Following the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) this past weekend, and with the KZN South Coast one of the hardest-hit areas, the African Bike Week Festival – Let’s Go 2022, will now be postponed until 6 to 8 August 2022.

Originally scheduled to be hosted in the coastal towns from Margate to St Michaels from 28 to 30 April 2022, the continent’s biggest biker festival will still go ahead once the necessary infrastructural repairs have been done, and services are operational.

Sikhumbuzo Mqadi, Mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, said the decision to delay the event was not taken lightly, but considering the risks, the right decision has been made.

“Lives have been lost and homes and infrastructure destroyed, so we need to focus our efforts on supporting the communities and rebuilding,” said Mqadi. “At this stage, it would be reckless to host any events, considering the state of our roads and the disruption to services. The safety of the public is our priority. Rest assured, we will work hard to prepare for the new dates when we are ready to welcome tourists to our region.”

Event organiser, Vicky Wentzel, said: “We extend our thoughts to those who have been so badly impacted by these floods. As organisers of the African Bike Week Festival – Let’s Go 2022, we are assisting in the disaster relief efforts where we can together with our partners’ Bikers Unite NPO. We will be setting up collection points and donation platforms to arrange to distribute blankets, food, and other necessary items to KZN South Coast families in need.”

Wentzel said they are also appealing to all accommodation establishments that have already secured bookings from eventgoers to delay these until the new dates in August.

“We understand this is hugely difficult for those in the tourism industry who have had to navigate so many challenges the past two years, but this was an unforeseen circumstance which we need to address as best we can,” she said.

“Ticket sales are still ongoing for those who would like to secure their spot. We are looking forward to rebuilding and bringing the continent’s biggest biker event, African Bike Week Festival – Let’s Go 2022, to the KZN South Coast in August.

To contribute towards the relief efforts, donations can be made via Howler at www.howler.co.za or to Bike Fest SA, Bank: FNB, Account: 62929501543, Ref: KZN Donations. All funds will be distributed to local, on-the-ground charity efforts.

African Bike Week Festival – Let’s Go 2022 will be hosted by Ray Nkonyeni Municipality and powered by Bike Fest SA. R20 from every ticket sold will go towards charity initiatives run by Bikers Unite. To view ticket prices and to book, visit www.howler.co.za. Children U12 enter free.

Durban Yamaha owner Ryan Hansen collaborated with Durban Boaters and took the initiative to steer flood victims back to safety. This occurred after Ryan Hanson owner of Durban Yamaha Marine and angler, received a call to assist at 10:30 pm on Monday, 11 April 2022. Ryan and the team managed to rescue stranded truck drivers and inhabitants in areas around the Umgeni River.

“At 22:30 on Monday, a client and a friend phoned me telling me that they needed help in Springfield Park as there was flooding happening there. So I went to my office, took out a Rubber Duck and went down with them. The NSRI was on the scene where we rescued people throughout the night. At about 03:30 am on Tuesday, there were truck drivers stuck in their trucks and sleeping in the truck yard and some families in their first storey flats. That night we rescued about 25 people ourselves with it.”
– Ryan Hansen, Owner of Durban Yamaha Marine

Tuning Fork (Pty) Ltd t/a Yamaha Distributors SA, is honoured to have proactive associates contributing to the welfare of those in distress. We understand the magnitude of the unforeseen damages resulting from the floods. Therefore, we would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to all affected by the Durban floods.

Time was when you could organise an event in Gauteng in summer and you’d be very nearly guaranteed to have good weather. Well, in 2022, someone forgot to tell whoever is in charge of the rain that he needs to take a day off. It’s not that we’re not familiar with a bit of precipitation, just that we’ve had enough for one summer, thank you very much.

However, life goes on and no-one is going to tell us that we can’t still have fun. If the rain keeps at home the faint-of-heart and the faint-of-imagination, then who’s fault is that?

Inclement weather is just one of the unpredictables that event organisers can’t control. But I have every respect for organisers who press on regardless of the weather. Maybe they don’t have much choice – once invested, always committed – but it’s a measure of their ambition that the very best of them remain positive and cheerful.

BMW Motorrad South Africa has a standing commitment to putting on events that cater not only to the BMW faithful but anyone who enjoys something a bit different.

The House of Machines in Cape Town has a similar commitment: to do something a bit different that welcomes everyone, excludes no-one and simply tries to make a difference, however small, to everyone’s lives.

Bring the two together and something special is bound to happen. And that something was the Head for the Hills motorcycle and music festival over the weekend of 9th and 10th of April.

The event was held at the ADA training facility in Leeuwenkloof, near Hartbeespoort Dam. If the weather failed to play its part, Hein and Diete of ADA certainly played theirs and their excellent facility was the perfect setting.

It was clear from the outset that no expense had been spared. The stage, lighting and sound set-up was fully professional: the sound was very possibly the best I have ever heard at an outdoor music festival.

