Spokey

I generally just ease them across the road with a stick or a bike glove....off my hand! I have always found that they move off with out much drama, the bigger ones that is. Smaller ones can be a bit feisty! I have stopped traffic on the R328 for a large tortoise to cross. Just after Robinsons Pass northbound a rather big fellow was lumbering across the road. Was nice to see him cross safely.

I always stop and help them across the road..........I hate to think that there are people who deliberately run them over if they see them.

Ha ha, yeah, I just bought some really nice ATG soft panniers. They are super lekker but too big for my day rides. On the KLR I have very nice small throw over bags for tools and spares. I carry the back pack just for my snacks and hydration bladder. Sometimes I just strap a collapsable cooler box on the rack on the KLR for spares!! On the road bikes I just carry tire plug kits! All the strapping on the top box in the Katoom pic is because I read a lot about top boxes flying off bikes on dirt tracks. So.......belt and braces! The top KLR pic is the track leading east out of Prince Albert. Road is directly opposite the church in town. Around 20 kms later you take the right turn through the huge gate and then head around 50kms more to intersect the N12 south bound to De Rust. The top Katoom pic is somewhere on the track between Tarkastad and Adelaide ( a little east of my normal roaming!) Swartburg Pass is a huge favourite of mine. I ride it as often as possible. Big bike, little bike, bakkie, always with a flask of coffee and a rusk to enjoy on the top!

A few more

As promised......a little of my jolling around South Cape. Mostly between Swartburg Pass and George, east to Prince Alfred Pass.

Thank you! I will dig up some shots I like of my various machines and post.

Yeah, different, I like it!

When I arrived home I had missed the expiration date of the roadworthy by just 2 days. Took the little Duke for a spin over Outeniqua Pass after the test. Buggar....what a tart to ride around town (I knew it) but sublime on the pass............However.....at enthusiastic speeds I noticed a waffling in the acceleration. Turns out it has a Yammie style exhaust valve. Right side exhaust running cool, very little pressure but exhaust manifolds hot! Investigation saw the exhaust valve rotary actuator completely off the shaft and a dogs breakfast of bollox.......So, welcome to the world of Duke ownership! But I love the totally unnecessary beast and will fix as required. She is my highly strung Italian Skweeza!

Back from my training in Canada after months away and then the Missus keeps me busy in her restaurant........managed a quick jaunt over Outeniqua Pass on the little Katoom. This on the way home via Montagu Pass. Pic from the north side. Lekker to be out on the bike after so long.

Ayee, this is a pretty little bike!

Very cool bike. Perhaps my favourite road sign too.

Ha ha, she covered it up with nice winter sheets, good and soft then left it alone. I think my cats would scatter if that little thing was rumbling in the living room. I have a video of it running, will try and post later, It sounds pretty cool, when played on my mini Bose speaker thingy that travels with me.

This is something I have thought about as my bikes are all on chargers except the FZR which has a Lithium battery. That is simply disconnected and loses a minuscule amount of its charge over many months. When not on chargers I go through batteries at quite a rate due to being away from home for long periods. I will over time replace all the batteries with Lithium Ion as I do believe the initial cranking power is superior to the common lead acid batteries. Perhaps best to just disconnect all the batteries which is fine on the older bikes but I am not sure it is good for the newer bikes with clever electronics and instrument clusters. I leave the tanks full too so as to guard against rust in the older tanks. The plastic tank of the KTM is also filled up. I believe better that than having a large air gap where fumes can mix. Thoughts and comments will be much appreciated.

I wonder how I would have reacted as a pax sitting in that seat. The knowledge that the machine is behaving as it should given the circumstances of the engine failure and the containment of the damage with what appears to be just the cowlings missing, should inspire confidence.(Aware that peeps on ground could have been hurt, seems no one was luckily). Seeing the flames not flaring back to the wing, wow, one should just chill and wait for the landing, having the phone camera ready for the fire trucks arrival! But eeisshhhhh, it is burning.... man, that’s why it is best to fly them. You don't see that from the flight deck! Edited....spelling.

The Duke has arrived at home. No space in the garage so straight into the Living Room........ah, my long suffering Missus. Well, she was the one who welcomed “Bel Rossa” to the Cape after a long delivery from Josie in the back of a van. Buggar, four weeks until I get home!

Blimming heck, that engine shredded itself. Loads of broken blades there.

Had day 2 of Systems Integration in the sim yesterday. Just consolidating the ground school subjects with some fixed base simulator work. We had an extra 30 minutes assigned for some reason so we “flew “ a take off and return for the ILS on 06R at Montreal. Bit odd with no motion or sound but still great to operate the side stick for the first time and see these amazing screens at work. This is the PFD which under normal circumstances is always displayed on the left half of the Multi Function Window number one. (DU1). Well for the left seat anyway. Right side of MFW 3 (DU 3) for the right seat. This is all I have for now.!

Thanks, yup, not known for the comfort or ease of use in town. So rides will be planned to avoid the traffic in George (such as it is) typically with a quick scoot over the Outeniqua pass and home. Even Robinsons Pass on the R328 is likely to be too far ha ha. And very bumpy anyway.Perhaps drag it on the trailer to Killarney......now, that could be fun. Perhaps thunder through Groot Brak to say hi to BSG. Edited to include a Groot Brak visit.

Indeed, a good initiative.

Ha ha, funny guy hey, but I like your style.I thought to ride it back myself though it would be an endurance event on the straight flat bits........but the dealer does not want to stash it for the next six weeks until I get home. Nope, a van and safely stashed in my lounge is just fine.

Fire It Up in Josie. Had great service before and again now. Big Zed arrived in South Cape with a charging issue. Berto at Fire It Up had it sorted with no hassles at all. Very good after sales service IMHO.

So.......gone and done it. Wanted one of these for about 6 years now and was never in the right place at the right time. I have bought it unseen apart from pictures and a couple of videos but having bought my ZRX from this dealer in the same manner I have every confidence in them. Bike will be delivered to South Cape and have to live in the house until I get back to SA to sort out. Lucky to have a very understanding Missus! These pics are screen shots from the dealership website. Edited.....sorry, duplicate pic as from an earlier post........but it is pretty!

Standby, pics on the way. I am in Dubai, bike in Joburg. Will have it sent to the south Cape. I am only home mid March.

Congrats Man, wish you many safe miles on the beast!

So many accidents where the crew screw the pooch. I know it is easy to sit on the ground safely behind my iPad and comment, but honestly did these guys not give a little thought to what they are doing or planning. Why did an experienced crew head into a narrow pass when mountain winds would undoubtedly be prevalent, at a slow speed in a low powered aeroplane......mind boggles. Buggar, I know I can make mistakes and I have been fortunate to get through some dubious situations in my past as a young inexperienced guy but I like to think that I learned a lot and to not rely on my flying skills ( such as they may be) to get me out of a poor decision. So incredible how many high time pilots succumb do poor decisions........definitely worth a read up I think.