On 19 January the Vaal Dam reached 108% capacity. I rode to the dam wall to marvel at the majesty and power of thousands of tons of water hurtling through the sluice gates into the thrashing cauldron at the foot of the dam wall. I wasn’t alone in my fascination for this spectacle. It seemed as if half the population of Gauteng had undertaken the pilgrimage to Deneysville to witness the usually placid Vaal River in full flood.

When I read that Katse Dam was overflowing for the first time in more than a decade I was determined to ride to Lesotho to witness the rare sight of thousands of cubic metres of water spilling over the 185 metres high dam wall into the abyss below. My plans for the ride came together very quickly. BMW Motorrad offered me their BMW R 1250 GS Triple Black for a week. My son in law Jesse was in Joburg for the weekend and was keen to ride my BMW R 1250 GS Adventure. We went for COVID-19 tests and both tested negative. There was little rain forecast for the weekend, the stars were aligned and on Friday night I slept fitfully as I dreamed of the adventures that lay ahead.

We rode at 07:00 on a perfect 18°C morning. There was a gentle breeze at our backs as we followed the N3 south at a sedate pace before leaving the freeway on the far side of Heidelberg and spanking the R23 to Balfour. The R51 from Balfour to Grootvlei and the silos at Leeuspruit has always been a dodgy road. It was never designed to carry heavy vehicles but every day convoys of 50-ton coal trucks travel that road to feed the fiery maw of the Grootvlei power station. And of course, clever truckers who want to dodge the R189 toll fee at De Hoek toll plaza also use this route. After the bountiful rains, the road was in the worst condition I have ever experienced. In the 20 kilometres from Balfour to Leeuspruit, we had to dodge hundreds of vicious potholes every one of which was a lurking menace waiting to send us to ICU.

We stopped to take photos of a particularly egregious pothole and stared in amazement as an imbecile weaved past in a car transporter carrying ten brand new cars worth at least R6 Million. Well done chap. You risked millions to save R189. Moron!! Here endeth the rant!
From Leeuspruit we rode at speed to Villiers and then followed the R103 to Cornelia and Warden. In thirty years I’ve never seen a speed trap on that road and we soon settled into distance demolition mode at 160 to 180km/h.

In Warden we crossed the N3 and rode the R714 and R57 to Afrikaskop, Kestell and Phuthaditjhaba. The Free State was just beautiful after the best rainy season in years. Lush foliage mielies stood two metres tall and the countryside was a palette of subtle greens, fern and forest, jade and emerald, lime and chartreuse. It was a feast for the eyes and a tonic for the urban soul. Before leaving home I compiled a list of songs with the word “black” in the title to sing while riding the Triple Black.

This was my list:

• Black Magic Woman – Santana
• Black Betty Bamalam – Ram Jam
• Paint it Black – Rolling Stones
• Black Water – Doobie Brothers
• Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress – The Hollies
• Black Night – Deep Purple
• Black Velvet – Alannah Myles
• Blackbird – The Beatles

I rode along in great spirits bellowing in my helmet, blessing the day and the freedom of the road.

Golden Gate National Park was as magnificent as always and to add to the splendour there was water everywhere, seeping from the sandstone cliffs and streaming down the massive golden buttresses. In Clarens, we nodded to each other to acknowledge that we were about to unleash the hounds of hell over the next 35km on the thrilling dash to Fouriesburg. That road is one of the best in the country, an intoxicating mix of high-speed corners and flatstick straights across an eastern Free State landscape that rolls and billows like a shaken out blanket settling onto a bed.

Ahead there was a staggered formation of a dozen Harleys on a scenic cruise. The devil made us do it. We blitzed them at well over 200km/h and were gone. It was 11:00 and we had ridden 410km when we stopped in Fouriesburg. We filled up so we wouldn’t need to find fuel in Lesotho then rode 10km from Fouriesburg to the Caledonspoort border.