With music from Frans Karoo, Sam Turpin, Loki Rothman, Dylan Red, Cake Kidd, Loufi, Biggy and headliners Springbok Nude Girls, there really was something for everyone and, if they were playing to a much-reduced audience, none of the artists gave any indication of giving anything less than their best. Eventually, even the rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd.

With various BMW car and motorcycle activations, including 4X4 outrides in BMW X cars and R18 motorcycle outrides, there was always going to be something to do. The South African GS Trophy team was in attendance and gave a demonstration of why the team members have been selected to go to Albania to represent their country and defend their hat-trick of titles in that most challenging of competitions.

At the end of the day, however, Head for the Hills was all about the people. The rain might have kept many away but those who braved the elements had the best party. Late into the night, the bar was full and lively, the music pumping and the drinks flowing. If the walk to the tent at the end of the evening was a little squelchy, then it was just one more memorable element to the day.

It is to be hoped that this event will appear again next year and that it will become a fixture on the South African motorcycling calendar. Far from being exclusively for BMW owners, it is open to everyone and it really should be on everyone’s list of must-attend events in 2023.

A huge thank you to Alan Shenton, Penny Sterley, Hein and Diete Engelbrecht and everyone who worked so hard to make the weekend as good as it was.

1 of 66

Getting There…

I certainly didn’t need to ride a BMW to Head for the Hills, but it so happened that a blue BMW R1250 RT was in the garage at the time. We’ve reported on this magnificent touring bike before in ZA Bikers, so a full road test isn’t necessary here.

However, as a machine to travel to a festival, it would have been hard to better. As it happened, I managed to make the journey to and from ADA in between rain showers but, had it been raining, I would have hardly felt it, so good is the fairing and screen of the RT. Coupled with heated seats and hand grips, it surely must be very near the pinnacle of touring bike design.

The performance is completely effortless, the new Shiftcam cylinder heads on the boxer twin giving power at any point in the rev range, while the smoothness of the engine is uncanny, especially to anyone who has been riding BMWs for any number of years.

If anything, a short hour’s ride was insulting to the RT. If Head for the Hills hadn’t been taking place, I would have happily ridden to Durban just for the hell of it: it’s just one of those bikes that invites you to ride and explore far and wide.

It’s not even as if it is only good at sitting on the highway for hours on end. Such is chassis technology nowadays, that even the largest motorcycles can be made to handle like smaller, lighter bikes when the going gets entertaining, meaning that riding a bike such as the RT doesn’t have to mean leaving the fun at home when you go for a ride.

The R1250 RT is a hugely tempting proposition for anyone in the market for a touring bike. If it has an air of Teutonic efficiency about it, then is that really such a bad thing? As much fun as riding without mechanical worry is, it’s also very pleasant to arrive at one’s destination as fresh as it is possible to be after a day in the saddle. With the RT, they are days that can be repeated indefinitely.

BMW R 1250 RT

For more information on the bike that we used in this article, click on the links below…

The iconic KTM 950 and 990 adventure bikes are still enabling riders to get out and explore the best of our beautiful country, and this event was all about celebrating their legacy. The affection felt for these machines, their ability to perform, and the strength of the community that has grown up around them were all on display during the Motul Tour of Legends Series 2022 – the ultimate celebration of a legendary series of motorbikes.

This was the first time that Battlefields Country Lodge and Sports Resort has hosted the Motul Tour of Legends, and the recent rains let up to allow the sun to shine for the whole weekend. Of course, there were plenty of mud holes for riders to get stuck into, but nobody minded how dirty their bikes got as the Motul-sponsored bike wash meant everyone could start each day on a clean machine.

Some 100 KTM bikes were entered into this year’s event, each of whom rode around 440km along one of the four pre-planned routes from four different provinces. Old friendships were revitalised, and new ones forged, as everyone present had at least one thing in common: a genuine and abiding passion for the KTM LC8 Adventure series. That meant that as well as the many chances to ride, there were also some great networking opportunities.

The riding was of course the highlight of the weekend, with around 300km of awesome trails to explore each day, including the ‘Old Trainline Road’ over the legendary Van Reenen’s Pass. To accommodate riders of differing levels of ability, route options were created to allow less experienced riders to bypass some of the trickier obstacles.

The chance to win prizes meant that some very rare bikes were spotted at the Motul Tour of Legends, including no fewer than 14 of the very scarce Super Enduro (SE) version, as well as a 2003 950 Adventure with some 98 000km on the clock (that’s two and half times around the Equator).

The MCs included Jacky van der Merwe and Taki Bogiages from Motul, Dave Griffin and Dakar Rally competitor and KTM Ambassador Joey Evans.

