Sept / Oct - BMW Motorcycle Club of Pretoria, South Africa

I N S I D EB L O O D R U NT A K E N F O R AR I D E ?P O N T D R I F TC O U N T R Y T R A XV R O U E D A GK O S I B A A IK E E P Y O U RF E E T O N T H EG R O U N DB O L T S & N U T S 6S U N D A Y R I D E SE C O 1 0 0 0P I C T U R E P A G E 8www.bmwclubs.co.za223344577F R O M T H E C H A I RThe calendar year is rapidly ending and the Year End Function beckons. It is a good timeto look back and reflect on the many excellent rides that we, as a Club, have undertakenover the past year and to consider how to equal or raise that standard for 2010.The rides that this Club offers its members and guests are arranged by the Rides Subcommittee- a group of volunteers, all keen to be involved in arranging even just one ridethat they know. It is a way of sharing one’s riding pleasure with others by taking them towhere you have been before – or have always wanted to go yourself. It is also a way ofgiving back a little of what you receive as a Club member over the years.The Rides Sub-committee will be holding a planning meeting on 20 th November at a‘bring-en-braai’ hosted by Johan & Trudie Maree. Members interested in joining thegroup to promote their favourite bike trip are asked to contact any Committee member atthe YEF or the next Club Social on 6 th November. It doesn’t take up much time and itonly improves your sense of camaraderie in this Club where we share riding pleasure.Join in. Join up. You’ll enjoy it!Richard HusseyJoin our Club Nights! Share your view on our Forum! Come ride with us!Whatever you do, enjoy your BMW!Great to see our S-riders are not scared to take on the GS roads!D O Y O U H A V E Y O U R F E E T O N T H E G R O U N D ?The thing I like about visiting BMW dealerships is that there is always someone to talk to, especially on Saturdaymornings. By this I don't mean keeping the guys and gals out of their work, as they always have a lot to do, but thatthere's always a crowd of people from outside coming in to buy, to look or just to chat, over a cup of coffee.These informal sessions invariably revolve around chatting about bikes and biking (what else?),with the inevitable variety of opinions, likes, dislikes and experiences, riding and otherwise, to keep even the mostnon-biking listener wide awake.Dit is hoe ek toe op dié onderwerp van saalhoogte gekom het. Kan jy jou motorfiets self optel? Kan jy jou voete platop die grond hou wanneer jy op jou motorfiets sit?Continue on p.5 . . .

V O L U M E 1 4 N O 5 S E P T / O C T 2 0 0 9Page 4V R O U E D A G H E R I N N E R I N G EElf fietse het die Vrouedag-langnaweek ‘n reis na kerkhowe,konsentrasiekampe en monumente onderneem ter ere aan die vrou.Dit was ’nknop-in-die-keelondervinding en ‘nnaweek wat mensverwonderendlaat stilstaan het.J O H A N M A R E EBo en behalwe besoekpuntewat kerkhowe, museums enmonumente o.a. in Balmoral,Heilbron, Kroonstad, Brandforten Bloemfontein insluit, hetons ook lekker lang ritte gehadsoos via Hendrina, Ermelo,Volksrus, New Castletot in Vrede. Van hierdie paaievra om gery te word: ‘Sweeps,straights & potholes’ en alleswat jou hart begeer …Saans het ons natuurlik heerlikgekuier en die hele wêreldse probleme opgelos!K O S I B A Y & S O D W A N A - S A N D & G S F U ND A L E E N D U D L E YAnother long weekend was coming up and a group of GSriders decided this is the ideal opportunity to do somesand riding in the Sodwana/Kosi Bay area. It also givesthe opportunity to visit one of the points for the extremerider award. Sixteen bikes arrivedone after the other at the GarsfonteinEngen garage and after awarm cup of coffee, we took aneerie drive through the mist outsideDelmas, but this sooncleared and from there it wasbeautiful sunny weather, althoughstill a bit cold, it only reallywarmed up after Piet Retief.The ride was quite long but wehad frequent stops to cater for thebikes with the smaller tanks. Theonly serious incident on the roadwas Colin’s bike that had to beloaded on the backup vehicle dueto problems with the bearings of the driveshaft. Unfortunatelythat was the end of Colin and Tina’s