Kykdaar
Grey Hound
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2007
- Messages
- 7,610
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- Wingate Park - Pretoria
- Bike
- Zundapp (all models)
My search for a mid-size all-round bike eventually led me to the Kawasaki Versys 650. On paper it looked impressive and, I am happy to report, it’s solid reputation is well deserved.
A few things came together, I had 5 days to myself and I decided to take a bit of a road trip and to scratch one more thing off my bucket list – to visit the Southernmost point of the continent at Algulhas.
I was also keen to see how the Versys stacked up as a touring bike. Prior to leaving I purchased a Givi touring screen and a set of beautiful Givi V-35 luggage contoured to fit the shape of the Versys. The Motech mounting brackets did not arrive in time so I fitted the screen, strapped a gymbag over the rear seat and left Pretoria on a miserable and windy morning. This was a sign of things to come as strong wind was a constant and unwelcome companion for the duration of my trip. The Versys ate up the tarmac and 840Km’s later I arrived in Upington. On the way I passed a group of assorted riders on adventure bikes in Delareyville – must have been dogs, because they all waved back.
The original plan for the next day was to drive to Lambertsbaai via Kenhardt and Calvinia, but the guesthouse owner recommended that I keep to the N14 as there were still some late-season flowers to be seen. Outside Kakamas, the road really opened up in the flat landscape and I took the opportunity to really open the Versys up n bit and I was not disappointed – for a 650 this thing can really shift thanks to that lovely parallel twin motor.
In no time I stopped at the Garage in Pofadder for fuel and a coke. Some nice old wagons in the restaurant, but fortunately things have moved on since then. Standing outside I was engaged in conversation by a friendly tannie who confessed that she could never fathom why people toured on motorcycles until she read a book on the “Zen of Motorcycling”. She asked me if I read it and when I replied that I have not she asked me what my motivation was. For various reasons at that time it was actually a very good question to contemplate, but the best I could come up with was “It is quiet and peaceful”
Just outside Springbok the first flowers appeared and it was indeed nice to see. I stopped a few times to take pictures and enjoy the solitude of the largely deserted road. I decided to turn off at Kamieskroon for a break and ended up at a local coffee shop managed by a very friendly Oom. Spent a very pleasant half an hour sitting in the shade of a verandah and talking to the Oom on a surprisingly wide variety of interesting topics. Some amazing people that one meets in the most unexpected places.
The N7 felt like it would go on forever and just outside Clanwilliam I came up alongside another adventure rider on a blue KLR packed for a trip. Gave him the thumps up and carried on as by now doing a similar 110km/h felt like crawling along. Arrived in Lambertsbaai with the sun in my eyes, caught the local Info centre open with 5 minutes to spare and secured a booking in a guesthouse. Distance for the day was about 814 km’s. An hour or so later I was having a few cold ones at Isabella’s, enjoying the sea breeze and waiting for my meal to arrive – life is good.
A few things came together, I had 5 days to myself and I decided to take a bit of a road trip and to scratch one more thing off my bucket list – to visit the Southernmost point of the continent at Algulhas.
I was also keen to see how the Versys stacked up as a touring bike. Prior to leaving I purchased a Givi touring screen and a set of beautiful Givi V-35 luggage contoured to fit the shape of the Versys. The Motech mounting brackets did not arrive in time so I fitted the screen, strapped a gymbag over the rear seat and left Pretoria on a miserable and windy morning. This was a sign of things to come as strong wind was a constant and unwelcome companion for the duration of my trip. The Versys ate up the tarmac and 840Km’s later I arrived in Upington. On the way I passed a group of assorted riders on adventure bikes in Delareyville – must have been dogs, because they all waved back.
The original plan for the next day was to drive to Lambertsbaai via Kenhardt and Calvinia, but the guesthouse owner recommended that I keep to the N14 as there were still some late-season flowers to be seen. Outside Kakamas, the road really opened up in the flat landscape and I took the opportunity to really open the Versys up n bit and I was not disappointed – for a 650 this thing can really shift thanks to that lovely parallel twin motor.
In no time I stopped at the Garage in Pofadder for fuel and a coke. Some nice old wagons in the restaurant, but fortunately things have moved on since then. Standing outside I was engaged in conversation by a friendly tannie who confessed that she could never fathom why people toured on motorcycles until she read a book on the “Zen of Motorcycling”. She asked me if I read it and when I replied that I have not she asked me what my motivation was. For various reasons at that time it was actually a very good question to contemplate, but the best I could come up with was “It is quiet and peaceful”
Just outside Springbok the first flowers appeared and it was indeed nice to see. I stopped a few times to take pictures and enjoy the solitude of the largely deserted road. I decided to turn off at Kamieskroon for a break and ended up at a local coffee shop managed by a very friendly Oom. Spent a very pleasant half an hour sitting in the shade of a verandah and talking to the Oom on a surprisingly wide variety of interesting topics. Some amazing people that one meets in the most unexpected places.
The N7 felt like it would go on forever and just outside Clanwilliam I came up alongside another adventure rider on a blue KLR packed for a trip. Gave him the thumps up and carried on as by now doing a similar 110km/h felt like crawling along. Arrived in Lambertsbaai with the sun in my eyes, caught the local Info centre open with 5 minutes to spare and secured a booking in a guesthouse. Distance for the day was about 814 km’s. An hour or so later I was having a few cold ones at Isabella’s, enjoying the sea breeze and waiting for my meal to arrive – life is good.
