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master-brewer who operated<br />
it died a few years ago, and<br />
the new owners relocated it<br />
to Olifantsnek… lucky for us!<br />
After a very satisfying German<br />
influenced lunch we reluctantly<br />
headed back to Randburg.<br />
About halfway back, after<br />
having enjoyed whistling back<br />
up Hekpoort itself, we came<br />
across a crowd of people<br />
standing on the side of the<br />
road, gazing into a field right<br />
on the edge of the road. Being<br />
a nosy bunch we stopped,<br />
and to our amazement, there<br />
just 5 meters from the road<br />
was a full grown lioness lying<br />
languidly flat on her back with<br />
legs flayed out in abandon,<br />
enjoying the shade of a thorn<br />
tree, just as lion probably spend<br />
many afternoons for hundreds,<br />
if not thousands of years in this<br />
area. Even though she was<br />
completely oblivious of the little<br />
crowd gathered on the side of<br />
the road, we were quite happy<br />
there was a fence between her<br />
and us!<br />
After this enjoyable interlude<br />
we got going again, only to<br />
find another little huddle on<br />
the side of the road not 100<br />
meters further along. Again<br />
we stopped, but this time the<br />
centre of attraction was a full<br />
grown male white Tiger! Not<br />
something we ever expected to<br />
see anywhere in Africa, never<br />
mind here 45 minutes as the<br />
KTM flies from Sandton City.<br />
What’s more this big fella was<br />
just as indifferent to the humans<br />
gawping at him as the lioness<br />
was, and slowly rolled over onto<br />
his back, legs outspread, no<br />
doubt to get some cool air on<br />
his overheated private parts!<br />
Pat was riding the 1190 KTM<br />
by this time and remarked on<br />
several aspects of the bike, like<br />
how it felt quite different from its’<br />
bigger brother. For one thing the<br />
handlebars, the windscreen, and<br />
the seat are all a lot different,<br />
and while the big KTM gives a<br />
riding position similar to the BM,<br />
the 1190 is a lot different. The<br />
engine is almost just as strong,<br />
and the handling and brakes are<br />
so good. The biggest difference<br />
from the riders point of view<br />
is the windscreen. The one<br />
on the 1290 is larger, and has<br />
much more complicated shape,<br />
including a slot on the face at<br />
eye level, it’s quite irritating for<br />
a rider of Pats size and height,<br />
whereas the screen on the<br />
1190 is much plainer and more<br />
practical. It’s also noticeable<br />
how noisy a chain is for<br />
someone used to a drive shaft,<br />
but most riders do get used to it<br />
and don’t notice it after a while.<br />
So after a couple of very happy<br />
hours in the saddle, having<br />
visited the place of Elephants,<br />
and having seen a white Tiger<br />
and a lioness right next to the<br />
road, our day came to an end<br />
negotiating the late afternoon<br />
traffic. Here again the two KTM’s<br />
proved remarkable comfortable<br />
and capable.<br />
The verdict at the end of the<br />
day was that even though some<br />
riders may favour one brand of<br />
bike over another, there was no<br />
doubt whatsoever that these<br />
two KTMs, and especially the<br />
1290, are certainly at the top<br />
of the pile when it comes to<br />
comfort and capability and are<br />
amongst the best adventure<br />
bikes available.<br />
www.ktm.com for your<br />
nearest dealer.<br />
<strong>1601</strong> <strong>DT</strong> KTM.indd 71 2015/12/16 9:48 AM
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