“Great venue, great vibe and so many great bikes – what more could you ask for?,” commented event organiser Treffon Smith. “It was fantastic to see how these KTM bikes just keep on going – one even survived drowning in a river: we simply turned it upside down, drained the water out, and rode off again as if nothing had happened. While this was a once in a lifetime event, we’re hoping to create fresh and exciting events under the ‘Tour of Legends’ banner in the future,” he added.

“The Motul Tour of Legends embodied the values that everyone at Motul lives by – namely being brotherly, ingenious and passionate,” commented Jacky van der Merwe, Business Development Manager at Motul. “None of us will soon forget the sound of so many LC8 engines all roaring together as flares smoked and the sun rose – it’s no wonder that these bikes from an earlier, simpler time remain so popular,” he added.

For event pictures and videos, please visit Motul South Africa’s Facebook page and Instagram profile.

For more details of Motul’s product range, please visit Motul – Motor oils and lubricants or download the Motul App for Apple or Android

In any field, there are those who talk and those who do. Over the past two years, ‘doing’ has been rather difficult with all the restrictions, but that didn’t stop people from thinking about things to do once restrictions were lifted.

One such person is Pat Draper of V-Custom Cycles in Centurion. For many years, Pat has been at the forefront of the custom bike scene, building many spectacular custom creations for his customers. Some of the components used might come from overseas, but the skill in assembling and fabricating is 100% South African.

Along with every other type of business, the custom bike building business was hit hard by the pandemic. But it has survived, thanks to the quality of work that is being turned out by so many custom builders that is in such high demand.

Pat Draper conceived the Custom Bike Appreciation Show as a way of further stimulating the industry as well as saying thank you not only to the builders but also to the customers who trust them with turning their visions into reality.

Hosted at the Royal Elephant Hotel in Centurion over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of April, there was a mouth-watering selection of several dozen custom bikes in all shapes and sizes on display, from minimalistic Triumph bobbers to a monstrous Suzuki Hayabusa with one of the most intricate metal flake paint jobs we’ve ever seen, via some pristine Vespas and more Harley Davidson customs than you could shake a stick at, including three ‘movie bikes’ that Pat has built – the two Easy Rider choppers and the bike from Harley-Davidson and the Marlboro Man. All three are as faithful recreations as you will see anywhere in the world.

On Saturday, the rain stayed away and the crowds turned up in their droves, showing just how hungry people are for really well put-together motorcycling events. And this was a really well put together show.

Entry was free but a donation to the local SPCA was encouraged and, as usual, the motorcycling community dug deep for a good cause. Nearly six tons of dog and cat food was donated over the two days which, along with cash donations from those who couldn’t bring a bag of food, will make a huge difference to the work that the SPCA is able to do. Special mention must go to Steelwings Johannesburg MC, Ozzy and his family, Crusaders Regiment, Charlie Battery and Crest Riders MCC for all their significant donations.

The food will be split between SPCA Centurion, SPCA Tshwane and Woodrock Animal Rescue.

Pat estimates anything up to 2,000 people made the effort to turn up and support this first Custom Bike Appreciation Show and it is us who should show our appreciation to Pat for putting in the time and effort to make this happen, as well as all the builders who allowed their creations to be displayed.

Pat hopes to make this an annual event and, judging by the response to this first one, there should be no problem in making the next one bigger and better.

For more information and to enquire about next year’s event and, of course, your next custom creation, you can call Pat at V-Customs on 012 004 0824.

1 of 32

We visited World of Motorcycles last week to attend a function celebrating the announcement during March, of a four-year partnership between Carrera, the celebrated Italian eyewear company and Ducati, the iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer. MotoGP fans would have noticed the incredibly cool and stylish sunglasses worn by Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller in recent weeks. These are part of a freshly launched ‘Carrera/Ducati Collection’ of sun and optical glasses specifically designed for motorcyclists and those with a sporty, adventurous approach to life.

We already know and love Ducati, but who is Carrera? Way back in 1956 an Austrian fellow named Wilhelm Anger, inspired by the Carrera Panamericana motor race, started a company named ‘Carrera’, manufacturing eyewear. In 1964 Carrera patented ‘Optyl’, a heat hardened plastic weighing 20% less than acetate, for frames that caused less allergic reactions to wearers and which gave a ‘memory’ fit due to their elasticity and dimensional stability. 1974 saw a motorsport partnership with their iconic Carrera Porsche design, made famous by the King of Cool himself, Steve McQueen. The 1980s saw Carrera sponsorship of the America’s Cup yacht race, the 1988 Winter Olympics and Formula 1.

The Italian famous brand group Safilo S.p.A acquired Carrera in 1996 and moved the headquarters to Padova in Italy. They manufacture eyewear for their own brands, Carrera, Blenders eyewear, Polaroid, Tommy Jeans, SAFILO, Seventh Street, Smith and Prive’ Revaux and many licensed brands like Banana Republic, Under Armour, Carolina Herreras, Tommy Hilfiger, Jimmy Choo, Pierre Cardin, Fossil and Levi’s, to name a few.