The border crossing was swift and painless. We were the only travellers and were served by friendly and efficient officials on both sides of the Caledon River. On the Lesotho side, we were given an excellent large scale map of the country which made it sort of palatable to pay the 70 Maloti, that’s the currency of Lesotho, toll fee. By 11:30 we were loose on the land, relishing the prospect of riding at serious altitude. Before leaving home I made the wise decision to fit my GPS to the Triple Black. Let’s just say that there aren’t that many road signs in Lesotho and I think we would almost certainly have got lost without GPS. I entered Pitseng as our destination. We followed the A1 to Botha-Bothe and Hlotse and then turned southeast on the A8/A25 towards Pitseng and the lofty bulwarks of the Maloti mountains which loomed ever larger on the horizon.

The last time I rode to Katse was ages ago in 2009 which meant that my impressions of Lesotho were all brand new. The A1 was a hectic mess on Saturday morning. The road markings have faded to nothing and therefore blokes drive all over the road to avoid potholes and pedestrians and the myriad cattle and donkeys which infest the road. Every village looked like a scrapyard with the carcasses of wrecked vehicles littering the roadsides. And everywhere we rode we were greeted by smiling faces and friendly waves. Lesotho could easily be the tenth province of South Africa but it’s a completely different atmosphere and vibe.

We stopped at the buckled and bent boom that controls access to Mafika Lisiu Pass. Frankly, I don’t understand why there’s a boom there unless it’s to provide sheltered employment to the fellow who mans it. We bought Cokes and dried peaches from the ladies in their roadside stalls and while we ate and drank we eyed the road that snakes up the ramparts of the Maloti mountains. The road to the summit was built in the 1990s to enable access to the Katse Dam construction site. Thanks to routine maintenance the road is in excellent condition.

We howled up the steep gradients and rode our tits off through dozens of challenging corners, fast sweepers, flowing zigzags, 180-degree switchbacks and diminishing radius hairpins. The BMWs were in their element and delivered powerful performance and precise, predictable handling. We stopped halfway up the pass where a small waterfall ran down to the road. The rocks were covered in lichen and moss and the water was nectar. While we were filling our water bottles we suddenly realised we were not alone. On the other side of the road, a young man was staring at us. He was almost invisible sitting in the long grass with his four dogs. We waved to him and, not unexpectedly, he mimed that he was hungry. Jess gave him some dried peaches and I gave him 10 Maloti and then we were on our way. To this day I still wonder where he slept that night and whether he and his dogs had anything to eat.

When we stopped at the viewpoint at the 3090 metre summit we were grinning like demented chimpanzees. Of course, the first thing we did was to examine the tyres. On both rear tyres, there wasn’t even a millimetre of chicken strip. The view down the valley to the lowlands was otherworldly, a scene from a fantasy novel, with serried ranks of mountains in shades of blue and grey marching to the far horizon where earth and sky merged in an indistinct blur.

From the summit, we rode more glorious winding tar to Lejone on the upper reaches of the Katse Dam. The scenery and the road were simply spectacular. Precipitous mountainsides towered above deep mysterious valleys and often there were glimpses of the waters of the dam where the road ran along a crest. The road descended and soon we were riding along the banks of the dam past the intake tower and onto the bridge that crosses the dam at Ha Lejone. The intake tower is the point from which the waters of Katse Dam enter the 82 kilometre long tunnel which eventually debouches into the Ash River 9 kilometres north of Clarens.

What we hadn’t expected was that the Laitsoka Pass between the Ha Lejone bridge and the dam wall would be undergoing routine maintenance. In many places, the tar had been scarified and we rode on ambivalent surfaces of loose gravel and hard-packed dirt. To the south, an epic storm was brewing with alarming speed. Within a few minutes, the mountains were wreathed in seething clouds riven by incandescent lightning strikes with curtains of rain sluicing down. The first fat drops pelted us and I realised that we might be in for a very tricky ride on the return journey. Fortunately, the rain held off and ten minutes later we stopped the bikes near the Lesotho Highlands Water Project offices to take photos of a sight I had never seen before and expect never to see again.

