RIDEFAST DECEMBER 2021

Rent yourself a classic bike to tour the Cape!
Classic Tours grew from a problem Bob Hall
of Mike Hopkins Motorcycles was having with
his personal collection of classic Japanese
motorcycles. They were never ready to ride
when he wanted, and this was simply because
they did not get ridden enough to keep them
in working condition. All suffered from flat
batteries and gummed up carburettors.
Before Covid, MHM was successfully hiring out modern
bikes to overseas visitors. Why not then also hire out classic
Japanese bikes, as these have become increasingly popular
with the slightly older motorcyclists from Europe and the US,
wanting to relive their motorcycling youth.
However, there are certain inherent difficulties in hiring out
40-year-old motorcycles on an individual basis. So, the
concept of supplying a complete tour package with guide rider,
back-up support vehicle and spare bike was developed. This
would ensure that the participants get to ride on the best Cape
roads, be able to swop bikes and increase the classic riding
experience and, if a breakdown should occur, it could quickly
be resolved.
Fast forward to today and MHM now has a fleet of running,
classic motorcycles from the period 1978 to 1985: Honda
GL1100, GL1200, CBX1000s, CB1100s, CB900s, CB750s,
Suzuki GS1000S, Yamaha V-Max, and - coming soon – a
Honda CX500 Turbo, CX500, VF750F {yes, the one with
defective camshafts}, and a Triumph T140 Bonneville.
In time it is planned to increase this fleet with motorcycles of
this period from other manufacturers.
RIDEFAST MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2021 65