mazambaan

With blood boiling 🤬 I can only add; get statements from as many of the kids as possible now, ready to be repeated at SAPS, while memory of events is still fresh. Any independent witnesses and any photographs to be filed and ready. I really think it is something PPA should be onto and the only other person to try is JP Smith, maybe someone higher up in useless SAPS.

Old Foxy 🤣. No one seems sure why the dam (Gamka Poort that is) was ever built. Flood control was the standard answer but, back then particulalry, there were only one or two dwellings likely to be threatened by flooding. It was built by then DWAF.

Very true; a friend has the XRack extension on a LR Defender with a vertical plate, maybe 12mm or 16mm thick to lift the extension. With two ebikes and not a great deal of use there is a slight but noticeable bend in the solid steel plate. Still useable though.

I (old and slow) went down with a group a few years ago; bit of a slog from Gamkapoort Dam cottages in drizzle and light rain, did have permission from the landowners, most NB we were told, approach road littered with sharp rocks. As noted, Die Leer is steep and lots of loose rock but not that long; slow and careful is the way. We were in Die Hel cottages around 2pm in beautiful sunshine. One of the most impressive days' riding I have had. Out of Die Hel then down to Prince Albert is another storey, longish hard day but I was very slow; also into town around 2pm to 3pm as I remember.

As in all cases, speak for yourself and all evil needs to triumph is for god men to do nothing. Your choice. Carrying is not for me now, although tempted now and again but in a life or death situation? I always refer to the mountain biker who killed a few would be robbers with a knife (but he was prepared and trained).

Only slightly relevant but a few years ago I did the Fun Ride with my daughter and at the expo they had train timetables etc that showed extra trains and we bought tickets only to find that at the Clermont station there was two other cyclists and one very dodgy person with a (stolen?) bicycle and no trains. The official we found knew nothing about extra trains but one "should" come at a time that more or less suited us later starters. We were just making plans to get a car when it came and it was a relatively easy trip and only slightly dodgy ride to the start. But we agreed that we would not rely on it should again ever happen.

Something that may interest you -640 engine disassembly.

I am a bit slow; is your cost more or less than R682. R2 200 on TAL seems pricey for a pomp.

I really feel for you getting the runaround and investing time, money and spirit in the project, results not materialising. I don't have much experience with extensive engine re-builds but did have a 640 Adv KTM and rebuilt the water pump and a few minor things and even then, 5 years ago, spares were hard to come by. KTM's woes and age have not helped. Crank machining; good engine machinists and re-builders are hard to come by and not cheap (I have stories), same for stator and starter motor rewiring etc. Either an ongoing labour of love, look for any secondhand 625/640 motor or cut losses and look at other options.

RIP to the cyclists; terrible. But I will take a slightly different view and, while I agree, I don't think this is the core of the drunk driving and pedestrian and cycling deaths by motor vehicle. I think it is that ubuntu is a myth and there is little respect for other road users; it is every man for himself, devil take the hindmost. Evidence is the extremes; Mauritius has narrow roads but, when I have ridden there, I did not feel in too much danger (I wouldn't even ride SA roads generally). Anecdotally, Vietnam has hordes of scooters etc but not many accidents, everyone has respect for each other. Harare has very few bicycles and scooters etc; it is just too dangerous; roads and drivers (that was what I was told when I asked). Draconian policing and political pressure may improve respect on the roads (0% alcohol is just knee jerk IMHO) but the thoughtless lack of respect for other road users could be intrinsic in SA (and other similar countries) society and not easily changed.

Sigh, I am nowhere near here but enough exotic pine, gum and wattle plantations have been planted all over SA and have ruined indigenous grasslands and dried up rivers and streams to last me. Chopping some down and restoring the indigenous vegetation has my vote.

One thing you do NOT need is an ebike with no e.

Very interesting - can I ask which spec you use and where these can be found? The website seems to go straight to finance options so not much on specs (that I can see).

I see ou Bakkies Botha in the line up. Be very careful who you jostle out there. https://www.citizen.co.za/network-news/network-sport/2025/11/26/bakkies-botha-skop-munga-af-hammie-wessels-neem-eerste-lang-skof/

My 2c; it is, in my experience, always much colder with a cold wind at the top than up the pass. Take a jacket if you want to enjoy the achievement. Bicycle down record, border post to border post, back in the day, was 9 minutes by a Pmb madman (not GM) but I'm guessing this has been beaten by now.