Dirt and Trail June 2022

Ride More Stress Less 

www.motomedia.co.za 

JUNE 2022 

2023 

husqvarna 

mx range 

JUNE 2022 RSA R35.00 

9 771815 337001 

22006 

2022 

AFRICA TWIN 

2023 mx 

MODELS 

AND FAMILY

P 

an 

*M 

A 

*V 

4.5 BOOTS 

GOOD LOOKS, GREAT RIDE 

SLIDE LOCK CLOSURE 

2022 4.5 COLLECTION 

Leatt® is proud to present our 2022 4.5 Boot colours. Style and design makes a boot look great but when it 

comes to footwear, comfort and protection are key elements at Leatt®. As you slide your foot inside our boots 

you will instantly feel the plush interior and quality of the materials used, it’s like putting your feet inside your 

favorite shoes. Bike, gear lever and rear brake feel are important, something our boots are renowned for, and the 

SlideLock closure system gives a great seal at the top of the boot. Looks, comfort and safety make good boots 

and an even better ride. 

THE SCIENCE OF THRILL 

LEATT.COM

WIN WITH 

& 

PURCHASE ANY NEXX HELMET 

and send us a picture of you and your 

new helmet to pba@auto-x.co.za 

Scan Here 

*Michelin Dual Purpose Tyres only. 

ASK IN STORE FOR MORE DETAILS 

*Valid From 1st May 2022 - 31st July 2022 

ANAKEE 

ADVENTURE 

AVAILABLE FROM YOUR NEAREST PBA DEALER 

ANAKEE 

WILD 

* 210/240 KPH Speed Rating. *170/180 KPH Speed Rating. 

CAPE PROVINCE 

CRAIGS MOTORCYCLE 

NEVES MOTORCYCLE WORLD 

TRAC MAC BELLVILLE 

TRAC MAC PAARDEN EILAND 

TRAC MAC WYNBURG 

NORTHWEST 

BIKERS PARADISE 

WATERITE MOTORCYCLES 

FREE STATE 

SALLEYS YAMAHA 

021 939 8916 

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GAUTENG 

BIKERS WAREHOUSE 

BIKING ACCESSORIES 

FAST KTM 

FIRE IT UP 

GAME SERVICES 

MOTO MATE EDENVALE 

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MOTO MATE BOKSBURG 

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C 

Intro. Keeping the wheels turning... 

JUNE Issue 2022 

We wanna hear from you info@motomedia.co.za 

Read our back issues at www.motomedia.co.za 

“The bike won’t start,” said a wife to her husband. 

“I think there’s water in the carburetor.” 

“How do you know?” said the husband scornfully. 

“You don’t even know what the carburetor is.” 

“I’m telling you,” repeated the wife, 

“I’m sure there’s water in the carburetor.” 

“We’ll see,” mocked the husband. 

“Let me check it out. Where’s the bike?” 

“In the swimming pool.” 

PUBLISHER: 

Glenn Foley 

foleyg@mweb.co.za 

ADVERTISING AND 

EDITORIAL: 

Sean Hendley 

sean@motomedia. 

co.za 

071 684 4546 

OFFICE & 

SUBSCRIPTIONS: 

Anette 

anette.acc@ mweb. 

co.za 

ONLINE & 

DESIGN LAYOUT: 

Kyle Lawrenson 

kyle@motomedia. 

co.za 

Cape Town Sales and 

News: 

Lorna Darrol 

lornad@motomeda. 

co.za 

074 122 4874 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Stefan van der Riet 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Shado Alston 

Donovan Fourie 

Tristan Foley 

Kurt Beine 

Mike Wessels 

Morag Campbell 

Kyle Foley 

The Garth Taylor 

G 

WWW.MOTOMEDIA.CO.ZA 

IN THIS ISSUE 

O 

Copyright © Dirt And Trail Magazine: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, 

distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, articles, or other methods, 

without asking nicely...

www.gasgas.com 

GET 

Photos: Sebas Romeo, Mitterbauer H. 

ON THE 

CHECK IT OUT! 

G A S ! 

Purpose built for no-nonsense riding enjoyment, GASGAS EC Enduro bikes put highperformance 

into the hands of everyone from occasional weekend warriors to those chasing 

extreme enduro glory. Wherever you decide to ride, GASGAS EC 2-stroke and 4-stroke enduro 

bikes are super versatile, ready to get you through the hardest rides and to the top of the 

gnarliest climbs! 

#GetOnTheGas 

@gasgas.official 

Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations! 

The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.

Stay Hydrated: Drip Drop 

We’ve been trying this product and… we like it. A lot. 

There have been lots of times when we are out on the 

trails – or when we get back from marking and we cramp 

up. Cramping is caused by dehydration and the loss of 

essential minerals when you sweat. 

We opted to grab a boxt of this stuff, which is available 

in little packets – like catering sugar. You simply empty 

the sachet into your hydration pack. And drink as you 

ride. 

Looking for older model Suzuki parts?: 

Looking for parts for older Suzuki models like the RM, 

GSX or Katana. These guys have lots of brand new in 

stock from fuel tanks to mirrors. Gaskets to bearing 

kits. Give them a call with the part number and they 

might just have it. 

Phone (011) 452-1600 

It tastes great. Does not make your pack manky – and 

most importantly – it really does work replacing stuff 

that you sweat out. And we’ve had no cramping after a 

full day of graft in the saddle. 

It’s good stuff. If you battle with cramping or dehydration 

– give it a shot. 

Or pop some into your pack to replenish lost stuff. 3 

times the electrolytes. Half the sugar of an energy drink. 

And we did say that it tastes lekker too… 

wirxtrading@gmail.com 

R

KTM 300 EXC 

KTM 300 EXC 

KTM 300 EXC 

KTM 300 EXC 


The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost. 

RISE ABOVE 

CHALLENGE ANY OBSTACLE 

With decades of race-winning credentials under its belt, 

the KTM 300 EXC fears nothing. Thanks to adjustable 

WP suspension, top-shelf components and unmatched 

2-stroke performance, it represents the ultimate 

hard enduro package for all riders, on any terrain. 

Photos: F. Montero

Nexx ADV helmet. 

You’ll have heard about the Nexx range of ADV 

helmets. One of the very last helmets that are still 

manufactured in Europe. Priced at R8495.00 we’ve 

been using the X.Wed 2 Unitone for the last 3 months 

and a good couple of thousand road and dirt kilometres. 

We wanted to really get to know it before we gave 

any feedback. 

Herewith our thoughts: 

Comfort: This is one of those helmets that had a comfy 

fit from the word go – and it is the correct shape for 

South African heads. Even after many kilometres and 

expected settling, it’s still a snug comfortable fit. 

Venting: Excellent. the helmet comes with an optional 

vented mouthpiece like on an MX helmet. It allows 

more wind flow. The vents are easy to open and shut 

and they keep your pip well aerated, especially in winter 

when you can feel the air moving into the channels 

cut into the EPS liner. 

Aerodynamic: 

This helmet us used mostly on ADV bikes and we are 

impressed. Often at high speed, your peak can vibrate 

and get noisy which in turn can cause a bit of bobble 

head. The Nexx is really stable for a helmet like this. 

No complaints. 

D-Ring: 

Easy to fit with a neat press stud that stops the loose 

end from slapping you to death. Sometimes we forget 

to press stud the end which has resulted in a few swift 

slaps from the strap. 

Visor: 

The helmet comes with a clear visor and an internal 

drop down sun visor. The Sun visor is easily actuated, 

but it’s quite short, so you don’t get full eye coverage. 

Chinstop: Has been left in place – really comfortable. 

Despite much on and off and dirt riding, the check 

pads and liners are still perfect. 

Overall: 

A great choice. 

We like it. It’s a really comfortable helmet that looks 

great and complies with all modern safety standards. 

This is a high end lid with lots of cool extras and 

features, like the mouthpiece. Other bits include a 

Go-Pro mount for the peak and one for the side of the 

lid. These are panels that clip seamlessly in to the 

helmet. Not just double sided tape. A peak extender 

comes standard. The visor is Pin-lock ready with a pin 

lock included. And here’s something we have not seen 

before: 

Nexx has a additional padding system that fits 

between the removable liner and the body of the 

helmet. This is just in case you are in between the 

standard sizes and want a more snug fit. 

The helmet is also Comms ready to snugly accept the 

Nexx intercom system made by Senna. 

And – if you are worried about Nexx as a brand, they’ve 

been around since 2001. Ther product is available in 

more than 60 countries globally and they manufacture 

helmets for Touratech and BMW. 

Nexx is currently running a promotion which could win 

you a set of Michelin ADV tyres. 

husqvarna-motorcycles.com 

Photo: R. Schedl, R. Steinke, KISKA GmbH 


The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.

husqvarna-motorcycles.com 

As long as you are on 

planet Earth 

you’re not lost. 

Photo: R. Schedl, R. Steinke, KISKA GmbH 


The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost. 

Trust in the north. 

N o r d e n 

901 

Inspired by the north 

and built for the world, 

the norden 901 is a rugged 

travel machine ready to 

face the unknown. 

parallel twin 889 cc 105 hp 204 kg

2023 EksBrand goggles arrive: 

Fresh new 2023 EKS Brand goggles with some pretty 

cool styles and designs. Check out the new features 

of the EKS-S, GOX Flat-Out Mirror, GOX Flat-Out Clear, 

GOX Flat-Out Enduro/OTG, and the XGROM’s. 

At your dealer. 

EVS Fusion Socks 

Like tights under your MX pants 

Use in combination with the EVS TP199 knee pad. 

Features: 

• Reinforced heel & toe for durability 

• Extends to lower thighs for added 

comfort under knee protection 

• Vented Lycra construction keeps you cool 

• Gripper calf & thigh keeps braces in place 

• Fusion socks are sold in pairs. 

Imported by HRP. At your dealer. 

Shorty leather gloves metalize. 

Metalise gear has just added these soft kidskin gloves 

to their lineup. 

Beautiful soft feel. Double stitched. Available in ladies 

and gents cut. 

Priced at around R850. 

Imported by HRP. At your dealer. 

Own a Husky, KTM or a GasGas? 

Well Domino grips make colour coded grips just for 

your bikes… 

Domino A360: Couple of thermoplastic dual compound 

rubber grips. New lamellar structure for abetter grip. 

External zone for stress reduction Specific slot for 

wire. Material: Two-component thermoplastic rubber. 

Very cool. 

Imported by Trickbitz and available at dealers.

Ariete Goggles Made in italy: 

“Ariette is a proud “Made in Italy” company whose 

mission is making you express the best sports performance 

and challenge your greatest goals.” 

“We have been transforming ideas into performing 

products for more than 70 years, thanks to 3 generations 

of passionate people who made it possible.” 

And their cool new range of 8K goggles are making 

their way into dealerships nationally.Large Fit. 

Ariete Ventilation System. O.T.G. version for perspective 

glasses. Quick sweating evaporation foams. 

Noseguard included. UV radiations total protection. 

Certified ce Lens. 

Imported by Trickbitz. At your dealer. 

Twisted Trails now fully stocked on Arai 

TX4’s 

Your one stop Adventure shop in KZN is now also the 

only dealer to carry a complete colour and size curve 

on Arai TX4 helmets in KZN. So, if you are in the market 

for the latest TX 4 you now know where to go. They 

also carry a solid stock holding on parts for Arai’s from 

cheek pads, head liners, vent covers, visors, pin locks 

you name it they’ve got it and if they don’t, they will get 

it for you very quickly. 

And like we said they are your well stocked one stop 

adventure shop in KZN, from a screw for your hand 

guard to riding jackets, pants, boots, crash bars, luggage 

and they also have a tyre bay and fitment centre 

on the premises. The great thing is that the boss man 

is an avid adventure rider himself and can offer you 

first hand advice on anything Adventure. Get down 

to Unit C, 31 Solstice Rd, Umhlanga Ridge, Umhlanga 

to check out this lekker store or give them a call on 

031 572 2737 

GIVI Top Box RRP R2495.00, incl VAT 

The boxy shape of the E43NTL allows the rider to carry 

more items easily. Both the lid and bottom portion 

of the box are deep enough to fit a lot of stuff. The 

dimensions are wide enough to fit a backpack filled 

with a 15-inch laptop, and there is still enough space 

for a GIVI riansuit and other items. 

This top box features a tough PP material construction 

with a large 43 litre storage capacity. It can fit two fullface 

helmets and is waterproof against rain. Its boxy 

shape allows for ease of carrying most bulky items 

and can carry up to 3kg with the MV mount and 5kg 

with the HRV mount. 

It also has Monolock with Monokey security system. 

For more information or to find your closest stockist 

or even to check all DMD’s great product range go to 

www.dmd.co.za

Don’t be left in the Dark - 3 new 

Rechargeable lighting units from 

Energizer. 

Brand new from Energizer is the new 

rechargeable range of rechargeable 

Performance Metal Tactical torch, Spotlight, 

and hands-free headlamp, ideal for around the 

home office and workshop or for the dreaded 

load sheading, keep on charge and ready for 

any situation. These quality units have all the 

latest in lighting technology. 

Energizer rechargeable Performance 

Metal Tactical Flashlight 

This torch delivers high performance in its 

durable aircraft grade aluminium casing and 

fitted with a shatterproof lens makes this metal 

flashlight a tough sidekick that you can depend 

on. It comes with a rear push button for one 

handed use and an emergency strobe mode. 

Designed ruggedly to make them a good choice 

in various situations such as all-outdoor light, 

camping trips, job sites or for all emergencies. 

It has an exceptionally bright LED light that 

is up to 15 x brighter than the standard LED 

technology, casting 1200 lumens with a 4-hour 

runtime on ‘High’ mode and 15 hours on ‘Low’ 

mode and a beam of 200 metres. It is IPX4 

water and impact resistant to boot. 

Feeling lucky? 

Energizer Rechargeable Spotlight 

This is a great tool for the workplace, sites, home, and 

DIY situations. Its compact and lightweight body houses 

impressive performance and brightness. Its compact 

and lightweight with a large push button, complete with 

a folding stand for handsfree use. A Charging cable is 

included in an internal compartment for easy storage. It 

has a Rechargeable lithium-ion non-removable battery. 

Producing 600 lumens, 9 hours run time on ‘low’ mode 

and beam distance of 240 meters, 4 hours on ‘high’ 

mode with a beam distance of 310 meters. The unit is 

also impact and water resistant 

Energizer multipurpose rechargeable 

headlight 

This new unique headlamp clips on and off the head 

lamp strap. It is a great rechargeable light for area and 

hands-free use for all work tasks, outdoor, at home and 

sport, the powerful beam casts 180 lumens on ‘High’ 

and run time of 2.5 hours, beam distance of 17 meters, 

it is also impact and water resistant. It can also detach 

from the base for use as a 360 lantern or flashlight. 

