Honda Quest, the incredible adventure!

[hondsekierie]

Yes, of Minxy pinching washers at that very moment  :lol8:

I know it's one of her less favourite riding terrain, the steep descent with a big bike.  Luckily she has a huge bunch of team mates willing to assist but i've found that sometimes too many helping hands can freak the rider out even more.
[/quote]

You just concerned about all the 'helping hands'  >  :3some:
[/quote]


It's ok, as long as they help I have no problem  :lol8:

 

[craigofcapetown]

{--posting on behalf of Kamanya}
[kamanya]

The last 3 days have been epic!

We camped just before Van Zyls pass 2 days ago. Although vZ's has the more fearsome reputation, the road to it is brutal. There was a huge technical decent just before an atrocious climb. Only 2 of us cleaned it without help.  Me being one of them. More by fluke than skill. At one point, because I was helping guys who were struggling, I overheated and had to strip off to cool down. That evening I was toast and had to sleep before supper, get woken to eat and then back to sleep. It was a long brutal day. Phillip had a great day and was styling.

Yesterday was van Zyls proper. It was very tough but believe it or not, all 22 bikes got through with no damage at all in relatively quick order. A huge testament to the teamwork and competence of the guys. This is a record as no group this big has ever done this before.

Just after the critical "step" was even scarier with massive drop off on a loose off camber hill. Again no issues.

After the pass, was a very testing section of about 10k's of deep sand. Phillip who has the sum total of 2 rides in sand picked it up amazingly quickly. The last section for the day was another technical climb that, much to the organizers surprise, everyone cleaned so that we made it home before dark. It was a REALLY excellent day.

Today was the best yet! We rode 70k's down a dry river bed. It's a very tough thing to do. Huge sand skills needed. Phillip took a little while to get into the groove but by the end of the day, was keeping up with the leader easily.

Tons of stories and lots to tell.

To the ones that have loved ones riding, no one has been hurt, all are in great spirits and having the ride of a lifetime.

Hopefully, I'll get better reception soon so that I can start sending pics and video.                       

Rikkus, maybe you need an Africa Twin? We had a great time and easily made it through.... with a tone of sweat

[/kamanya]
{--posting on behalf of Kamanya}

 

[SchalkL]

Today's map: 106KM of sand  :eek7:

 

[craigofcapetown]

{--posting on behalf of Kamanya}
[kamanya]

Himba Locals

[/kamanya]
{--posting on behalf of Kamanya}

 

[craigofcapetown]

{--posting on behalf of Kamanya}
[kamanya]

Himba locals. They are a regal, proud people who've shunned western society.

They use a red ochre and fat on their skin. It is a beauty thing but has many other properties; keeps the mozzies away, moisterises. Funny thought; it stains everything badly, so if any of the boys here "got involved" it would be tough to hide

Puncture. I'm the counter balance whilst the wheels off

[/kamanya]
{--posting on behalf of Kamanya}

 

[craigofcapetown]

DAY 7 !!!
[youtube]https://youtu.be/VuSj5uxpbr8[/youtube]

 

[firecoast]

Not to get all soppy, but........

EK MIS MY MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :'( :'( :'( :'(

 

[Koet]

Ek hoop regtig daar kom 'n meer in-depth video (dalk vir TV?) uit.

Sal ook graag wil meer hoor oor wat die mans en dame dink van die bikes.

 

[XRRX]

Ek hoop regtig daar kom 'n meer in-depth video (dalk vir TV?) uit.

Sal ook graag wil meer hoor oor wat die mans en dame dink van die bikes.

I'm sure we are going to see lots in the weeks and months to come!
Honda has raised the bar in "Adventure bike" marketing substantially!!!

Nobody can say again that the name "Africa Twin" on the side of the bikes is just there for show ....
On top of that they are giving more than 20 people an adventure of a lifetime - for free, while also adding some "hero" status to them ...

 

[hondsekierie]

Absolutely agree that this adventure is the type of event to really showcase the bike's abilities and I think a lot will come of it!!  Hardy and the boys really know their stuff.

I for one think that the AT is an absolute fantastic but underrated bike for adventure riding.  It doesn't have all the power (95hp) but then again, it has the same power as the old 950 Adventure/ Super Enduro.  Nobody would call them under powered and I think for true adventure riding like this you don't need more power.  This is a brilliant in-between dual sport which fills the gap between the hardcore singles and the more road biased 1200 & 1290's (incl 1090 & 1190).