Ducati’s Jos Matthysen had us chuckling as he recounted his initial meeting with Carrera’s Garth Olivier. Needless to say, Garth has been fast-tracked into the motorcycle scene in no uncertain manner. From never even straddling a motorcycle, Garth has earned his stripes and will be going along on the next Ducati Mystery Tour. To celebrate this exciting partnership, Garth launched an incredibly exciting promotion.

After giving us the lowdown on the new partnership, he unveiled a Ducati Monster, stunningly detailed by 300 Plus, World of Motorcycles superb in-store pimp artists, which is the giveaway in the Carrera promotion. Subtle pinstriping and Carrera decaling make the red Monster pop. The ‘piece de resistance’ is a Carrera sunglass case mounted on the handlebar mount. Nice!

1 of 9

This Italian soul mover will be won by some lucky person who:

• Purchases a set of Carrera frames from a participating store and receives a scratch card
• Scans the QR Code and enters their details
• Likes the Carrera Facebook page
• Retains their proof of purchase

T’s&C’s APPLY

When out and about wearing your new Carrera’s you are encouraged to #rideyourstory and share your Carrera lifestyle shots. It is really exciting when two brands come together, notably when they are Italian icons. The Italians have a way of making a style statement like no other. This is especially true of both Carrera and Ducati. A place where form and function blend perfectly.

The event at World of Motorcycles was Italian in every detail. The drinks and food dishes served were all typical delicious Italian fare. The venue too was perfect. Punishing pasta surrounded by the Carrera’s and Ducati’s on display made for a really splendid affair. Our thanks to Carrera, Ducati, 300 Plus and all those who contributed to a truly enjoyable event.

For more information visit: www.ducati.co.za

There’s less than a week to go to Head for the Hills 2022, a two-day, one-night moto and music festival.

Head for the Hills is hosted at ADA Leeuwenkloof on 9 – 10 April. Conceived to become the premier annual lifestyle event for BMW Motorrad SA, it combines the best of global BMW Motorrad events; Motorrad Days and Pure & Crafted and will be the must-attend event of the summer.

Gates open at 10 a.m. on Saturday 9th April and, right from the get-go, there will be some incredible activations in which to take part.

There will be motorcycle test rides, 4X4 demonstrations and competitive events open to all attendees.

At the same time, South Africa’s 2022 GS Trophy Team will be undergoing some serious training, where the rest of us can reflect on how bad our own skills are while marvelling at the skills of the team that is hoping to bring the trophy back to South Africa once again.

After lunch on Saturday 9th, the King/Queen of the Hill challenge is one for anyone who thinks they are good enough. BMW Motorsports will also be on the skid pan giving demonstrations.

The fantastic line-up of music acts commences at 14:30 and the music will continue right through to 10 p.m. Springbok Nude Girls will headline the event, supported by Frans Karoo, Sam Turpin, Loki Rothman, Biggy, Loufi, and Synth Peter. Dylan Red and Cake Kidd will also be performing at The House of Machines bar.

After coffee and breakfast on Sunday 10th, a range of out-rides have been planned for everyone to take part in, led by professional riders.

There are still some Standard Dome Tents available for those who are wanting to stay for the weekend (VIP Glamping Tents are now SOLD OUT). The cost is R1500 per person sharing, this includes all meals for the duration of your stay and full weekend passes to all events. Day passes (R300) will grant you access to all events and activations on the 9th of April.

Get your tickets now HERE.
Please note: tickets are only available pre-sale on WebTickets.

******

Follow the journey of Head for the Hills on @thehouseofmachines and @bmwmotorradsa

For more information, contact:
Alan Shenton / [email protected]

Head for the Hills – 9th & 10th April 2022

Mark your calendars, THE WORLD ADVENTURE WEEK will take place on July 4th to 10th. Encouraging mass participation by all adventurers no matter what bike they are on, THE WORLD ADVENTURE WEEK is a unique opportunity to go out and ride. The main goal: is to complete 1,000 km or more in seven days…

Seven days, 1,000 kilometres, July 4th to 10th 2022.

Powered by KTM and RISER, THE WORLD ADVENTURE WEEK is the perfect excuse to put some mileage on your motorcycle. It is an invitation to go explore the tracks and trails you’ve always wanted to and is an opportunity to share your favourite places with the global motorcycling community.

The most adventurous riders will be rewarded with daily prizes and the chance to be featured on theworldadventureweek.com as well as KTM’s social media channels. There will be different challenges to complete on each of the seven days, with all riders completing 1,000 km or more in total receiving a personalized award.

The challenges will be open to all riders from all brands. To enter, you simply need to download the RISER app from the App Store or Google Play and start recording your rides.