Plus, a red flashing light feature. 

The new Energizer products are available at all leading 

retail outlets countrywide for more information call 

Vermont Sales on 011 314 7711 or visit their web site 

www.vermontsales.co.za - 

Stand a chance to 

win 1 of 3 

motorcycles 

plus other amazing prizes! 

S 

IS 

T 

A 

Ad 

wh 

an 

Bu 

tou 

An 

the 

Au 

Re 

yo 

pe 

ex 

Here’s a great initiative by Michelin tyres: 

Win yourself a brand new bike. 

Go and buy ANY Michelin Tyre or Mousse product 

nationally from your dealer and KEEP YOUR SLIPS. 

You can scan the QR code in store to enter OR: 

Go to www.michelin.co.za and follow the instructions 

to enter. 

Three brand new bikes are up for grabs: 

A Suzuki Hayabusa. A Honda Africa Twin or a 

Husqvarna TE 300I. 

How flippen cool is that? 

The lucky Draw happens In January, so you only have a 

few months to enter. 

Dont be a lazy ass. These things don’t happen very often 

enter! And maybe... just maybe.Watch this space! 

Buy any MICHELIN motorcycle tyre or 

a Bib-Mousse and use the QR code to 

enter. 

Or visit www.myoffers.michelin.co.za & choose “Win a Bike Competition”.

SOUTH AFRICA 

IS 80 PERCENT GRAVEL 

THAT’S WHY WE BUILT THE 

AFRICA TWIN 

Adventure bikes are super-popular these days, and it’s easy to see 

why. They let you ride just about anywhere. Plus, their upright seating 

and sensible riding position let you rack up the miles in comfort. 

But they face a challenge, too: they need to combine state-of-the-art 

touring and riding technology with total reliability. 

And that’s why Honda Africa Twin models are so far out in front of all 

the rest. Technology? Check out things like Apple CarPlay, Android 

Auto, and of course our available automatic DCT transmission. 

Reliability? Nobody even comes close to Honda there. Comfort? Hey, 

you’re talking about the people who build the Gold Wing. Off-road 

performance? Ever heard of the Baja 1000 or the Dakar Rally? All that 

expertise goes into every Africa Twin we build. 

2021 

NC750X/DC 

THE NEW NC750X: DO 

BETTER AFRICA THAN TWIN EVER. 

ADVENTURE SPORTS DCT 

FROM R275 800 

be able to do it all. Case in point: The 2021 Honda NC750 

appreciate both versatility and virtuosity in their adventu 

model some big improvements. More power. A larger int 

Includes: 

R30 000 worth of Genuine Honda parts. 

and a lower seat height. Plus some huge technologic up 

riding modes, new instruments, a new frame, upgraded b 

heart, the twin-cylinder engine produces a broad torque 

And you can choose from two transmissions: a conventio 

• Top Box and Bracket. 

• Main Stand. 

• Upper and lower crash bars. 

Honda’s revolutionary automatic DCT. Either way, this lat 

one-bike choice for the rider who wants to do it all. 

Randburg: 011 795-4122

New from Biking Accessories 

Pretorias biking Accessories, belonging to the Van 

Bergen clan has been around since the dawn of 

time, or so it seems - and they are the “GO TO” shop 

for motorcyclists from across the country. With the 

pandemic protocols and all the rest of the world’s 

problems creating some supply problems, Brett has 

started importing some of his own stock. Top of the 

list are his Pilot Adventure boots both in short and 

long, black or brown with water resistant leather 

uppers, reinforced and non-slip rubber soles. Also 

Pro-Biker gloves, a genuine one glove does it all, road 

touring, adventure riding and even dirt bike use. The 

construction looks good to us and the reinforced 

knuckles really do look the business. 

At the moment there does seem to be a bit of a 

shortage on paddock stands, Biking Accessories has 

got you covered there with front and rear superbike 

stands that are also compatible with road and 

adventure bikes, to 3 in one stands that with a quick 

adjustment can be swapped from a rear stand to a 

front stand and back again in a few minutes. And they 

haven’t forgotten about the dirt biking fraternity either. 

They have solid dirt bike stands as well as MX lite lift 

stand and MX “H” stands with damping strut. The shop 

is a goldmine with a huge selection of popular brands 

in stock. 

Pop in at 1212 Pretorius St, Hatfield, Pretoria to get 

yours now before they are all gone or give them a call 

on 012 342 7474 

Predator e 

Lots and lots of great new stock at Guts ‘n 

Gas 

Looking for new boots or maybe a new jacket, Vin 

and the team at Guts ‘n Gas have just unpacked a big 

shipment of Metalize Explorer Adventure Low boots, 

Metalize Explore Tech boots, Forma Adventure High 

boots as well as a load of Forma Nero boots for the 

road tourer. And then, to keep the winter chills at bay 

they have also just received a shipment of Metalize 440 

men’s and ladies jackets. You know that GnG’s pricing is 

fair, their service is friendly, efficient and the staff very 

knowledgeable. Get down to Northlands Deco Park, 26 

Avant-Garde Ave, Hoogland, Randburg, the shop is well 

stocked with all the top brands and they have an on-site 

fitment centre and tyre bay. Give them a call on 

071 101 6146.

PREDATOR 2.0 

ENDURO 

ONE STEP FURTHER 

OUTER FEATURES 

•PU and microfiber material upper 

•Personalized extra grip Enduro/Adventure compound rubber sole 

•Dual Pivot F.C.S. (Flex Control System) with anti-torsion and double rear stop 

•Elevated TPU flex and traction resistant Ergonomic Dual Pivot connector 

•Safety double density rear PU flexor with cushioned inserts 

•Reinforced lateral-bottom insert to better support the entire Dual Pivot F.C.S. 

•Incorporated back and side air intake windows 

•Fitted flexible collar to keep out mud and debris 

•Replaceable/adjustable aluminum articulated “Evo Security Lock” buckles 

•“Security Lock” strap holder 

INNER FEATURES 

•Highly resistant and breathable inner and quick-dry lining 

•Personalized and thermoformed upper inner lining (red) 

•Polyurethane nylon reinforcements 

•Soft polymer padding with memory foam 

•I.N.&F.S. (Incorporated Nylon & Fiberglass Shank) midsole 

•EVA padded anti-bacterial replaceable footbed with A.P.S. 

(Air Pump System) 

FORMA BOOTS ARE IMPORTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY DMD. 

CALL 011 792 7691 TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DEALER. 

WWW.DMD.CO.ZA 

Predator enduro half page.indd 1 

4/11/2022 5:59:19 PM

Twins in 

Triplicate 

Words: Team Motomedia 

Pics: Black Rock CS 

Blam! A massive pothole becomes unavoidable and our trusty Triumph smacks the square 

edge. Hard. Seems OK though – we made it, but then traction control light start flashing and 

the thing just won’t go. The culprit? A great big hole in the Dunlop Mission tyre caused by 

said pothole… 

This was one of those trips where – kinda everything went wrong. Numerous U turns thanks 

to dead ends on new roads. A little tumble in the mud… that’s adventure. Puncture fixed on 

the side of the road – we’ll pop a vid up on our You Tube channel on how it’s done and we 

carried on. The next disaster struck when that same bike took a hard tumble on one of the 

roads outside Vrede. Man! Bleak… no injuries but that poor bike. And special mention to the 

friendly farmers who loaded and assisted. Ah well, we carry on… 

Things did get better. That’s life. It still turned into a great adventure… 

Any excuse for us to hit the dirt and go explore our beautiful country is good enough for 

us. Throw in a bunch of Africa Twins and suggest a visit to Memel Hotel and we are out the 

front door and heading for the hills while the words are still ringing in our ears. 

Honda sent along a new 2022 model base line unit with absolutely zero extra’s on it as well 

as a fully dressed Adventure Sport DCT. A few days before that, our mates from Memel Hotel 

were in town and invited us to visit them… it was as though it was “meant to be”.

Ts& 

The idea was to explore new routes for some of 

our rides and thus we headed off in sort of a south 

easterly direction from our base in Kempton Park 

following railway line service tracks, farm roads, bush 

paths and dirt roads. After the umpteenth U-turn 

because of tracks running into dead ends and etc, 

big impassable mud holes, swamps, big coal mines 

and quite a serious puncture because of a massive 

pothole and the sun setting quickly we abandoned 

that idea and decided to hit the tar to get around said 

mines and etc. Clearing Standerton we know of a 

lekker off-road route from Vrede to Memel, absolutely 

jaw dropping scenery, gorgeous dirt roads… for a 

bit and some really amazing people, which we got 

to meet by accident… literally. Unfortunately our 

photographer ended up upside down in a bush quite 

buckled along with the bosses bike. Fortunately 

a local farming family was about to turn into their 

driveway and helped the lads recover the bike a 

dusted young Stefan off and gave him something to 

calm his nerves and alleviate a bit of the pain. Really, 

really nice people. 

We then had the opportunity to pit our night riding 

skills against the strength of the headlights and said 

dodgy dirt road following Rudi from Memel Hotel, 

(who came to pick up said bent bike and rider), back 

onto the tar road back to Memel. Now don’t think 

the tar road was any less dodgy, big overladen HMV’s 

have properly chewed up the tar leaving a plethora 

of holes for us to dance through and avoid in the 

dark. Making life even more exciting were other road 

users in both directions doing the exact same waltz… 

including said overladen HMV’s. All we needed to 

complete the scene was some heavenly mounted 

loud speakers blasting out Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the 

Flowers. 

Memel Hotel is so lekker! A proper old country hotel 

with fantastic hospitality, excellent food, crackling log 

fires and old world courtyard and neat, clean and tidy 

en-suite rooms. Rudi is a host extraordinaire and with 

all the locals frequenting the facilities there is much 

laughter until the wee hours. Value for money is more 

than sensible and the adventure riding in and around 

the area is nothing short of spectacular. We had a 

good nights rest and after a lekker hot shower and 

a hearty breakfast it was time to hit the trails once 

we had loaded the wounded into a bakkie that drove 

down in the early morning hours from Kempton. 

We decided to follow a better route back that rounded 

the western side of all the mining towns, rather 

choosing to stick to farms lands, natural veldts 

and the mountains. Bright blue skies with wisps of 

white clouds over brooding mountains, golden green 

fields, crystal blue lakes, sand stone farm buildings 

and every manner of bird, buck, dassie and ground 

squirrel imaginable. The roads on the other hand were 

a bit more challenging. With all the recent rains and 

heavily laden trucks bearing the recent harvest to the 

local markets they were well deeply rutted and had 

dried up in the baking sun. 

The local traffic really doesn’t worry other road users 

and every so often we found ourselves bouncing 

through the ruts or blindly gagging in the dust all the 

while the trio of Africa Twins happily absorbing the 

impacts and patiently helping us out of griefs way 

whenever we blindly floundered into trouble. The 

electronics on the bikes making up where we were 

caught short… Well most of the time.

Feeling lucky? 

Stand a chance to 

win 1 of 3 

motorcycles 

plus other amazing prizes! 

Buy any MICHELIN motorcycle tyre or 

a Bib-Mousse and use the QR code to 

enter. 

Or visit www.myoffers.michelin.co.za & choose “Win a Bike Competition”. 

Ts&Cs apply.

Séan did end up on his hands and knees after diving into some deep 

ruts avoiding a cell phone focused farmers Mrs on the wrong side of the 

road, but no serious damage was done to rider or bike, and the driver 

continued onwards oblivious to the small bit of pandemonium she had 

inflicted. 

Glenn and Kyle focused on the Old vs New Africa Twins mainly because 

Séan had broken his left big toe a couple of weeks earlier making gear 

changes a bit uncomfortable, so the DCT with no gear lever was ideal 

for him. And this is what he had to say: 

It is often said that blessing/good fortune comes well disguised and 

this was the case when I dropped something big and heavy on the 

knuckle of my left big toe a week or two ago. At the time I recited the 

thesaurus on expletives absolutely perfectly and with such perfect 

projection of my voice that it brought a tear to my eye, and then 

proceeded to hobble around feeling quite sorry for myself pondering the 

justice and fairness of my existence. Then this trip came along and it 

all made sense. The gear lever of a traditional motorcycle set up would 

land precisely on my wounded knuckle on the up shift making riding all 

but impossible for me on such a set up. 

However, as we all very well know, Honda’s DCT motorcycles do not 

have said trivial traditionalist twaddle and thereby rendered me the very 

legitimate excuse to annex the Adventure Sport DCT for the entirety of 

the trip. 

Now, I have made no secret of my love for the DCT set up ad nauseum 

in various articles in this magazine and our sister magazine since 

attending the local press launch way back in late 2019. 

I have hammered it hard around a race track surprising more than a 

few superbikes, commuted on it for days, toured a bit and ridden it as 

much as I possibly could, so I am not going to bore you with a rehash 

of the same. On this trip I discovered a bit more about the electronics, 

the electrics, (there is a difference), the protection as well as the overall 

comfort on a two day/one thousand kilometre, (or as close as dammit 

to…),trip. 

The electronics package: 

In ‘Gravel’ and ‘Off Road’ I found that sticking the DCT in Sports mode 

3 made the bike almost a bit too aggressive for my riding style and the 

terrain, holding the gears longer than I liked and the throttle a bit too 

responsive, almost 450cc dirt bike like. Sports mode 1 was just too 

tame, however sports mode 2 was just the perfect amount of throttle 

response and held the gear shift back just the right amount of time 

as well as a responsive down shift when I applied hard throttle input. 

In SM3 the down shift was too sensitive and nearly caught me out 

once or twice when the Twin responded more aggressively than I was 

anticipating. 

Before heading out on this trip I spent a bit of time setting up the 

electronics package, things like how much damping and rebound, the 

speed thereof and etc. The bike has 4 power modes, PM4, (full power), 

was the only choice for me. 7 traction control modes, I didn’t want it too 

intrusive but still wanted it to kick in so I didn’t have to think too much 

so that was set on 3 just enough to get the tail out a bit in a bend or a 

quick roost every now and then. 

Wheelie control has 4 settings, zero being off and three being full 

intrusion, I set it on one, still enough to get the wheel up and over an 

obstacle but enough to stop me from landing on my arse… 

because I can’t wheelie to save my life.

