Ridefast January 2022

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The R44 route runs from the Boland all the way through Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Strand and then snakes along the coast from Gordons Bay all the way to Rooi Els past Kleinmond. On a weekday morning the road is relatively quiet which makes it an ideal time to enjoy this spectacular piece of smooth tarmac, not to mention the scenery through your visor. With the condition of plenty of the roads in South Africa in total degradation, thankfully in the Western Cape that is usually not the case. The R44 is a perfect example of a well-maintained road. The result is that over weekends you can expect to find a wide variety of bikers, classic and sports car enthusiasts and cyclists enjoying this strip of nirvana. It hugs the coast and with plenty of corners you can dive into and out of them. The R 1250 RT might be on the heavy side, but it eagerly makes its way along this stretch. Even though there are several riding modes (road, rain and eco), I select the dynamic setting, plainly because of the better throttle response. The tractable engine allows you to potter around as low as 3 000 r/ min in sixth gear, but at the same time the engine is happy to be revved past 8 000 r/min to the 9 000 r/min redline. However, I quickly settle into a rhythm of rather selecting a higher gear as there is tonnes of torque on offer anywhere in the rev range. Between the road and the rocks on your way to Koeël Bay you will find The Grille Shack, a new restaurant that opened a couple a years ago. However, having done less than an hour’s riding, I still want to do some miles before I stop. Through these twisties the clutchless shift works a treat. I continue along the coast and enjoy how the road at times comes close to the breaking waves and at times climbs higher, offering a beautiful view over False Bay. Passing the small town of Rooi Els I realise again how many restaurants and coffee stops are along this road. I saw no less than two temporary coffee and snack stops along the way, offering drivers, riders and visitors an opportunity to stop, have a drink and enjoy the scenery. Once you’ve climbed the hill outside Rooi Els, the main twisty section of the road is behind you. Now there are long sweeps with straights. With no traffic in sight, I twist the throttle and soon the BMW approaches its top speed within what felt like only a few seconds. There is the option to lift the large windscreen higher with the press of a single button. It does take some buffeting away from your head, but I personally prefer its lower setting as it is visually a little intrusive. Soon I enter Betties Bay followed by Kleinmond. Apart from Hermanus, Kleinmond is the largest town in this area. It also has a launching pad for fishing boats and around this area several shops have been built over the years. Cape Dry offers a wide range of dried fruit, while Kabel Joe’s seafood restaurant has great sea food with a view as well. There are even two book shops and a vintage vinyl shop. After buying some dried fruit and putting it in the spacious side panniers, I leave the town and head further along the R44 which leads past the beautiful Arabella Country Estate. At the T-junction I turn left to head along the R43 that eventually joins the N2. For most of us bikers, a highway is not a road you want to spend too much time on. However, as with a lot of stretches of the N2, this is a great leg of national highway. Within a few hundred metres the road twists and turns signalling the start of Houwhoek Pass. With two lanes, and again almost no traffic, I have ample space to plan my line through each corner. Tipping the scales at 280 kg the RT settles in a corner and the weight pushes those large tyres K1 R 33 4, R2 R R G3 10 42 R R6 Ve K 13 8 R R B
(front: 120/70 17, rear: 180/55 17) into the tarmac. The Elgin valley is known for fruit production as well as for pine tree plantations. I pass one the Houwhoek Farm Stall, which is also a good stop, but I’m aiming for one of the best stops along this stretch of road – Peregrine Farm Stall. Peregrine is one of the most loved farm stall stops along the N2. If you rather want to stop at a smaller and less crowded farm stall there are other options, but Peregrine really offers everything you could wish for. There is outside seating, great coffee, pies and even a small shop. You will also find a great little book shop next to the restaurant. I feel like a retiree when I pull in and two youngsters stop with their KTM 790 Adventures. They might have had more fun, but I definitely had a more relaxing ride this morning. The final stretch before I arrive home in the Helderberg area is the N2. This national road crosses over the Steenbras Dam which is completely full and the dark blue water looks quite inviting. There is a way to head off-road a get closer to these waters, but you need an adventure bike to do that. Before I head down Sir Lowry’s Pass, there is one final lookout point to stop. Sir Lowry’s Pass’s look out point is only 452 metres above sea level, but you have a stunning view over the Helderberg area, the Cape Flat and even Table Mountain. A guy pulls up in his car, admiring the bike and indicating that it must be quite fun to ride. I share with him that it is not my bike and we exchange a few words. He is driving a Volkswagen Caddy panel van, and he tells me that he went on a drive on his way to his kids in Cape Town, partly to clear his mind… I get the idea that he should have been the one on the bike! The long corners heading down Sir Lowry’s again illustrate the sure footedness of the RT. On the final day of ride on the RT I head from Somerset West to Malmesbury. I flick through the onboard computer (done by using the ring and buttons on the left handle bar) to see that my average consumption for over 300 kilometres of riding was 5.4 litres per 100 km, plus, I also had a fuel range left of 120 km. That means a realistic, open road, cruising range of over 400 km from the 25-litre tank. South Africans love BMW’s GS, and it is easy to see why. It is comfortable, capable and an all-round stunner of a bike. However, if you never want to venture off-road, but want one of the ultimate on-road touring motorcycles, it is hard to beat the RT. www.bmw-motorrad.co.ca K1600 R18, K1600 First R18, BAGGER Edition First BAGGER Edition 2018 2020 2018 2020 33 4,000km 33 4,000km E X Demo E X Demo R289 R280 R289 000 R280 000 000 000 S1000 F700 S1000 F700 GS RR, 2013 GS 2010 RR, 2013 2010 45,000km 48 45,000km 48 R119 R79 000 R119 R79 000 000 000 S1000 R1250 S1000 R1250 RR RS, 2014 2021 RR RS, 2014 2021 49 2 300km 000km 49 2 300km 000km Top Box Top Box R155 R199 R155 R199 000 000 R 1250 R RS, 1250 2019 RS, 2019 G310 100km G310 R 100km 2020 R 2020 420km R215 420km R215 000 000 R69 000 R69 000 R1250RT, R1250RT, 2019 2019 R1250 18 000km R1250 18 GSA 000km 2018 GSA 2018 7 R230 000km 7 R230 000 000km 000 R320 R320 000 000 C400 C400 X 2020 X 2020 KTM 1,300km KTM 1190 1,300km ADVENTURE 1190 ADVENTURE S 2015 S 2015 55 R109 000km 55 R109 000 000km AKRAPOVIC 000 AKRAPOVIC PIPE PIPE R119 R119 000 000 Vespa Vespa 300 GTS, 300 GTS, 2018 2018 KTM 13,500km KTM 1290 13,500km SUPER 1290 SUPER DUKE DUKE 2015 2015 8 R99 500km 000 8 R99 500km 000 Vespa Vespa 250 GTS, 250 GTS, 2011 2011 G 13, 310 000km G 13, R 310 2020 000km R 2020 800km R89 000 800km R89 000 R69 R105 000 R69 R105 000 R175 R175 000 000 BMW Motorrad Fourways R1250 R1250 GS Adventure GS Adventure 2013 2013 K 1300 K B 2018 34,000km 1300 B 2018 34,000km 12 500km 12 R245 500km Remi Exhaust,Floor Boards R245 000 Remi Exhaust,Floor Boards 000 R299 R299 000 000 Cnr Witkoppen Cnr Witkoppen and Cedar and Cedar Road. Road. Fourways, Fourways, Gauteng. Gauteng. Tel: (011) Tel: (011) 367-1600 367-1600 Email: Email: rodney.serfontein@cedarisle.co.za
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Ridefast January 2022

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