Is motorcycling allowed?

[Spokey]

Am out back at work, left two weeks ago to do my annual Simulator recurrent training in Dubai. Just prior to leaving I took a short trip around Klein Karoo area. Crossing the river just east of Calitzdorp my bike decided on a little lay down without telling me! Rookie error, too much throttle after crossing the drift and spun out on the algae, washing out the front. Fortunately not very fast but a rude shock all the same. My old bones do not bounce as well as they used to! Struggled to lift the bike against the admittedly shallow rise of the drift and had to turn it parallel to the road. Anyways the protective gear on the bike and on me did as required and apart from being soaked ( I rolled into the water!) we were soon on the way.  The rest of the ride was without mishap but did leave me a little more cautious and aware of being over 60 and traveling alone.

Edited April 4 by Spokey
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[mazambaan]

On 4/4/2025 at 1:38 PM, Spokey said:

Am out back at work, left two weeks ago to do my annual Simulator recurrent training in Dubai. Just prior to leaving I took a short trip around Klein Karoo area. Crossing the river just east of Calitzdorp my bike decided on a little lay down without telling me! Rookie error, too much throttle after crossing the drift and spun out on the algae, washing out the front. Fortunately not very fast but a rude shock all the same. My old bones do not bounce as well as they used to! Struggled to lift the bike against the admittedly shallow rise of the drift and had to turn it parallel to the road. Anyways the protective gear on the bike and on me did as required and apart from being soaked ( I rolled into the water!) we were soon on the way.  The rest of the ride was without mishap but did leave me a little more cautious and aware of being over 60 and traveling alone.

Well done and righting the ship; no auto pilot but less harm done.

A word of warning; in the Umgeni valley in KZN is such a drift among many; innocuous, slightly green but hellish slippery. I nipped through with no throttle but still a little wiggle; my partner dumped his GS800 BMW and it was quite difficult to right with the concrete being so slippery.

I suspect it twas the slippery drift where a KZN adventure stalwart dumped his bike and suffered broken ribs, punctured lung and some internal injuries, eventually passing away, RIP Simon?

[IceCreamMan]

Been riding motorcycles for 45 years now, had one or 2 accidents over the years, primarily adventure riding but did have a serious crash in 1984 which required intensive surgery but I digress.

Been riding bikes that have  ABS for about 15 years now ( and bikes without ) and while the ABS has activated from time to time over rough roads and the like it’s never saved me from an accident. 
 

until last night that is. On the monster which has ridiculously great brakes (brembo) behind a BMW fancy car going all of 30 mph when a van pulls out in front of the BMW, driver slams on brakes and the emergency brake light flashes and I just grab full anchors front and back. By the grace of superior beings and Brembo I stop 20 cm from rear bumper of BMW. So, ABS saved my ass. ABS 1 ice cream man 0. 
 

I accept this situation was entirely my doing, just got very relaxed on the bike so a good cheap wake up call. If I was on any of my other bikes i would have hit the BMW. That monster has excellent brakes and light weight stops on a ticky. 
 

went onto my function in the glorious sunshine a lot wiser. 

[Spokey]

On 4/8/2025 at 7:40 AM, mazambaan said:

Well done and righting the ship; no auto pilot but less harm done.

A word of warning; in the Umgeni valley in KZN is such a drift among many; innocuous, slightly green but hellish slippery. I nipped through with no throttle but still a little wiggle; my partner dumped his GS800 BMW and it was quite difficult to right with the concrete being so slippery.

I suspect it twas the slippery drift where a KZN adventure stalwart dumped his bike and suffered broken ribs, punctured lung and some internal injuries, eventually passing away, RIP Simon?

Definitely going to err on the side of caution. These minor mishaps are a good wake up call at times.
Buggar , punctured lungs and passing away, that is terrible. I recently bought a high end ADV jacket  which has chest protection built in. Sadly very hot for our summers, but as the weather cools I think it will be great. 
I find it difficult to get the level of protection I would like with the required comfort. Biggest problem for me is the ADV trousers, always too hot!! I use MX pants and boots but feel I need to add knee braces……it goes on!

[mazambaan]

On 4/12/2025 at 10:58 AM, Spokey said:

Definitely going to err on the side of caution. These minor mishaps are a good wake up call at times.
Buggar , punctured lungs and passing away, that is terrible. I recently bought a high end ADV jacket  which has chest protection built in. Sadly very hot for our summers, but as the weather cools I think it will be great. 
I find it difficult to get the level of protection I would like with the required comfort. Biggest problem for me is the ADV trousers, always too hot!! I use MX pants and boots but feel I need to add knee braces……it goes on!