For all adventurers keen to learn more about this exciting new challenge, more information is available on theworldadventureweek.com.

More information on the event’s daily and weekly prizes will be released in the coming two weeks.

It’s finally happening… the KZN South Coast is cementing its position as Africa’s premier biker destination with the stunning coastal towns from Margate to St Michaels playing host to African Bike Week Festival from 28 to 30 April 2022. This incredibly diverse event will showcase African biker culture through mass rides, parades, stunt shows, musical entertainment and more!

“After two years of planning, Bike Fest SA are excited to finally be kicking off Africa Bike Week Festival which will include biker representation from across the continent,” said event organiser, Vicky Wentzel. “This event will be a celebration of bikers, of African unity, and a chance to finally enjoy an in-person festival with great music, food and entertainment. We’re grateful to everyone who has supported this event and are looking forward to showcasing the talent and energy of Africa’s biker, music and retail communities.”

African Bike Week Festival, hosted by Ray Nkonyeni Municipality and powered by Bike Fest SA. In a show of commitment to biker unity in Africa, R20 from every ticket sold will go towards charity initiatives run by these biker councils.

“The KZN South Coast has long been a key destination for the biker community, and we are excited to be supporting the resurgence of this tourism attraction,” explained Sikhumbuzo Mqadi, Mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality. “Biking fraternities from across Africa have been invited to attend this event and we are very pleased to have federations attending from Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Zambia as well as hosting artists on our Bikers Unite Stage from these countries. Motorcycling has risen in popularity across the continent, bringing together people from all walks of life with a shared passion for these two-wheeled machines. We want to continue this tradition through African Bike Week Festival which is promoting tourism to the beautiful KZN South Coast and generating funds for charitable initiatives.”

Some highlights on the African Bike Week Festival calendar include:

• Two rocking stages hosting artists including USA’s Alton Miller, and top musicians from across the African continent including AKA, Bok Van Blerk, Ghapi, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Thebe, Refentse, Kwesta, Refentse, Gizela, Brendan Peyper, Mona Lee and many more
• The Motorcycle Zone: dealer and brand displays; custom painting, bike-related products and accessories, and custom bike show with prizes
• The Food Village featuring a range of food trucks catering to all tastes
• The Craft Village featuring a variety of stalls and vendors
• The Lifestyle Zone: tattoo artists, piercings and jewellery
• The Kids Zone: Face painting, jumping castles, fun rides, beach activations
• The Extreme Zone: King Donut Burnout shows, Le Riche Brothers stunt shows, bikini bike wash
• Bar areas with multiple lounges
• VIP, VVIP and corporate hospitality suites
• Outrides, fringe festival shuttle tours, and shisanyama tours
• After-parties and pre-selected venues
• Scenic helicopter rides
• Mass rides and offshoot parades visiting Izongolweni and Gamalakhe

African Bike Week Festival is also giving 50 000 reasons why bike club members should attend African Bike Week Festival! The bike club that presents itself at African Bike Week Festival with the biggest number of members, will take home the R50 000 cash prize – and all participants have the chance to win a motorcycle!

The safety of all event-goers is being prioritised through a collaborative effort by SAPS, private security companies, and local crime prevention units.

All artists, media and VVIP guests will be transported by BMW Shelly Beach and Supertech Group with Wolf Security providing security. Call Towing Recovery is also offering free towing for breakdown bikes between Umtentweni and Southbroom.

Check out the official African Bike Week video here.

To view ticket prices and to book, visit: www.howler.co.za
*Children U12 enter free.

For anyone wanting to check out beach conditions on the day, there are three live webcams located at KZN South Coast beaches;

Margate Beach
Southbroom Beach
St Michael’s Beach

Yes! Yamaha brings their showroom floors filled with accessories and apparel into the homes of all motorcyclists for our ease and convenience. In doing this Yamaha have cleverly developed user-friendly platforms that allow for easy navigation of the variety of accessory and apparel brands they have to offer.

Even with Covid restrictions being slowly lifted, many people still want to continue shopping online and Yamaha’s websites help make this a reality. Covid restrictions aside, I personally like the fact that I can see what stock they’ve got before making the journey across.

As an extra perk for the ‘AC’ (after computer) generation, Yamaha SA have given our readers a limited time offer of a 10% discount when purchasing any motorcycle accessories from one of their three online platforms.

Getting Started:

To get the process started, simply click HERE, select your nearest Yamaha dealer and then register your profile.

Once this is done, you can start browsing, filtering brands and products to your utmost desire—these filters really do enhance the browsing experience.

Once you’ve selected the goodies of choice, click on the shopping cart, fill in our discount code (ZABIKERS10) for 10% off and then checkout. Secure payment facilities are provided by PayGate and collection and delivery of products are facilitated by SA’s top logistic service providers—orders can be collected in-store if so desired.

