Exploring Lesotho on the 500 (lots of photos)

[m0lt3n]

I think its time to buy LosperAdventures.co.za now. Once certain profession changes are made it will be worth a lot!

 

[Losper]

I think its time to buy LosperAdventures.co.za now. Once certain profession changes are made it will be worth a lot!

It is in the making as we speak
Watch this space :thumleft:

 

[big oil]

:drif:

 

[Oubones]

Nice report!
I understand why you get time to take pics as your type off riding must be exhausting! eepwall:
That one place reminds me of Bourkes potholes!
An absolutely beautifull country and we can learn from your example to just go riding at least once a month!

 

[Sithe]

Losper how far off the bitten track did you go seeing you were riding solo ?

That's my only nervousness when doing solo trips, I never want to get too far away from possible help.

How can I get myself invited onto the next one, will a 350 make it ? Fuel and road legality wise ?

 

[Losper]

Losper how far off the bitten track did you go seeing you were riding solo ?
That's my only nervousness when doing solo trips, I never want to get too far away from possible help.
How can I get myself invited onto the next one, will a 350 make it ? Fuel and road legality wise ?

Hi Sithe, to find these "jewels" one has to go quit far of the beaten track. There are risks involved but you are OK if you have the following info:

1. Know exactly where you are (at all times)
2. Know where the closest road is and also how to get there.
3. Know how long to your destination (with a 2 hour safety margin should something go wrong)
4. Be able to call someone that know Lesotho well and be able to reach your destination.
5. Know where all the escape routes are on any given section of the route.
6. etc, etc, etc

The planning for a ride like this takes a number of days and many many hours in front of the computer plotting and re plotting on Google earth. 

I have had a number of guys that inquired about this ride and I am planning to do a guided trip over a 2 to 2,5 day's timeframe. It will have to be in the 2nd half of September before the rainy season starts because 80% of the route is inside semi-dry rivers.

Btw,  the photo's does not do this ride justice, it is much much better than you can imagine.
a 350 will do but you will have to carry extra fuel with you. (I have a 15 liter tank on my 500)  The bike does not need to be road worthy (we will be in the rivers all the time :biggrin

I almost never ride alone but sometimes there is no other option. This was an exploration ride so it suited me well to go alone, that way I can cover more distance in a given time. The route was approx 130km in distance and it took the whole day.

 

[Xpat]

Alright Pieter, I believe you now - there is indeed some good riding in western Lesotho as well. And all it took was getting a new phone or water out of your old one... eepwall: :biggrin:

Will have to get back there again - sadly looks like it will not be this year though.

 

[Xpat]

Losper how far off the bitten track did you go seeing you were riding solo ?

That's my only nervousness when doing solo trips, I never want to get too far away from possible help.

How can I get myself invited onto the next one, will a 350 make it ? Fuel and road legality wise ?

Depends on what you mean by off the beaten track. I have done plenty of solo exploratory riding there without an issue. Strictly speaking Lesotho is pretty small and barring serious injury you should be able to walk out easily to the next village settlement from where you can get help - most of them will be within 10 - 15 km, which healthy man can walk easily). That is not an option for example in the middle of the Okavango delta, so from that perspective I consider Lesotho really safe, especially as there is also water freely available in rivers (that I drink), while your biggest risk in that delta for example would be dehydration and heat stroke.

The only real risk is hypothermia (dying from cold) and or lightning strike, but if you came prepared most of that can be mitigated (I slept out while snow was falling, but I was ready for that). And if you use your brain, the risk of injury is relatively small, as you usually ride (and fall) at slow speeds - the rocks wouldn't let you go fast.

 

[Edgar]

Just fantastic Pieter!  Absolute riding heaven!
I bet you never got into any of those beautiful rock pools for a swim to "cool' off!!
Looking at your muffler, have you made the pipe shorter and is there any discernible difference in power? I'd guess not.

Hi Cuzzy,  the muffler is one of those cheap Chinese rip-offs. The pipe is still original length.
https://www.wish.com/search/akrapovic/product/5bf556e4b122934120ba1bbb?&source=search
No performance gain but it shaves quit a bit of weight and it looks cool :biggrin:

Hi Losper, I also bought an exhaust from Wish, and want to fit it to my BMW Dakar. May I ask how the pipe is holding up? Are you happy with it? The one I have seems to be of a good quality.

 

[Losper]

Hi Losper, I also bought an exhaust from Wish, and want to fit it to my BMW Dakar. May I ask how the pipe is holding up? Are you happy with it? The one I have seems to be of a good quality.

[member=15076]Edgar[/member]  yes it works perfect. I had to re-pack it, the original packing was not up to the job, the rest of the silencer is fine for my application on the 500. I will not put a cheapy like this on a proper adv bike though.

 

[2StrokeDan]

Losper how far off the bitten track did you go seeing you were riding solo ?

That's my only nervousness when doing solo trips, I never want to get too far away from possible help.

How can I get myself invited onto the next one, will a 350 make it ? Fuel and road legality wise ?

Depends on what you mean by off the beaten track. I have done plenty of solo exploratory riding there without an issue. Strictly speaking Lesotho is pretty small and barring serious injury you should be able to walk out easily to the next village settlement from where you can get help - most of them will be within 10 - 15 km, which healthy man can walk easily). That is not an option for example in the middle of the Okavango delta, so from that perspective I consider Lesotho really safe, especially as there is also water freely available in rivers (that I drink), while your biggest risk in that delta for example would be dehydration and heat stroke.

The only real risk is hypothermia (dying from cold) and or lightning strike, but if you came prepared most of that can be mitigated (I slept out while snow was falling, but I was ready for that). And if you use your brain, the risk of injury is relatively small, as you usually ride (and fall) at slow speeds - the rocks wouldn't let you go fast.

In areas like Lesotho, I'd say your biggest worry should be injury. Over that sort of terrain, one small mishap and you are unable to walk.