A supposed "long Ride" went flat....

[Welsh]

So, we planned a quick 5 or 6 hundred km,s day trip up to the Waterburg, no pics yet just an explanation.

Only a small group as we would have limited time...

We planned some of my favourite routes up north but more dirt lower down in the route, very little worked out right, Sharks brakes gave up at Brits, my "GPS" may work solo it is not fun leading a crew even a small one. 

So I hit a hole, bottomed out both ends and broke the GSV bottom shock bolt at Rooiberg and retired...

It had been comng my way, the suspension has been suspect a while, it will now be fixed.

Fun had his day spoilt playing shepherd, but I got back.========Thanks Fun


Hope the guys had a good day...afterwards

 

[LeonDude]

Oh well, these things happen. Better luck next time, and hope the other's did ok.

 

[Zeff Cowboy]

Dis rof

 

[JourneyMan]

Awesome Fun! Thanks again for volunteering. 

He and Welsh would not hear anything about the suggestion that we all turn around.

A few guys bottomed out here and there, including RDR on his new KLR.

I lost a tail light. Popipants found it.

We did not want to ride toll gates from Bela-Bela. Ryperd's GPS showed a alternative route.

Mud.

Somehow the "GPS's" did not wotk too well today! :mrgreen:

Sand, rocks, high concentration riding, mud, dodging bakkies, dirt highway, stunning scenery scattered tools etc.

Was a great ride in the end!

I'll try to post a report with pics later. Got guests arriving soon.

 

[Welsh]

Awesome Fun! Thanks again for volunteering. 

He and Welsh would not hear anything about the suggestion that we all turn around.

A few guys bottomed out here and there, including RDR on his new KLR.

I lost a tail light. Popipants found it.

We did not want to ride toll gates from Bela-Bela. Ryperd's GPS showed a alternative route.

Mud.

Somehow the "GPS's" did not wotk too well today! :mrgreen:

Sand, rocks, high concentration riding, mud, dodging bakkies, dirt highway, stunning scenery scattered tools etc.

Was a great ride in the end!

I'll try to post a report with pics later. Got guests arriving soon.

Thanks, hope not all negative  8) 8) 8)

 

[Leo]

I lost a tail light.

AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!

:useless:

 

[JourneyMan]

Welsh - GSV
Wino - Honda TA
Popipants - GS1150
Funacide - Katoom 950, I think. :mrgreen:
Ryperd - Another one
IDR - KLR650
Shark - KLR650
JM - Dakar


The day began early for all as the planned start was 06H30 from Wimpy at Harties.

The three Pretoria dogs got away at the planned time of 05H20 only to be "frustrated" by going "slow" to allow RDR's new KLR to be run in. :twisted: :mrgreen:

IDR and his new KLR. Congrats once again!

Dirty Harry, Sweet Sally and Big Brother in the back ground. :biggrin:

At Harties we had a leisurely breakfast and then hit the road.

RDR again.

I have no idea what I did wrong to upset Welsh so much. Or maybe he is just being friendly.

And off we go. The question was asked about tar to Thabazimbi.

No. No worries. Dirt all the way from Brits. Welsh's "GPS" aka Shell-Road-Map-Colour-Photo-Copy says so.

Welsh consulting his GPS.

He led us on some roads around Brits but very few dirt. :mrgreen:

In the end it was decided to go tar to the Assen turn off.

Shark's back brake was acting up. Metal on metal and he decided to rather turn around and sort it out. This was at Brits.

Leisurely riding onwards on the R511 from Brtis. Smoke break and GPS consultation.

Funacide and Ryperd road at the back with me in front of them. They getting bored, rode the "dirt" shoulder at times.

Once I was enjoying the trip, in my own world, not watching the mirrors and these two farkers zoom past me, one on each side of me. Those zorsts causing a clamor and me almost shitting myself. 

I'll still get you for that one. :evil5:

We took the Assen raod and great riding conditions was met. Level 1 dirt, twisting and turning. Great views and all enjoyed the dirt.

The rains the previous night just wetted down the roads so not much dust around as well.

Funacide.

Ryperd

The road

The two Katooms under power aroud a corner. :razz:

Chasing ahead and stopping for photo opp.

Wino. Third time I rode with him in two years. Sad. Lekker bloke and oh-so-leisurely in his approach to riding.

IDR aka Reckless Dirt Rider.

Ryperd. Sorry.

Welsh. Sorry.

Popipants

Funacide. Blerry poser. That was Level 1 dirt highway. :mrgreen:

We passed a interesting looking place and decided to turn around.

:biggrin: :biggrin:

Having fun. Laughs all around.

We then hit short tar to Rooiberg.

To follow.

 

[JourneyMan]

As we hit dirt off the tar at Rooiberg, there was this one biggest hole in the road.

Welsh hit it full on, bottoming out, causing the shock bolt to break clean through, tool box covering broke free and tools went flying everywhere.

Me and Wino went back to search for tools.

I'm standing at the hole. Where Wio is, is where most of the tools were found.

Whilst effecting emergency repairs to GSV, RDR was delegated to go back and get some refreshments.

All offered to go back with Welsh. Funacide said no way. He has ridden the route before. He will go back with Welsh while we go on.

Good stuff Funacide!

Onwards we went. The road showed heavy signs of the heavy rains the past month or so. Heavy corrugations, rain ditches, exposed rock and sandy patches.

