Spokey

This is very interesting, thanks. I have a little DT125 arriving tomorrow. Seems in fine fettle. My brother went to check it out for me in Centurian whilst I was in Saudi. Plan to teach my wife and daughter to ride, initially around the garden………………

Another shot that may be of interest, The Palm in Dubai. My boss recently sold his new build home on the Palm for 163 million USd!, Apparently the highest priced Dubai property. Second frond closest to the shore on right of thr pic. sold.

Been a long time away from this forum. I have had a quiet period based in Dubai with little flying and though very grateful for a job in these trying times…….it has been a struggle being away from home for extended periods of little flying while remaining on standby to fly. So much to do at home and a life to enjoy with the Missus and I feel time passing me by holed up in a hotel in Dubai. Anyways, tis a good job overall though much to ponder in months coming. So, here we are into Kuwait from Dubai a short while ago, crap viz but of course all part of it!.

If back in SA, I would try and get down from George!

Evening All Anyone here used the Dunlop Trailmax Mission tyres on big ADV bikes? …….keen on input here. I believe I will give them a go on the 1190. I feel to keep the big Katoom for tar road and hard Karoo dirt riding with the little 690 shod with Pirelli MT21’s for the more dedicated off-road and trail work.

My Big Katoom, the 1190 returns around 16 to 18 kms per litre when ridden conservatively, but……………a little exuberant use of the twist grip will drop that to just 13. When I travel loaded with panniers, I really do need to pay attention to my fuel stops, especially into a headwind, running knobblies and in the dirt sure does not help.

Okay, so you have perhaps all seen this already…………But I am shortly leaving Rome , well in a few hours, and will make a turn past Ducati Rome enroute to the airport. I have been away from SA for 7 weeks and this machine is calling……..Weather looks good for a Sunday blast over the mountains!

I do feel the progressive front springs make a difference at a very modest cost. If I recall the springs were around R3000 for my KLR 650. (Few years ago but still very affordable back then). The difference is like chalk and cheese on that bike. The springs are considerably longer so the spacer had to be cut in the fork tube. Together with a quality “one weight” heavier fork oil it now rides a lot less like the agricultural bike it is. I have done the suspension on my older road bikes and boy it pays dividends in handling. My 40 plus year old Honda’s handle sweetly and the ZRX1200 no longer feels like the frame has a hinge in the middle………. My FZR1000 has a Hagon Monoshock to replace the old remote reservoir OEM that was rebuilt and actually collapsed on a ride! The front forks just get regular oil changes as they are good quality Ohlins internals. @Hairy, yeah, agreed, if you are looking to change up to another Harley rather just keep the OEM bouncers clean and leak free. Hard to recover the money spent on bits on a bike when trading in.

Sorry man, just search for Bitubo Suspension……..I am not smart enough to provide links! I did order through Denver Biggs at Bling King in Joburg. 082 450 8878. He also did the suspension on my KLR 650 and I will use him for my 1983 CB750 F when the time comes.

Just do it, but sit down when you start ordering suspension! The Bitubo Twin shocks on my ZRX, matched with their progressive fork springs……….Harley in their catalogue too!

Not posted for a while, we arrived in Copenhagen a few days ago. Wandering the streets today I came across this two seater drone thingy. Eight electric motors and 8 propellers, counter rotating. Only 35 mins endurance as of now but I expect it will get better as technology evolves. Still undecided as to whether I would have a go or not! No price tag.

All lovely bikes. I shall offer my thoughts based on 1000’s of kms of riding in all all terrain, tar, jeep track, and enduro type track (within the limitations of a large motorcycle) I am lucky enough to have a KTM 1190 and a 690 Enduro Rally. The big beast for two up use or those days when a fast blast on Karoo dirt roads is my therapy. The small one for solo riding and it is fast on almost any terrain. For me it comes down to pillion or solo riding and what kind of trips and terrain. As light as possible is the answer to bike handling for regular peeps like me. Of the bikes you have mentioned I would choose the Yam T7 if solo, the Honda AT for two up. Both very capable. Heck, the T7 can carry a pillion, my old KLR can, but it really depends on what you want out of the bike. I would love a T7 but find that my 690 enduro offers what I need in that mid size bike, very few HP down on the Yam and and a lot of kgs lighter with very good suspension. But yes, a single V a tremendous parallel twin. But I like it. If you ever find yourself in Hoekwil you are welcome to pop in and ride one of mine…..just for an idea. When I do Baviaans I am going on my KLR. If I were to ride across Africa……my KLR…..but the two KTMs put a stupid smile on my face! If I were to give up all my motorcycles and buy just one, my heart would say KTM 1190R second hand or the new 1290 Adventure , my brain would say Africa Twin, I think the 2019 model or whatever was the last one prior to the few hp upgrade. On the Honda I would also look at the DCT version, a bit heavier but I believe it is a dream in the dirt. Rambling now, sorry!