A mighty cascade rushed through the ten apertures in the wall filling the air with spray and sound. For many minutes we stood agog and in silence as we imprinted the image in our minds. We rode onto the dam wall and stopped halfway to witness the deluge at close quarters. I’ve never had a head for heights and it was a visceral shock to stand on the wall, peer into the void and feel the tug of the vortex 185 metres below.

It was 14:30 and time to ride back to Fouriesburg where we would sleep that night. There had been some rain on Laitsoka Pass so we took it easy. Soon we were out of the construction zone, running at speed and with absolute confidence because we knew there were no lurking hazards. There’s an old truism, “You haven’t really ridden a road unless you’ve ridden it in both directions.” On the ride back to Pitseng we rode like men possessed revelling in the capability and precision of the big Beemers as we blasted down the mountains. It was a fantastic ride and when we stopped to catch our breath Jess said “That was the best tar riding I have ever done.” He was right. The road to Katse and back is glorious, a test for rider and machine in a landscape of mesmerising beauty.

In warm late afternoon sunshine, we cruised the A1 on the way back to the border. We weren’t the only ones enjoying the balmy weather. There were dozens of groups of local folk dressed in their finest clothes strolling the boulevards. It was a lovely peaceful scene and, as we had come to expect, we were greeted with smiles and waves. Stone-throwing used to be a very real issue in Lesotho but in 340km and 6 hours, we never experienced a single incident except for one clever clown just as we approached the border. This little bliksem, maybe ten years old, was walking towards us and suddenly bent down, picked up a stone and threw it at me. He missed. I slammed on the brakes, did a swift U-turn and chased him. He’d made a big mistake because there were palisade fences on both sides of the road and he was trapped. He was running as fast as he could, his face a rictus of terror as he realised the Beemer was on top of him. The palisade ended and he bolted up a dirt road and into the veld squealing and defecating like a piglet. I skeem he’ll think twice before he picks up another stone.

The return border crossing was a drive through formality. Ten minutes later Jess and I settled into Di Plaasstoep in Fouriesburg, a most convivial boozer, and chucked the first golden throat charmers of the day down our gullets. We had enjoyed an exceptional 750km incident-free day in the saddle. Everything had gone to plan and on schedule and we had seen Katse Dam in flood. Mission accomplished! That evening we ate lamb cutlets for dinner at the Fouriesburg Country Inn and by 21:00 we were fast asleep.

On Sunday morning we ate breakfast and rode at 07:30 on the dot. There aren’t many better ways to start the day than the 35km pipe opener from Fouriesburg to Clarens. From Clarens, we rode to Bethlehem with a brief stop at the Ash River Outfall for photos. Whenever I ride through Bethlehem I’m reminded of the question: Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem of Judea and not in Bethlehem in the Free State? Answer: No virgins and no wise men. Haha. On the eastern side of Bethlehem, we followed the R26 to Reitz and then the R57 past the astonishing greenery of Liebenbergsvlei to Petrus Steyn and Heilbron.

The roads were in perfect condition and for much of the ride, we set cruise control at 160km/h and rode next to each other enjoying the ineffable companionship that only long-distance bikers can know. On the northern side of Heilbron, there was a slight incident. Out of nowhere, an impala ram leapt into the road. We were hard on the clamps and I’m pretty sure Jess wiped its nose and I wiped its arse before we passed the stupid beast and it bounded into the veld. Now we were riding through an abundant agricultural landscape of two-metre tall xanthic sunflowers that stretched to the horizon in every direction. We stopped for the last photos of the weekend, revelling in the loveliness of this fair land. It was an amazing climax to a splendid ride. An hour later we rode through my gate at 11:00 with 350km on the trip meters.

That was a great ride. If you’ve not ridden to Katse add it to your bucket list immediately. Even if the dam isn’t overflowing the ride up the mountain and the scenery will make the trip worthwhile. I know we did the ride from Joburg to Fouriesburg to Katse to Fouriesburg in one day but it’s a better plan to ride to Fouriesburg on Friday and then to spend the entire Saturday in Lesotho.

