mazambaan

Ok, so I have a contribution. Wheel my bike (Ginat eTrance) out at 5h15 or so for around an hour ride and the chain is off the front sprocket so I hurriedly fiddle about and, after a few impatient tries it is on but the gears are now slipping and/ or changing randomly. I get through the ride but put the bike on a stand and start inspecting. Chain is straight, no hard links. Ah, chain guide has lost some internals - pull that off for home made replacement. Back cluster is dirty and a bit of play so pull that off for a good cleaning, including the free body. Jockey wheels packed with grass; pull them apart and re-grease. Re-assemble; still erratic, more in some gears than others so re-check all the limit screws and adjustments. Still troubling. Pull the chain and check it with a ruler or wear and straightness, all good. FINALLY, counting the links I spot one broken side plate on an internal link; must have been from my morning fiddling, amazed it held out. Shimano CN M6100. Chain already has two quick links so I suspect a visit to the R1 000 shop for a new chain is the order of the day. BUT, whole day gone and a more careful chain inspection would have saved it. Is 8100 "better" than the 6100?

and if you have the urge to ride some gravel you can do it very comfortably. "Comfortable" is what I hear a lot about the GS and probably the reason a good number of Iron Butt riders choose it for long distances.

forges some very strong, very tough and multi skilled athletes, particularly "in the wild" as it were. Pleasure to tour with such people.

Ja, also from tribesmen on the ground Zim coffee production is quite robust (pun unintended) but a lot contracted for Nespresso. New coffee shop just opened at Harare airport; some Bootlegger influences.

For sure although maybe you mean 800/850/900 now but very nice, smooth bikes and IMHO, pretty reliable. However quite a few options from Yamaha 700, KTM 790/890 etc, Honda AT and even Suzuki Vstroms; not that I have any experience on any of these. TIC, the only advantages of the 1250, 1300 boxers etc is that they mostly doesn't fall over completely but rest on the pots, making it easier to pick up. Downhill tip over and you will need a winch or mates x 3 or 4.

Agreed but note that for the harde vier by vier manne the plastic handle has a risk of shattering and the back of the tool go through your hand, particularly as some of the 4x4 tyres need serious effort to get the tool or plug in (some guys use a 6mm drill, I kid you not). Have a glance at bike specific kits from say Flying Brick (hub member methinks). Pack a can of tyre inflator for luck.

Not dissimilar to me but an incident did cause me to weigh up contingency plans a bit more carefully. On Saturday I got a puncture on the motorbike down in a hole at the base of a waterfall, not the greatest area, someone did lose their MTB there; the guide a the back of an MTB group. So I put in a can of blo job and hoped for the best which, luckily, just got me to the surfaced road; then it was call the home boss (luckily there was signal and the call answered; never certain with my boss) and beg for a trailer. I could have put in a new tube but warm day etc would have been a bit of an effort. So have a plan and make sure all the pieces are oiled, maybe even well oiled.

How is his Dad doing? A real gentleman that.

nitpicking I am; Prof Google says: "Highest ever rainfall in one year was measured at Jonkershoek in the Western Cape (3 874 mm in 1950). The wettest place in South Africa is Matiwa, with an average annual rainfall of 2 004 mm (calculated over a 60-year period)." So maybe 3m p.a., not 1.3?

Ah, maybe this be the key difference. Hard to get an enduro ready dirt bike well outside of say 15% of the KTM 300 type price range but a bicycle for Sani2c etc etc can run between say R50k and R200k. All new of course.

Good advice for tomorrow . Keep something for the even the last 10km as some nasty little climbs at 45th cutting and up to Toll Gate bridge (watch for the 90 degree bend turning onto the N3 before this). Wind always seems to be in your face down to the finish. Have a great ride, even if it rains, there is good spirit in the bunches throughout.

You should be spoiled for choice but suggest starting at Karkloof Country Club (off P141), down past Cramond towards Albert Falls, a short stretch of the horrible R33 then up to Mbona (and the P141 again) and back to Karkloof cc. If you still have legs up Khyber Pass to Nottingham Rd or Balgowan and back to Karkloof on another loop closer to the N3. BUT easy to get lost in the area and there are a few dead ends so best have some mapping. Ride to Karkloof Falls if open (and loop back to Karkloof cc with a bit of simple single track). You will get plenty of ascent methinks.

Aye, some bike (motorbike) builders talk in orangutangs. What you are talking is 10 orangutangs tight. While on the subject I have learnt the hard way never to tighten KTM dirt bikes rear axle to the specified torque as it will break the spacer / adjustment plate. "Tight" is fine and I have not had one come loose.

Not so sure about this - what is the physics behind it?

Could you DM me please - I need two pairs.

Do you know why you didn't "feel it"? That is irritating though. I have learnt this lesson twice. Once tightening the flywheel on the taper on an old Husky dirt bike and wrench just did not click - I think the L/R lever just wasn't completely in its spot and the flywheel cracked. Cost me a litre of Red Heart for a secondhand one from the local dealer - quite a character. Recently was tightening caliper bolts on a Husky 501 using a low part of the range on a big torque wrench; mistake and stopped just before stripping on instinct; whew!

It is terrible to have this tendency and a dirt bike unless you have a very deep wallet (or big sponsorship :)). First tip over and you have a decision; replace scratched plastics (etc) or try and ignore. Been ongoing for 40 odd years.

Slight change from Caster; Kenyans getting a bit of attention as serial dopers. Who would have thought? https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/66223437

Very common in Kruger in summer (maybe winter too, just not been there). Imagine you have a nice quiet spot and a huge caravan with all mod cons and aircon pulls in 2m from your ear! Eish. I too shall investigate Nossob in about a weeks' time; all things being equal. Then on to Mabua.

Exciting end and what a celebration plus good to see 33 winning somewhere; no track limits tomfoolery for those boys. This may be an interesting website for those interested in US AMA hall of fame history etc. https://rollingphysicsproblem.wordpress.com/category/racing/

Maybe have a look at the EMBA routes and buy a temporary board or membership; East Coast cycling which probably has the biggest groups. Many of the routes are on cane tracks, some good gravel, others a bit overgrown and slippery but you could easily get a 20km loop north of Cornubia and maybe even at Shongweni. All farm related operations have right of way but it is mostly friendly. Otherwise I think you have to haul; Berg 100 type areas or inland from Lovu / Illovo, 1000 Hills etc. These areas can have some risk.

Off topic here but I think the good outcomes are due to the individual, not any HO Sanparks management.

IOM TT blows me away and I am always pleased when there is limited carnage (one death this year?). One SA rider this year. Some good YT on the bikes as well; particularly Rutter's Honda a thing of beauty; but very pricey to keep running. A bit unfair maybe but I am scared for guys like Dunlop, Hillier, Hickman, Martin, McGuinness etc etc who one "gets to know" from TV, YT etc. Hillier from his Dakar series. I would love to go but do not see the opportunity sadly. If I hit a jackpot it will be ISDT, Romaniacs (hire a bike to tour around for these), IOMTT, one MXGP, one trials round, one MotoGP. Done - unless I get hooked somewhere.

Stunner - good luck. Browsing AdvRider - if it was used as a track bike; walk away. 😁