The initiation of Yamaha’s online shopping facilities are an important step for South African consumers and Yamaha SA has gone to great pains to make the process as easy and trouble-free as possible.

To see Yamaha’s online shopping platform in action click here.

For those looking for something spectacular to round off the summer in the Highveld, we advise you to Head For The Hills.

Regular readers of ZA Bikers will have seen the previous two articles about the pioneering lifestyle event organised by Cape Town’s The House of Machines in partnership with BMW Motorrad South Africa, hosted at ADA’s training facility at Leeuwenkloof, near Hartbeespoort.

This groundbreaking event will be the perfect way to round off a long summer and features a long list of amazing music, headlined by the Springbok Nude Girls.

However, it’s not all about sitting around and listening to music. BMW South Africa has really pulled out the stops with a series of activations that will be just as entertaining as the on-stage action.

BMW Motorrad will have a fleet of motorcycles available for test rides over the whole weekend. Not to be outdone, BMW Cars will have a selection of the X-range of four-wheel-drive vehicles which will be demonstrated over a dedicated 4X4 trail as well as on the Skid Pan.

While watching the South African team for the 2022 GS Trophy at their first official training session under the expert guidance of Country Trax, willing participants will be able to take part in the King/Queen of the Hill motorcycle challenge, a fun-filled timed event that runs through the grounds of ADA.

If competition isn’t your thing, then there will be gravel and asphalt ride-outs led by professional partners. If even that is beyond your wishes, then you can try out a fully immersive VR Ride Experience, feeling what it is like to be in the saddle without leaving the comfort of the festival site.

With live music, delicious and plentiful food and drinks and all the two and four-wheeled activities, Head for the Hills has something for the whole family, whether they ride or not.

Everyone is welcome, no matter what bike you ride. Tickets are priced from R300 for a day pass, up to R3000 for a weekend Glamping pass. There are two camping options for Saturday night:

• Standard Dome Tent = R1500 (per person sharing)
• VIP Glamping Tent = = R3000 (per person sharing)

Both options include all meals for the duration of their stay and full weekend passes to all events. Day passes will grant access to all events and activations.

*Please note: VIP Glamping Tents are now SOLD OUT. So, if you are interested in staying over then book your spot soonest as there are still limited Standard Dome Tents available. Day Passes are also still available.

Get your tickets now at WebTickets: www.webtickets.co.za

Follow the journey of Head for the Hills on @thehouseofmachines and @bmwmotorradsa

The event takes place on the 9th and 10th April 2022.

Head for the Hills – 9th & 10th April 2022

Remember the days when it seemed as if there was a motorcycle show or event to go to every weekend of the year? We’ve all missed that but, slowly, things are returning to normal and the first sign of that is a brand new event organised by Pat Draper (owner of V-Customs Pretoria).

The Custom Bike Appreciation Show is Pat’s way of kick-starting the custom bike scene after a difficult couple of years. Not only that, but the aim is to give something back to the community of supporters who have helped keep the custom industry afloat over a couple of very difficult years.

Scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd April, the event will take place at the Royal Elephant Hotel, on the corner of Willem Botha and Wierda Road in Eldoraigne, Centurion. Opening times are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

In the spirit of the event, admission is free but a donation to the SPCA will be appreciated, be it dog, cat food or even a cash donation. Visitors to the show will be able to drool over around 40 incredible custom motorcycles and visit a variety of motorcycle-related stalls.

South Africa’s top airbrush artist will be in action and pieces of her art will be raffled in aid of the local SPCA.

The Royal Elephant Hotel will be providing food and drinks for sale throughout the weekend, with a special outside gin and draught beer bar for when you don’t want to leave the sunshine.

The organisers are hoping that everyone will come along and support the brilliant South African custom bike scene and donate to a great cause in the SPCA at the same time. As for ZA Bikers, we’ll definitely be giving our support and showing our appreciation to all the guys and gals that keep the custom bike scene alive.

For more information click, HERE

Head for the Hills is a motorcycling, motoring and music festival, due to take place at the ADA training facility at Leeuwenkloof, near Hartbeespoort on 9th and 10th April. Conceived to become the premier annual lifestyle event for BMW Motorrad, the event has been organised by the experienced team from The House Of Machines in Cape Town and is not to be missed.

Supported by Super Bock, the full music programme has been released and confirms that his will be the must-attend event of the year. Headlining the festival will be Springbok Nude Girls. In support are Synth Peter, Biggy, Loufi, Loki Rothman, Sam Turpin, Cake Kidd and more to be confirmed nearer the time.

Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday 9th April and running late into the night, on-stage performances will be matched by a huge variety of car and motorcycle experiences: off-road challenges, outrides for bikes (both on and off-road), vehicle demonstrations, test rides and much more.