Still, good speed was achieved. Maybe too much. A few said they bottomed out at stages.

I hit a particular biggish rian ditch quite hard, once again to chase ahead and take photo's. All I was concerned about, was a flat tyre but all seemed OK.

Stopped and found that the tail was missing again!

Ryprd and Popipants went back with me to search and Popipants saw it lying on the edge of the road. Intact so about R700 bucks saved! I owe you a few!

Thanks guys.

Popipants did mention that it was strange to find the sand causing the bike to wiggle about when we went searching at slow pace. He did not notice any sand when riding it just before! :biggrin:

Road conditions kept one on one's toes. Good riding surface most of the way but the exposed rocky sections and sand patches was always present.

At Thabazimbi we refueled and went ahead on the Vaalwater/Rankins Pass dirt road just outside of Thaba.

The start going up into the mountain range.

 

[Adventurer]

Cool report. I see a Katoom in Welshie's future........ ;D ;D ;D
Better offroad suspension and all...... ;D ;D

 

[funacide]

I have some pics of the GSV being repaired by a man in a KTM shirt using a KTM toolkit, will post a bit later.....

 

[JourneyMan]

Up we went.

The road was rocky at places, spraying rocks under power.

Stopping for a photo. The surrounding views was breath taking. Green and clean air.

We came upon a group riding out. Quads and KLR's. One of the ladies on a quad had an off with the quad rolling over her. They were on the way to hospital to check her shoulder out.

We kept climbing and the scenery was great. Once it levelled out, we could get some pace again.

Only for the road to change to up's and down's, twisting.

Exposed rock bed and sometimes clumps of loose rock to negotiate. Higher concentration levels were needed.

RDR on in one of the many dips, with rocks down and up.

Wino in another dip.

Resting after a particular testing piece of sand. About 100meters of sand. Fishtailing but good fun under steady throttle.

Dakar. Somehow the bike doesn't like a the tail light.

Looking back down to the sandy section at the bottom.

The road continued in the vein.

View at Rankins Pass.

We have decided not to go back and on to Vaalwater but to push through to Bela-Bela via various dirt roads. We saw many roads and names but followed Ryperd's GPS.

After Rankins PAss, we encountered regular sand. Deepish but a bit compacted with the rains. Deep two track caused by cages. RDR almost lost it on one when he was thrown out of one of the tracks. :mrgreen: Wino can tell more. he was behind RDR at that stage.

Moeg and starting to get hungry.

Towards Bela-Bela.

The whole section between Thabazimbi and Bela-Bela was dirt the whole way. :razz:

At Bela-Bela we had a bite to eat and some beers. There also was a Malibu Liquer thing going on. A few dirty bikers ogling young chicks. There was some debate on the ages of the subjects but no one really cared. :mrgreen:


Me, Popipants and Ryperd decided to try and skip highway and toll gates. We ended up riding good dirt and mud.

A circle route which took us to Pienaarsrvier where we then took highway anyway since it was getting late.

Ah. It is going to be fun.

Errm. No. 

We took the right hand one in stead. It turned into mud as well but not too bad. Ryperd made mince meat off it. Fully enjoying the Katoom! Your courses you did is showing in your riding skills! :razz:

Me and Popi took a more cautious approach. Between 30-40 km/h. :redface:

A good ending to a great day riding!

Got going at 05H00 and got back home at 17H05.

569 km for me.

Thanks guys!

Vaalwater was skipped so the trip is incomplete! :hello2: :mrgreen:

 

[Welsh]

Nice one guys, glad I did not mess up your day too much... 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[LeonDude]

Nice ride people. Very nice pictures, and looks like you had a great time. Must say, that part of the country looks spectacular after all the rains.

 

[wino]

good report and pics jman 

this was my third attempt at riding in the area, and early signs indicated that i might have to have a fourth! luckily though, it was third time lucky and i must say, it was GREAT!! thanks to welsh who, ahem, planned the route and then ryperd who took over from him after the weighty decision of welsh to turn back. it was a cool group to ride with  :headbang:

some pics: the one with ryperd coming round the corner i cropped, hence the blurriness. however, it was just too good to leave it full size 

 

[wino]

more

 

[wino]

+

 

[wino]

yip, we got soaked 

 

[shark_za]

Who says the bushveld is plain and boring.
Lovely shots guys. Hows those clouds!

Wierd on these brakes, the one pad has a mm or two left but it seems to be a different compound and is leaving deposits on the discs.
Almost like the heat is melting the last bit of the pad and dropping these pieces on the disc, fusing them there.

Fresh ones in and those deposits are getting worn away. No grooves in the disc, rather raised bits. Never seen that before.

 

[IDR]

I have nothing to add.  Except appreciation for this beautiful country we live in.  Who would've thought that Thabazimbi had such spectacular scenery?  And it's only 150 km away! 

Thanks to all for a great day's riding, I had such a blast!  And thanks for putting up with my running-in constraints :thumright:

 

[JourneyMan]

I have nothing to add.  Except appreciation for this beautiful country we live in.  Who would've thought that Thabazimbi had such spectacular scenery?  And it's only 150 km away! 

Thanks to all for a great day's riding, I had such a blast!  And thanks for putting up with my running-in constraints :thumright:

That's all? 

Three months without a DS bike to ride and nothing to say about the KLR? :mrgreen: