In 1964, Bob Dylan wrote a song called ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’. It feels almost like I am entering a stage of my life now where things are changing as well. I have my first grandson on the way, and that makes you re-examine your life choices. I want to be around when he grows up. I want him to sit on my lap while I tell him stories about my fast days and my gravel days. I would, of course, be lying if I said I was ever truly fast, but hey, I felt fast! That does not mean that I will stop riding motorcycles. Far from it. It just means that I need to take fewer risks and take it easy.
So, when an offer from Corrie Moolman, importer of Lambretta motorcycles, came my way, I immediately accepted. The plan was to ride to Kaapschehoop on Friday, ride a loop to Graskop on Saturday, and head back on Sunday. All in, the trip was to be around 1,000 km. To sweeten the deal, he offered me the use of a new Lambretta G350 Series II motorcycle.
The G350 is the flagship of the Lambretta range and pays homage to vintage Lambrettas. From the square headlight to the chrome accents and even the small intake over the front fender, these are all pointers to Lambretta’s rich heritage. But, even with all that retro styling, it still incorporates some modern touches like the small TFT screen. Depending on the time of day, the bike will greet you with a “Good morning” or “Good afternoon”. After that, it will remind you to “Stay Cool”. The TFT has a bright and crisp display. My only gripe is the fuel gauge, which is green on not-so-green. You really have to squint to see how much fuel you have left. The fuel tank holds 9.5 litres, which is more than any of the other bikes that joined the trip. That meant that I never had to worry about running out of fuel. We stopped every 150 km or so to fill up.
The G350 has two storage compartments: one in front of your knees and another under the seat. Both are lockable, and both have USB sockets, so charging your phone is never an issue. There is also an entire catalogue of accessories you can fit to your bike to add more storage space.
We left Pretoria just before 9 am, which meant that we would spend a fair amount of time in traffic. This is, of course, where the Lambretta shines. The engine is a 330 cc unit that produces 19 kW and 25.5 Nm of torque. These are not earth-shattering numbers, but the G350 is about smoothness, and it pulls strongly from the lights. It is also nimble enough to weave through traffic and pokey enough to stay ahead of it.
We stopped at Sergeant Pepper’s for breakfast, which gave us time to get to know all the riders. We came from all walks of life, but we all shared a love of scooters. After breakfast, we got on the N4 and headed to Middelburg. Long before we got there, we saw ominous rain clouds gathering. We made it to the Alzu petrol station before the rain really hit. We sought refuge near a coffee shop and waited out the storm. It looked like we were on the edge of a passing front, and we soon got going again. One thing about a scooter is the fact that the design shields you somewhat from the elements. Your feet stay dry, which is a major plus for me.
At Milly’s, we regrouped. By now the rain had stopped, and we could revel in the long, sweeping corners before Waterval-Boven. Corrie was leading on a Lambretta X300 and was holding a steady pace. At one particular downhill, the extra weight of my bike meant that I passed Corrie. This inevitably resulted in a race! At the front, the G350 is equipped with a double-arm link system rather than telescopic forks. At the back, it is equipped with twin shocks. Both front and rear are adjustable for preload. Combined with a longer wheelbase than the X300, the G350 felt surprisingly planted. It runs on 12-inch Pirelli Angel tyres, which offer a lot of grip, though it did feel a bit skittish on uneven surfaces. The X300 stayed ahead of the G350, but only just. It was probably down to the fact that I carry a lot more weight around my middle than Corrie does.
We filled up at Ngodwana again and then headed up to Kaapschehoop. Most of this pass is uphill, so we took a far more sedate approach. As we turned into the village, the heavens opened again. We were all assigned our rooms and went up to Die Nagkantoor for the obligatory cold one. We stayed at Angels Mist guest house, our go-to accommodation in Kaapschehoop. The owner, Abrie Visser, knows the area very well, and if you have a dirt bike, he can really show you the splendour of the area. We were not going down any gravel roads on the Lambrettas, though.
The next morning, the whole of the village was shrouded in an eerie mist. After a hearty breakfast, we set off down the hill into Nelspruit. Again, Corrie and I went all in on the pass, with a few brave souls completing a snake of Lambrettas into Nelspruit. From here, we headed to Hazyview, and after a quick coffee, attacked the road to Sabie. The first section has been beautifully redone and was a pleasure to ride. I went ahead to take some photos, and on my route, I saw a falcon soaring free and effortlessly—I felt the same.
When we got to the section known as the 22, I wished I could say the same about the surface. Alas, the road is starting to crumble, and I sincerely hope that this section of road will one day be restored to its former glory.
We decided to have lunch at Harrie’s Pancakes in Graskop and then headed back to Kaapschehoop. As we approached the start of Long Tom Pass, Corrie took the R37 in the direction of Sudwala, but I decided to head up to the Long Tom cannon. Two other riders followed, and we just had some quiet time at the site.
As I sat there looking at the Lambretta, I realised that the times are indeed changing. I am enjoying this. It is much slower than my normal pace coming up here, but I am fine with that. It was quite fitting then that we all sat around a table on Saturday evening and listened to a tribute band play songs by Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan. The vocalist was on point, delivering the trio’s smooth songs, while I remembered a friend who so loved the melodies of Cohen. Dinner was a simple snack basket, prepared with care and simply delicious. While Corrie was organising the riders, his wife, Yolande, quietly arranged everything else: the food and the table. When was the last time you were with people who are so passionate about a brand?
Sunday morning was again a misty affair, and we decided to go over Schoemanskloof Pass. There are some roadworks here as well, but the stop-go points gave us the opportunity to break clear of the trucks and just enjoy the bikes. This was truly a very special weekend with some very special people.
So, my fellow motorcyclists, the times they are indeed a-changing. Whether you are just starting off or on the outside looking in, a scooter brings a different vibe and a different crowd. If you are looking to sell your big brute because you can no longer manhandle the thing, please consider a scooter. But, for the love of all things two-wheeled, never stop riding! You are never too old or too young to own a Lambretta scooter.