The two BMWs were the ideal bikes for the ride. My R 1250 GS Adventure is the seventh GS I’ve owned so I freely acknowledge I’m biased. The Triple Black is the swankiest GS I’ve ever ridden. It is the quintessential, versatile motorcycle. It’s an excellent urban combat vehicle, a long-distance runner, a high-speed tourer, a gateway to adventure and its devilish good looks are guaranteed to pull chicks.

BMW R 1250 GS Adventure

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

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

The dust has barely settled on the first MotoGP race of the 2022 season and already the first sounds of whingeing have started. They concern the riding antics of one rider who annoyed another rider.

Now, this is nothing new. Many riders have accused other riders of questionable riding tactics during the race or qualifying, usually involving getting in the way or erratic riding. Fair enough: everyone is trying to gain even the minutest advantage and when they are prevented from achieving that, tempers do tend to get a little frayed.

You can understand it when the protagonists are fighting at the sharp end for podium positions or race wins. You can also understand it when the riders involved are experienced. But when it starts right down at the blunt end of the pack and between two rookies, then you really want to tell the whiner to drink a cup of cement and harden the f@*k up and stop throwing their toys out of the cot.

The two riders in question, in this case, are Remy Gardner, son of Australian legend Wayne Gardner, and Darryn Binder, brother of KTM rider Brad Binder.

Now, Remy Gardner followed the traditional route of Moto3, Moto2 and then MotoGP. Binder, on the other hand, made a controversial – and much criticised – jump from Moto3 straight to MotoGP.

In the Qatar race, they were running close together for the majority of the race, with Binder ahead and Gardner following. At the end of the race, Gardner took the last point in 15th place, with Binder a hairs-breadth behind him. So far, so good. You’d think Gardner would be happy with his first point in his debut race, while Binder could be disappointed at missing out on his first point but could take comfort in the fact that he at least finished and certainly not dead last.

But all is not well in the MotoGP kindergarten, it seems. Gardner, father and son, have criticised Binder for having the unmitigated gall to hold up Gardner for much of the race, thus preventing Gardner from finishing higher up the order.

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t the point of racing to finish ahead of your opponents? Isn’t the point of racing to fight tooth and nail every inch of the way and not to simply roll over because the guy behind you thinks he deserves to be ahead? If Gardner is that good, why couldn’t he get past Binder?

The problem for Gardner was, of course, the fact that Binder, having missed out on the stepping stone that is Moto2, should be able to fight with Gardner, who came into MotoGP as the reigning 2021 Moto2 champion. Gardner obviously feels that his achievement gives him some sort of superiority over Binder and that Binder should defer to his superiors. Or he’s embarrassed that a Moto3 upstart shouldn’t be able to run with him, a World Champion.

This is what Gardner said after the race:

“At one point, I felt capable of catching Maverick Viñales and Andrea Dovizioso, but I had Darryn Binder in front of me and I could not get past him.

“He is coming from the Moto3 class, so he was all over the place, coming back on line without looking, he was wide. It was a disaster and I lost the group. I am hoping to catch up with him to discuss this.

“On the one hand, it’s normal, because it was his first MotoGP race and he came straight from Moto3 to the MotoGP World Championship. But I hope things will get a little better in the future.”

Gardner Senior also weighed in on the issue:

“We didn’t fight for victory in Doha, but more or less for last place. A little more respect would have been good.”

What a pretentious attitude. By ‘respect’, do they mean Binder should have moved over and waved Gardner through? It’s dog-eat-dog out there so Gardner better toughen up and do his talking on the track and not in his high chair being spoon-fed by daddy. Gardner might feel he is in MotoGP as a result of his achievements and that Binder has lucked into his ride and that is certainly one viewpoint and not entirely without merit. But the fact is, no matter how they both got there, they are now there and everything is reset: yesterday’s reputation or achievements mean nothing.

Brad Binder was once at the receiving end of similar criticism from Valentino Rossi a couple of years ago, Rossi complaining that Binder was riding very hard and not showing enough respect. Seriously? Rossi at the time was consistently running at the back of the pack and he was clearly past his best, while Binder was a hungry rookie. The idea that ‘respect’ – meaning ‘you should get out of my way because I am older and have achieved more’ – should come into it is absolute rubbish. Was Rossi any respecter of experience or status when he came into the top class of racing? The notion is laughable.