Then I discovered something I hadn’t noticed before, 

a “G” setting and a bit of research later I found out it 

creates a more direct feeling from the throttle to rear 

wheel pickup, particularly designed for gravel roads 

that modifies the control of the clutch system and 

eliminates the shift lag between gears. Activating that 

certainly made a noticeable and positive difference 

to the gear shift, definitively removing the slightly 

perceptible lag on up and down shift, making it 

respond almost like a manual shifter. You have to 

activate this at a standstill every time you start the 

bike. The difference it made wasn’t earth shattering 

but it was enough to get me to ensure it was always 

activated, even on the tarmac. 

The electrics: 

Well the headlights to be precise. They are fantastic, 

we had the opportunity to test them when we had to 

ride quite a dodgy dirt road back to the tarmac and 

then dodging potholes down mountain passes in the 

dark. The Low beam is great with a nice wide beam, 

high beam however turns the night into day, the beam 

get wider, longer and brighter and the white light 

really picks up all the details you really need to see 

to keep you safe and we were happily plodding along 

the aforementioned lurker strewn dirt road at 80 to 

100kmh with very little ambient lighting other than 

that from the heavenly contributions. 

And the heated grips, a bit of a faff initially to switch 

them on with two different switches, one on either 

switch cluster, and they worked a little bit too well 

on the highest setting and a quick adjustment had 

them just perfect and along with the nice broad hand 

guards helped keep most of the wind away from my 

hands, all was nice and toasty on that front. 

Protection: 

Firstly from the elements: 

I generally ride with a very darkly tinted visor. Great 

for daytime riding but really horrible for night time 

riding, so I really wasn’t looking forward to the dark 

ride to Memel along dirt road and honestly quite 

horribly pitted tarmac. On the dirt I led the way so that 

I could ride with my visor up and not gag on dust and 

soon realised that with the windshield adjusted to full 

height, not only did it keep the cold at bay but also a 

lot of the wind out of my eyes, so I could quite happily 

ride along at 120/130kmh with my visor up dodging 

all the obstacles successfully. 

Crash Protection: 

Honda stacked this one with some goodies from their 

arsenal of aftermarket goodies – upper and lower 

crash bars, top box and main stand. 

When I took my tumble, I saw it coming and managed 

to get my speed way down to about 20kmh when I 

had no choice but to head into the rutting, which is 

generally no problem until an unseen deep rut grabbed 

the front wheel ripping the bars out of my hands and 

face planting me into the deck. The upper and lower 

crash bars protected the beautiful paintwork from any 

damage 100%, but the little brushed aluminium trim 

panel on the tank received a slight dent. The factory 

fitted handguards however are great for debris, wind, 

cold and rain protection aren’t ideal for protecting 

levers in a dump and the brake lever broke at its 

engineered breaking point, leaving enough for single 

finger operation. The skid plate also protected the 

engine casings from a rock hiding in the dirt. So, if 

you’re in the market for one of these bikes, definitely

consider the special package on offer which now includes 

the crash bars as standard fare. 

Speaking of which, included in said package deal is a very 

handy aluminium top box. My colleagues had to carry 

their over night bags on their backs. I, on the other hand 

packed my bag, spare tubes, tools and a mini compressor 

in and it’s good that we took it all along. Without it, we 

would have been properly screwed. Even on the roughest 

roads and during the little tumble, the box stayed firm and 

did not rattle loose. It’s a great product. 

Honda’s current special offer on the Adventure Sport 

and Adventure Sport DCT is really looking much more 

attractive now isn’t it? 

Kyle says: 

We have had Honda’s Demo manual Africa Twin for a 

good couple of thousand Kays. I have personally done 

around 10 000KM’s, mostly in the dirt. 

So I have decided to give a more in-depth “pros and cons” 

list on the Africa Twin and give a little more feedback on 

“owning” an 1100 Africa Twin. 

I’ll say this: The AT is a highly underrated bike on the SA 

market. It’s big, comfortable, fast and just so capable. 

The first time that I climbed on to this bike, the controls 

and TFT screen looked pretty overwhelming. The controls 

on the left are huge and complicated. From setting up 

your rider modes to bluetooth heads sets etc. Initially I 

said that you need to be a NASA scientist to understand 

them. Six month on I can assure you I am no scientist and 

I can now run these controls with my eyes closed in the 

dark. 

Unlike my esteemed colleagues. 

The TV Screen. 

The screen is just like a tablet. Touch screen with 

everything but internet. It has apple play as well as 

android auto. That allows you to open maps and connect 

to music and it shows you everything in front of you. 

Really, really cool. Again there is a con. It has to be 

connected to a head set before it allows any connection 

to maps etc.. When you turn the bike on, it takes a while 

before the screen is active for you to set up for your ride. 

It can be frustrating. I was hoping the 2022 model had 

this sorted. Once the screen is on, it is very easy to use. 

Rider modes. 

Unfortunately Honda does not have a dongle for the bikes 

(YET) that allows you to keep all your settings between 

rides. The bike remembers most settings except traction 

control and wheelie control. That needs to be reset every 

time. 

The bike keeps the selected rider mode but for safety 

sake, turns all the safety aids back on. You cannot turn 

the ABS off completely. You can turn the rear off but the 

front will stay on. 

The 2020 Africa Twin did not come with a rear seat 

handle. For 2022 they have fixed that. Your pillion can 

hold tight and you get tie points. Just… sensible stuff. 

What else is changed? 

Bold New Graphics they say. Yes there is not much 

changed on the 2022 Africa twin. Why change a working 

formula? 

But… 

When we collected the bikes the 2022 just seemed and 

felt lighter and more nimble. Throughout our ride I kept 

getting the feeling that the whole bike has changed, when, 

according to Honda it hasn’t… 

It’s faster. Without a doubt.

It must be a software thing… 

Smoother more responsive low end power. 

You can feel it straight away. 

The bike feels alive and gives you a little kick in the rear end. 

And then we did the roll on drags, Glenn will tell you a bit more about 

that… 

Glenn says: 

Crashes and mishaps aside, any day in the saddle is a good one. 

I spent most of this trip on our trusty 2020 AT manual – and Sean would 

simply not relinquish the saddle on the DCT. But eventually, I got my 

mitts onto the new one by sending Kyle off on a chore to the shop and 

jumping aboard before he noticed. 

The immediate impression is one of a slightly smaller, narrower feeling 

bike, even though Honda has not actually noted any significant changes, 

other than Bold New Graphics. 

Heading out onto the gravel, the bike felt a bit more responsive than 

ours – could be that it’s got less mileage? 

We’ve popped a DNA performance air filter and Cycra adventure guards 

into our bike – that’s all. Otherwise it’s bog standard. 

Hmmm. Ok, off we go with the birds singing and the sun shining, life 

could not be better. The bike thrums along at pace easily eating up the 

miles in absolute comfort. 

Those rutted roads are tricky and a few times we were, absolutely going 

too fast. The Showa suspension saved the day more than once. 

We stopped to swap notes often and the general consensus is that the 

new bike is noticeably more powerful and responsive. 

Only one way to prove it. Let’s have a drag race between the old and the 

new. 

We can’t explain it. Honda makes no mention of it – and our bike has 

been serviced correctly and is still in excellent condition. Honda must 

have updated the software without telling anyone. 

It’s still distinctly Africa Twin, just, with just a lot more performance. 

It’s a great bike and in todays world the price is right. 

You need to go and ride one. 

Honda has an excellent deal on the dressed DCT – get to your dealer 

and have a chat. 

And if you are not convinced by DCT, the manual is just such a lekker 

bike. 

We’ll be hosting an overnight trip from JHB to Memel soon. 

If you want to join us just drop us a mail and we’ll add you to our ADV 

bike database. 

info@motomedia.co.za 

To check out the Hondas, go and visit your dealer. 

www.honda.co.za 

We selected tour mode on both bikes. 

You can read Kyles piece on the electronics. Few bikes boast more 

electronic stuff! 

•From first the new one left the old gen in the dust. 

•On a Roll on in third, the white bike edged ahead of the older girl. 

From fourth onwards, the new model simply destroyed our demo.

2023 

KTM SX 

MODELS 

New from front to back: 

2023 KTM Motocross range 

Fuel injected two-strokes 

A 300 SX. 

What? How do they do it? 

KTM, like many manufacturers producing new two-stroke motocross 

bikes, have stuck to the carburettor for longer than in enduro – simply 

because MX bikes do not have to meet emission regulations. 

For the 2023 lineup, the SX two-strokes make the giant leap with a new 

electronic fuel injection system. NOT TPI, but direct injection system 

like on the 4T engines and as used on the factory enduro race bikes for 

more than a year now. 

The SXs, including the 125 SX, get a new 39mm throttle body with 

injectors, a TPS-sensor for “better behaviour” at idle and for the fuel-air 

mixture (plus the cold start mechanism which is the same as the KTM 

SX-Fs). We suspect that the bikes will be pre-mix. 

The KTM info points at an ECU from Vitesco that works with the Keihin 

throttle body delivering optimal air-fuel mixture by “constantly analysing 

water temperature, air temperature, ambient pressure, the pressure 

within the crankcase, rpm, and throttle position.” 

New injectors have improved Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD), although 

it’s not clear if they mean improved from the 4T models or improved 

versions of the TPI engine injectors. 

Either way, KTM say they are producing a finer spray of fuel for a 

cleaner ignition and less fuel wastage. 

The reed valve case on the new 2T engines has new plastic flaps on the 

outside for better sealing of the entire intake tract. KTM says that the 

new design negates over-fuelling in extreme up or down hill sections 

with less tendency for bogging down or running rich. 

Boyesen still supplies the carbon membranes. 

The new 300 SX sounds insane! 

KTM’s new entry in to the open class of two-stroke MX racing is aimed 

at riders looking for maximum power to weight ratio. 

More than 57hp. 99.4kg without fuel! Three kilos lighter than a 300 EXC 

TPI. “Flippen A!” as the poms say! 

The SX models transfer to the Cross Country XC range in some 

countries. The bikes are the same but with larger 8.5 litre polythene 

fuel tanks, 18-inch rear wheel, XC-specific suspension, a standard side 

stand, skid plate and handguards. 

The XC bikes also get specific gearing. 

4T Engine updates include Quickshifters. Yup! 

All models have brand new five-speed Pankl Racing Systems transmissions 

with an additional sensor for the four-strokes to help up-shifts 

(from second gear onwards) be slicker with a quickshifter function. That 

quickshifter can be disabled with a switch on the handlebars if you want 

but a “weight-optimised” shift shaft in the transmission means gear 

changes are easier with or without the electronic assistance. 

The bikes include two power maps on all models, launch control, traction 

control, a ‘roll-over’ sensor for crashes, an hour meter as standard, 

tool-free suspension adjustments, new fuel tanks…

KTM’s 2023 four stroke engine packages are “more compact, 

more durable, more serviceable and offer better 

power-to-weight ratio across the board” they explain. 

New cylinder heads on the four-stroke models boast 

performance gains and a rearward tilt of the engine 

position, by two degrees, gives “better centralisation and 

a more profound effect for the chassis”. 

The 2023 250 SX-F engine height is reduced by 8mm 

making it more compact and lighter (26.11kg KTM 

claims). The valve covers across the four-stroke range 

now have just two mounting screws also for easier 

servicing. 

Chassis upgrades 

KTM tells us that they have taken the chassis and frame 

design back to its core to improve dynamics, stability 

and strength. Improved rider feeling through “an anti-squat 

philosophy” comes via a new frame and mounts, 

subframe, swingarm, engine reposition, ergonomics and 

WP Suspension. 

The hydro-formed frame has a different wall thickness to 

improve specific rigidity in high stress areas such as the 

steering head and thel new shock mounts they explain. 

The two-strokes have new parallel frame mounts and 

KTM says the design is “sportier” with improved agility. 

New 26% larger (but lighter) die cast footpegs have 

greater clearance in ruts or for dropping the bike flat for 

scrubs. The bikes also boast a lighter die cast, hollow 

swing and a new rear axle. 

New triple clamps and subframe 

New CNC-machined triple clamps have new bar mounts 

and wider grip surface area mean less handlebar ‘twist’ 

KTM says. There’s also a new number plate design. The 

sub frame is a “finely engineered hybrid” constructed 

from polyamide reinforced aluminium. 

KTM claims that it brings strength to the lower part of 

the frame and improves flexibility for control and comfort. 

The new sub frame design weighs less than two 

kilos in total. 

Suspension: 

Changes in the WP Suspension includes a shorter, lighter 

X-ACT linkage shock. The internal flow of liquid is more 

“flush, reliable and resistant” says KTM, and the shock’s 

smaller dimensions mean less chance of dirt intrusion. 

The new shock shape means better ground clearance 

(343mm on the 4-strokes and /345mm on the two’s) with, 

they say better damping to help with traction. 

T 

On 

SAV 

The WP XACT AER air forks feature a new hydrostop to 

improve performance and bottoming resistance in the 

last 40mm of travel. 

Even more slender: 

They tell us that the The 2023 KTM SXs are even 

narrower with increased contact area to help rider input 

and bike handling. The orange seat is new and has a 

recessed pocket under the seat, just above the air box, to 

suck more air. 

There’s also a reworked front fender, aiming to combat 

excessive dirt being flicked up to the rider and the tor in the mud. 

So it’s a lot! And here’s something for the enduro lot to 

radiaremember: 

Historically, the updates made to the MX machines filter 

down to next years enduro models. So… 

There really is quite a lot for everyone to look forward to. 

More information: www.ktm.com

TRAX DEAL ASSIST 

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X ROSS 

hard enduro 

SA’s Matthew Green becomes the first Junior race winner in the 

FIM Hard Enduro series. 

In the FIM Hard Enduro Junior Cup, it was Rigo Racing’s Matt 

Green who completed a perfect week to win Day Three and with 

it become the first Junior race winner in the FIM Hard Enduro 

series. The South African also improved to end the race 10th 

overall. 

Behind him the battle for the remainder of the Junior podium was 

a close affair. Britain’s Mitchell Brightmore (Rieju) kept Israel’s 

Suff Sella (AG Racing Team 89) at bay, finishing second and third 

respectively.

Matt Green: “To win the Juniors is awesome and to finish 10th overall 

is a perfect way to end the week. It’s great to have this class this year, 

to give the younger riders an additional platform to perform on.” 

Lettenbichler back from injury with Xross Hard Enduro Rally victory: 

Manuel Lettenbichler triumphed at the Xross Hard Enduro Rally in Serbia 

to boost his 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship title hopes 

as Billy Bolt claimed the joint overall lead. 

Here is all you need to know: 

- Spaniard Mario Roman won the 2022 season opener at the Minus 400 

in Israel with Britons Bolt and Graham Jarvis second and third respectively 

ahead of the second stop of eight this season in Serbia. 