There are two accommodation options: a Standard Dome Tent or a VIP Glamping Tent. Whichever option you choose, your ticket for the weekend includes all meals for the duration of your stay and access to all activities for the whole weekend.

All tickets are available on WebTickets HERE (weekend passes are limited).

Day Tickets are available for the 9th of April only, and give you full access to the Head for the Hills Event & Music Festival – all tickets available on Webtickets, pre-sold.

Follow the journey of Head for the Hills on @thehouseofmachines and @bmwmotorradsa

Kymco is one of the most respected scooter brands in South Africa, with a model line-up that covers everything from 125cc runabouts to 550cc maxi-scooters suitable for longer distances.

Always extremely good value for money, Kymco South Africa has announced a March Madness series of discounts on all models in the range.

Kymco Agility 125

The Kymco Agility 125 is the baby of the range although there is nothing junior about its ability. Weighing in at a featherweight 97kg, it is the perfect urban and city runaround. Previously costing R24,950, it has been discounted to R21,950.

Kymco Like 125

The Kymco Like 125 is an ultra-stylish scooter, not entirely unlike a Vespa in appearance. With a seat height of just 770mm, it is perfect for the vertically challenged rider and can top 100km/h. A discount of R5000 brings the price down from R39,950 to R34,950.

Kymco G-Dink 300i

The G-Dink 300i is the smallest of the ‘maxi-scooter’ range. Despite the ‘cute’ name, this is a serious machine suitable for covering long distances quickly and in comfort. A seat height of just 760mm makes it ideal for any rider and would be a great introduction to motorcycling for the beginner. Despite this low seat height, it is a reassuringly large motorcycle, being long and substantial, although this size is not translated to excessive weight. The price has been slashed but an incredible R10,000 from R49,950 to R39,950.

Kymco G-Dink 300i ABS

If that price discount isn’t enough for you, you could try the G-Dink 300i ABS, which normally retails for R64,950 and is now discounted to R49,950!

Kymco AK550

Moving to the very top of the range, the AK550 is the flagship of the Kymco model line-up and is a serious performance distance-busting maxi-scooter. Fully equipped with Kymco’s own Noodoe navigation, keyless ignition and Brembo ABS brakes, the AK500 is perfect for the cut and thrust of highway riding while possessing performance that will keep you ahead of any traffic in the urban jungle. Scintillating acceleration and an agile chassis gives a surprisingly dynamic ride but the best part is that R20,000 has been lopped off the price for March, taking it down from R154,950 to R134,950. That is a serious saving, as are the savings across the range.

For more information, contact your nearest Kymco dealer.

For many years now, BMW Motorrad has become known not only for some of the best motorcycles but also for some of the best events in the world: events that are a celebration and a fusion of ‘bikes, music, food and drink. Both Motorrad Days and Pure & Crafted have been huge events that have captured the imagination of thousands of people around the world.

These events are all about the spirit of community: a shared love of life, music, motorbikes and brother and sisterhood. And that’s where The House of Machines comes in.

The House of Machines was created to be ‘the essential bricks and mortar meeting house for a community: bringing together man, woman and machine and celebrating the union in all its expressions.’

What that means is simple: good food, good drinks, good music, the best company and riding motorcycles.

When two iconic brands such as BMW Motorrad and The House Of Machines come together, then something special happens. And it’s happening on April 9th and 10th 2022.

“Head for the Hills” will be the premier lifestyle event for BMW Motorrad SA. The event will be held at ADA Leeuwenkloof, which many of you will know is the home of ADA motorcycle training centre, near Hartbeespoort. It’s going to be a celebration not only of all things BMW – both cars and bikes – but everything that’s great about South African food, drink and music.

Starting at 10 am on Saturday 9th April and running late into the night, on-stage performances by some of SA’s best bands, solo artists and DJs will be matched by a huge variety of car and motorcycle experiences: off-road challenges, outrides for bikes (both on and off-road), vehicle demonstrations, test rides and much more.

Created by The House of Machines in partnership with BMW Motorrad, Head for the Hills will be a one-of-a-kind experience, celebrating all the things we love: live music, food and drink, friends and family and, of course, motorbikes and cars.

There are two accommodation options: a Standard Dome Tent or a VIP Glamping Tent. Whichever option you choose, your ticket for the weekend includes all meals for the duration of your stay and access to all activities for the whole weekend.

And just in case you were wondering: no, it doesn’t matter if you don’t own or ride a BMW. This is an event for everyone who shares the passion for living life to the full.

The ADA training centre is situated about 50km from Sandton and Pretoria. Head for the Hills runs from Saturday 9th April 2022 to Sunday 10th April. The live music bill will run on Saturday only.

For more information, please visit – The House of Machines. All tickets are available on WebTickets HERE and day passes will be available on the day at the entrance to ADA.

Any other enquiries, please contact: Alan Shenton: [email protected] and keep an eye on – www.zabikers.co.za for more details as they are released.

