Lesotho the long way round

[hamman69]

After a long hiatus i finally baught a Ktm 990. I rode it for two months and decided a frip was due. Lesotho was on the cards but my passport had lapsed. I therefore decided if i cannot go through i will go arround. In preperation for the trip instruggled with some difficulties but more on that later..

 

[wooly bugger]

:sip:

 

[hamman69]

Three months ago i bought the KTM 990 Adventure.  I immediately started to think about a trip i could do.  My initial idea was Lesotho but due to my passport not being valid stopped that idea dead in its tracks.  The next option was lets go round Lesotho.  a few hours later i had created a map of my planned trip on my google maps. 

the trip was planned for the first week in May but due to family commitments i had to reschedule to the second week in May.  All my bike buddies were immediately put off the idea of a trip in May because it would be to cold and as a result i started to have my doubts to.  i had however committed to do the trip so it was planning full steam ahead albeit solo.

According to the route i planned each day would be about 350km to the next destination with a two day stopover in the middle of the trip.

Three weeks before my trip i had the 990 now renaimed "the Ginger" after the trip serviced.  The mechanic gave the 990 the thumbs up that it was mechanically sound and ready for any trip.... two days after the service my abs switch stared to flicker and the speedometer started to act up and failed to indicate speed or distance.  Back to the mechanic Ginger went.  He was sure it was just a faulty abs switch and i gave the go ahead that he can order a new one.  a week later the new switch was installed but the problem not resolved... Back she went and after a long search the problem was actually a loose earth connection.  Happy that i could now see how fast i was going i hoped no further gremlins would crop up on me... the mechanic however mentioned that the battery was a sealed maintenance free unit but that it was leaking fluid.  I therefore replaced the battery.  The next day after the battery was installed i rode to work happy that all is well..  at about 10:00 the morning i had to go meet a client and Ginger was dead.  I phoned the mechanic and he immediately came to my work and took out the battery to have it tested.  The battery seemed fine, but testing with the multimeter revealed that the stator was only making 11.8 volts not between 14 and 16 volts as it should have.  This was less than a week before the start of my trip and i was starting to wonder whether a 2500km solo trip was such a good idea...

 

[Noneking]

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[m0lt3n]

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[hamman69]

Ktm in Bloem did not have a stator in stock so it would have to be ordered. Plan B was to have the stator rewired by a local engineering shop. 3 days before the start date of my trip the stator was rewired and fitted. After testing it the mechanic gave me some more bad news... the regulator was also damaged and would have to be replaced. Luckily Rad Moto had stock and one was ordered. The day before my trip the regulator arrived and was fitted.  We held our breath in anticipation an firing the Ginger up. Success at last, a more healthy 14,8 volts at idle. The bike was delivered at my office the Thursday afternoon 16:20 and i was to depart the next day. I had serious second thoughts on whether going on this trip was such a good idea..

That evening i packed all my kit and rode to work and the Friday morning. A total of 12 km of testing..

Friday Afternoon at 14:00 i hit the gravel just outside Bloemfontein in the direction of Tweespruit.

 

[m0lt3n]

That's a dramatic start! where is the rest?

And maybe post the route?

 

[OomD]

sub  :sip:

 

[Rockrider001]

Gosh what a nervous start. Hope your nerves about the niggles did'n spoil a stunning trip

 

[stcomza]

:sip:

 

[Rhino2]

    :deal:

 

[Black_Hawk]

I'm glad that you got the bike sorted out  :thumleft:

I'm also looking forward to see you RR.

 

[hamman69]

My first stopover was Ladybrand a mere 150km from Bloemfontein.  I however intended to do only gravel from Bloemfontein to Ladybrand. 20km out of Bloemfontein on the main gravel road my gps suddenly wanted me to take a left turn, there was however no road sign indicating a road left. I paused for a moment but then decided what the heck lets go left.  The first 50 meters was almost just grass with a faint indication that the pathway had been used by vehicles.  After a kilometer the track turned into winding jeep track.  I had a suspicion that i was on private land as every couple of hundred meters or so i had to stop to open and then close a gate behind me.  After all the rain the Free State had had the last month i had lots of fun with more than enough muddy sections and little stream crossings. By 16:00 i had only done 80km and had not even reached Tweespruit at that stage. The track had included some proper up and down hill sections with lots of lose rocks and this was my first proper off road excursion on the 990.

a quick loock at the perfectly manicured green garden and trees surrounding a farm house confirmed that i had indeed been on some private land.  Nobody bothered to stop me or enquire where i was going so i passed right by the house and soon reached the main gravel road again just before tweespruit.  It was already 17:00 and i wanted to get to Ladybrand before dark so i took the N8 tar road all the way into Ladybrand where i had my first overnight stop.

Luckily for me the Ginger was behaving well and gave me no trouble and soon i arrived in Ladybrand where i stayed over with family and had some Free State Lamb  on the coals that went down well with a few Castle Lights..

 

[hamman69]

Day 1

 

[ClimbingTurtle]

cant trust a GPS......  :imaposer:

 

[hamman69]

Day1

 

[OomD]

Those pics are just so inviting.  :drif:

 

[eberhard]

:thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[weskusklong]

Dis altyd lekker as jy om jou kyk en daar is heen sterfling of huis in sig nie :thumleft:

 

[Kevin Liddell]

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