You’re only there for one reason – to win – and the ones who win will have done anything to make that happen.

Maybe Darryn Binder has brought some of the Moto3 bashing and barging mentality into MotoGP but that is only natural. He will mature from that in time but, until then, let’s just enjoy his no-holds-barred style.

As a conclusion, here are Darryn Binder’s comments after the race:

“I had a nice battle with Remy (Gardner), I really enjoyed fighting with the rookies, I learned so much throughout the race and by the end, I really wanted to fight for 15th, for the point, but I just missed out.”

This has got nothing to do with supporting the home hero over the dastardly Aussie – I would feel the same no matter who the riders were. But they’re now playing on the grown-up field, so I suggest Gardner grows a pair and does his talking on the track.

It’s always a relief when the first race of the MotoGP season is done and dusted: now all the bullshit stops and the riders and teams have to do their talking on track, where it really counts. Forget what happened in testing as that never gives a truthful picture.

Or does it? It’s easy to forget, in the post-race hysteria after a maiden victory that seemingly came out of nowhere, that Bastianini topped the timesheets at the Sepang test. Riding a year-old Ducati GP21 in place of the two-year-old Ducati GP19 he rode in 2021, Bastianini suddenly found himself in the enviable position of having a bike with which he could paint his own canvas rather than having to paint-by-numbers.

Part of Bastianini’s genius in Qatar was not simply running the medium rear Michelin – other riders did the same – but his riding style which is very much like Marc Marquez: attack the front tyre which has the advantage of saving the rear tyre so it has performance left at the end of the race, something that the likes of Pol Espargaro, running the soft rear tyre that he destroyed running so fast at the front, could not hope to emulate. In the circumstances, a podium finish for Pol was a brilliant ride.

Much was made of Ducati’s eight-bike attack but while Bastianini – or The Beast as he is affectionately known – was riding a known quantity on the GP21 (the bike which, let’s not forget, won four out of the last six races in 2021), the factory riders were having a torrid time with the GP22. Bagnaia had a dreadful qualifying and even worse race when he skittled out pole-sitter Jorge Martin into retirement for them both and Jack Miller dropped like a stone into retirement early on with electronic gremlins. Elsewhere in the Ducati camp, the next best rider was Johan Zarco who finished ninth and Luca Marini was the only other Ducati points finisher in 13th.

Another important factor in Bastianini’s and Gresini’s armoury is his crew chief Alberto Giribuola, who is a master of electronics. It was Giribuola who masterminded Andrea Dovizioso’s trio of championship runner up slots in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and it looks as if he might be about to have as much success with Bastianini.

And let’s not forget the strength in depth of the Gresini team. Multiple race winners in MotoGP with Sete Gibernau, Marco Melandri and Tony Elias, the team survived the tragic loss of Fausto Gresini at the beginning of 2021 from Covid and the outpouring of emotion of the whole team, now being run by Fausto’s widow, was just beautiful to witness. This is a team that is full of the passion for racing.

Yamaha and Suzuki were feeling confident for the race, even if Suzuki still haven’t sorted out their qualifying issues, Mir and Rins ended up on the third and fourth rows respectively, with Quartararo next to Rins. All three thought they could run at the front but the pace was simply too hot and all three struggled to keep up. Mir finished the race 4.8 seconds behind the winner, with Rins four seconds further back and Quartararo two seconds behind that. This year’s race was 11.5 seconds faster than last year’s, so while Ducati, Honda, Aprilia and KTM have got faster, Yamaha have stayed where they were. Suzuki has improved but the in-line four-cylinder engines just don’t have the grunt of the V4s.

Of course, all this is based on one track – a track, let’s not forget, that has a long straight – and it would be unrealistic to think the Yamaha and Suzuki will be handicapped at every track. But without the top speed of the V4-engined bikes, they are going to have their work cut out for them.