Head for the Hills – 9th & 10th April 2022

MV Agusta, throughout its whole existence, has been nothing if not exclusive. Propelled by the hundreds, if not thousands, of racing successes throughout the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, a mystique grew up around the red machines from the small village of Verghera (and later a much larger factory in nearby Varese), not far from Milan (hence the name: Mecchanica Verghera, while ‘Agusta’ referred to Count Domenico Agusta, the founder of the company).

In the 1970s, this mystique was cemented with the insanely exotic and expensive 750 S and 750 S America road bikes which were as unattainable to the average man on the street as Brigitte Bardot.

If anything, MV Agustas were so exotic, they simply couldn’t survive and the company bowed out of motorcycle production in 1977 to concentrate on the core business of helicopter design and manufacture.

Fast forward to 1992 and Giovanni Castiglioni of the Cagiva Group bought the motorcycle arm of MV Agusta. At the time, the Castiglioni’s owned Cagiva, Ducati, Moto Morini and Husqvarna so MV Agusta seemed a good fit.

By 1995, Massimo Tamburini, legendary designer of the Ducati 916, was working on the brand new four-cylinder F4 750, which was finally revealed to the public in 1999. In one fell swoop, MV Agusta had rekindled all the exotic and exclusive atmosphere of its heyday.

The history of the company between 1999 and 2022 could fill a book but what is important is that, in 2018, Timur Sardarov became CEO of MV Agusta and the future of the company was not only assured, but diversity in the model line-up was promised and, so far, has been delivered.

MV Agusta is determined that the brand should remain on the very top shelf of the motorcycling world and, to that end, is initiating a complete brand image overhaul and changing the way that customers can interact with the brand and purchase new motorcycles. Thus, MV Agusta is undergoing a brand re-launch in South Africa.

The first of three flagship stores in South Africa is currently being prepared to an international specification to highlight the exclusivity and ownership experience of the brand. MV Agusta Cape Town will open its doors in Q1 of 2022 with the owners and directors of the company in Italy set to attend the opening. The stores will offer the complete 2022 Euro 5-specification Motorcycles, E-Scooters, E-Bicycles and MV Agusta clothing. The second and third stores in Johannesburg and Durban will be open by Q1 of 2023.

“Since its change in ownership it is evident that the new Euro 5-motorcycles are built to a very high standard,” said MV Agusta South Africa’s Craig Langton, “and a brand re-launch is necessary to highlight its design, attention to detail and the New MV Agusta Ownership Experience. With support from Italy, the brand will be presented at its highest level yet.

“We’ve been importing the brand since 2012 and it has been quite a journey watching the brand evolve to where it is today. Although there are new, well-funded owners of the brand, the design remains in the hands of the Italians. I find myself staring in disbelief at the new models: the Brutale RUSH, for example, will take anyone’s breath away.

“It’s hard to argue that MV Agusta is not Motorcycle Art and deserves the “Most Beautiful Bike” title the brand is often awarded. MV Agusta’s success in Moto 2 has influenced the design of the F3 800RR, turning it into not just a gorgeous motorcycle but also one of the best track day weapons.”

Although some models look familiar they have all been completely re-engineered and now include:

• New Engine and gearbox design features.
• Cornering ABS for constant safety.
• Cornering Lights.
• Front Wheel lift mitigation
• 6 Axis IMU Inertia platform.
• New digital EAS 3.0 up/downshifter.
• Cruise control
• Launch control
• 5.5 inch TFT display.
• Navigator integrated Dashboard.
• GPS and Bluetooth.
• New exhaust systems.
• New Engine management system.
• Year Factory Guarantee.
• New Ownership experience.
• New chassis on various models

Some of the models that have been confirmed for South Africa include:

• MV Agusta RUSH – limited
• MV Agusta Nürburgring – limited
• MV Agusta Dragster RR
• MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RS
• MV Agusta SuperVeloce S

MV Agusta is now focused on highlighting the exclusivity and ownership experience. All MV Agusta’s are sold with a trade-in and buyback guarantee aimed at retaining confidence in the resale of the brand, along with unique finance and ownership plans.

Adding to the ownership exclusivity is an exclusive purchasing experience which will be announced when the brand is re-launched in Cape Town. Approved customers around South Africa will be flown to Cape Town and hosted in an exclusive hotel while they test and choose their favourite MV Agusta.

Cyclists will also have the opportunity to own an MV Agusta with the AMO range of E-Bicycles that are beautifully engineered in association with well-known Italian manufacturers. MV Agusta’s range of Kick Scooters such as the Rapido will also be available and these also include a MV Agusta experience. The stage is set for a re-birth of the iconic MV Agusta brand, reflecting the aristocratic founder, Count Domenico Agusta.

Keep an eye on – www.zabikers.co.za for more information on the re-launch of MV Agusta.