I rode the DCT model the other day and was at first very hesitant as I was constantly looking for the clutch and gearshift.  Could also not figure out how the automatic transmission will react if you want to become more racy.  That was until I started pulling it's ear - all I can say is, that is one incredible bike.  There are a number of irritations like the small footpegs, the stepped seat (which I don't like on an offroad bike) and some smaller niggles but none that you cannot sort out with aftermarket items. If I had to buy one I will definitely invest a bit in the suspension even though I found it much better than the big stock dualies.  For the BMW guys who listened to the ouvrou stories that you cannot pillion on it, go try it out.  It hasn't got 150/160 HP but then again, it was designed to be an adventure bike.

I personally think this bike is years ahead of it's big adventure competitors with that DCT.  If Tau and Kamanya really rate this bike, who the hell am I to disagree after all  :ricky:

 

[BiG DoM]

HSK - I hope you were twisting its ear and not "pulling" it ... but then maybe you pull with a Honda?  :imaposer:

I must say Throttle waxed lyrical about the DCT.

 

[hondsekierie]

HSK - I hope you were twisting its ear and not "pulling" it ... but then maybe you pull with a Honda?  :imaposer:

I must say Throttle waxed lyrical about the DCT.

Ja ja, but i'll just leave it at pulling  :imaposer:

According to Andrew Minxy suffered from some arm pump in the one riverbed yesterday  (after doing some 70km of it).  I reckon she must have ridden the  standard model as the DCT allows you to just twist the ear - but then again, I'm just sitting on my ass doing some keyboard riding :lol8:

At least I get to keep the monetary side of the household doing while she's doing the manly thing, fighting a bike through elephant and lion infested Dakar terrain. 

 

[Losper]

Aag Johan, ons kan sien jy is lekker jaloers. :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[craigofcapetown]

{--posting on behalf of Kamanya}
[kamanya]

Every team gets a chance to pack the kit vehicle. It's Tetris for big boys. Stretchers, chairs, tents and kit bags

Van Zyls

[/kamanya]
{--posting on behalf of Kamanya}

 

[BiG DoM]

Aag Johan, ons kan sien jy is lekker jaloers. :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

And we are worried you are going to get armpump too  > :laughing4:

 

[Oubones]

Absolutely agree that this adventure is the type of event to really showcase the bike's abilities and I think a lot will come of it!!  Hardy and the boys really know their stuff.

I for one think that the AT is an absolute fantastic but underrated bike for adventure riding.  It doesn't have all the power (95hp) but then again, it has the same power as the old 950 Adventure/ Super Enduro.  Nobody would call them under powered and I think for true adventure riding like this you don't need more power.  This is a brilliant in-between dual sport which fills the gap between the hardcore singles and the more road biased 1200 & 1290's (incl 1090 & 1190).

I rode the DCT model the other day and was at first very hesitant as I was constantly looking for the clutch and gearshift.  Could also not figure out how the automatic transmission will react if you want to become more racy.  That was until I started pulling it's ear - all I can say is, that is one incredible bike.  There are a number of irritations like the small footpegs, the stepped seat (which I don't like on an offroad bike) and some smaller niggles but none that you cannot sort out with aftermarket items. If I had to buy one I will definitely invest a bit in the suspension even though I found it much better than the big stock dualies.  For the BMW guys who listened to the ouvrou stories that you cannot pillion on it, go try it out.  It hasn't got 150/160 HP but then again, it was designed to be an adventure bike.

I personally think this bike is years ahead of it's big adventure competitors with that DCT.  If Tau and Kamanya really rate this bike, who the hell am I to disagree after all  :ricky:

I have only ridden the sons NC750 with the DCT box, what a pleasure and we did a bit off gravel around Burne valley and towards Loteni and it handled it really well.
It is very easy to handle in slow riding as it always has torque and pulls from very slow without having to use clutch!
hijack off

 

[Losper]

Aag Johan, ons kan sien jy is lekker jaloers. :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

And we are worried you are going to get armpump too  > :laughing4:

:laughing4:  :laughing4: :laughing4:

 

[hondsekierie]

Aag Johan, ons kan sien jy is lekker jaloers. :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

True, dink daar is baie ouens wat lekker jaloers is oor hierdie trip  :3some:

 

[hondsekierie]

Aag Johan, ons kan sien jy is lekker jaloers. :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

And we are worried you are going to get armpump too  > :laughing4:

:laughing4: :laughing4: :thumleft:

 

[Piston Pete]

Aag Johan, ons kan sien jy is lekker jaloers. :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

And we are worried you are going to get armpump too  > :laughing4:

:laughing4: :laughing4: :thumleft:

:imaposer: :imaposer: :imaposer: