Spokey

Old ballie is having a laugh! Missus less than happy….. the nature of things!

I have been home for a bit. Had a few cool rides. I took the Chunky Munich Bier Fraulein for a trip over Outeniqua Pass and enjoyed many rides on the Big Katoom. Yam T7 had a grand day to Swartberg Pass yesterday.

N + 1 Hairy, that is how it is……….. N being 15 for me…….3 not useable, waiting in line for rebuilding…..To be honest it is proving a little difficult to keep them all happy! Sorry that your Katoom has had some issues but once sorted I think you will have a fine machine there. I do fancy one in my garage!

Prepping the Baby Honda for a show at Sedgefield this Sunday. Big brother 750 will be there too.

Congratulations Man! Wish you happy travels on that beast……shout if you end up in the Hoekwil area at all!

This……..go Nike…..just do it! Hairy, your post above re the comparison of the two bikes. Of interest My KLR weighs 194 Kgs dry, the KTM 1190 is 217 dry ( big girl yes) both 23 l fuel. power is 42 hp vs 150 or 100 in dirt mode. The KTM belies its weight in the dirt but I am no Chris Birch and I do not treat it like an enduro bike. That 950 would be superior in the dirt. The big KTM is my go to bike. It puts a smile on the face on every ride, it can bimble along at low revs with a soft growl from the engine or above 6000 it howls…….

My brain would say XT and my heart KTM………despite the sensible option of the XT, I know I would go with the KTM all day long. The 950/990 is a reliable motorcycle without all the electronics of the modern bikes. Both tend to hold reasonably high second hand prices if in good condition. There is a reason, both are very good models for their purpose. As the guys have said, any longer trips and you will wish for the bigger bike. For dirt roads and tracks I would still choose that big Katoom as they are so capable. The XT may be lighter but it is still no Enduro bike!

I was in London recently and bought this book on DC8’s to see this pic inside. I was sure I may have been on the crew that day. Turns out I was! I checked my log book when home in SA for a brief time off.

On the various groups I belong to there have been some interesting machines turning up. I rather fancy either of these but have vowed to the Missus there shall be no more bikes until………………next time!

My back yard,thats why you received the trophy ha ha….. I absolutely love this area. I ride this pass many times a year despite only having 3.5 months off in SA per year. Luckily I do not need any more than spares and tools for a day ride and generally use my Katoom 690. It is such an iconic pass. Next time in the area, if time permits, meander down into Die Hel. It is a fantastic ride but quite challenging on a large motorcycle.

I have been lucky to have a few days at home during my time on duty so made the most of it with a short ride on the T 7 to try the reworked suspension. The bike is all I wanted now. Front end is smooth over the corrugations and the back seems very easy to control sliding in the corners. Super happy! The tail tidy was made in George to a design by George Yamaha. Those guys also fitted the spots as I like, no excess wiring around the crash bars. I sold the Black Widow end can and bought this Remus. Not too loud but a nice deeper burble.

I like his content a lot, particularly the T7 vids. Very high quality.

Wow……..more than a bucket of Randella’s! Gorgeous bike….

With just 1800 kms on this lovely little T7 was in danger of being moved on. The first bike in 25 to have that hanging over her head. Despite the various mods I would return from a ride and feel …….well, nowt! A CBX 1000 of similar value was calling my name and arguably the CBX is a way better investment! In fact, not arguably, factualy! And then the red and white tart and I took a 400 km ride on mixed tar/dirt and she revealed her strong points. Now, baring in mind I have a KTM 690 Enduro and an 1190 s ADV, this T7 proved to be the perfect mixed medium tourer for me. So her place in the stable is ensured, so much so, that the suspension has been removed by Yamaha George and sent to CT to M P Suspension to be re valved and adjusted to my weight. I have sole the Black Widow end can and replaced it with a Remus system. Slowly building it into an inclusion in my final bike stabel !

Yes, I read too that this is an issue. So far none with my big Orange 1190……

My December 1994 FZR 1000 Genesis EXUP has returned from a mild refurb……..though not entirely mild in price. Anyways, 127000 kms on the machine, 119000 added by me over the years. I have owned her for 24 years now. Still rides like a dream, is fast as I require!

Jeepers, this is a thing of beauty……..must sound absolutely awesome with those pipes!

Thanks, sounds awesome. For now there is no room. I need to reorganise and reevaluate what I would like out of my bikes. I am keen to pick up some XR/XL 600/650 while the prices are almost reasonable. I fancy an Africa Twin, the old 750 and perhaps KTM 950/990…………. Road bikes, the CBX or a CB1100 RC or RD but I think that dream is gone. Prices far too salty for me. Anyways, in the meantime I will look after these old things and try and keep them all happy….ha ha!

Thank you, yes a CBX would be great……….It might not be difficult to get the Missus into that, she does like them! Prices rising though……

Hairy asked for some pics……..here are a few. The bike room is undergoing some rearranging so some of the wall mounted pics need moving. I plan to build a platform for the small Yam FS 50 to sit against the wall above the CB 400 and CB 750. The big Yam FZR will park alongside the Aprillia 125 when it returns from the respray and refresh in CT. The big German Fraulein needs the Certificate of Authenticity from BMW Heritage in Munich to be mounted on the wall near her parking. Currently the DT125, KLR650 and XL600s are in my old mud brick garage. The XL awaiting rebuild, the KLR awaiting repairs from my “close terrain inspection” in Baviaans and the little DT is simply keepling the two company!! The Big Katoom was waiting for me to get the back wheel in (done). The Yam T7 was jolling outside and missed the photos! The Ducati shirts are from Montreal, Barcelona and London. There are a lot of small boxed models, Tamiya kits(to build), coffee cups and general “bike stuff” that are in another part of my bike room. Al but the FS50 and XL600 are on battery chargers and kept running. All have papers and are licenced.

A strong possibility, just not for the next few weeks as I am off to work again tomorrow. Bikes are all packed up and snoozing!

Despite my earlier comment re the bike collection and the Missus being happy…………… we drove to the Mother City today to take a look at a reasonably rare potential addition to the stable. A 2006 Ducati 749 Dark. Bike has just 13000 kms on and is almost perfect, just one or two tiny marks on the plastics. The Missus decided it would be a great stablemate to the 1098. So……..long story short, I have become the custodian of this fine little motorcycle and hope like heck its value increases as I believe it should. These Pierre Terblanche bikes (999 included) did not have the popularity of the preceding Tamburini designs. I personally feel the 749 and 999 styling is still relevant today. So here she is, Dark edition in Matt Black. Completely original including the tool kit behind the right fairing and Ducati exhaust. Tyres are Bridgestone S23’s so they will need a change to some appropriate Pirelli hoops.

Ha ha yeah, easy to hide behind the big Orange!

That Trials bike is really lekker. I fancy an older Montessa or such. For some reason the Missus is less keen. Apparently I have enough bikes to keep me happy………

Yeah…..it is.