tankwa rally - 1; 990 - 0

[detour]

Perhaps a last thought… with “big adventure bike” I mean 1200/1250GS, 1090/1190/1290 KTM. Tankwa will still be a good challenge on a 790/890 KTM, but not “borderline stupid”. The lighter weight and better suspension on these mid-range bikes will make a big difference over the rocks - I recon you will be faster by at least an hour per day on the mid-range adventure bikes.

 

[m0lt3n]

Well, day one I sucked, day two I thought I had to get it together and pushed harder...and the rocks won.

So guessing there is truth in the big bike conundrum.

Also maintain I should have and could have pushed even harder, my bikes have been a lot worse off on most other trips I have done. a moot point as I still did not finish.



I have a different view though...
my sweat my blood my money my bike. I wont win even on a 450 and unlimited budget, so being a few hours slower but on my big bike that I love means a lot more to me.
So I can understand if big bikes get banned, I think the reasoning would be debatable (holding sweepers back blah blah) but while they arent I will probably be back on a big bike. Someone has to finish last. I will be happy with a finish.



Off topic, overheard a guy there going on about big bikes and rider wanting to show off his money and ego....and I couldnt help but wonder if he realizes even remotely what those front runner's bikes cost, or what a mouse and set of excel rims cost on them...

 

[Noneking]

Well, day one I sucked, day two I thought I had to get it together and pushed harder...and the rocks won.

So guessing there is truth in the big bike conundrum.

Also maintain I should have and could have pushed even harder, my bikes have been a lot worse off on most other trips I have done. a moot point as I still did not finish.



I have a different view though...
my sweat my blood my money my bike. I wont win even on a 450 and unlimited budget, so being a few hours slower but on my big bike that I love means a lot more to me.
So I can understand if big bikes get banned, I think the reasoning would be debatable (holding sweepers back blah blah) but while they arent I will probably be back on a big bike. Someone has to finish last. I will be happy with a finish.



Off topic, overheard a guy there going on about big bikes and rider wanting to show off his money and ego....and I couldnt help but wonder if he realizes even remotely what those front runner's bikes cost, or what a mouse and set of excel rims cost on them...

I think adventure bike class at a rally is an awesome way to get more people into the sport. Instead of buying a 450, you can go and get a feel for the experience and if the gogga bites you can always commit to the sport with a more appropriate bike.

On your last comment..... there's always the "it's a pissing contest" or "klein tottie syndrome" or "showing of his money" when guys enjoy riding big bikes in challenging situations. When Pol rides a big bike at Romaniacs he's a hero, but if I want to ride my big bike at an event I'm a poepPol....... ot:

 

[m0lt3n]

Yap, pretty irritated at the pissing contest comments in general.

I got the impression they are not interested in growing the amount of competitors, cause I was also thinking that if they made the days slightly shorter (like the silver class was on day two) and maybe take out the absolute worse obstacles (I never met something that was technically to difficult though, but I did not ride the complete course) then they could add A LOT of adventure class riders. I know PLENTY big bike riders better than me that would love this. The opposite to this is that the event may become watered down, mellow, and we dont want that either.
So it is what it is, lets hope big bikes dont get banned, ons het ook n hart.




But Pol is a hero, he did that on a Kadwa

 

[51Mobile]

Well, day one I sucked, day two I thought I had to get it together and pushed harder...and the rocks won.

So guessing there is truth in the big bike conundrum.

Also maintain I should have and could have pushed even harder, my bikes have been a lot worse off on most other trips I have done. a moot point as I still did not finish.



I have a different view though...
my sweat my blood my money my bike. I wont win even on a 450 and unlimited budget, so being a few hours slower but on my big bike that I love means a lot more to me.
So I can understand if big bikes get banned, I think the reasoning would be debatable (holding sweepers back blah blah) but while they arent I will probably be back on a big bike. Someone has to finish last. I will be happy with a finish.



Off topic, overheard a guy there going on about big bikes and rider wanting to show off his money and ego....and I couldnt help but wonder if he realizes even remotely what those front runner's bikes cost, or what a mouse and set of excel rims cost on them...

I think adventure bike class at a rally is an awesome way to get more people into the sport. Instead of buying a 450, you can go and get a feel for the experience and if the gogga bites you can always commit to the sport with a more appropriate bike.