Pic by REDBULLcontentpool 

- KTM’s Lettenbichler made a triumphant return from a knee injury at 

this week’s second stop, though, to secure the top step of the podium 

from Teodor Kabakchiev and veteran legend Jarvis. 

- With the outcome boiling down to the final day of racing, all eyes were 

on KTM Factory Racing’s Lettenbichler who started Day Three as the 

new race leader after an outstanding Day Two of riding. 

- Off to a flying start, Lettenbichler topped the time sheets on the first 

Special Stage to extend his lead by another three minutes as Sherco 

Factory Racing’s Wade Young took second with Bolt third. 

- A short 44-minute stage awaited riders for Special Stage 2 and it was 

Jarvis who edged out Bolt by four seconds, with Lettenbichler shadowing 

them across the line for third. 

- The final Special Stage of the race was almost a formality for Lettenbichler 

and, with no mistakes made, the KTM rider did enough to win 

round two of the 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. 

- Lettenbichler, 24, revealed: “I am honestly so surprised to have won. I 

didn’t come here expecting to, but things began to go my way and I got 

the job done. I think yesterday was the deal breaker, building a big lead. 

But I know luck can quickly change so I had to keep focused. It’s been 

a long time away from racing so to be back winning, it’s amazing.” 

- History was made as Kabakchiev (Team Bulgaria powered by ECONT) 

become the first Bulgarian to finish on the podium as Jarvis (Jarvis 

Racing Team Husqvarna) put in another great performance to finish in 

third. He shares the title lead with Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Bolt. 

-The 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship moves onto Austria 

next and the iconic Red Bull Erzbergrodeo across June 16-19. 

Xross Hard Enduro Rally result 

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 11:10:04; 2. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 

11:20:07; 3. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 11:28:35; 4. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 

11:37:27; 5. Wade Young (Sherco) 11:37:27; 6. Michael Walkner 

(GASGAS) 11:47:10; 7. David Cyprian (KTM)12:07:55; 8. Alfredo Gomez 

(GASGAS) 12:23:55; 9. Will Hoare (GASGAS) 12:27:10; 10. Matt Green 

(GASGAS) 12:45:20 

2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Standings 

(After Round 2) 

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 30pts; 2. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 30pts; 

3. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 27pts; 4. Mario Roman (Sherco) 25pts; 

5. Wade Young (Sherco) 22pts; 6. Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS) 21pts; 

7. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 20pts; 8. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 

18pts 

2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship calendar 

Round 1: Minus 400 - Israel, April 5/6/7 

Round 2: Xross Hard Enduro Rally - Serbia, May 18/19/20/21 

Round 3: Red Bull Erzbergrodeo - Austria, June 16/17/18/19 

Round 4: Red Bull Abestone - Italy, July 9/10 

Round 5: Red Bull Romaniacs - Romania, July 26/27/28/29/30 

Round 6: Red Bull TKO - USA, August 13/14 

Round 7: Red Bull Outliers - Canada, August 27/28 

Round 8: Hixpania Hard Enduro - Spain, October 7/8/9

INTERNATIONAL 

FEMALE RIDE DAY. 

The girls get lots of days. There’s mothers day, national Womens Day, 

Valentines day (surely that’s aimed at the ladies, Black Friday (shopping 

stuff!), then Secretaries days (OK some blokes might fit that bill), Wife 

day, Ex-wife day, GF day and now there’s also the International Female 

Ride Day. 

Sounds just like an excuse to go riding? You betcha… And that exactly 

what a lot of ladies got together and did! 

Open Riders Morag Campbell tells the story: 

A whole year has passed and it was again time again for IFRD, which this 

time offered four Road rides and one Adventure ride. A team of adventure 

riders organized by Morag Campbell from OpenRider, instigated a 

recce of the proposed route, and with some minor alterations, deemed it 

suitable, despite (or because of) the mud. Finding a short, pillion-friendly, 

pretty adventure route from the middle of suburbia is almost as 

impossible as getting the girls to the finish line on time… 

This year, we started bright and early with coffee, food platters and lots 

of hugs, at BMW Motorrad Fourways. Our 58 riders and 3 pillions all had 

a ball on our 65km 50/50 route, 

and each of the 7 riding groups had a lady lead, and a sweep, and was 

composed of riding buddies with a variety of skill and confidence levels. 

With the aim of sharing all the fun that adventure riders have, the girls 

encourage and coerce all other women riders to join, so that not only 

laughter and stories are shared, but also skills and support. We enticed 

quite a few beginner ladies, who with breathless wide eyes and gripping 

throttle hands, pushed their boundaries, and with the support of the rest 

of the group, realized the mountains were in fact mole hills. 

Supported team rides like this are broadening a beginners scope of 

riding options… a ride where they can do more than what they thought…. 

realizing obstacles are not as bad as what they imagined… gaining 

confidence to further explore their comfort zones and take on bigger 

challenges. 

It is also through these kinds of ride-outs, that we are all able to gain 

experience, meet new riders, and form new friendships, through shared 

bonding experiences and challenges, and gain the best new riding 

buddies. 

S1 

R 

15 

4, 

R3 

R 

R 

S1 

10 

4 R 

0 

R2 

Ve 

G3 

13 

2 R9 

R6 

B

Amazingly, we finished on time to arrive at the superb 

Prison Break end venue, to goodie bags, WRWR reunions, 

meet and greets to other riders of the road, and a hall 

filled with smiles and applause where some exceptional 

prizes were handed out. 

Thanks go to the Litas and the IFRD organising team for 

co-ordinating, and engaging industry sponsorship, to pull 

together a fantastic event. 

Thanks also to the support of Think Bike Marshalls, 

Denver the BlingKing and Med Guys for keeping us safe 

on the roads, and Vooma SkyView Garage for a clean loo 

break. 

It was great! And next year will be even better! See you 

there? 

www.ifrd-sa.co.za 

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R1250RT, 2019 

S1000 18 000km 

XR 2020 

7805km 

R230 000 

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FULL AKRAPOVIC PIPE 

R285 000 

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G310 13,500km R 2018 

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Triumph 13, 000kmSpeed Triple RS 2021 

8000km 

R89 000 

R199 R105 000 

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34,000km 

6921km 

R245 000 

R319 000 

Cnr Witkoppen and Cedar Road. 

Fourways, Gauteng. 

Tel: (011) 367-1600 

Email: rodney.serfontein@cedarisle.co.za

National Offroad Roundup: 

What Trademore Feeds SA Cross Country Round 3 Report 

Where Ganyesa, Northwest Province 

When 20-21 May 2022 

Community South Africa National 

KTM’s Cox overcomes Fitz-Gerald in great national dice. 

By Motorsport Media 

There was a surprise awaiting the Trademore Group South African Cross 

Country circus when it arrived at Ganyesa’s third round, 55 kilometres 

north-west of Vryburg on Saturday. 

The normally arid semi desert of the Northwest Province was far from 

hot and dry as unseasonal cold, damp and muddy conditions prevailed. 

With a fantastic venue set out by Farm owner, Wim Scholtz, and run by 

the efficient KZN Racing team, the stage was set for an epic weekend of 

racing. 

What prevailed was a battle of the KTM giants as Bradley Cox fought 

back to defeat upstart former motocrosser Kerim Fitz-Gerald for the 

win. 

250cc OR2 class Red Bull KTM rider Fitz-Gerald opened the action with 

the fastest run in Friday’s time trial from Cox’s open class OR1 bike, 

Brett Swanepoel’s OR2 Husqvarna, MCA Honda OR3 lad Peter Karam, 

Scott Heygate’s OR2 Factory KTM and Kawasaki OR1 man Mike Pentecost. 

Brother Leader Tread KTM star Cox then moved ahead of Fitz-Gerald as 

the two KTMs diced hard up front on Saturday morning with the others 

holding a watching brief. 

Fitz-Gerald emerged 42 seconds clear of Cox at the end of lap 3 and extended 

that to 48 seconds following the fourth tour. Cox however, struck 

back when Fitz-Gerald made a mistake and took a tumble. So Brad took 

a comeback win after missing the previous race to injury and re-ignited 

his championship charge with his second overall victory of the season. 

He ultimately beat Fitz-Gerald by a minute and 33 seconds. Brett Swanepoel 

was there to pick up the pieces on his factory Husqvarna as he 

ended up a couple minutes adrift in third. 

Third in 350 cc OR2, Zambian Brother Leader Tread KTM rider Scott 

Heygate was fourth overall from Michael Pentecost’s OR1 Franchise Co. 

CIT Kawasaki. 

Peter Karam took a welcome maiden win for the returning Honda team 

from Matthew Wilson and Ryan Pelser’s KTMs. 

Kenny Gilbert crushed it with a Senior victory in ninth overall aboard his 

Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki as Jaycee Nienaber 

closed off the top ten on his OR1 Pepson Plastics Spherical Logistics 

Kawasaki. 

In the classes, Cox took OR1 from Pentecost and Nienaber in his guest 

Kawasaki outing, Husqvarna newcomer Michael Docherty and Hayden 

Louw on a Yamaha. 

Always in the hunt, Fitz-Gerald took his maiden Cross Country class win 

from Swanepoel, Heygate, Erik Merry’s Husqvarna and KTM rider Kyle 

Eggar in OR2. 

Peter Karam took a massive maiden National class win in OR3 for 

Honda from KTM Factory rider Wilson, Pelser, Taki Bogiages’ Pespson 

Motul Kawasaki, Haydn Cole’s Sleepover CIT Honda and John Botha’s 

Franchise Co. CIT Kawasaki. 

Gilbert dominated Seniors on his Kawasaki from Wade Blaauw’s 

Sleepover CIT Honda, Marco Cocci’s Yamaha, Ronald Venter and Alain 

du Toit on a Husqvarna. 

Warrick van Schalkwyk made it a Kawasaki double in Masters from

Husqvarna trio, Greg Nairn, Mielies Le Roux, Wayne Farmer and Martin 

Poole. 

Derek Karam won High School on his KTM to make it a family double 

from Husqvarna duo Wian Wentzel and Cobus Bester and Rory Donaldson 

and Ross Ramseyer’s KTMs. 

Brandon Clarke’s Husqvarna took primary school 85cc honours from 

Bruno Niebuhr and Murray Smith’s KTMs and Husqvarna duo AJ Louw 

and Franco Fourie and Werner Kleinhans and GJ Coetzee made it a 

Husqvarna 1-2 in the baby 65cc class from Jake Pretorius’ Kawasaki, 

Matthew Meyer on a Gas Gas and Liam Scheepers’ Husqvarna. 

The Trademore Group South African Cross Country will remain up 

north for the fourth round in Carletonville on the 9th July. 

Peter Karam makes a bit of Honda history: 

It is so cool to see Honda back at the racing. 

21 May 2022 was the 3rd round of the Trademore Feeds SA Cross Country 

National Championship. After a tough start on the New MCA Motos 

Honda CRF250RX for Peter Karam he was looking forward to competing 

on home soil. 

Friday qualifying went extremely well when Peter put his 250 Honda in 

4th place overall almost a minute in front of his nearest OR3 competitor. 

After a great start he was fighting with the big 450’s for overall 4th and 

5th until the decontrol after lap 3. 

At the restart he was flying but after the torrential rains of the past 2 

days the track was becoming tough and stickyfor the 250 and the bigger 

bikes started to pull away. 

He finished 6 overall and 1st inthe highly competitive OR3 class. 

This is the first win in nationals for Honda in more than10 years.

2023 Husqvarna 

fc/fx Range 

HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES UNVEILS 

ITS NEW GENERATION OF MOTOCROSS 

AND CROSS-COUNTRY MACHINERY… 

What’s new for 2023: 

The five-motorcycle-strong range includes new engines, suspension, 

frames, swingarms, and bodywork. 

• New bodywork with specifically tailored ergonomics for easier 

movement on the motorcycle. 

• New hydro-formed chromium-molybdenum frames 

significantly improve anti-squat behavior. 

• New topology-optimized die-cast aluminum swingarm 

provides optimal rigidity and low weight. 

• New throttle body fuel injection on 2-stroke engines. 

• New FC/FX 250 and FC/FX 350 DOHC engines 

• New Quickshift sensor on all FC 4-stroke models and the 

cross-country FX 450. 

• New electric start on all 2-stroke models. 

• New aluminum-polyamide hybrid subframe. 

• New WP XACT 48 mm front forks with AER technology offer 

more progressive end-of-stroke damping. 

• New WP XACT rear shock design with CFD-optimized main 

piston and tool-free adjusters. 

• New multifunctional Map Select Switch also activates the 

Quickshifter, Traction, and Launch Control on select models. 

• Brembo hydraulic clutch system. 

• ProTaper handlebars. 

A competition-focused range of Technical Accessories and Apparel accompanies 

the release of all 2023 TC and FC and TX and FX machines. 

Included within the collection of high-quality components are wheels, 

triple clamps, an exhaust, as well as many protective parts. Husqvarna 

also offers a full head-to-toe range that includes protective equipment 

and riding gear. 

Taking charge in the off-road segment is the all-new, cross-country TX 

and FX models, which share the platforms on the 2023 motocross range 

with off-road features like a large capacity fuel tank, cross-country 

specific settings in the WP XACT suspension, convenient side stands 

and a 21/18-inch D.I.D DirtStar wheel set fitted with Dunlop MX33 fronts 

and AT81 rears.

The TC 125 and TC 250 are now equipped with Electronic Fuel Injection 

(EFI) and E-Start as standard. Both machines are now easily started with 

the press of a button. 

Husqvarna also brings the all new TX300 to the fight. 

The 2023 FC 250, FC 350 and FX 350 are powered by all-new 4-stroke 

engines that are designed to be faster and lighter. The FC 450 and FX 450, 

feature a revised and repositioned engine to improve mass centralization. 

All models are equipped with WP suspension. The new WP XACT 48 mm 

front forks offer more progressive end-of-stroke damping thanks to an improved 

hydrostop. In addition, the WP XACT rear shock is designed with a 

refined main piston for improved comfort and features tool-free adjusters 

for fast setting changes. 

Complete with ProTaper handlebars, a Brembo clutch, and Dunlop tyres, 

each model is equipped with a map select switch for selectable engine 

maps and a personalized riding experience. 

www.husqvarna-motorcycles.co.za for your dealer.

MY23 Enduro Range 

Arriving June 2022. 

Standard with Anodized Triple Clamps 

Mapping Switch, Link & Full Street Legal Kit. 

Trade-up with Perry Bikes today. 

