Namibia - Specialised riding bliss!

[0012]

oh man, looking forward to watching this video this weekend!  :thumleft:

oh man did I enjoy it  :biggrin:

Thank you and well done, very well put together! Such a fantastic experience

 

[Campbell McCurrach]

Damaraland and Kaokoland with Specialized Adventures and 12 friends............not much that I can add to previous ride reports done by Chopperpilot and Noneking. however I would like to share a great video compiled by Campbell McCurrach. There is not much more that I can say other than this trip is an absolute must! The desert stirs the soul like no other place I have been. The riding is epic and unforgettable. Hardy De Kock and his team are the most organized knowledgeable back-up and facilitators I have ever had the pleasure to travel with. If you haven't done this trip, do it soon as you can, I don't know how much longer bikes will be allowed to the routes we did.

[flash=480,385]https://www.youtube.com/v/N-BoIauvrRk&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR29A75J4YTvTUpWvFxVG3vnx9D3GzKEnbblWeR4PiFo2HIKvhv3cI6OkMM[/flash]

No, I'm not jealous. At all!

I said you'd like it.

Stunning work with that video. That's a ton of work.

More than most know. Thanks for the kind words.

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[stcomza]

What a trip!
What a RR!

Thank you so much for sharing  :thumleft:

 

[Jackol.]

Awesome video!!! I have watched it a few times now and I just realise that this is a bucket list trip an absolutely must do...

You just makes me jealous with these vids!!!

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[TheHamster]

We all need to do something like this at some stage in our lives !!

Great video. Thanks.

 

[KaTooMatt]

I see you guys are on some big bikes. All the other reports on Hardy's trips are advising bikes in the 500cc or smaller range.

This has been a bit of a handbreak on this trip for me as I only have a 990.

You had a 990 and bigger bikes on the trip. Are you all riding gods? Did the riders feel heavily handicapped and would bring smaller bikes next time or was fun has by all? How did the 790 compare to the 990 in that terrain?

 

[Campbell McCurrach]

I see you guys are on some big bikes. All the other reports on Hardy's trips are advising bikes in the 500cc or smaller range.

This has been a bit of a handbreak on this trip for me as I only have a 990.

You had a 990 and bigger bikes on the trip. Are you all riding gods? Did the riders feel heavily handicapped and would bring smaller bikes next time or was fun has by all? How did the 790 compare to the 990 in that terrain?

Hi,

I can't speak for the guys on 990's, 1190's and 1290 because I was one of three on a 690 but rode alongside them and I have come from riding bigger bikes myself.

The average riding skill or competence level of this particular group was quite high. Almost everyone in the group is and quite experienced rider and the type to be found opting for LDBA and NDBA black route type riding as a preference I.e. enjoy a good challenge.

There will always be an inverse proportionate relationship between ease of riding, size/weight of bike and skill level of the rider. Fact remains, smaller lighter bikes will always be easier to ride in sand but this trip has 3-4days of positioning riding where a small bike is going to get very uncomfortable quickly.

My sense of it all is that between 500cc and 700cc  is where you want to be for Kaokoland. Unless you're really good at riding in deep soft river bed type sand on a big bike then you are going to land up having a good couple of afkak moments. By good I mean prepared to hang on the cable and ride the sand fast as well aggressively to reduce the PT factor.

What was clear on the trip is that the guys on the three XR650's had it easy and that those bikes in particular are very well suited to desert riding.

FYI, there were no 790's on the trip with us but I hear from a friend who did the KTM Ultimate Race in Morrocco that the 790 is very good in desert conditions thanks to the low centre of gravity amongst other attributes.

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[Hardy de Kock]

I see you guys are on some big bikes. All the other reports on Hardy's trips are advising bikes in the 500cc or smaller range.

This has been a bit of a handbreak on this trip for me as I only have a 990.

You had a 990 and bigger bikes on the trip. Are you all riding gods? Did the riders feel heavily handicapped and would bring smaller bikes next time or was fun has by all? How did the 790 compare to the 990 in that terrain?

Hi,

I can't speak for the guys on 990's, 1190's and 1290 because I was one of three on a 690 but rode alongside them and I have come from riding bigger bikes myself.

The average riding skill or competence level of this particular group was quite high. Almost everyone in the group is and quite experienced rider and the type to be found opting for LDBA and NDBA black route type riding as a preference I.e. enjoy a good challenge.

There will always be an inverse proportionate relationship between ease of riding, size/weight of bike and skill level of the rider. Fact remains, smaller lighter bikes will always be easier to ride in sand but this trip has 3-4days of positioning riding where a small bike is going to get very uncomfortable quickly.

My sense of it all is that between 500cc and 700cc  is where you want to be for Kaokoland. Unless you're really good at riding in deep soft river bed type sand on a big bike then you are going to land up having a good couple of afkak moments. By good I mean prepared to hang on the cable and ride the sand fast as well aggressively to reduce the PT factor.

What was clear on the trip is that the guys on the three XR650's had it easy and that those bikes in particular are very well suited to desert riding.

FYI, there were no 790's on the trip with us but I hear from a friend who did the KTM Ultimate Race in Morrocco that the 790 is very good in desert conditions thanks to the low centre of gravity amongst other attributes.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

The one thing I agree with above, is the fact that the XR’s made it easier for their riders.

 

[LMG]

Awsome.  Great trip; great video; great riding - no seriously impressive riding skills.

 

[Just Blip It!]

I see you guys are on some big bikes. All the other reports on Hardy's trips are advising bikes in the 500cc or smaller range.

This has been a bit of a handbreak on this trip for me as I only have a 990.

You had a 990 and bigger bikes on the trip. Are you all riding gods? Did the riders feel heavily handicapped and would bring smaller bikes next time or was fun has by all? How did the 790 compare to the 990 in that terrain?

Speaking for myself who was on a KTM 990, I wouldn't want to do the trip on anything else! The 990 ate up everything I threw at it, it was a handful in the sand in a few places, but these were short distances, 300m here and 150m there, and then again it eats up the long gravel sections better than a small single cylinder without wind protection, otherwise it was great fun and satisfying to take these big yet capable bikes through the desert. I believe you should choose a bike that works for you and get used to riding it in as many different environments as you can. Challenging terrain is always satisfying to conquer no matter what bike you are on but when it's a beast like the 990 or 1290 that were on the trip it's a little more satisfying! :ricky: :thumleft:

 

[171steve]

I see you guys are on some big bikes. All the other reports on Hardy's trips are advising bikes in the 500cc or smaller range.

This has been a bit of a handbreak on this trip for me as I only have a 990.

You had a 990 and bigger bikes on the trip. Are you all riding gods? Did the riders feel heavily handicapped and would bring smaller bikes next time or was fun has by all? How did the 790 compare to the 990 in that terrain?

Speaking for myself who was on a KTM 990, I wouldn't want to do the trip on anything else! The 990 ate up everything I threw at it, it was a handful in the sand in a few places, but these were short distances, 300m here and 150m there, and then again it eats up the long gravel sections better than a small single cylinder without wind protection, otherwise it was great fun and satisfying to take these big yet capable bikes through the desert. I believe you should choose a bike that works for you and get used to riding it in as many different environments as you can. Challenging terrain is always satisfying to conquer no matter what bike you are on but when it's a beast like the 990 or 1290 that were on the trip it's a little more satisfying! :ricky: :thumleft:

This gets me sad selling the 990 all over again
No better feeling in the world than conquering tough terrain on a big bike

 

[Buff]

Spectacular riding and great video, thanks for sharing it  :thumleft: Certainly on my bucket list of places to visit by bike.