mazambaan

Hmmm, sounds cheeky and my advice would be to get your conveyancer out of bed for an opinion, maybe a legal letter. Otherwise compromise; he gets three quotes, pick the lowest, go 50:50 and "without prejudice". I am no lawyer though.

Agree and I think a big factor may well have been the seat height (and she mentioned service intervals). If you are under 1.8m standard 500/501, even the 701 is a bit of a challenge, particularly with luggages. I am considering getting my 501 lowered and I am 1.78m. No so much to get on and off but to paddle in the technical (to me) bits. The Honda Dakar bike is unobtanium as I understand it, much more so than even the KTM etc Rally Replicas and I heard a podcast with Chris Evans (long history with the Dakar) where he said he thought they were slightly better than even the factory KTMs. The real rally bikes are quite heavy and built for rally; very stable and reliable at speed over rough terrain, elsewhere maybe a handful; not that I have ridden one.

It's a great vibe and interesting bikes so I have often been to the start point, never ridden, big crowds on bikes scare me, even though most runs have been incident free. Very easy to have someone cause a big accident.

Glance at that Youtube oke; Dave Moss Tuning (I know there are hundreds - he is a suspension guy), I also follow the bike handbook but he's quite good, seems to me.

On a visit to CT a month ago we took a walk up there to the dam at the top, plenty walkers, the odd cyclist, open but seemed safe. "seemed" is the operative word. SA crazy.

Yup, that is the one I was thinking of thanks, but have not re-read it.

Are there not such events? I'm thinking of the guy who did the drugs, HGH etc trial for Out There. He participated in some ultra long distance event as part of that.

Thanks for the info - I have been listening to the MotoStarr podcasts featuring the older US greats; Reg Pridmore (he mentioned starting racing in the US on the Triumph Thruxtons), Dave Aldana, Dick Mann, Keith McCarty (Andymann will know who that is!!) etc. Fascinating (well, to me).

As already said we all hope for the best outcome for both Binders as that level of racing is incredibly hard and close. There is always someone who can extract a bit more out of a bike and maybe understands the tiny nuances of weight distribution, tyres, reflex action, the electronics and risk on a particular track better than you do. That is what allowed Marquez to dominate until he pushed just a breath too far where his reflexes and the electronic setup he'd chosen couldn't save him so he took an old 500cc two stroke type crash. Then its controlling the red mist.

I think there was an interview where Brad Binder didn't hesitate to finger brother Darren as the most aggressive; can't remember the exact details. And this was after BB had taken out a few guys and been sanctioned in MotoGP. But all a bit hypocritical and inconsistent as I particularly remember Dovi being taken out by Lorenzo which arguably (it was a first corner incident) cost him the world title eventually. Please let Darren get to MotoGP, behave and not take his brother out. Just one of those is fine.

and if it doesn't work at least you get the crash over with quickly ????. What worked for Gray Dick may not have worked for all of us mere mortals.

Jissus Hairy this is irritating BUT in some ways that is why we buy new bikes (the last one I bought was a Husky 430WR in the early 80's). Also sometimes better to buy privately where the owner is honest or has not tried too many bodges. I am always wary after an external service and try and do a nut and bolt, brakes, coolant, tyre pressures, wheel bearings, chain tension, lights etc check as well as before any ride. If you are happy you got a good deal, the irritations are why that is and much of it best sorted by yourself or someone you trust. Can be frustrating and expensive I know. Easier on a dirt bike where a few scratches etc are par for the course.

Apologies, off track and posted before but I laughed when Greg Minnaar's old man told me how he took Greg to his first MTB race at age 12 (as I remember). Greg buggered off and was only seen again at the finish. The rest is history.

Topboxes and their mountings have improved over the years but, as noted above, they bounce the most. Anything valuable in there, consider a ratchet strap around the whole thing and under the mount. Otherwise tankbag. I use the small Wolfman tankbag, Giant Loop Coyote soft bag, (Enduristan Rally Pack tailbag and Wolfman fender bag (puncture repair stuff). Plenty similar alternatives now; all quite pricey.

Raubex busy on the N3 around Umlaas Rd / Camperdown and there is some buggeration on the Shova route, particulary at the underpasses and bridges intersecting the N3. I think the rehabilitation of the Thornville to Umlaas Rd section is pretty much complete but that was also on the go a little while ago with a few stop - go's SA style. Was painful; saw a poor roadie trying the route and he didn't look happy; but that was a few months ago.

This comes up quite a bit - one SA university even had a lecturer who missed some very basic stability issues in structural design. He just disappeared. But to bicycles; I suspect Pat Morewood can just draw out a frame and build it to see if it "fits" but the devil may be in the detail; mainly the stress analysis for member sizing and connection design and manufacture. Seems to me there are two points of frame failure - the member itself it is is under sized (over stressed) and the connection in that it does not distribute the stress evenly within allowable limits. But maybe that is simplistic, understanding what the loadings are must demand experience and deep knowledge; maybe running an instrumented frame.

Chris Cairns facing a battle I see; some paralysis after a heart op.

Good thinking; I am dozy. Thanks to everyone, further ideas welcome, pm if you like to avoid cluttering the thread.

Thanks Roddie; that is a difficulty as I have asked for this but will re-check as to how he's placed.

Yes I have, as well as current registration, now expired.

Registration; oh boy. I have a Husky 501 that I bought from a guy who emigrated. Very pleasant and good deal I think BUT he's now overseas and I need to get the thing registered. All I have is his ID No. ????, no forms filled in. Possible?

One JB from back in the day would have had a field day!

What a lekker ride (hope you missed the rains). I'm envious.

Eddy said. Amateur. If you pump it hard enough you can get it over the ceiling..... ag never mind.

I can't really add to this as I don't know Greg except for a howzit in the family shop but his Dad told me two things: Greg was a natural from junior mx to bicycle and the first little jaunt on a bike at around 12 he left his Dad (a good MX rider in his day) way behind on a bicycle and took off into the distance. Greg can pedal a motorbike as well; now and then. Then, he said Greg is very laid back but incredibly precise and particular about bike set up as well as the technical aspects of the track, training etc of anyone he knew. Aside; Kevin Evans and Brandon Stewart (remember him? he was dating Greg's sister methinks) were in the shop at the time. His Dad was by far the best bike shop owner I have ever dealt with.