Is motorcycling allowed?

[Hairy]

SAND SKILLS CLASS

The guy who I attended the gen. skills class with at Dirt 'N Dust is doing a Sand Skills Class this Sunday at Zone 7 (Cape Town, between Melkbos and Table View) if anyone is interested.

Cost = R650, this includes access to Zone 7.

Time: 9:00 - 13:00 / 13:30 pending how things go

Let me know if you keen to join as there are still one or two slots still open.

[Hairy]

So the Sand Skill Class was postponed, and a quick spin out to Dirt 'N Dust for a few laps of the enduro loop (The trails are rutted out and loose compared to the last time I was there when it was nice and muddy) at a pace that felt so slow I was expecting a 5 year old to zoom past me on one of those black plastic push bikes.

Leaving there I picked up on an alternative route option that took me on some gravel roads I did not know existed going in the direction of Philadelphia. I had to turn off at one point to get to the road linking to Phili, and was really curious how far the gravel road kept going on for.

Just before hitting the tar section, the gravel road was flooded ... and I have not done a flooded off road section before, or had any idea how deep this section was, but decided to give it a spin anyway ... what a lot of fun this was.

From here it was a quick and scenic tar loop home.

 

Google maps tells me it was the Mosselbank Rivier crossing

Edited September 15 by Hairy

[Hairy]

Hi All

Do any of you have a GPS file for a Gravel ride running to Darling? I have heard talk of something from Parklands and another route from Durbanville.

[Spokey]

I took my T7 for its first “long….ish” jaunt to visit the Hederberg Motorcycle Museum. What an excellent few days. Meed to rethink my packing but overall was a good trip. Bike did not disappoint with easy enthusiastic cruising on both tar and dirt.  Pics show a little of the home stretch around Greyton and the dirt roads south of van Wyksdorp. 

[Hairy]

White + Red paintjob with gold rims = 😍

[Spokey]

1 hour ago, Hairy said:

White + Red paintjob with gold rims = 😍

I need to find a nice 1980’s XT 600 in same colours to be a garage partner!

[Hairy]

15 hours ago, Spokey said:

I need to find a nice 1980’s XT 600 in same colours to be a garage partner!

Might still be available.

 

https://wilddog.net.za/threads/1984-yamaha-xt-600.275832/

[Andymann]

So after a difficult few months where I didn't really want anything to do with bikes I figured I better get the XTZ sorted for the Fairest Cape.  My Dad and I did it together last year so in memory my brothers and I are going to do it one last time this year and sprinkle some of his ashes down Bainskloof Pass where I couldn't keep up with him last year!  The XTZ was becoming difficult to start when cold and was also backfiring on the overrun so I ordered new inlet rubbers and an air shutoff valve and then decided to check the valves while I was at it.  What a mission - for a bike supposedly designed to be repaired in the bush somewhere between Paris and Dakar checking the valves what almost impossible without removing the Valve cover.  Even the Radiator had to come off.  Anyway, we're making progress and I found a few more small issues that needed to be sorted - wiring related so did that too.  You might notice the DT in the background has no wheels - also finally got round to stripping those down so that I can rebuild them with new  Gold Anodised alloy rims and spokes.  Also needed new tyres.

The TRX sadly doesn't get used much anymore - I need to make some decisions in the future regarding it and the XTZ - I bought the XTZ to use on Rallys with my Dad and I don't think I will be doing many more after November so it might have to go. And the TRX really just sits there - which isn't good for a bike.

[Hairy]

1 hour ago, Andymann said:

So after a difficult few months where I didn't really want anything to do with bikes I figured I better get the XTZ sorted for the Fairest Cape.  My Dad and I did it together last year so in memory my brothers and I are going to do it one last time this year and sprinkle some of his ashes down Bainskloof Pass where I couldn't keep up with him last year!  The XTZ was becoming difficult to start when cold and was also backfiring on the overrun so I ordered new inlet rubbers and an air shutoff valve and then decided to check the valves while I was at it.  What a mission - for a bike supposedly designed to be repaired in the bush somewhere between Paris and Dakar checking the valves what almost impossible without removing the Valve cover.  Even the Radiator had to come off.  Anyway, we're making progress and I found a few more small issues that needed to be sorted - wiring related so did that too.  You might notice the DT in the background has no wheels - also finally got round to stripping those down so that I can rebuild them with new  Gold Anodised alloy rims and spokes.  Also needed new tyres.

The TRX sadly doesn't get used much anymore - I need to make some decisions in the future regarding it and the XTZ - I bought the XTZ to use on Rallys with my Dad and I don't think I will be doing many more after November so it might have to go. And the TRX really just sits there - which isn't good for a bike.

Never know, you and your brother may just form something special over the upcoming ralley that keeps the two of you coming back, and keeping the the family in the race/ride/event

[Andymann]

5 minutes ago, Hairy said:

Never know, you and your brother may just form something special over the upcoming ralley that keeps the two of you coming back, and keeping the the family in the race/ride/event

Maybe - my wife says I need to wait a year before I sell anything!

[Hairy]

3 hours ago, Andymann said:

Maybe - my wife says I need to wait a year before I sell anything!

you have a good wife

[Wannabe]

Andy, accept my belated condolences with your loss. 

[Andymann]

On 9/25/2024 at 2:42 PM, Hairy said:

you have a good wife

I told her the Motorcycle Hubbers say I have a good wife.  She said please to remind everyone it was also her who told me to buy them as well...

[Andymann]

1 minute ago, Wannabe said:

Andy, accept my belated condolences with your loss. 

Thanks.  I actually plucked up the courage to go and see a Psychologist.  Took a lot of convincing on my part because hey 50-something Men don't need to talk about their emotional state right.....

Was worth the money.  Still have a few sessions to go, but I think now I can start getting back on track

[Wannabe]

Good man for looking for help. Us "Cowboys don't cry" generation can be our own worst enemy.

Strongs with the road ahead.

[IceCreamMan]

3 hours ago, Andymann said:

Thanks.  I actually plucked up the courage to go and see a Psychologist.  Took a lot of convincing on my part because hey 50-something Men don't need to talk about their emotional state right.....

Was worth the money.  Still have a few sessions to go, but I think now I can start getting back on track

Andy, you raise something very important. My mom passed away April 2022. I have yet to fully come to terms with it. Fortunately at work we have mental health first aiders. I reached out to one 2 weeks ago. First time ever I have sought assistance cos cowboys don’t cry right. 
 

still battle, I ain’t suicidal or anything like that. Just battle to come to terms with it all. Grief is not well understood. My mom was a good mom and a good person. Life screwed sometimes and I just wasn’t always there for her. It haunts me. 
 

good luck.