Is motorcycling allowed?

[Andymann]

Well there we go - in all it's odd blue front mudguard glory.  It's actually been quite fun just slowly getting things back to standard without going overboard.  And the nice thing is that with genuine Yamaha parts everything fits perfectly.  I do however have a whole margarine container of odd bolts, roof washers and Walmart screws - perfect for my spares tin.

The only thing I need to do now is just try and clean up the Yoshi silencer - I was told it was a full system but clearly it's been cobbled together with crap welding.  Other than that, time now to enjoy it!

[Andymann]

Took the XTZ to work on Friday - a nice 140km round trip from Pta to Krugersdorp.  I got to experience a little bit of why big trail bikes are so popular - you sit nice and high in the traffic and even though they are big and heavy you still get to filter through traffic easily.  Well easier than the TRX.

The 660 is not going to win any races - it's very comfortable at 100kph but you can't get past the fact that it's almost 200kg - so acceleration is fairly leisurely.  But for a 29yo dirt bike it's very solid.  Nice and smooth and winds hardly affect it.  The previous owner fitted some MITAS Enduro trail tyres which I believe are very good off-road.  They didn't feel too bad, but are noisy as hell.  My offroad riding is going to be limited to gravel roads so I will probably change them in time for something a bit less aggressive.

Other than that, it's a typical Yamaha from the 90's - feels like it's going to run forever.

I'm really looking forward to November when I use it on the Fairest Cape - we're based in Rawsonville and apparently the roads they take us on are beautiful.  The 70kph speed group might be a bit slow but I'm riding behind my Dad on an old Velocette so I'll just have to chill!

[IceCreamMan]

Well, this is a cluster

 

https://www.advrider.com/all-bmw-internal-combustion-motos-are-currently-do-not-sell/

[Hairy]

Seems like every Thursday when I do a loop of sites it rains.

This week I added in a Franschhoek stop, so the loop was on the 250km mark.

Now, even though it was raining, and a bit windy in places, this was one of the best rides out yet. The light through the clouds, colour of the sea, scents of Table Mountain / fynboss along the coast/winelands area .... what a great day out on the bike.

Stopped for a "warm me up coffee" at Freedom 301 ... when I arrived there were only 3 people there, but very quickly started to fill up. When leaving I noticed I was the only bike in the parking lot

I do need to start stopping along the ride and taking pics, but when I am moving I do not want to stop.

[RocknRolla]

10 hours ago, Hairy said:

Seems like every Thursday when I do a loop of sites it rains.

This week I added in a Franschhoek stop, so the loop was on the 250km mark.

Now, even though it was raining, and a bit windy in places, this was one of the best rides out yet. The light through the clouds, colour of the sea, scents of Table Mountain / fynboss along the coast/winelands area .... what a great day out on the bike.

Stopped for a "warm me up coffee" at Freedom 301 ... when I arrived there were only 3 people there, but very quickly started to fill up. When leaving I noticed I was the only bike in the parking lot

I do need to start stopping along the ride and taking pics, but when I am moving I do not want to stop.

I have had those rides as well, cruising, thinking about the cool pics, but the thought of breaking the rhythm of the ride with photos is counterproductive. 
Flipside is to make the time, enjoy the stops and take the photos.

That route looks like you would have accidentally set the camera off, and still have gotten good photos. 
next week this time, I’m in Montagu for the first evening of an epic bike trip. Will be taking photos and definitely posting a RR on wilddogs. 

[Steady Spin]

Anyone up in Centurion that also rides solo most of the time and looking for a friend to ride with?

I mostly ride out to Harties and back via satellite road and through the cradle. 

Nothing fancy in the garage and I’m not a speed demon with an insta360 on the tail. 

[Hairy]

So I joined the Riders Table for the first time this morning, with my eldest on the back of the bike.

Slightly windy, but what an awesome ride.

Trekked out via the Durbanville (Where the pack I was with took a wrong turn and we ended up including the gravel stretch on Adderley Street) roads past Philadelphia, through Atlantis to Silverstroom where the big Monster truck was waiting with free drinks and Devil's Peak Beer Co. was handing out free 0% beers, with a loop back to Stoos Customs via the West Coast Road for a bit of food and music.

What an interesting mix of bikes and riders, and a real pleasure to have joined in on.

They do this once a month, and I am certainly going to give it a spin again.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxDCWDAs8bz/?img_index=1

EDIT: our final loop from home and back = 155km, so not far, and not short.

Edited September 23, 2023 by Hairy

[WaynejG]

1 hour ago, Hairy said:

So I joined the Riders Table for the first time this morning, with my eldest on the back of the bike.

Slightly windy, but what an awesome ride.