1 Sneezewood Lane, Glen Anil KZN | 031 566 7411 | @perry_bikes

2023 SHERCO’S 

2023 Sherco lineup announced: 

French manufacturer Sherco has 

presented their 2023 SE twostroke 

and SE-F four-stroke 

enduro model range with just new 

colours for the new season. 

The firm has opted to stick with their winning formula – and win they do 

with riders like our own Wade Young helping to make the brand great in 

hard Enduro events the world over. 

Usually Sherco pops a small update in somewhere, but not for 2023. 

The standard grocery list is quality: 

2023 Sherco Enduro Factory range highlights: 

• New in-mold, durable graphics. 

• Selle Dalla Valle seat cover. 

• Neken soft foam bar pad. 

• Fan and radiator expansion tank as standard. 

• Akrapovic exhausts as standard. 

• Brembo calipers and Galfer brake discs as 

standard. 

• AXP 6mm HDPE engine guard as standard. 

• Funnelweb air filter as standard. 

• KYB fully adjustable suspension as standard. 

www.sherco.co.za

Looking for motorcycle parts or accessories 

Phone 011 395 2553 - 082 756 1008 

Ad 

Cu 

Ac 

Email : info@nickscycles.co.za 

082 756 1008 

Mon - Tues 8am to 5pm Wed 10am to 5pm 

Thurs - Fri 8am to 5pm 

Closed Saturdays/Sundays & Public Holidays 

Pro 

Bui 

of a 

Acc

2023 SHERCO’S

Inland MX 

Championship 

Inland MX. 

Round 2. East London 

30th April 2022. 

Round 2 of the Inland championship kicked off at the recently upgraded 

Wethered Compound in East London. Its an awesome track with 

some spectacular ocean views, which had most of the Gauteng riders 

gawping in awe. Riders flocked in from all over SA to join the fun. 

It was many of the competitors first outing on the long, sandy track – 

and they made good use of the early practice just after riders briefing. 

Eddie from Dirt Bronco was tasked with loading the gates – and the 

first flag dropped at 10h30. 

The local riders had a definite advantage, but the racing was super 

fierce and they did not simply walk the day. 

By heat 2 – which kicked off at 1, the out of town riders had the track 

sussed and this let to lots of very exciting racing. 

It was awesome to see the spectators out in their droves cheering for 

their riders – the atmosphere was really very cool. 

Prize giving was at 4h30 a roaring success, with congratulations all 

round. Then it was party time with riders, organisers and sponsors 

already planning next years race at this track. 

Big thanks to Shane Rutherford and the crew from Wethered from 

everyone at the Inland MX championship. 

The next round is North Vs South. Bloemfontein. August the 6th. 

See you there.

RIDER WEAR 

Pics by Cloud 9 photography SA, Sean Versfeld.

Bloem Roars! 

National MX roundup. 

Tiegan Reed takes us through the goings on for the day... 

Bloemfontein Off-Road Circuit is always an eagerly awaited 

race on the calendar for most of the competitors. The track is 

known for its fast layout, red soil, and of course good racing. 

With some riders fresh back on SA soil after some international 

racing and training, there were some switch-ups in the 

points standings. 

The 50cc class got going with stacked gates, but in the first 

heat the championship leader, Rayden Woolls, went down 

with another rider, leaving him with a fractured elbow; this 

left room for the #85 of Ross Mackenzie to comfortably get 

the double win, claiming the points lead. Lou Rademeyer and 

Rhys Wentzel went back and forth and settled for 2nd and 3rd 

place respectively. 

Moving up a few cc’s, the 65 class saw Trent Valsecchi, Kabelo 

Ledwaba, and Cruz Martin return from racing in Europe, but 

it was the untouchable Evan Frost who lead it out for the day, 

taking the victory in both heats and extending his championship 

lead over Valsecchi and Trenton Kretzmann. 

The top 3 in the 85cc class battled it out all day, but it was 

Team Husqvarna’s, Neil van der Vyver, who took the top step 

in the end, Jordan van Wyk in second, and Trey Cox in 3rd 

place overall.

The biggest lineup of the day was the 125 Highschool class. Championship leader 

Barend du Toit started the day as the fastest out on track in the class, but an unfortunate 

crash saw him sit out of the days racing with a broken wrist. Red Bull KTM’s 

Luke Grundy secured his new spot in the front, taking over the points lead. The #44 

of Blake Young and Out of Africa Monster Yamaha’s Hayden Tully rounded up the top 

3. 

The most exciting and nail-biting races of the day happened in the MX2 Class, where 

the RedBull KTM riders Tristan Purdon, Cameron Durow, and Jonathan Mlimi made 

up the overall podium. Durow lead out the opening stages of the second race, where 

Purdon was on the chase. The two went back and forth, but Purdon managed to take 

it all the way and cross the finish line in first, but it was not enough to grab the overall 

win. Mlimi made heads turn as he snagged his best result of in his rookie year of 250 

racing. It was Durow who took the top step at the end of the day, Purdon in 2nd and 

Mlimi in 3rd to wrap up Red Bull KTM podium. 

MX1, similarly to the MX2 race, had the Red Bull KTM team mates battling it out, this 

time it was Purdon who took the top step, with Durow in 2nd. Husqvarna’s Michael 

Docherty came back with vengeance after some bad luck at round 2 of the motocross 

nationals and comfortably took the 3rd step of the podium, eager to climb his 

way. 

The Ladies class was lead out by none other than the #1 Kawasaki of Kayla Raaff’s. 

Raaff extended her points lead on Leah Heygate as well as De Lima sisters, Cheyanne 

and Jadene. 

Tintswalo Yamaha’s Anthony Raynard pulled off the double win again in the MX3 

Senior Class, followed by Dean Wheeler and Bloemfontein local, Tyson Engelbrecht in 

2nd and 3rd. 

The Motocross fraternity and beyond would like to extend condolences to the Du Toit 

family, after the recent and sudden passing of son, brother, friend, and competitor 

Leonard Du Toit. Leonard will always be remembered for his speed on the track and 

friendliness in the pits. A memorial ride was held on the day in memory of Leonard. 

#LiveLikeLeonard 

50CC 

Ross Mackenzie 

Lou Rademeyer 

Rhys Wentzel 

65cc 

Evan Frost 

Trent Valsecchi 

Trenton Kretzman 

85cc 

Neil van Der Vyver 

Jordan van Wyk 

Trey Cox 

Highschool 

Luke Grundy 

Blake young 

Hayden Tully 

MX2 

Cameron Durow 

Tristan Purdon 

Jonathan Mlimi 

MX1 

Tristan Purdon 

Cameron Durow 

Michael Docherty 

MX3 

Anthony Raynard 

Dean Wheeler 

Tyson Engelbrecht 

Ladies 

Kayla Raaff 

Leah Heygate 

Cheyanne de Lima

The New 2022 

Hero XPulse 

200 

Donovan Fourie got to try out the latest 

rendition of the new Hero XPulse 200. 

We think he likes it. 

Read on: 

The fun is being sucked out of our world. Much like the 

proverb of the frog sitting in a pot of slowly boiling water, 

we are not necessarily noticing it. 

Bikes are becoming prohibitively expensive – a large 

adventure bike with enough goods attached to it to 

show off to the neighbours is now a good chunk north of 

R300,000, a wad of cash that people can’t afford. 

Even a little 300 trailie carries a price tag of more 

than R85,000. And dont get me started on dirtbikes. 

The answer would be buying second hand, except that 

bikes have been too expensive for some time now. 

Therefore, good used bikes are now becoming rare. 

The answer to that is to import secondhand bikes from 

places like Japan, America and Europe, where they 

are a dime a dozen, like people used to do in the 90s, 

except that the government decided that bikes that are 

safe for Japan, America and Europe are no longer safe 

enough for us Saffers. 

Fuel is also astronomically expensive, which you 

might’ve noticed during your daily travels. As a teenager, 

wanting to fetch fuel to be pre-mixed for my dirt bike, I 

used to pay R52 for 20 litres. Today it would cost R500 

for the same amount. 

Places we have been riding for years are now being 

encroached upon by housing complexes full of Karens 

who will bleat at the sound of pedestrians breathing too 

loud, potholes litter the great roads we used to worship - 

and traffic

(especially during the tragic loadshedding 

times) is now at the point where walking might 

be faster than driving. 

It is not only the fault of our local government. 

In Europe, there is a flat out war against 

transport sovereignty. We are nearly at 

the point where even electric vehicles are 

becoming too polluting, too noisy and too 

dangerous for eurocrats who seem determined 

to ensure that people move around only by 

being crammed into buses and trains. Or those 

blasted bicycle things: “Just ride a bicycle 

to work”, they say as though it’s so obvious 

that we must all be complete morons not to 

do so. Oh yeah, Mr Frenchie? Some people 

work in Edenvale and live in Primrose, where 

the commute includes a trip up the notorious 

Fishers Hill. Good luck pedalling up that! 

The fun-sapping bores are trying hard to 

ensure that the world is as miserable as they 

are, but we won’t let them win. Oh no, we have 

to outsmart them. And that’s where Hero lives 

up to its namesake. 

Yeah, the new 2022 XPulse 200 is not fast. It is 

faster than the previous model, though – this 

one, with its new oil-cooled, two-valve motor, 

tops out at 125km/h, whereas the previous 

model was out of ideas at 115. 

For someone who grew up chasing his dad 

through the gravel highways of Namibia at 

200km/h, that might be a touch pedestrian, but 

hear me out. 

The pedestrian 125km/h is better than being 

an actual pedestrian. It’s better than riding one 

of the jet setting eurocrats’ stupid bicycles. 

At least it’s a comfortable ride. The new, 

two-step seat is more comfortable than those 

of many of the big trailies. There is a small 

screen that does an excellent job of keeping 

the 125km/h gale off your face and this little 

single-cylinder is somehow smoother than 

some four-cylinder motors I’ve ridden. 

Genuinely, even with the engine screaming 

near the top gear redline, you feel nothing 

through the bars. Nothing at all. 

The digital dash, again features everything 

you need, including phone connectivity and 

navigation. This is indeed an impressive boast, 

especially as there are bikes four times the 

price of the XPulse that don’t have that. 

More so, it’ll do 125km/h anywhere. Anywhere 

at all. 

With its 21-inch front wheel attached to 

190mm of suspension holding up a mere 

157kg of motorcycle and a ground clearance to 

the hearty bashplate of 220mm, it’ll genuinely 

go anywhere. The top speed might not be bragworthy, 

but the torque before then certainly is. 

The fuel injection makes gear changes hardly 

necessary, and should the going go extreme, 

the first gear acts like a low-range to get the 

bike out of anywhere. 

During filming for The Bike Show, we found 

ourselves climbing hills that the camera car 

simply couldn’t fathom, so our camera lady 

jumped on the back and up we went. Easily. 

Dare we say that these passes that might 

flummox larger adventure bikes were so easy 

on the XPulse that it was almost dull. Even 

two-up. 

The light weight means the bike is easy to pick 

up in the unlikely event that you fall over, aided 

by crash bars that are now two pieces to make 

replacing them easier and cheaper. 

Not that you were paying much in the first 

place – the entire motorcycle is R48,900. Or, if 

you don’t have wads of ammo lying about 

R899 per month. 

A price like that might excite but also raise 

questions: is it a good idea to make a longw

term investment in a bike that is not a lot of money? Especially as South 

Africans tend to be suspicious of anything not made in America, Europe or 

Japan? 

Hero has been in South Africa for merely a year, so while reports so far 

have been good, no one here has been given one as a real long-term tryout, 

but India certainly has. 

Reading reviews from Indian sites cites the world’s largest motorcycle 

manufacturer as a luxury brand that the more affluent citizens of India have 

the privilege of owning. And the citizens of India, excuse my French, don’t 

take kak. A bike there needs to be affordable, good looking and, above all, 

reliable. And for the entire duration of the many years, these citizens plan 

on owning them, a duration that averages ten years. 

From a distance, the XPulse looks mostly like your average small dualie 

(apart from the LED headlights that add a delightfully modern twist). Up 

close is where you notice the build quality. Those beautiful yokes, the way 

the handlebar switches look as though they’re off something European, the 

way everything on the bikes feels solid and well built. 

So here is where we are on defeating the fun-suckers – the XPulse 

is affordable to buy, easy to own, comfortable, will go anywhere and, 

according to everyone that has had one for a lengthy period, massively 

reliable. And the petrol price can go hang too – on the 13L tank, I, riding 

like my usual idiot self, managed 351km before it ran out of fumes. An 

adult riding it might get far more. 

The latest XPulse is not what we South Africans are used to, but it might 

be what saves us. Go try one. You will be greatly surprised. 

www.heromotorcycles.co.za 

ONLY 

R48 900 

EASY FINANCE WITH 0% DEPOSIT. 

R899 PER MONTH . 

*perfect as a commuter, adventurer or commercial ride. 

Introducing the 2022 Hero Xpulse 200 

with revised engine mapping, top speed, ABS, digital dash 

and turn-by-turn navigation. 

Available at Hero dealers nationwide. 

www.heromotorcycles.co.za - info@heromotorcycles.co.za 

220 mm Ground Clearance - 190 mm Front Suspension Travel 

10 Mono-shock settings - 14 Sensor Fuel Injection

Gat Skuur! 

Loosely translated into “riding around” is the brainchild of Gus and 

Mariette Solomon. A bunch of old delivery bikes on a 10 day trip to the 

Karoo and beyond and back to GP. 

They sent us this feature and even had it translated into engels for us… 

but we decided that it was best to cut it back and tone the taal down a 

bit for print and run it in their mother tongue. What a cool adventure. 

What a “Lekker” read. We have had to split it over a few issues simply 

because it’s too long to print the whole lot in one issue. So here’s the 

first piece. 

You do need a bike in your life! 

AGTERGROND: 

Die KAROO GATSKUUR, is ‘n projek geinisieer en georganiseer deur Grotto 

to Gravel Bikers Hideaway, Gus en Mariëtte se Luukse Tent Gastehuis, 

met ‘n baie unieke motorfiets geinspireerde tema. 

Waar ‘n paar lekker pêlle met motorfietse, mooi grondpaaie en rum met 

pienk melkskommel betrokke is, is die kanse groot dat iemand met ‘n 

blink plan vorendag sal kom. Dit was presies wat vanjaar tydens die 

Meerkat Saamtrek, by die Gariep Dam gebeur het! 

Gus Maartens, het die Bull Run manne, so met ‘n dubbel rum en pienk 

melkskommel in die hand gestaan en bekyk en gesê “Ons moet so ‘n 

toer doen met afleweringsmotorfietse”. 

