Amageza 2015 and Team 525

[alanB]

Hoeveel sous dra jou 525 ?
Ek hoop dis genoeg vir die lang/moeilke stages + moontlike verdwaal.

25 litres

Good for 350 km

How does the bike handle with a full tank?

Does it behave like a drunk hippo, until the tank gets relatively empty?

 

[JustBendIt]

.

 

[JustBendIt]

Hoeveel sous dra jou 525 ?
Ek hoop dis genoeg vir die lang/moeilke stages + moontlike verdwaal.

25 litres

Good for 350 km

How does the bike handle with a full tank?

Does it behave like a drunk hippo, until the tank gets relatively empty?

You definitely feel it when it is full - it does not like to turn or stop but I have filled the tanks with anti-slosh foam to maintain weight balance when they are half full and minimise the slosh - it works like a charm

When the tank is nearly empty the bike is like greased lightning and stops and handles like the enduro machine it used to be.

 

[alanB]

:thumleft:

On my 610 with the 24L safari tank, I also felt it initially with a full tank, especially in thick sand or mud, instead of just going where ever I point it, they way it normally does, it would tend to want to plow on straight.

One thing I found which helped a lot, to the extent that I hardly notice the problem anymore, is a I put an bigger sprocket on the back.  This made it easier to control the weight on the front wheel with the throttle.

I'm not sure if I do this subconsciously now, but I haven't noticed that nasty plowing sensation since then.  

It does feel slightly front heavy now with a full tank, but not terribly so.

I would imagine that 525 has a lot more zip, so not sure if this would have the same effect or not?

 

[MaxThePanda]

Training day out on a beautiful "Is This Really Winter?" Cape Town Sunday at Atlantis. Unfortunately the iPhone camera freaked out a bit on zoom, but the vibe is there, and the stoke was too...

 

[Kamanya]

Busy day today; New chain, sprockets, wheel bearings front and back, handgrips, trip and CAP wired in.

Previously I've been missioning to wire in turn signals and brake switches. It wasn't one of the road ready models. Just need a regulator and I should be up and running.

Thinking of putting a low fender on.

It's resting for now, getting some tips from the big beast.

 

[MaxThePanda]

Careful now... after you turn the lights out something naughty may go down, and out could pop some badly behaved, over powered wheelie monster with a deep, dark and devious attraction to the desert and a tendency to throw you off into the scrub bush next to remote tracks.

 

[Bazinga]

Careful now... after you turn the lights out something naughty may go down, and out could pop some badly behaved, over powered wheelie monster with a deep, dark and devious attraction to the desert and a tendency to throw you off into the scrub bush next to remote tracks.

Ha ha ha. But what a machine that would be!!

 

[MaxThePanda]

Last few weeks to go and we're putting in a bit of fettling on the bikes. I bought a fancy bracket from Rally Raid UK to mount my ICO sensor cable:

Well, not such a clever idea, as it turned out. Lasted two rides, before some bushes at Atlantis tore it to shreds. Bye-bye UKP44 - about R4598 - and time for a rethink. Luckily the cable turned out to be a lot tougher than the bracket, and it seems to be fine. So back to basics and a bit of barbarism... drill and tap the brake caliper bracket to take another sensor, just below the OEM one:

It's a bit nerve-wracking doing it, but I thought, what the hell - what's the worst that can happen. Probably a foolish thought, and I should have checked on the price of a caliber bracket with KTM, but it turned out well.

Tidied up the cables (which included filing out the little bracket on the fork protector to take an extra cable:

And looking good...

Rally is terribly hard on rider machinery - part enduro, part endurance, part physical and mechanical abuse. Everything better be in tiptop shape, and currently my shoulder is far from that. Best I don't have any more offs in the next three weeks, then.

 

[BV]

Busy day today; New chain, sprockets, wheel bearings front and back, handgrips, trip and CAP wired in.

Previously I've been missioning to wire in turn signals and brake switches. It wasn't one of the road ready models. Just need a regulator and I should be up and running.

Thinking of putting a low fender on.

It's resting for now, getting some tips from the big beast.

Andrew that 525 tank looks wider than the 950!

 

[Aidan]

Team 525 Race Jerseys off to the printers

 

[Kamanya]

Friday 7th, 4pm

The Beach Tavern

https://thebeachtavern.co.za/

5 Loxton Rd, Woodbridge Island, Milnerton, Cape Town

https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=71220.msg3310952#msg3310952

We've asked others to bring their rally bikes, so you'll have a bit of rally porn to perv at.

Many people haven't seen a rally prepared bike up close and would like to.

Team 525 will have a few bikes there and also be announcing who has won a seat on our support vehicle. The auction closes at 6.59pm and we'll make the appointment soon after that;

Auction of seat on Amageza 2015 Backup vehicle

(if you have any buddies who are keen to do it next year, this might be the very next best way to get an idea of what it entails)

Come along!

 

[weskus]

Team 525 Race Jerseys off to the printers

You guys just have to make sure Andrew wears the race jersey over his ballistic and not the other way around eepwall: ot:

 

[monkeyboy]

Careful now... after you turn the lights out something naughty may go down, and out could pop some badly behaved, over powered wheelie monster with a deep, dark and devious attraction to the desert and a tendency to throw you off into the scrub bush next to remote tracks.

Oh, man, if there's a litter, can I call dibs on one of those!

 

[MaxThePanda]

150kph on the GPS before chickening out on Saturday's training ride. I know, I know.... But plenty fast enough for Botswana salt pans for me. And this expensive motor rebuild has to last 5000kms!

It was still pulling pretty hard though... Reckon it might get to 160. Perhaps I'll have to try that out in the race...

 

[MaxThePanda]

Instrument space on a non-custom designed rally bike is at a premium. Had to move my OEM panel out the way to make space. I think we're sorted now...

If I run out of gas, I'm going dooooowwwwnnn! There's a lot of paranoia amongst the 20l crew (all the modern gen KTM FI bikes with the Acerbic/KTM 20l tanks). I'm going to just hold thumbs and hope for the best. It's going to be close!

 

[Orangeswifty]

Looking Awesomley good Justin and team!  :thumleft:
I also bought a low mileage 525 with only 76 hours on it with the intention of doing this but quickly realised I just didn't have the time or money right now, so had to can the idea, so instead I will be watching you guys closely and enjoying the RR and shouting for you during the race! Looking forward to following the build-up and the race action.

Good Luck guys!  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

The way theyr'e carrying on they may need two bikes for spares mooch.
:biggrin:

 

[Mooch]

Looking Awesomley good Justin and team!  :thumleft:
I also bought a low mileage 525 with only 76 hours on it with the intention of doing this but quickly realised I just didn't have the time or money right now, so had to can the idea, so instead I will be watching you guys closely and enjoying the RR and shouting for you during the race! Looking forward to following the build-up and the race action.

Good Luck guys!  :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

The way theyr'e carrying on they may need two bikes for spares mooch.
:biggrin:

Hahaha... Yea  :ricky:

 

[White Rhino]

Good luck Team 525 - Will be following with much interest. Well done Chris for securing your support seat - it's going to be on hell of a ride.

 

[MaxThePanda]

Aaaaand we're ready to roll!