Is motorcycling allowed?

[mazambaan]

On 1/21/2022 at 1:44 PM, Hairy said:

They both cost the same don't they??

He he, Dakar may cost you ZAR1m and you may not even get to keep the bike (or what is left of it)!

[mazambaan]

and Mr Google tells me Riaan van Niekerk finished 100 and something (112 I think) with Brian Bontekoning (nutter on a bike) in the 2008 Epic. He finished in the top 20 in Dakar around 2014 I think.

[patches]

On 1/22/2022 at 8:17 AM, IceCreamMan said:

Dakar. It’s far more tiring I reckon. Far more concentration needed. 
 

but I have done neither. 

Whilst I haven't done an Epic or a Dakar, I have done a Sani2C and a Dusty Butt (a 1400km, 3 day adventure rally through the NZ high-country),

And although I had jippo-guts for days 2 & 3 of the Sani (which made it even more challenging), I think the dirt-bike rally was way more exhausting (12-15hrs/day on the bike, then having to setup my own tent after each day, haha).

Plus, like you say, definitely more concentration needed. Navigation was by GPS and way points, so far easier than a road book, but even so, it's a far cry from the voice prompts and colourful blue line of Google Maps. And when trying to bomb down tricky terrain while watching the waypoint distance close in and make sure the arrow doesn't swing (meaning you missed the waypoint), can be challenging at the best of times. (there were a number of emergency stops, 180 donuts, and corrections made during that event)

So huge respect to the Dakar dudes and dudettes who go twice as fast and rely on colouring-in books to avoid getting lost!

 

[Hairy]

16 hours ago, mazambaan said:

He he, Dakar may cost you ZAR1m and you may not even get to keep the bike (or what is left of it)!

so the same the average amateur prof. SA racer spends in prep ... and they have to sell the bike after words too as once a bike has done an epic it is "ruined"

[Andrew_Smith]

The bike is back in the garage and took her for a long ride to Velddrif over the weekend. Don't know if I was stupid to tackle it in the heat but the mechanic said she needed to get some long miles in. Waited for the family in Velddrif, whereby I camped at Columbine Co. for an iced coffee. Small world, realised that the owner (Albert) is family. Fun fact, Itchy Boots stopped at the place as well on our journey up to Namibia.

Stopped at Port Owen to jump into the water to cool down. Afterwards, we went back to Yzerfontein where we spent time with the family returning back on Sunday late afternoon.

Edited January 24, 2022 by Andrew_Smith

[Andrew_Smith]

Traffic was quite bad this morning. I did a few lane splits until the second last robot... I saw it was quite a tight squeeze but thought I should be able to make it through and boom clipped the mirror of the driver in his/her Renault. The person hooted, I felt bad and quickly pulled the clutch in the reserve up to apologize. Couldn't see any damage to the mirror but didn't make my morning.

[Andymann]

On 1/22/2022 at 11:12 AM, ouzo said:

Dakar for sure

If you think those guys are not fit then you're kidding yourself. Even behind the wheel of a car/truck it takes enormous amounts of fitness to drive like that for those periods of time

Ralph Pitchford is the Chairman of the VMC Club and he was chatting to me at one of the meetings about when he was part of the Red Bull VW Touareg team for the Dakar.  He had to present himself at the Red Bull Fitness Center in Austria (where all the Red Bull sponsored Athletes train) in October three months before the Dakar started for a fitness test before he was even allowed to start driving.

 

 

 

[Hairy]

2 hours ago, Andymann said:

Ralph Pitchford is the Chairman of the VMC Club and he was chatting to me at one of the meetings about when he was part of the Red Bull VW Touareg team for the Dakar.  He had to present himself at the Red Bull Fitness Center in Austria (where all the Red Bull sponsored Athletes train) in October three months before the Dakar started for a fitness test before he was even allowed to start driving.

 

 

 

imagine if they did that for the epic

[Hairy]

https://fb.watch/aKgnxuOi-v/

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

28 minutes ago, Hairy said:

https://fb.watch/aKgnxuOi-v/

*** funny......

[Hairy]

Not the best pic, but it was still a great spin out to Melkbos before starting work, and clearing the voices in my head.

A nice cool sea breeze, and the smell of fynbos with a touch of salty sea air = awesomeness

[Andrew_Smith]

 

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

There is an interview on The Race's podcast with Danilo Petrucci.
What an amazing guy, also gives some insight to just how well he actually did and how tough the Dakar is.
 

[Andrew_Smith]

Link to podcast here

Edited January 28, 2022 by Andrew_Smith

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

The biggest thing I took from the interview was how little time he had on the bike before the race. Add in an injury, he should get another go in 2023.

[Spokey]

On 1/21/2022 at 6:02 PM, WaynejG said:

There was a slight deviation from what was originally planned. Improved the sound no end and still keeps the Rocket look.

This is a beast of a bike. It must be pure pleasure winding that throttle open………..in a different way to my tiny little ZRX1200R who also has a silky smooth engine.