Is motorcycling allowed?

[Spokey]

I am finally back to work on Friday, heading to the sandbox of the Mid East. I took a quick 3 day 1250 km trip to CT to Flying Brick and then a long route to Bike Forge via Langebaan. Camped in Franschoek and Bike Forge. Was a bit of a will I/ won't I sell trip for the Big Katoom. As I age I find her heavy and large but what a pleasure to ride on the open dirt/tar roads. I decided for now that she is a keeper, one just needs to be cognisant of where and how you park the Big Old Tart!

However, if any of you motorcycle Hubbers have owned a Triumph 800 XCx I would welcome your opinions. My brain is telling me to get rid of the Katoom………my heart is saying keep her!

[Spokey]

This is perhaps the Katooms replacement…….still quite heavy but smaller and with a delightful engine.  Importantly too, a direct trade in of equal value……..well, kind of!

[WaynejG]

Cannot comment personally on the Tiger but I have q friend here in PE that has a 800 Tiger that has just clocked 100 000km. He loves it and he used to have a 1200 Tiger.

[sawystertrance]

Beaut. Nice photos too. Where is that road which seems to be going into a  pass? 

[IceCreamMan]

I am at the same cross roads with my 850 GSA.  It’s heavy and top heavy to boot. I am tall but find it a lil cumbersome moving it in the garage or at very slow speeds in the drive way etc. Been thinking of downsizing it for a while but then I take it on the open road and it’s a delight. Off road it works well too but we don’t too much of that here. Very little opportunity to. 
 

i been thinking of the KLE500 or Transalp. Or even the smaller 390 adv or new 450 gs when it launches. 
 

in your case I think the bikes are fairly similar regarding weight. I would keep the KTM if weight was the only criteria. 

[Hairy]

On 1/12/2026 at 11:45 AM, IceCreamMan said:

I am at the same cross roads with my 850 GSA.  It’s heavy and top heavy to boot. I am tall but find it a lil cumbersome moving it in the garage or at very slow speeds in the drive way etc. Been thinking of downsizing it for a while but then I take it on the open road and it’s a delight. Off road it works well too but we don’t too much of that here. Very little opportunity to. 
 

i been thinking of the KLE500 or Transalp. Or even the smaller 390 adv or new 450 gs when it launches. 
 

in your case I think the bikes are fairly similar regarding weight. I would keep the KTM if weight was the only criteria. 

What about the KTM 390 Adventure or the CFMOTO 450?

KLE looks to be dull and downspec'ed and I wish the 450GS did a 21" front wheel.

[Hairy]

On 1/12/2026 at 11:45 AM, IceCreamMan said:

I am at the same cross roads with my 850 GSA.  It’s heavy and top heavy to boot. I am tall but find it a lil cumbersome moving it in the garage or at very slow speeds in the drive way etc. Been thinking of downsizing it for a while but then I take it on the open road and it’s a delight. Off road it works well too but we don’t too much of that here. Very little opportunity to. 
 

i been thinking of the KLE500 or Transalp. Or even the smaller 390 adv or new 450 gs when it launches. 
 

in your case I think the bikes are fairly similar regarding weight. I would keep the KTM if weight was the only criteria. 

https://wilddog.net.za/threads/cf-moto-450-mt.294207/

[Hairy]

CARDO adhesive velcro

 

Hi All

 

Have any of you got an alternative to the Cardo adhesive velcro.

 

I am wanting to move my Cardo to another helmet, and all I need is the 2 x round sections for the speakers, and 1 x section for the internal mic .... the local shop can only sell me the "refresher kit" for R380 which just feels like a rip off for what I am looking for.

[Spokey]

On 1/12/2026 at 9:03 AM, sawystertrance said:

Beaut. Nice photos too. Where is that road which seems to be going into a  pass? 

That is part of Seweweekspoort, from the Laingsburg side toward Calitzdorp. One of my favourite routes between R62 and N1. I came that way from Bike Forge and  Ceres instead of the  direct route Worcester and Swellendam (well that direction) as I really like that road. Another fine road is the turn off from Laingsburg to Ladismith over the Klein Swartburg Pass.