Mariëtte, Gus se vroutjie het dadelik gesê, die Karoo sal die perfekte 

bestemming wees en die ander pêlle het opgewonde gesê hulle is IN... 

die res – wel dis “history”soos hulle sê. 

Die Maandag het Gus vir hom ‘n Honda CD 200 Roadmaster aangeskaf 

en vinnig het die res van die manne wat hierdie EERSTE historiese rit wil 

aanpak, ook hul fietse begin koop en ‘n week of wat later is die datum 

vir 2022 se KAROO GATSKUUR vasgemaak! 

Daar is ‘n paar baie belangrike reëls en regulasies vir die KAROO GAT- 

SKUUR en dit sluit onder andere die volgende in: 

Jou totale begroting vir ‘n motorfiets, beloop R 20 000.00 en dit sluit 

die aankoopprys, herstelwerk, registrasie, instandhouding, aflewerings 

boks asook die versiering daarvan in. Die motorfiets wat jy gebruik vir 

die KAROO GATSKUUR, mag nie jonger as ‘n 2000 model wees nie en die 

fabrikaat van die motorfiets, is jou persoonlike keuse. Die maksimum 

engine grootte is 250cc en die motorfiets moet op eie stoom in die 

Tankwa Karoo en weer by die huis aankom. Jy mag tydens die KAROO 

GATSKUUR slegs 2 stelle onderklere saam neem. Een wat jy dra, en ‘n 

ander wat jy inpak vir ‘n spaar. 

Jy moet ‘n valhelm dra, maar selfs dit moet uit dieselfde era as jou 

motorfiets kom en die tolaatbare kleredrag is ‘n oorpak met “reflector 

tape”. Jy mag skoene en handskoene van jou keuse dra, alhoewel die 

organiseerders verkies dat dit rysteuwels en handskoene sal wees wat 

maksimum veiligheid en beskerming bied. 

Ons vertrek op 11 Maart 2022 en beplan om ‘n astronomiese 3500km, 

met sommer heelwat grondpaaie, te ry met ons afleweringsmotorfietse, 

tot in die Tankwa Karoo en weer terug in net 10 dae @ ‘n gemiddelde 

spoed van +- 75km per uur. Ja kyk, Gus sal altyd ‘n roete van punt A na 

punt B beplan, maar sorg dat jy jou bestemming bereik, 

deur die ompaaie en grondpaaie te moet ry. Nou waarom die Tankwa 

Karoo, vra jy jouself seker af? Gus vertel graag, dat die mooiste plekke 

verseker langs ‘n grondpad sit. Wel, dit is eenvoudig die bekoring van 

die TANKWA KAROO. 

Die feit dat daar niks is en dat daardie selfde niks die mooitste mooi in 

eenvoud is. 

Gus en Mariëtte is September 2021 ook by die Tankwa Padstal getroud 

en dié twee raak sommer vinnig lieries oor hul gunsteling plek! Daardie 

selfde niks, word dan ook ‘n uitdaging gedurende die KAROO GAT- 

SKUUR. Volgens Gus en Mariëtte is daar geen mooier en lekkerder plek 

as die Tankwa Padstal nie. 

Soos met enige motorfiets toer, is hierdie een ook nie sonder voorval 

nie. Die aanvanklike beplanning was vir slegs 10 manne op afleweringsmotorfietse, 

maar een van die deelnemers kon op kort kennisgewing 

nie meer die toer meemaak nie en Mariëtte het besluit om daardie plek 

in te neem, as deelnemer. 

Die KAROO GATSKUUR se roete is as volg: 

DAG 1 

Grotto to Gravel (Magaliesburg) na Ladybrand 

DAG 2 

Ladybrand na Hopetown 

DAG 3 

Hopetown na Groblershoop 

DAG 4 

Groblershoop na RIemvasmaak 

DAG 5 

Riemvasmaak na Calvinia 

DAG 6 

Calvinia na Bike Xcape 

DAG 7 

Bike Xcape na Sutherland 

DAG 8 

Sutherland na Loxton 

DAG 9 

Loxton na Kimberley 

DAG 10 

Kimberley na Grotto to Gravel 

TOTAAL 3550km

KAROO GATSKUUR DAGBOEK: 

10 Maart 2022 / VOORAAND van die KAROO GATSKUUR 

2022 

Ons het ons letterlik katswink gewerk die afgelope tyd 

nadat ons die “recce” gaan doen het, twee weke gelede, 

in die Karoo vir hierdie toer. In die Karoo was baie reën 

en die toestand van die paaie verander letterlik weekliks. 

Ons MOES gaan kyk! Vir die wat nie weet nie, was die 

Karoo Gatskuur my man, Gus se idee en ek die organiseerder. 

Hierdie was nie ‘n vinnige naweek trip nie. 

Dit was ‘n 10 dae toer, met 14 verskillende mense, met 

verskillende persoonlikhede en behoeftes. Dit het gevoel 

asof jy ‘n vakansie reël vir 14 vreemdelinge en ons almal 

weet self ‘n familie vakansie, kan uitdagend wees. Dit 

was geen maklike taak nie. 

Al die deelnemers en hul gabbas slaap die aand voor 

ons vertrek, by Grotto to Gravel. 

Daar is 8 manne op Honda CD 200’s en ek op my Yammie 

SR250. Hierdie motorfietse het geen moderne tegnologie 

wat jou rit vergemaklik nie. Jy moet baie van die ry- en 

dink werk self doen en ‘n skielike voorrem kan jou, jou 

gat laat sien op ‘n onvoorspelbare, onverwagse manier, 

wat jou tanne op mekaar laat klap, soos ‘n slagyster. 

Keith en Linda het die meeste tasse van almal en as 

jy nie van beter geweet het nie, sou jy dink die twee is 

oppad op ‘n jaar lange Afrika ekspedisie en Jacques krap 

omtrent kop oor waar hy wat moet pak. Orals is daar 

‘n geskarrel, maar almal is vrolik en die atmosfeer is 

aansteeklik. 

Gussie werk aan Hein se Honda CD 200 en maak verstellings 

aan die “inlet” en “exhaust valves” en vervang 

“plugs”, die ander plak “stickers” en “fit hooters” en 

ander belaglike ornamente op hul scooters, tot laat aand. 

DAG 1 GROTTO TO GRAVEL – LADYBRAND 451km 

Voor die alarm nog kon afgaan is ons op en pak die laaste 

paar goedjies in. Net voor 05h00 is ons buite en maak 

seker almal is wakker en het ‘n koppie koffie. Net na 

05h00, was HONDA SA, se manne, Riaan en Justin daar 

en Gussie bedank hulle vir hul ondersteuning, borgskap 

en dat hulle daar is om ons af te sien. 

Die deelnemers is: Gus Maartens, Leon van Wyk, Hein 

Kritzinger, Heinro Kritzinger, Henri du Toit, Jacques De 

Beer, Inus van Niekerk, Keith Webster en myself. 

Hierdie is ‘n “do or die” storie! Dis duskant ver, Karoo 

toe...selfs op ‘n GS. Dis steeds ver in ‘n kar...jou sitplek is 

hard, jou fiets is klein, die paaie verseker nie almal maklik 

om te ry nie en teen ‘n spoed van 75km per uur op teer 

en sowat 40km per uur op grond, gaan hierdie ongeveer 

3500km ‘n ewigheid neem, maar jy is so reg soos kan 

kom en hierdie is nog ‘n baie mooi hoofstuk met die aller 

lekkerste herinneringe in jou lewensverhaal. Hierdie is ‘n 

toon omkrul lekker kry geleentheid. 

‘n Paar sekondes later toe die werklikheid nog besig is 

om in te sink, brul die engines en ry ons een vir een die 

hek uit, op ‘n “once in a lifetime” avontuur! Sal ons ooit 

besef hoe bevoorreg ons is? 

Die atmosfeer is elektries, die musiek blêr uit Jax se 

Landy en onbewustelik vang almal ‘n “beat” met die 

heup – ons het lank vir die dag gewag en nou is die groot 

oomblik hier! 

Gussie, is ons “LEADER OF THE PACK” en Henri “THE 

SWEEPER”…ek is so gewoond om net agter my man te ry 

dat ek daar met ‘n spoed wegtrek om my plekkie in ons 

ryformaat te kry. Die oop helmet is heerlik met die koel 

wind wat op jou gesig waai. Ons eerste stop is in Parys, 

maar by Carletonville kan jy al sien dat almal ongemaklik 

op hul sitplekke rondskuif. Dié affêre gaan jou boude laat 

les opsê.

In Parys maak ons vol, eet ‘n lekker garage pie 

saam met ‘n koppie koffie en dit is blykbaar 

volgens die deskundiges, die beste behandeling 

vir die voorige aands Jaggie vergiftiging. 

Die inwoners is baie vriendelik en van die verbygangers 

stop om ‘n geselsie aan te knoop, 

terwyl ons wag vir Jax wat die een ondersteuningsvoertuig 

beman, om haar Zoom-vergadering 

klaar te maak. Die een verbyganger sê dat 

die pad wat ons wou ry, nou onder konstruksie 

is en Gus besluit om die groep via Kroonstad 

en die N1 tot voor Ventersburg se afdraai na 

Senekal te lei. 

Op Senekal wag Inus en Louisa en Frieda 

vertel dat Louisa al ‘n paar keer gebel het om 

te vra waar ons is, want Inus wil net bike ry. 

Gussie kry die groep bymekaar en ons gaan 

weer DRUK tot in Marquard, vir middagete by 

Marco’s! Hulle Pizza’s is van die BESTE wat 

ons nog ooit geeët het en niks kom by hul eg 

Vrystaatse gasvryheid nie. Almal drink ‘n pienk 

milkshake en gesels oor hul seer boude. 

Net buite Senekal oppad na Marquard, kom 

Hein se Honda CD 200 se “sprocket” los en die 

ketting breek. Gussie doen die nodige “damage 

control” en Hein se scooter word geruil met 

een van die back-up scooters…Keith se holverwoestende 

Suzuki GSX250. 

In Ladybrand maak ons groep omtrent ‘n 

entrance! Die Polisie vangwa stop in sy spore 

en bekyk ons soos moontlike “suspects”, ‘n bejaarde 

tannie kom tot stilstand, halfpad by die 

apteek se deur en die kindertjies juig ons toe 

en blaas chappie borrels van opgewondenheid. 

Die potholes in Ladybrand is van die skrikwekkendste 

in ons land. Daar is letterlik een straat 

in daardie dorp wat rybaar is. Die res het al die 

kenmerke van die regering en ‘n onproduktiewe 

munisipaliteit en beskik oor die potensiaal om 

jou enkel te breek sou jy probeer loop. 

Ons slaap vannaand by die Little Rock Vakansieoord. 

Onmiddelik word ‘n area geidentifiseer 

waar die scooters vannaand nagegaan en 

reggemaak moet word. Gus aan die stuur, werk 

die manne werk lekker saam en die “girls” 

drink brandewyn en gin. 

Teen skemeraand was almal net vinnig gesigte 

en hande en ry ons almal met die ondersteuningsvoertuie 

na die Ladybrand Klub. Hier is die 

boere nog BAAS! Ons ontvangs is heldadig en 

ons voel soos “celebrities”. Byna elke persoon 

in daardie kroeg kom stel hulself aan ons 

groep voor en vertel ons hoe bly hulle is dat 

ons besluit het om hul dorp te besoek. Die 

tannies lyk almal min of meer dieselfde en ‘n 

mens wonder of daar jare gelede iemand was 

wat 10+ dogters gebaar het. Daardie plekkie 

is ‘n moet stop en beloof om jou te verras…jy 

gaan splinternuwe pêlle maak, te veel drink, 

baie lekker eet en onder daai “glitter ball”dans! 

ABSOLUUT die moeite werd. 

Al waaraan ek dink is daardie grondpad van 

more… 

Geforseerde diep gedagte vir die dag: “SCOOT- 

ER” SITPLEKKE is nie gemaak vir langpad ry 

nie. Jy weet later nie meer hoe om te sit nie en 

agter jou is ‘n moerse “delivery” boks. Jy het 

een posisie…DIS DIT…Die sitplek is harder as 

‘n baksteen. As jy stop kry jy nie vinnig genoeg 

afgeklim nie…jou boude brand…dit soos ‘n voet 

wat slaap...dit voel dood tot die lewe begin 

terug kom. Moet ook nie dink jy kan ‘n skelm 

windjie los op een van dié sitplekke nie. Jy 

beur en beur…maar daar is geen ontsnappingsroete 

nie. Jy beur dat jou rug begin pyn…maar 

daar is NIKS. Dis soos ‘n nuwe leersitplek in ‘n 

luukse kar. Jy MOET jou een boud oplig, MAAR 

na byna 500km kom jy daai “trick” agter…jy 

meerkat so bietjie op die “scooter”… 

DAG 2 LADYBRAND – HOPETOWN 425km 

Om 06h00 is almal op en besig om weer die 

twee Landrover’s, die karavaan en die sleepwa 

te pak. 14 Mense se bagasie kan nogals 

“tricky”wees om gesorteer en gepak te kry op 

so ‘n manier, dat indien jy iets soek, jy sal weet 

waar dit is. Dit is nie net die bagasie nie, maar 

ook almal se tente en slaapsakke. Keith en 

Linda het natuurlik 2 x 5 ster Oz Trail tente ingepak 

en die goed vat omtrent die hele spasie 

op Jacques en Jax se Landy. Bo en behalwe 

dit, het al die deelnemers elk 2 ekstra bande 

en op die oomblik lyk dit of daar een moerse 

uitverkoping van bande êrens in Gauteng was. 

Tussen Gussie en Jacques is daar ook genoeg 

“spares”en “tools” om bykans enige iets reg te 

maak langs die pad. 

Net na 07h00 val die groep in die pad en

Cycle Technology ccT/A 

Inus lyk soos ‘n Hawain nimf met sy pienk 

rompie en boobie das. Tussen Ladybrand en 

Hobhouse is die potholes groot genoeg om ‘n 

kamp stoeltjie, visstok en katrol uit te pak en 

‘n “coolbox”nader te sleep. Met die “scooter” 

kan jy darem nog “bob and weave” maar met 

die ondersteuningsvoertuie wat elk ‘n sleepwa 

en ‘n karavaan moet sleep, is dit ‘n pad wat 

enige vroumens histeries sal maak, maar Ella 

en Jax sleep daai twee swaar gelaaide goed, 

soos kampioene! 