Honda have come into 2022 with a radically re-designed RC213V, partly because they were without their talisman Marquez for so much of the last two years. This forced them to build a bike that suited more than one rider and, while in Losail that played into the hands of Espargaro, Marquez has to learn how to ride without using his favoured front end hammering technique as the new bike is more rear-biased to take advantage of the Michelin rear slick tyre. Espargaro uses the rear more than the front so the new bike suits him down to the ground. That, however, was his downfall in the race.

Espargaro chose the soft/soft tyre set up because he thought there would be a large group running at the front, consequently running slower lap times. But he was out at the front on his own and ruined his tyres staying there: his rear-tyre biased riding technique killed the tyre and he did extremely well to finish in third, a result with which he was very happy.

Of course, the big news for South African fans was the performance of the Binder Brothers. Second place for Brad was KTM’s first-ever podium in Qatar and Darryn lost out on a point in his first race by the width of a hair. The fact that he finished, however, was a huge boost for him: he now has infinitely more experience to take into the next race: testing is one thing but running with the pack quite another and, if he ended up second-best rookie behind Remy Gardner, it was a well-fought second-best.

The KTM looks a whole lot better than it did in testing and it seems that KTM might have found their way again by not changing everything wholesale and just staying calm and developing what they have. It seems to be working and Brad certainly now has the experience and skill to fight at the very top consistently over the season.

Just as mouth-watering is the prospect of Aprilia joining the other manufacturers at the sharp end of the field. Aleix Espargaro had a brilliant race, running in the top four and finishing less than a second behind his brother on the Honda. More importantly, the Aprilia was the second-fastest bike in a straight line, just behind Mir’s Suzuki.

Of course, not every track has a long straight, as we mentioned, and so agility will count as much as sheer grunt which will favour different bikes over the course of the season. Even after one race, the prospects are tantalising.

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.

A couple of weeks ago we endured a really rainy weekend. The rain started bucketing down on Friday and continued unabated until everything was flooding. The Centurion Golf Estate turned into a watercourse as the tiny stream that flows through it came down in flood. I had an appointment to see a client at Cresta Centre on the Saturday morning. I had already been car bound on the Friday, so there was no way that I could even consider using the car for two days in a row. The question was which bike would I use to travel from Pretoria to Cresta?

Surveying my garage, it was a really easy choice. One of three motorcycles, or the SYM CityCom 300i Scooter? Best weather protection? – SYM. Easiest to clean after rain riding? – SYM. Most frugal? – SYM. Easiest to thread through Saturday morning Jhb traffic? – SYM. Rain-proof storage for my files? – SYM. See what I mean? This kind of put what I have discovered over the last few months of ‘scooting’ around on the CityCom, in a nutshell. Absolutely nothing on wheels, be it two or four, is so ideal for dispensing with urban commuting. What comes as a massive bonus with the CityCom 300i is the way it thrives on highways as well. It cruises effortlessly at typical highway speeds with plenty of punch in reserve.

I left Pretoria under leaden skies with rain a virtual certainty. Ever the optimist, I had my rain suit stashed under the seat. As expected, it started spitting as I cruised down the Krugersdorp Highway. I leaned forward behind the screen and bodywork and carried on. The rain protection is so good on the CityCom that there was no need to don my rain gear. Travelling at 120 kph, the screen and bodywork kept me bone dry. It was almost uncanny. The shower eased before I climbed off the freeway and I scooted to Cresta for my meeting.

Locking the bike, I activated the under-seat kill switch for extra anti-theft protection and, after locking the steering with the ignition switch, I covered the ignition keyhole with the lockable cover. Ingenious. An attempt to steal my 250 Ninja a few months ago by ramming a screwdriver into the ignition cost me a bomb. I had to replace all the locks on the bike. A simple solution like on the SYM would have worked a treat and saved me big cost and hassle.

My meeting done, it was back on the SYM for the ride back to Pretoria. The rain had backed off somewhat and I really enjoyed the ride home. The SYM has a gem of an engine. It is devoid of any vibration and extremely willing. I found myself having to constantly reel it in as it happily ran to, and past, the speed limit. It consistently exceeds 300 kays on the 10-litre tank, irrespective of how you ride.