Yahhhh, not much power as far as modern bikes go (128HP) but a lovely rich wave of torque and a silky smooth engine! Plenty fast enough for me.

Righty Oh, been away from SA for ages with the bikes locked up hopefully not getting up to mischief while I am away. The tanks are full and the battery chargers plugged in. Anyways, a few pics of some of them as they are prepped for the winter of little to no riding. Much rain in my area and I have yet to pave my drive way.

Great stages over the last few days. Will miss tomorrow as heading back to Dubai…..wonderful racing!

I need to test ride a Rocket, it is just such a different machine. Bigger version of what the old V Max was all about I imagine.

All the time on my Katoom 690R , but, yes, I try not to on my MTB. Talking brakes……..I tried to go from George to Oudtshoorn on my FZR1000 without touching the brakes but still riding reasonably hard. I made it until the corner above the 180 hairpin……just slightly too fast and had to dump a bit of brake. I do like the challenge of the Outeniqua Pass without using brakes on any of my bikes………of course easier up the gomo than down and when heading down, just sometimes one has to be a tad more enthusiastic toward the bottom left right left right combination to pass the four wheeled traffic!

Back to The Mud Patch today, descent as we coast out over Belgium was pretty busy!

Apparently it has been busy, they expected many arrivals after we had left the airport and during the following day. Two of my colleagues have flown in, a 7500 from Oz landed at Samedan and a 6000 from USA, landed at Zurich. Parking at Altenrhein is limited for an aerie like ours. Span is 104 feet so we have to towed around. As you see from tail cam in the fin the apron is small. There is an Embraer 170 or 190 schedule that pops over from Austria every so often, hard to fit the Globals/ 650’s on there when he is in town!

Recently arrived in Switzerland for the WEF at Davos. Lucky to have great weather. Often the winds from a few thousand feet up are very strong and gusty and the 4degree glide slope becomes a bit of a challenge with speed control. The 7500 has a great A/P and A/T and is also smooth with the spoilers out if required on a steep glide slope so does make it easier than the Classic or the Challenger. Unlike the old Global this one can have a 5 kt tail wind on the approach, nicer to shoot the ILS and not do the Circle at Altenrhein. An interesting limitation on the 4degree slope is the landing mass restricted due to sink rate. Anyways, a few pics to share. They towed us to the far end of the airfield, right out of the way!

This dust is like powder, incredibly fine. I did not notice any issues with the aeroplane performance on departure. Of course all the sensitive vents and probes were covered on parking. It is also way less hazardous than volcanic ash which I expect is just due to volume or amount of dust per cubic meter of air versus the concentration of ash in a volcanic ash cloud. My reasoning, perhaps flawed! Sand is a different matter entirely. A large sandstorm can cause significant damage to a parked aeroplane, worse if flying in it. It is remarkable how these machines still function in the conditions they are often subjected to.

Ah pollen……great, will be in Switzerland for WEF next week. Yeah, this dust was so fine, like powder, horrible. Will see what the aerie looks like tomorrow on departure to UK. Likely have it washed there. Or find some rain on the way

Righty Oh! So a pic of our G7500……..again……sorry, it is just that is all I fly these days. Kuwait Airport was closed last night for a few hours with a monster dust storm passing through. We had to delay our departure from Dubai. For ages it was 200m viz . It cleared to 1000 m TDZ RVR for our arrival and the wind was howling. At least in Kuwait it tends to be straight down the runway. The pic does not show it but a very fine dust was still blowing when I took the photo, very crap for breathing and also for one’s eyes which also struggle in the dry 38 degrees of the evening. Much like a talcum powder. Anyways, still dusty this morning.

I have done Hoekwil to Josie and back on the bike twice, despite the fact that my company would pay the return flight to go for my FAA medical. I do stop over though. Normally Bloem on the way up and Middleburg on the way back. I would not do CT to Josie in one hit…..and I do like riding my bike! I am planning a largely dirt road trip for next time. N1 is horrible with trucks if you have crap weather……hard passing in the spray. Colesburg to Bloem I take the road that parallels the N1. Bloem to Josie is mostly boring.

Beautiful bike, I really like this……and the 175 too. I should look for something similar for my wife to learn to ride on.