trip. Therewas one more exciting incident when Etienne’s bike ranout of fuel just outside Piet Retief. This gave Martin andEtienne the opportunity to practice towing another bike.Everyone arrived safely at Camp Jonathan in Sodwanawhere we had lots of fun around the camp fire and alsoat ‘Maak ‘n Jol’ - the local restaurant around the sandycorner.The next morning was a late start with one group goingto the Kosi Bay border post and the other group wentplaying in the sand. The two groups met up later on theroad to Lake Sibaya but soon we turned off on the roadto Sibaya Lodge where we had our first taste of sand.We had lots of fun, despite quite a number of spills inthe thick sand. We gathered around the camp fire thatnight and had a super South African braai,some shooters and lots of fun and laughter.Sunday morning the adventurousset off to play in the sandagain – this time serious thicksand! The peanut gallery wentwith in the backup vehicle toprovide the necessary supportand refreshments. There weregreat achievements when thedaring conquered some steephills and very thick sand. Theless adventurous opted for aday at the beach soaking upthe sun, relaxing and snorkelingwhere they were laterjoined by the sand riders.The long trip home went viaPongola and Amsterdam for a very scenic alternative,despite the wait at the road works between Pongola andPiet Retief. Unfortunately Pieter had the same misfortuneas Colin and his bike was also taken home on the backof the trailer. All arrived home tired but safe after a highlyenjoyable and satisfactory weekend. All in all we hadgreat fun sharing a mutual passion and learning to ridesand while at the same time gaining very valuable experiencein off-road riding.Thanks to all the advice and tips to improve your skillsand the hands that were always willing to assist withpicking up bikes! I would definitely recommend this toanyone with a GS and some leave to spare!!!

V O L U M E 1 4 N O 5 S E P T / O C T 2 0 0 9Page 6C L U B B O L T S & N U T SE X T R E M E R I D E R SBaie geluk aan Henning & Jean van Zyl, Willie le Hanie, André Botha en Jakes Jacobswat onlangs hulle ’Extreme Rider’-toekennings ontvang het!To be awarded the Extreme Rider or Extreme Pillion medals, the following rules apply:The applicant must have ridden a motorcycle from home base to each of the four furthest points of South Africa:North (Pontdrif), South (Cape Agulhas), East (Kosi Bay) and West (Alexander Bay).Photographic proof, showing the motorcycle in question, rider, and a recognizable landmark must be provided.The same motorcycle does not have to be used for all four points, and there is no time restriction.The applicant must be a paid-up member of the Club in good standing.For the Extreme Gold and Pillion Gold awards, the same rules apply, except that the four points must be visited ina single trip, using the same motorcycle. A maximum of three (3) weeks may have elapsed from start to finish.Further proof, such as dated filling station receipts, will be required.Visit the website: CLUB > Extreme Riders for more . . .Y E A R E N D F U N C T I O N — B A D P L A A S ( 3 0 O C T — 1 N O V )Departure times from Atterbury Shell on Friday 30 October: 9:00 (GS route), 11:00 & 13:00Geluk aan Sias en CorliaBaie geluk aan die twee nuweegpare in ons midde!met hulle verlowing!Ons beste wense aan Albert Ponelis:“On 20th August I had major surgery onmy right shoulder: total shoulderreplacement (I now have brand newstainless steel ball joint) and removal ofvarious calcified tendons/muscles, afterenduring some pain the past 8 months.This is a result of: school rugby injuries ofabout 45 years ago, a cycle accident 6years ago and inherited bad genes of 62years ago (osteo arthiritus). The op wasa success and I am recuperating well. Ihope to be back on my trusty old bike byend of December. I miss you guys!”Pierre & Yolandie Topliss ▲got married on 12 September.◄ Martin & Daleen Dudleygot married on 26 September!Sterkte ook aan Marnus Pieters:Sy sleutelbeen is gebreek en moetwaarskynlik vir 3 maande maar nettoekyk hoe ons ons motorfietse geniet!

