “ front wheel. Will give it a year or so and see. Re that CF Moto 450. I have done a lot of research and been to see the bike. I like it a lot. I will give it a few more years and see how they are doing. It is on my radar as I age and look to smaller cc and power. Ton’s of U Choob content around this machine.

That is part of Seweweekspoort, from the Laingsburg side toward Calitzdorp. One of my favourite routes between R62 and N1. I came that way from Bike Forge and Ceres instead of the direct route Worcester and Swellendam (well that direction) as I really like that road. Another fine road is the turn off from Laingsburg to Ladismith over the Klein Swartburg Pass.

This is perhaps the Katooms replacement…….still quite heavy but smaller and with a delightful engine. Importantly too, a direct trade in of equal value……..well, kind of!

I am finally back to work on Friday, heading to the sandbox of the Mid East. I took a quick 3 day 1250 km trip to CT to Flying Brick and then a long route to Bike Forge via Langebaan. Camped in Franschoek and Bike Forge. Was a bit of a will I/ won't I sell trip for the Big Katoom. As I age I find her heavy and large but what a pleasure to ride on the open dirt/tar roads. I decided for now that she is a keeper, one just needs to be cognisant of where and how you park the Big Old Tart! However, if any of you motorcycle Hubbers have owned a Triumph 800 XCx I would welcome your opinions. My brain is telling me to get rid of the Katoom………my heart is saying keep her!

Happy New Year All. I recently returned from a quick 5 day trip up to Verneukpan for New Years. My son came down from Josie and rode my T7 while I took my old faithful Big Orange 1190. The riding was awesome bar several sections of deep sand that proved to be my nemesis on the approach road to the pan. Managed to keep the bike upright thankfully. The pan itself was super hard surface so we had a blast ripping around aimlessly.

And me, he would have received Nowt more from me. The time frame is excruciating.

Jeeze Hairy I feel for you man. I think this runaround is BS. I would collect the bike and think up another plan.