Vanaf Hobhous 

e ry ons grondpad na Reddersburg en klim 

weer op die teer na Edenburg. Op Edenburg 

motiveer Gussie die honger groep mense, 

dat ons eers in Fauresmith gaan eet, want 

daar is ‘n baie lekker plekkie… Ons neem die 

grondpad via Charlesville en klim darem weer 

op ‘n teerpad na Fauresmith. Daar aangekom, 

is die Restaurant waarvan Gus gepraat het, 

toe en daar is nie eers ‘n garage op daardie 

plek wat Saterdag na 13h00 oop is nie. Ons 

almal staar die plek met ongeloof aan en ek 

probeer die nommer op die verblykte bordjie 

bel. Voicemail… Ek gaan nou iemand bliksem 

as ek nie kan eet nie. Die engelse sê mos…”a 

hungry man is an angry man” en hulle het in 

die geval nie stront gepraat nie. 

Jacques maak almal se “scooters” vol uit die 

jerry kanne agterop die karavaan en Gus verduidelik 

dat ons maar sal moet deurdruk via 

Luckhoff wat maar sowat 60km grondpad is, 

en daarvandaan nog sowat 80km en dat ons 

dan lekker vroeg in Hopetown sal kan wees, 

wat dit nou die moeite werd sal maak om vas 

te byt en te vergeet van ons honger. 

Ek praat met hom op die “headset” en net toe 

ek besig is om te verduidelik, dat my derms 

besig is om my van binne af op te eet, is ons 

by die Luckhoff afdraai en jy het nie Graad 1 

nodig om te sien dat daardie pad nie vir ons 

rybaar gaan wees nie. Daar kom ‘n wit bakkie 

aangegly, maar so skuins…die modder is nat 

blink en selfs die plaaswerkers op perde, 

sukkel om bo te bly. 

Gus sê ons moet tot daar bo op die kop ry, 

dalk is dit om die draai droog. Wat de…reën dit 

hier dan net plek, plek, dink ek by myself. “Nee 

man”, skree ek…nie kwaad nie – moerig verby. 

Twee meter op die modder, word die spulletjie 

klei en ek begin tjank. Inus, Henri, Hein en Jacaues 

gly verby en Heinro ry daar waar dit lyk 

of jy ‘n enduro kompetisie kan hou. Ek is later 

so moeg ek huil oor my bene soos die van ‘n 

lappop agter my aansleep. Jy kan nie eers 

probeer om dit op die “footpegs”te sit nie. Jou 

bene is nou veronderstel om jou “stabilizers” 

te wees, soos die van ‘n TLB, maar my heupe 

pyn so dat dit voel.of daar bondels spoeg in 

my mond is. Seker een van daai ouvrou kwale, 

soos menopause of so iets. 

My gesig is papnat gesweet en ek kan voel 

hoe die druppels agter op my rug afloop. ‘n 

Plaaswerker op ‘n moerse trekker kom daar 

verby gepur-pur en dié sê: “Meneer, die pad lyk 

net so kak tot in Luckhoff en dis nog 70km. 

Toe eweskielik is dit “okay” met my man, 

dat ons omdraai (dis mos nou maar hoe ons 

vrouens dink - as JY dit sê weet jy nie waarvan 

jy praat nie – jy is mos ‘n vrou). Hoe ek dit 

reggekry het, weet die Vader alleen. 

Omgedraai, dink ek net aan die byna 4km wat 

ek weer met die ”scooter” tussen my bene sal 

moet terugloop en probeer reggop bly in die 

modder en klei. Ek stop en klim af…ek ween… 

dis snot en trane en ek is woedend. Keith 

kom verby en stop. Ek staan en huil. Hy sê: 

“Mariëtte, should we not load your bike on the 

trailer”…kyk toe ontplof ek…ek sê…nee Keith… 

ek het gery…geloop tot hier ek MOET terug. 

Bogger almal…Keith probeer my troos en gee 

my ‘n drukkie en sê net…”I understand, no 

problem”. What a gentleman! 

Op dieselfde oomblik van my vloermoer, het 

Leon ook daar gestop en hy was vol modder, 

soos hy êrens vorentoe wou omdraai 

en sy voet gegly en hy geval het. Hy het die 

spulletjie so bekyk en net vir Gussie gesê: “My 

ou maat, dan ry ek nou maar”… Ella en Frieda 

stop langs my en probeer my moed in praat. 

Ek klim huil-huil terug op die “scooter” my 

bene sleep weer langs my sye. Kort-kort moet 

ek stop om net weer my asem te probeer 

terug kry. Later het ek nie eers meer geweet 

of ek huil van moegheid, omdat ek bang is 

om te val en nie hierdie toer kan klaarmaak 

nie of omdat ek die moer in is nie. Toe ek dit 

uiteindelik maak tot waar van die hardebaarde 

gestaan en wag het, saam met die girls van 

die ondersteuningsvoertuie, toe kan ek nie 

praat nie. Op my wange sit gedroogde snot 

strepe. 

Ek huil kop onderstebo, met my hande voor 

my oë en die klomp klap hande en juig. 

Wat ‘n oorwinning vir my! Ek het nie geval nie 

en ek het nie opgegee nie. My man druk my 

teen hom vas en skree kliphard…”My skat – dit 

is balsak!” Dis vir my die mooiste woorde van 

die dag! 

Van daar kies ons koers via Koffiefontein na 

Orania, waar ons weer afspreek om vol te 

maak. Daar aangekom is almal soos honger 

skoolkinders wat van ‘n bus af klim. Al wat 

Frieda vir ons kon koop by die garage se kaffee 

was, koeksisters, droëwors en koeldrank. 

Ek is al bewerig honger. 

Ek en Gussie stry oor ons geforseerde “diet” 

dag en hy sê dat as ons nie aanhou ry het nie, 

ons dit nie voor donker in Hopetown sou maak 

nie… die res van die manne stem saam... hy is 

reg – maar ek sê niks, want al waaraan ek op 

daardie oomblik kan dink is ‘n gebraaide tjop 

en ‘n dubbel brandewyn. 

Ons ry skerp skemer by die gronde van Klok- 

Inn in en daar staan ‘n pragtige “stretch” tent 

wat ek vir die groep laat opslaan het, met 

tafeltjies en parafien lampies…slaaie, broodjies, 

nagereg en vonkelwyn. Dit lyk pragtig! 

Rickus, die eienaar se seuns steek vir ons 

die vure aan en almal gaan pak af. Dit is die 

oulikste huisies waarin ons bly en dit is ten 

volle toegerus met alles wat jy sal nodig kry. 

Die bonus van hierdie pragtige plek is dat dit 

op die rivier oewer is en die natuurskoon daar 

slaan behoorlik jou asem weg, na al die reën. 

Nadat almal afgepak en gestort het kom ons 

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weer bymekaar om te braai! Almal kruip vroeg in, want vandag was ‘n 

moeilike een en more beloof om jou presies te wys, waar daar vergete 

spiere in jou lyf is. Henri spot nog vroeër en sê sy “vet” pyn. 

Geforseerde diep gedagte vir die dag: Ek VLOEK nie. Ek beklemtoon net 

my gedagtes! 

DAG 3 HOPETOWN – GROBLERSHOOP 286km 

Samajoor Maartens (dis nou Gussie) het die vorige aand gevra dat almal 

so teen 07h00 bymekaar sal kom om aan die “scooters” te werk. 

Hein, Gussie, Heinro en Leon werk in die son en teen 07h30 tap die 

sweet die 4 manne af. Na ‘n moerse gesukkel, het Gussie die fout op 

Hein se “scooter” gekry en teen 09h00, is die fiets weer ‘n 100%. Intussentyd 

het die ander harde baarde die modder van hulle “scooters” gaan 

afwas, van die vorige dag, maar ek los myne so. Ek sê altyd ‘n vuil bike 

wys jy was êrens. 

Net na 09h00 kom ons bymekaar om van die vorige aand se koue 

braaivleis te eet vir ontbyt. Jacques, Henri en Leon vat ‘n vinnige dip in 

die swembad om af te koel. Jy weet jy is in die Noordkaap – dit is vroeg 

oggend al vrek warm. 

Die eerste gedeelte van die rit vir die dag is na Douglas. Dit is ‘n baie 

mooi teerpad en die omgewing is grasgroen en baie mooi. Sowat 10km 

voor Douglas, breek Keith se fiets en daar word hy beloon met sy eie 

persoonlike holverwoestende “scooter”, die gevreesde Suzuki GSX250. 

Net buite Douglas in daar ‘n samevloeiing van die Oranje-, Riet- en Vaalrivier. 

Waar daar baie water is, kan jy boer en hier is dit so duidelik soos 

daglig. Ons stop vir foto’s voor Douglas op die brug. 

Vanaf Douglas ry ons grondpad na Cambell. Gussie waarsku die manne 

dat daar baie stofgate op die pad is en dat dit baie bedrieglik kan wees. 

Daar was ook baie reën in die omgewing die afgelope 3 dae, en die pad 

is plek plek baie modderig. Ons is letterik net op die regte dag daar en 

vang die pad net net droog genoeg om te ry. Heinro ry alweer ‘n “enduro 

race” op die kant van die pad en ‘n paar keer, is sy bene langs sy kop, 

soos hy deur die gate ry. Ek lag kliphard, so op my eie, vir die paar kere 

wat die kind soos ‘n onfikse gimnas, ‘n paar desperate “moves”uithaal 

om op daai ysterperd te bly. “Amper jou gat daar gesien, my kind! Die 

antie hou jou dop!” sê ek vir hom in Griekwastad en ons lag te lekker! 

Net om ‘n idée te gee van hoe dit voel om op Keith se ou Suzuki GSX250 

te ry… 

Toe ons in Griekwastad by die garage stop om vol te maak, was Keith 

se gesig spierwit en sy oë so groot soos pierings, toe hy met Gussie 

praat en vra: “Gus, please I beg you to fix my bike?”, toe besef ons hoe 

dit moet voel. Hein beaam dit en sê daar is nie ‘n manier wat hy weer op 

daai Suzuki ry nie – hy loop eerder. Dit na net 110km…ons bars uit van 

die lag! Jy kyk na hom en al wat jy sien is pyn. “Ja, nee” sê Hein…daai 

fiets skeur jou in twee en bring jou op “size”. 

Ons stop by ‘n plaaslike restaurantjie, Proviand, in Griekwastad en 

dis ouder gewoonte weer tyd vir ‘n pienk “milkshake”. Vandaar is dit 

teerpad, al die pad tot in Groblershoop. Ons stop twee keer net om bene 

te rek. 

Sowat 40km voor Grobblershoop, begin dit reën en teen die tyd wat 

ons by die Kheis River Lodge aankom, is ons pap nat. Ons boek in en 

vanaand…TA-DA…is ‘n kamp aand. Keith het nog nooit gekamp nie. 

Hierdie is letterlik sy eerste keer. Hy bestorm die meisiekind by die 

kroeg en vra of hy kan “upgrade” na ‘n “chalet” en dat hy so desperaat is 

om dit te doen, hy vir almal vir ‘n “upgrade” na ‘n “chalet” sal betaal. 

Ek roep die meisie eenkant en sê sy moet vir Keith sê dat hulle ‘n 

groot groep bejaardes verwag en dat daar geen “chalets” beskikbaar 

is nie. Keith is weer spierwit en jy kan sommer sy angstigheid sien. Hy 

verduidelik en sê sy ma sal die stuipe kry as sy sien hoe vol modder sy 

klere is en dat sy hom kleintyd tot 4 keer ‘n dag sou bad. Ons wil ons 

dood lag! 

Ons drink almal vinnig ‘n R&R en gaan slaan toe kamp op. Gelukkig is 

daar die Honda- en Meerkat gazebo’s om ons tente onder op te slaan. 

Terug by die kroeg, is almal lekker warm aangetrek en is dit tyd vir 

‘n hele klomp “shooters”, ‘n heerlike steak ete en ‘n groot kuier. Die 

Kritzingers is natuurlik weer voor in die koor en kort voor lank gloei my 

wange soos ‘n skoolkind by ‘n atletiekbyeenkoms. 

Laat nag gaan lê ons in ons tentjie en raak aan die slaap met die reën 

wat saggies op ons tentjie en die gazebo drup. Dankbaar vir nog ‘n dag 

vol skaterlag en mooi herinneringe. 

Geforseerde diep gedagte vir die dag: Elke ou dink sy kraai, is ‘n pappegaai. 

Bly kalm en borsvoed ‘n krokodil. 

Next month we’ll continue the quest from Groblershoop to Riemvasmaak 

and beyond… 

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Readers Ride: 

Hogsback 

Rally Raid 

Testing the Batt X-Terrain 

By John Harris 

As most adventure riders will know, tyre debates have been ongoing for many 

years, it’s probably one of the most debated topics among fellow adventure 

riders. 

Most riders try to purchase the tyre which will deliver the best mileage, but 

also the most grip. There is a reason why our Motor GP idols don’t use normal 

street tyres on the track, and adventure or off road riding is no exception. 

Being a firm believer in making adventure riding as easy as possible for 

myself, I choose my rubber based on the venture I choose to complete. When 

moving to remote places with zero backup, reliability will be key, as I tend to 

move a little slower given that medical backup may also not be available. 

There are, however times when grip means everything, despite the possibility 

of a sidewall cut. 

Grip was one of the main considerations we attended the annual Rally Raid 

weekend in Hogsback. With a wet outlook towards the weekend, we called 

Bruce from BikeTyreWarehouse (BTW) to see what rear tyres he would have 

available for us. We all had fairly fresh rubber on the front of our adventure 

bikes, ranging from Mitas E-13s, Anakee Wilds to the popular Karoo 3s. 

Bruce was happy to give us options, but with a new shipment of the Batt 

X-Terrains just offloaded , having tested some of these for Bruce in the past, 

I convinced my mates to try same. A bit of a spot check on whether my 

perceptions would be mirrored by my friend, just to make sure I knew what I 

was talking about and was not just a keyboard junkie. 

Rally Raid – Day 0 

I really do love my KTM 890 Adventure R Rally, but it’s a bit like an ironing 

board if you do extended kilometers on a day, therefore I convinced the group 

that we should trailer down to “De Vlei farm”, a hunters paradise, owned by 

my brother in law, just outside Cradock for the first night. And then taking the 

trek down to Hogsback. 

The hunters cabin being solar and gas powered, was a good starting point 

where we were treated to a game drive and sundowner on my brother in laws 

Unimog. This also allowed us to pack a bit smarter and ensure that most of 

the duplicate tools were removed amongst the riders.

Our solar power drained out around 21h00 if I recall correctly, but 

this did not stop the festivities from continuing through the night. 