S P O K E& P I S T O NPage 7B E E S T E K R A A L – O C T O B E R R I D EBoth the S and GS groups went out to the north west on wet roads afteran early morning coffee from Zambesi Motorrad.A group of 16 riders took the tar via Mogwase and Northam for a 250kmride on a most beautiful country outride. Apart from riding, some of themtried the Charlie Chaplin jump while others could just laugh about.Canal roads and railway service roads took the GS group (10 bikes) toBeestekraal Station where they joined the S’s for a buffet breakfast.B M W G S E C O 1 0 0 0B R U N O B O N O T T OAfter preparation work well done by Roger Smith (Bavarian East), aroute was ready for all the members who joined the GS ECO 1000 -the new proposal from BMW Motorrad.At 05:30 on Friday 19 th September, our group met the others in Midrand,with a lot of curiosity and a will to ride!In order to avoid the traffic jam, the big group was divided into smallgroups of 2 to 6 bikers and we agreed to meet again in Memel.The first section included tar and narrow dirt roads, with no challenges.The second part was a different story: we had the NormandienPass, quite a technical road! It was good to see that theexperienced riders waited at difficult points to make sure the otherscould do the job!We arrived in Clarens without any incident although at times veryconcerned! Clarens was nice and cold as usual and after registration,most of us decided to stay in town and have some good food. Itwas a great idea. The cold weather was the one thing many complainedabout.The second day brought more excitement when beautiful gravelroads were covered. We wanted to spend some time at the beautifulbridge over the Caledon River, but the dirt roads were calling! The last section was dusty and sandy and broughtmore technical riding. Nobody likes to stay behind to eat the others’ dust… so, figure this one out!Gariep Dam Forever Resort was well prepared for the event! We probably didn’t spend all that we paid for (in eatingand drinking), but we were almost there! We enjoyed all kinds of beverages and the party was great.In my personal opinion the GS ECO 1000 was a great and well organised event and, if repeated next year, I’ll attend,but… it can not replace the GS Challenge!B I M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E RO F T H E B M W M O T O R C Y C L E C L U BP R E T O R I A S O U T H A F R I C APO Box 56001Arcadia450 Vermeulen StArcadia0007 Pretoria 0083(012) 083 260 8542(012) 803 7123 fax 0866112734Chairman: Richard HusseySecretary: Zonica VermeulenTreasurer: Etienne PieterseE-mail: dani@bmwclubs.co.zaWebsite: www.bmwclubs.co.zaEditor Spoke & Piston: Dani du PreezS H A R E D R I D I N G P L E A S U R EAll runs and events are subject toconfirmation at the prior Club socialmeeting. This is a work-in-progressschedule and may be altered at anytime. No responsibility will be acceptedfor changes to the programme.IMPORTANT: Non-Club members arewelcome to attend Club riding eventsas guests. Non-members, however, arerequired to sign an indemnity formbefore participating. The form can bedownloaded from the Home Page. TheClub has an official policy regarding theuse and financial compensation ofsupport vehicles on official overnightclub trips. (Details on Events Page.)Spoke & Piston also appears on ourwebsite. Visit us there with newsy bits,information on new products, what ishappening on the motorcycling scene,etc. Please send articles, pictures,comments, etc. to the Editor, Spoke ‘nPiston, PO Box 75474, LynnwoodRidge, 0040 or email todani@bwclubs.co.zaINDEMNITY: Although reasonablecare has been taken to ensure thecorrectness of all material containedherein, the publisher cannot be heldliable for any inaccuracies that mayoccur or damage/loss sustained as aresult of advice given.