I have got to the point that I am convinced that I ‘need’ a CityCom 300i in my garage. It is definitely the heart and not the head speaking, given that I already own three bikes! The long and the short of it is that the SYM is an incredible ‘go to’ bike. It is an urban mobility weapon of note! It will leave a huge hole in my garage when I am forced to give it back. At under R70 000, it is a steal. I cannot recommend it more highly!

Increasingly, both motorcycle brands and individual dealerships are realising that customers are looking for more than simply buying a motorcycle. The ironic thing about motorcycling is that, although it is a solo pursuit, we are never happier than when riding as part of a community of like-minded people. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, it doesn’t matter how much money you earn: once you’re on a bike, all that matters is that you are riding.

Right from the get-go, Fire It Up! has been innovating in the motorcycle retail space, both for new and used motorcycles. One of their most important initiatives was to create an informal club solely for the purpose of bringing people together to enjoy each others’ company and do what they love best: ride.

Over the years, the club, or Tribe, as it is called, has grown steadily to the point where Sunday morning rides are attracting anything up to 80 bikes. Once a month, weekday night rides are organised and it was to one of these that ZA Bikers was invited.

The destination was the Soweto Brewing Company in Orlando West and the weather was fine for a change, although recent weather patterns kept the cautious away and, to be honest, we couldn’t blame them. As it turned out, however, the evening was warm and dry: perfect conditions for a ride.

Twenty bikes and riders assembled at Fire It Up! at 6 pm. After a briefing by Donovan Fourie, the organiser of the Fire It Up! Tribe events, the cavalcade set off.

The important thing to remember is that these events are not solely about the ride: they are about riding with a bunch of friends to an interesting destination for the simple pleasure of riding and being together.

If the ride to Soweto from Bryanston wasn’t the most picturesque or scenic, riding through early-evening Soweto to the brewery was fascinating, with the sights, sounds and smells of the street cafes and kitchens providing a hunger-inducing atmosphere to ride through.

Our time at the Brewery was filled with sampling the products and eating, talking and laughing. If the ride to the destination is organised and everyone rides together, then the ride home is at everyone’s individual leisure: some head for home on their own, others headed off in a group and some chose to stick around and enjoy themselves further.

It’s all very relaxed and informal, in keeping with the Tribe itself. It doesn’t matter how experienced a rider you are or what bike you ride: everyone is made to feel welcome and comfortable at whatever speed they want to ride. As well as Donovan leading the ride, there is always a sweeper following at the rear of the pack to ensure that no-one is left behind. At every turn, the leading group waits for the rest of the pack and the sweep to catch up. That way, the group ride feeling is maintained.

Over the years, the rides have headed to all points of the compass around Gauteng and the programme of rides continues throughout 2022. Also being planned is a weekend away and a ride to Red Star Raceway, where the Tribe gets its own on-track session.

It’s important to know that everyone is welcome to attend, whether they bought their bike from Fire It Up! or not. The aim is to build a community of riders with one common goal: to enjoy the ride and the company.

To find out when the rides are taking place, head to the Fire It Up! Tribe Facebook page and request to become a member, upon completion of which you will be able to access the page and find details of the rides as they are announced or contact Fire It Up! itself.

The Grand Prix of Qatar launched MotoGP for the 15th time in the last 16 years and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder rode to a superb 2nd position after 22 laps of the Lusail International Circuit on Sunday evening.

Binder made an electric start from the third row until the Lusail lights for the first race of 21 and the longest world championship season on record. The South African pushed his KTM RC16 into 3rd position in the formative laps and never budged from the leading quartet. He worked his way past Marc Marquez and then Pol Espargaro and was closing to the rear wheel of eventual winner Enea Bastianini by the checkered flag. Binder was just three-tenths of a second from the Italian at the finish line.

The result represents KTM’s first trophy of the year, the second time in Brad’s career that he has finished on the podium at the opening race (the first was in 2016 and his Moto3 title year) and the third MotoGP top-three of his career.