[Spokey]

On 1/12/2026 at 11:45 AM, IceCreamMan said:

I am at the same cross roads with my 850 GSA.  It’s heavy and top heavy to boot. I am tall but find it a lil cumbersome moving it in the garage or at very slow speeds in the drive way etc. Been thinking of downsizing it for a while but then I take it on the open road and it’s a delight. Off road it works well too but we don’t too much of that here. Very little opportunity to. 
 

i been thinking of the KLE500 or Transalp. Or even the smaller 390 adv or new 450 gs when it launches. 
 

in your case I think the bikes are fairly similar regarding weight. I would keep the KTM if weight was the only criteria. 

II really like the Big 1190 R. It is fabulous as a long distance tourer on nice open gravel…….Karoo for instance. But she is just too tall for comfort around town or in confined spaces.  The Tiger 800 has my feet flat on the ground easily, ground clearance is not an issue as I realise it is no enduro bike. I fancied a triple in the garage and figured to give this a try. My 1190S is still with me as I really like that machine. I feel that the 800 XCx will be similar to the 1190 S set in Off Road mode but with the 21 “ front wheel.  Will give it a year or so and see.

Re that CF Moto 450. I have done a lot of research and been to see the bike. I like it a lot. I will give it a few more years and see how they are doing. It is on my radar as I age and look to smaller cc and power. Ton’s of U Choob content around this machine.

Edited January 14 by Spokey
Content

[Chad Minnaar]

My first 1200 and love the torque from the boxer motor & the low centre of gravity

[sawystertrance]

16 hours ago, Spokey said:

That is part of Seweweekspoort, from the Laingsburg side toward Calitzdorp. One of my favourite routes between R62 and N1. I came that way from Bike Forge and  Ceres instead of the  direct route Worcester and Swellendam (well that direction) as I really like that road. Another fine road is the turn off from Laingsburg to Ladismith over the Klein Swartburg Pass.

Geez, I have ridden that a few times but from the opposite direction so I didn't recognise it. I shoulda recognised it. And your photo, with sun in the correct place, highlights just how beautiful it is. Nice. 

[sawystertrance]

For those of you with action cameras and who, like me, keep losing those infuriating little chrome acorn nuts - without which you can't film - I found a place which supplies them. Bolt-it in Diep River. About R1.10 each if I remember correctly. Nothing more infuriating than setting up a mount only to lose that thing. Hope this helps someone.. 

[RocknRolla]

On 1/14/2026 at 10:30 AM, Hairy said:

CARDO adhesive velcro

 

Hi All

 

Have any of you got an alternative to the Cardo adhesive velcro.

 

I am wanting to move my Cardo to another helmet, and all I need is the 2 x round sections for the speakers, and 1 x section for the internal mic .... the local shop can only sell me the "refresher kit" for R380 which just feels like a rip off for what I am looking for.

I'll see what I have at home. I'm using wired in-ear headphones ( They double up as earplugs on long rides when I switch the music off)  on my unit thus I don't use the speaker velcro sections. Also the boom mic inside my Bell MX9, so I may have a round one for the microphone as well. 

Couple of years ago I bought a "second helmet kit" as the earphone speaker jack wire disintegrated on my original cradle. I imported directly from Cardo in the US, and saved a couple of hundred rand.

[RocknRolla]

@Spokey  I like the triumph triples. 

I recall however reading something about small issues on the earlier models. So Probably worth it to look at the latest possible 2nd hand model available in the range.

 

[Hairy]

3 hours ago, RocknRolla said:

I'll see what I have at home. I'm using wired in-ear headphones ( They double up as earplugs on long rides when I switch the music off)  on my unit thus I don't use the speaker velcro sections. Also the boom mic inside my Bell MX9, so I may have a round one for the microphone as well. 

Couple of years ago I bought a "second helmet kit" as the earphone speaker jack wire disintegrated on my original cradle. I imported directly from Cardo in the US, and saved a couple of hundred rand.

Thanks, did a tour of the local hardware stores looking for adhesive velcro and have come up empty handed. 

Two of them said they are waiting for stock, recon I am sitting in the dead spell between people emptying shelves over Dec. and suppliers getting new stock to stores again in the new year.