On your last comment..... there's always the "it's a pissing contest" or "klein tottie syndrome" or "showing of his money" when guys enjoy riding big bikes in challenging situations. When Pol rides a big bike at Romaniacs he's a hero, but if I want to ride my big bike at an event I'm a poepPol....... ot:

:hello2: :hello2: :hello2:

Smaller bike certainly does not equal lower cost in this space! There are advantages and disadvantages to both in almost any circumstances. Rally bikes are high cost to start, and it does not end there, expensive maintenance never ends.

I do believe that there is a market for Rally Raid type events/ Adventure class at most rally's. It would be a pity if organisers drop this opportunity. It's true that us adventure riders like to believe that we can take our bikes almost anywhere, and are often proven wrong. But we are prepared to try and try again. Getting the balance of our efforts and hampering the event for the organisers is the trick.

 

[m0lt3n]

^  exactly
difficult thing to balance

 

[JacoM]

Well, day one I sucked, day two I thought I had to get it together and pushed harder...and the rocks won.

So guessing there is truth in the big bike conundrum.

Also maintain I should have and could have pushed even harder, my bikes have been a lot worse off on most other trips I have done. a moot point as I still did not finish.



I have a different view though...
my sweat my blood my money my bike. I wont win even on a 450 and unlimited budget, so being a few hours slower but on my big bike that I love means a lot more to me.
So I can understand if big bikes get banned, I think the reasoning would be debatable (holding sweepers back blah blah) but while they arent I will probably be back on a big bike. Someone has to finish last. I will be happy with a finish.



Off topic, overheard a guy there going on about big bikes and rider wanting to show off his money and ego....and I couldnt help but wonder if he realizes even remotely what those front runner's bikes cost, or what a mouse and set of excel rims cost on them...

I think adventure bike class at a rally is an awesome way to get more people into the sport. Instead of buying a 450, you can go and get a feel for the experience and if the gogga bites you can always commit to the sport with a more appropriate bike.

On your last comment..... there's always the "it's a pissing contest" or "klein tottie syndrome" or "showing of his money" when guys enjoy riding big bikes in challenging situations. When Pol rides a big bike at Romaniacs he's a hero, but if I want to ride my big bike at an event I'm a poepPol....... ot:

Manne, ek sien ook kans om dit op my HP2 te doen..het al sonder te veel moeite daar anderkant Ouberg op die brandpad opgegaan - daar waar Rynet so spectacular met haar GS op is..
En ek het nie name genoem of gesinspeel op enigiemand se onderdele..
Ek se net dit is nie 'n goeie idee, want 'n groot fiets slaan skerp klippe harder en iets moet meegee. Jy gaan iewers loop staan..
'n 500, met minder explosiewe krag as 450, vermoed ek is die ideale fiets wat jou groot plesier gaan verskaf in Tankwa

 

[m0lt3n]

Ek dink ook n 500 is inderdaad die ideale fiets

maar ek het nie een nie  atch:

 

[BuRP]

I wont win even on a 450 and unlimited budget, so being a few hours slower but on my big bike that I love means a lot more to me

Nice summary, and well done!  :thumleft:
Go ride with Noneking, he also prefers his bigger bikes for stuff I will take a smaller one for 

 

[SabreF86]

Wat sal jy anders doen in terme van bande sou jy dit weer doen met die 990 ?

 

[m0lt3n]

Wat sal jy anders doen in terme van bande sou jy dit weer doen met die 990 ?

Moes klomp ander goed uitsorteer so sal nou eers die week my agter wiel af haal en kyk wat daar aan gaan.
Voor sal ek die regte size in MX op sit, (90/90/r21) anders kap daai klippe darm net te veel jou rim as die band te nou is. So voor nie te veel drama nie.

Agter sal ek seker daai selfde band weer gebruik as dinge so uitwerk. Dalk net ekstra tube oop sny en in sit as ekstra lining saam heavy duty tube. Moet nog gaan kyk hoe lyk die sny, of ek hom kan reg maak en ooit wil reg maak

 

[Beserker]

Well done [member=14258]m0lt3n[/member] -  will see you there next year, hopefully on big bike as well.

There is always the first time, kudo's to you for taking the leap. Second time round is always easier, you know what aspects of your race and of your expectations to manage.

Dave