Trekked out via the Durbanville (Where the pack I was with took a wrong turn and we ended up including the gravel stretch on Adderley Street) roads past Philadelphia, through Atlantis to Silverstroom where the big Monster truck was waiting with free drinks and Devil's Peak Beer Co. was handing out free 0% beers, with a loop back to Stoos Customs via the West Coast Road for a bit of food and music.

What an interesting mix of bikes and riders, and a real pleasure to have joined in on.

They do this once a month, and I am certainly going to give it a spin again.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxDCWDAs8bz/?img_index=1

EDIT: our final loop from home and back = 155km, so not far, and not short.

Oo this Triumph 

[RocknRolla]

First weekend since Feb that I’m not working or studying, and what better way to celebrate than with a ride.

Headed west, with no real plan in mind.

Lots of corrugation, loose gravel most of the way.

The transvaal can do with rain.

150kms in 2 Hours, just what I needed.

Next week Friday needs to roll on quickly. I can not wait any longer.

Edited September 23, 2023 by RocknRolla

[Hairy]

On 9/23/2023 at 3:42 PM, Hairy said:

So I joined the Riders Table for the first time this morning, with my eldest on the back of the bike.

Slightly windy, but what an awesome ride.

Trekked out via the Durbanville (Where the pack I was with took a wrong turn and we ended up including the gravel stretch on Adderley Street) roads past Philadelphia, through Atlantis to Silverstroom where the big Monster truck was waiting with free drinks and Devil's Peak Beer Co. was handing out free 0% beers, with a loop back to Stoos Customs via the West Coast Road for a bit of food and music.

What an interesting mix of bikes and riders, and a real pleasure to have joined in on.

They do this once a month, and I am certainly going to give it a spin again.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxDCWDAs8bz/?img_index=1

EDIT: our final loop from home and back = 155km, so not far, and not short.

Some PITCHAS from the organisers

credit to the photographer:

@candice.in.africa

and those that made the ride possible:
@riderstable
@bmwmotorrad
@thehouseofmachines_cpt
@stooscustoms
@frankiefennermeatmerchants
@jasonbakerycpt
@justlikepapa
 

Edited September 26, 2023 by Hairy
Tag and pic credit added

[IceCreamMan]

Went to the ace last night to meet a mate from cape town and a mate who lives in Oxford. Sweet night. 
 

on leaving I realised I had a flat wheel. Feck. Some guy had plugs and another a compressor so after pumping it went to a close garage and put in tyre weld too. Rode about 5 kms and stopped at another garage and realised I would need a recovery truck. Phoned my insurance at around 11. The driver was there about 1. Got home just after 2. 
 

is what it is, good experience at the end of it. First time I have needed recovery in decades so one has to look at it philosophically. What does hurt is the tyre only has 1700 miles on it and now needs to be replaced. That sucks. 
 

but the ace, was Lekker. 

Edited September 30, 2023 by IceCreamMan

[Hairy]

On 9/23/2023 at 5:20 PM, WaynejG said:

Oo this Triumph 

I swung around here on Saturday looking for a set of mirrors.

They took me for a tour of their workshop, some flipping awesome builds in the lift (Think carbon wheels, custom parts, etc). This workshop is visible from the entrance ... then they took me around the corner.

What's around the corner you ask, well it is a candy store of machines.

Lathes, English Wheels (Yes they custom form fenders and body work "stuff") AND a flipping massive CNC machine that spits out custom tripple trees (Like custom ones they showed being fitted on a Triumph with new Ohlin's USD suspension) light mounts, risers, etc.

What an awesome company doing some high end work on bikes. 

Left really impressed.

[Hairy]

The new 1300 GS looks sharp
 

 

[RocknRolla]

My trip to the cape was even more epic than I anticipated. I had a LC1200GS ADV  to my disposal. Only had about 22k kms on the clock ( so brand new). This thing almost ripped the arms out of my sockets, the power delivery is insane. 
Rode 1180kms in 3 days ( first day was only 150kms) 

Some photos to speak thousands of words.

 

[RocknRolla]

I got to ride the 11fiddy gs as well, my mate recently spent a substantial amount to get his running right. 
I can understand the hype around these classics. Holds its own to the modern versions, and for me rides better in some sense. More connected, other than abs, no rider aids. Comfortable for earing up off tarmac kms

[Rich Stan]

I am starting to look around for an adventure bike for the occasional longer trip, weekend ride to Harties and general around town use.

Been looking at used KTM 1090/Triumph Tiger 1200/GS 1200/Super Tenere, does anyone have input of benefits/drawback other suggestions?

I am only 5.8" so been able to touch the ground is an important consideration