We digress a little but, as I hammer 3 score years and 10, I am always ATGATT although it varies; BMW "Rally" jacker or vented jacked or Alpine Stars protector vest, usually a neck brace, always knee guards and Tech 7 boots, seldom less. Snag is that "adventure riding" speeds, and hence airflow, can vary so much. You can ride 100km on gravel for 5km of loose round rocks, enduro style and snug on the gravel roads usually means cooking over the rocks.

No answers but I do glance at the airbag vests and jackets although I think I do not ride enough to justify R20k odd, one accident at 20kph or more could justify the expenditure in spades.

[IceCreamMan]

On Monster at rykas cafe. 
 

 

[Hairy]

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/12KLvuw2Rp6/

[IceCreamMan]

 It looking good at all

 

https://www.rideapart.com/news/757658/ktm-production-pause-2025-july/

[Hairy]

We did the "Cancervive" ride yesterday in support of this organisation, and what a nice ride with great weather.

It was pretty awesome seeing some of the ladies assisting the event with "survivor" on the back of their jackets!

Basics of the ride, from Table View area to meet riders at the Engen on the N1 outside of Stellies, up to Franschhoek, and via the pass on some back roads to Botrivier.

Managed to sneak in a pic of our club riders overlooking Franschhoek.

 

Some of the bikes at the Look Out Point ... you can spot my KTM 950 ADV in the pack, the HD's front rotor needs replacing, so had to take the KTM out for a spin.

 

The stars of the Show

 

 

[Spokey]

10 hours ago, Hairy said:

We did the "Cancervive" ride yesterday in support of this organisation, and what a nice ride with great weather.

It was pretty awesome seeing some of the ladies assisting the event with "survivor" on the back of their jackets!

Basics of the ride, from Table View area to meet riders at the Engen on the N1 outside of Stellies, up to Franschhoek, and via the pass on some back roads to Botrivier.

Managed to sneak in a pic of our club riders overlooking Franschhoek.

 

Some of the bikes at the Look Out Point ... you can spot my KTM 950 ADV in the pack, the HD's front rotor needs replacing, so had to take the KTM out for a spin.

 

The stars of the Show

 

 

Fantastic! But seriously, that KTM does stand out!

[Spokey]

All a bit messy at home as I plan a quick 2 to 3 night dash on the 1190R.  Fitted a new Mitas Enduro Xt tyre plus new chain and sprockets today at 27788 kms. Not much kays for a 2015 bike. Anyways……….tomorrow to River Goose Camping near Bonnivale. I plan to take the dirt roads to Groot Brak and then cross the R328 at Brandwacht before heading parallel to the mountains and more or less straight to the R62 for lunch in Barrydale. Tradouws Pass next to Swellendam and then the dirt Swellendam road to River Goose via a few meandering tracks. 
Day two the intention is to head to Tankwa Padstal and then scoot across to the R356 and to Sutherland via the Amandelnek pass. Day 3 will be to Hoekwil on a route yet to be decided.

[Hairy]

11 hours ago, Spokey said:

All a bit messy at home as I plan a quick 2 to 3 night dash on the 1190R.  Fitted a new Mitas Enduro Xt tyre plus new chain and sprockets today at 27788 kms. Not much kays for a 2015 bike. Anyways……….tomorrow to River Goose Camping near Bonnivale. I plan to take the dirt roads to Groot Brak and then cross the R328 at Brandwacht before heading parallel to the mountains and more or less straight to the R62 for lunch in Barrydale. Tradouws Pass next to Swellendam and then the dirt Swellendam road to River Goose via a few meandering tracks. 
Day two the intention is to head to Tankwa Padstal and then scoot across to the R356 and to Sutherland via the Amandelnek pass. Day 3 will be to Hoekwil on a route yet to be decided.

Do you do your initial planning on a hardcopy map, and then move it over to digital planning and plotting?

[Spokey]

8 hours ago, Hairy said:

Do you do your initial planning on a hardcopy map, and then move it over to digital planning and plotting?

Pure old school. I use Tracks 4 Africa  Map Book and the app on my iPad to get an overview. Then I plan the route on good old Google Maps and write the distances down on a piece of paper. Sometimes I carry that in my tiny tank bag, other times like today I do want a GPSwhere I generally know the route I will just head out. I am at River Goose Camping near Bonnievale on the Breede River. Cell reception is good so I have use the T4A app to plan tomorrow s trek together with my Slingsby Maps. So, Touws River first then Tankwa Padstal and then to Sutherland on The Forgotten Highway! 
I do want a GPS, am thinking of a Zumo XT2 or a Montana 760. Must be easy to use and interchangeable between bikes. In the meantime I just make do with maps.

[Spokey]

Camping at River Goose. The sites by the river are sand as it might rain tonight I elected to be back on the grass!