Rally Raid – Day 1 (De Vlei to Hogsback) 

Having been very involved with the logistics of the trip, I was demoted 

to being the logistics guy, arranging accommodation, fuel 

stops and acting as the group mechanic, while Pierre Ackerman 

took over as the route captain and planned a really good route 

for us. 

The route comprised eleven passes, known to man, but not to 

us. Riding was mostly twin and single track roads, with shorts 

bursts on open gravel highways and even less tar. As a person 

who plans most rides I go on, I learned that we should give other 

adventure riders a chance to do some of the planning. Pierre 

did an awesome job of the route and I believe I would not have 

planned a better route myself. 

We crossed some amazing scenery, crossing the likes of the 

Swaerhoek Pass, Tarka-Botha Pass, Tarka Pass before joining the 

N10 just outside Mortimer. 

Up until that point, travelling was dry, with some nice little rocky 

sections and the BATT X-Terrain tyres really held up well, as could 

be expected. There was enough drive from the rear to steer the 

front over the loose pebbles with ease. At some point I recall that 

it became a game of point and shoot for most of us, jumping the 

hoops and really having fun, shortly after we reached the N10. 

With some bystanders on the N10, it was time to see if these 

rears liked the odd wheelie and some wheelie practice with the 

shouts and claps from the locals were done, before the tail end 

of group two arrived. It was only once I ended up back home, that 

I realized these 6th gear wheelies rip off the knobbies from the 

front with ease, once you put the wheel down on tarmac. 

With our wheelie check done, the group set off, crossing the 

Great Fish river to ride over Waainek Pass with a turnoff over the 

mountain on a single trail to Somerset East. Group 1 a.k.a. 

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the Rabbits, missed the turnoff and covered a long stretch of unnecessary 

tar kilometers, missing out on Waainek, but from what I understand 

Slagersnek was slaughtered on their ride to Somerset East. 

Having refueled our bodies, we were ready to hit the graveyard shift, to 

Hogsback. It was close to 13h00 and at this point we had about 300 kms 

to go. Our work was cut out; if we wanted to finish! 

Slagtersnek Pass, Wienandsnek Pass, De Beers Pass, Braambos Pass, 

Bosnek Pass, Fuller’s Hoek Pass and Pefferskop Pass were all on the 

agenda. 

With time ticking, the Rabbits convinced us that there was not much to 

see on Slagtersnek Pass and we leapfrogged to Cookhouse and ultimately 

to the Wienandsnek Pass turnoff on the R63. We continued to ride De 

Beers Pass, which had some amazing scenery and continued to the top of 

Braambos Pass. 

At this point we had to re-evaluate our situation and decided to do a 

Beeline to Hogsback. Llittle did we know that our newly found route would 

take us over Katberg pass, one of the technical passes to be included the 

following day for Rally Raid. 

We proceeded towards Katberg pass climbing and climbing until we 

started to decend. Going down Katberg included a lot of loose pebbles, 

with some slate and small drop offs, where you had to navigate cautiously. 

Some riders needed a little assistance with others still in the mindset 

of pointing and shooting. The Batt X-Terrain held up its end of the bargain 

and I could feel that I had enough feedback from the rear navigating down 

during the downhill braking. Towards the bottom of the pass, the woods 

started to cover the roads and the dry downhill turned into a wet twin 

track, yet still my combination worked well. 

At Seymor, we decided to continue our original route which still included 

Pefferskop Pass, which should be called pothole pass, but continued until 

we hit the tar road to Hogsback. 

With registration closing at 18h00 we arrived there with a couple of minutes 

to spare, keeping registration open until all our mates arrived. 

We were welcomed by the Red Cherry team with a free beer, before disembarking 

to our tents and having a scrumptious dinner at the hotel. 

Day 2 – Rally Raid 1 

The first day of official riding on Rally Raid 1 was a 160km loop, which included 

a nice descent via Michel’s Pass to Seymor followed by an ascent 

of Katberg Pass, before looping through the Retief Conservancy back to 

the Katberg Eco Golf Estate for lunch. 

Going down Mitchel’s was great, as mentioned before, the downhill braking 

on the Batt X-Terrain is very predictable and confidence inspiring. As I 

entered Seymor, my concience got the better of me and I decided to wait 

on my group, who arrived a little later. 

We continued with the ascent of Katberg pass, the same pass we had 

descended the previous afternoon and at this point it was the first time 

the Batt had some limitations. Going up the woods in wet conditions over 

lose pebbles, the Batt had moments where traction was broken thinking 

to myself that I would like just a tad more traction. 

As we exited the woods, the road dried out completely and the Batt 

X-Terrain came back into its element, hooking up on the loose rocks and 

step ups with ease, providing enough traction to lift the front wheel over 

obstacles. 

We continued the route until we got to a river crossing with huge boulders, 

it was anarchy, something you normally only see on a Redbull Scramble, 

but this time it was made out of T7s (excuse the pun). It was a little “Tenerestellend” 

to see all the bikes blocking the route as we arrived at what 

would be the only bottleneck for the weekend. Bikes sounding like four 

stroke chainsaws, each rider trying to get in front of the other, but very 

few able to navigate over the loose wet boulders by themselves. For me, it 

was not different, I needed some assistance to get through as well. 

My tyre did not grip on wet builders, but in all honesty, I didn’t see any 

other bike there with better grip. It was the only time over the weekend 

I was longing for my KTM 300. While I was revving my way through the 

river crossing, our group found a less crowded spot to pass through and 

ended up waiting for me on the other side. 

We continued the route and just before lunch we had a muddy ascent,

mainly grassland, but muddy as hell. As I approached 

it, I wondered how well the Batt X-Terrain would hold 

up, given my previous wet scenarios, but the aggressive 

tread pattern dug into the turf and navigating up 

the hill was done with ease. 

We had a nice little lunch next to the pool, and continued 

back to Hogsback, riding the same route we did 

the morning, but only in reverse. 

Getting Back early, allowed us to complete some bike 

maintenance, 

such as washing air filters, lubing the chains and 

some other little maintenance necessities. 

At dinner we were advised that it may rain the next 

day, but with stars that bright, none of us had reason 

to believe the locals. 

Day 3 – Rally Raid 1 

Due to expected rain in the afternoon, the organisers 

opted to reverse the loop for the day. 

Our group was one rider lighter, due to a cracked oil 

cooler from the day before, but around 8h30 we set 

off once more, for what would be our final day of 

adventure riding, before we had to head home. 

With a reversed route, we headed straight into the 

woods, with some very sketchy and slippery single 

tracks and a nice little log jump. Just after the log, we 

crossed a little river that made a beautiful waterfall, 

a great photo opportunity. Here the group took some 

photos before proceeding on route. 

Close to the Mnyameni dam, we exited the woods 

onto a nice gravel road, which allowed us to give 

our twin cylinders their all towards Keiskammahoek, 

however just before town Pierre hit a lurker with his 

rear wheel which saw him damage the sidewall. This 

would be our first and only puncture of the weekend, a 

bit unfortunate if you ask me. 

I was waiting in the sun at the turnoff in Keiskammahoek; 

building up a bit of a thirst before the group 

decided to send some riders to inform me. 

Thinking back to the first day where I realized that 

we should give all adventurers the opportunity to 

face their own challenges, they would soon have the 

skill to convert a tubeless rear to a tube rear, that 

took more than an hour. It was not until a well known 

enduro rider from Bloemfontein, Jaco Kruger, assisted 

that the job was completed with success. I am a firm 

believer that eight mechanics on one wheel is more of 

a challenge than a blessing. 

With the wheel fixed, the group caught up to us. 

Lunch was next on the agenda at Old Thomas River, a 

really nice spot where you should take your family if 

you are ever in the area. 

We arrived at lunch, not last, but towards the back of 

the pack. We spoke to Mike Glover at lunch and even 

though he cautioned us on the auxiliary route, we set 

off to complete it. 

At the furthest point of the auxiliary loop, the Extreme 

loop would start, but tracks were non-existent at this 

point. Initial thoughts were to do it anti-clockwise to 

ensure that we compete the biggest climbs prior to 

the rain pouring down on us, but about a quarter of the 

way up, most of the group had turned around, leaving 

five riders being myself, Pierre, Emilie, Jace and 

Warren on his GS. 

A technical climb of note, the most technical for the 

five of us over the weekend, but it went relatively 

smoothly, with and incident here and there and feelings 

of being a mere passenger at times,

we made it about 80% of the way up the mountain. At this point in time, 

it was raining quite badly, and thunder was striking at the top of the 

mountain. 

Pierre being a paraglider of note made the call that we should turn around 

due to the thunder, not sure if he just made up his stories, but it ended up 

being the right call. 

All we had to do now was decent the same path, which was wet and 

slippery due to the rain, finish the auxiliary loop and continue back to 

Hogsback. 

With a fragmented group, we all started heading back to Hogsback, but 

the KTM 990 R with a mere 97 000km decided that its clutch had had 

enough. This resulted in Dirk nursing it back with Derick supporting him, 

while Riaan chose not to stick to the group and continue on his own. 

Needless to say, we were all back in Hogsback safely for an extended 

period of time before Riaan arrived, he remains adamant that many of us 

did not finish the loop, while others believe he just got lost… 

A great weekend out with my mates. 

Feedback from the riders using the Batt X-Terrain 

John - I enjoy using the Batt X-Terrain on my middleweight KTM and with 

the price tag, it makes it easy to justify. Yes, in the wet I had a couple of 

moments, but nothing too concerning. Having previous experience with 

the tyre in sandy conditions, I know what it can do and I am happy to 

continue to use it. 

Chris – Grippy and it last well for a tyre with such an aggressive pattern. 

Riaan – It has grip so good, even the Mozambique market wants to test 

it in their own sandy conditions (Bear in mind that his bike was stolen a 

mere two days after the event and given that it was a KTM 1090 R, we can 

only assume they wanted the tyre and not the bike.) 

Dirk – Tested it in all elements – good in sand, lots of grip on rocks, great 

in mud. Traction very good with the aggressive profile. 

Pierre – Good traction, was a tad Batt”ered” after going a bit hooligan 

in rocks but still in good enough shape, no cuts. Sidewall too soft. Road 

noise no problem. Great value for money. 

S 

A 

BI 

R 

R1 

O 

Pum 

R13, 

Fo 

Emile – For sure, good value for money compared to traditional brands. 

Overall performance is up to par with the other brands over different 

surfaces. Concerns are the sidewall posing a risk on longer and un-supported 

trips and seems like the tyre is getting harder as it wears down. I 

will definitely fit it again for local rides due to the price point and performance. 

Article by John Harris 

Instructor: CountryTrax

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DURABILITY THAT MATCHES PERFORMANCE 

T R A C K D A Y 

E DO MATH THE M 

GPR-300 

310 

SPORTMAX 

FORMANCE 

MORE 

SPORTMAX 

PERFOR 

SPORTMAX 

r, 

Great Handling at an 

affordable price. 

E TIRE 

6 

+20% 

2° 

= 

L E A N AE N.S GRIP LIFE 

GT LR E 

MORE 

E T L.. 

E G A 

TIRE = GRIP 

& E FIT S 

Offers a balance of 

ire achieves lean angles up to 62 degrees*. 

in the wet 

oved for street-legal use. 

320 

330 

340 

and dry 

require tire warmers, and runs at street 

ed for chassis or electronic 

ANGLE 

adjustments. 

carbon black like Dunlop’s racing slicks for 

conditions with 

LONGER 

350 

62° 

62 LEAN 

STREET 

y uses a continuously wound strip compound 

LIFE 

) uses carbon fiber reinforcement in the 

ering performance, braking stability and Sfeel. 

P O R T M A X Q 4 

T R A C K D A Y 

area. 

grip across the rear tread profile. 

WEAR LEGAL 

0 

10 

20 

30 

40 

50 

More than 80% of the Q3+ 

has been redesigned 

compared to the Q3 

60 

120 

MORE 

PERFORMANCE 

20% MORE 

70 

80 

110 

90 

100 

Performance touring tyre 

that not only lasts longer, 

but performs at higher 

levels 

LESS 

WEAR 

MORE 

maximum grip. 

F E A TUR EBENEFIT S & S 

GPR-300 

Great Handling at an 

affordable price. 

Offers a balance of 

• This purpose-built track-day tire achieves lean angles up to 62 degrees*. 

in the wet 

• The Sportmax Q4 is DOT-approved for street-legal use. 

and dry 

• The user-friendly Q4 does not require tire warmers, and runs at street 

pressures, eliminating the need for chassis or electronic adjustments. 

• Rear tire compound contains carbon black like Dunlop’s racing slicks for 

conditions with 

LONGER 

• Jointless Tread (JLT) technology uses a continuously wound strip compound 

to optimize stability, flex, and grip across the rear tread profile. 

WHERE WEAR 

• Carbon Fiber Technology (CFT) uses carbon fiber reinforcement in the 

sidewalls for exceptional cornering performance, braking stability and feel. 

• Dunlop branding on the tread area. 

l Dunlop retailers, as well as race distributors. 

ze Load/Speed Part Number 

0/70ZR17 (58W) 45233176 

0/55ZR17 (73W) 45233177 

0/60ZR17 (75W) 45233131 

0/50ZR17 (73W) 45233060 

0/55ZR17 (75W) 45233074 

0/55ZR17 (78W) 45233092 

S594/A 

MOST WINNING TYRE 

RADIAL SPORT TIRES RACE TRACK STREET SPORT 

• Made in the U.S.A. 

ELI 

• The Q4 is available through all Dunlop retailers, as well as race distributors. 

Size Load/Speed Part Number 

TOMAC 

Sportmax Q4 Front 120/70ZR17 (58W) 45233176 

Sportmax Q4 Rear 180/55ZR17 (73W) 45233177 

180/60ZR17 (75W) 45233131 

190/50ZR17 (73W) 45233060 

190/55ZR17 (75W) 45233074 

200/55ZR17 (78W) 45233092 

AMA SX450 CHAMPION 

PERFORMANCE 

PERFORMANCE 

TOURING 

TOURING 

DUNLOP 

Sportmax Q4 

DOMINATION 

Sportmax Q3+ 

Sportmax GPR-300 

Sportmax Roadsmart III 

S594/A 

S594/A 

DunlopMotorcycleTires.com 

©2018 *As tested Dunlop by Motorcycle Dunlop on a Tires. 2017 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 RR on a closed track at Barber Motorsports Park. 

@RideDunlop DUNLOPTYRESSA 

DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. ©2017 DUNLOPTYRESSA 

Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. 

©2018 Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. 

DUNLOPTYRESSA

Dirt and Trail June 2022

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