Brad Binder: “Incredible. If you told me we’d be 2nd in Qatar after the first test I wouldn’t have believed you. Today was a great day, it was a great weekend. I knew we had a good level but I had so much confidence and belief in the bike from beginning to end. We made such a huge step. For us to be on the podium in Qatar is insane. Now we’re looking for more!”

Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “An almost perfect start to the season and a deserved result for Brad and the whole team. It was an incredible race pace but he was able to manage the speed. The start was fantastic. Let’s keep going in this direction.”

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director: “It was an outstanding weekend. We restructured our whole program over the winter after coming so far, so quick and it was time for a change. This weekend showed we are on the right way and the podium was the ultimate payback. In fact, I still cannot believe it because this track is one of the toughest for us. We turned it around and this result means a lot to us.”

Results MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar 2022

1. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Ducati 42:13.198
2. Brad Binder (RSA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.346
3. Pol Espargaro (ESP), Honda +1.351
4. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Aprilia +2.242
5. Marc Marquez (ESP) Honda +4.099
15. Remy Gardner (AUS), Tech3 KTM Factory Racing +41.107
18. Raul Fernandez (ESP), Tech3 KTM Factory Racing +42.357
DNF. Miguel Oliveira (POR), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

MotoGP moves to the new Mandalika Circuit in Lombok for the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia on March 20th.

Do not fear, Liqui Moly Kratzer Stop is here! For you guys (and guyesses) out there whose German linguistic skills are a little rusty, ‘Kratzer Stop’ is ‘Scratch Stop’ in the old colloquial. Now anyone who has been around bikes for any length of time will know how gutted you feel when your pride and joy picks up a scratch. If you are really unlucky the scratch is deep, right down through the surface, however many times it is superficial, but mars the good looks of your ride. Especially for you! You are so aware of the offensive scratch that your eye is drawn to it and it plain bugs the hell out of you. There is hope for the second scenario.

I am one of those guys that is bugged stupid by superficial scratches! I want it ‘fixed’ as soon as possible. I have had two such instances on my new Suzuki V-Strom DL 650 that freaked me out. Somewhere during the course of my running in road trip, I had a pebble thrown up which must have landed between my thigh and the tank. With the movement of my thigh against the tank, it proceeded to scratch the hell out of the right side of my petrol tank. Washing the bike post-trip, I noticed the ‘superficial’ but noticeable damage. I know some of you can just carry on regardless, considering such damage as ‘patina’ and typical wear and tear. I am just not that guy! I immediately had to ‘fix’ it! Enter Liqui Moly Scratch Stop.

Liqui Moly Scratch Stop

LIQUI MOLY Scratch Stop

R202.00 (RRP)

Brand: LIQUI MOLY

As I had already fixed the ‘superficial’ damages on my Suzuki V-Strom DL 650 (without properly documenting it). To demonstrate to you in this article we took Suzuki’s ‘demo’ Hyabusa which had seen better days. Its tank was full of ‘superficial’ scratches from many rider jackets rubbing on it as it hadn’t been fitted with a tank protector. No sweat, Scratch Stop will polish it up like new.

Before

The Scratch remover comes in a 200 ml plastic tube. The procedure is to shake the tube well, prior to opening it, then remove the screw top and squeeze some of the contents onto a clean, soft cloth. A word of warning. The contents, which is a funky purple colour, is more of a cream consistency than a paste and comes out really easily. A big squeeze may just have you wearing half the tube!

The consistency of the Scratch Remover is a big plus. It works well as a polish on all bike surfaces that you would typically use it on. Some products are great on metal but too abrasive on paint and more fragile surfaces. Once applied, you need to rub the offending scratches with a regular circular motion. Be patient and keep rubbing, then rub it up with a clean soft cloth.

Voila! No more scratches and your bike is restored to its unmarred former glory. If the scratches are a bit deep it may require a second rub. Work systematically and your patience will be rewarded.

After

Enter case number two. Stopping to refuel the other day I was distracted for a second. The over-enthusiastic Petrol Attendant was scrubbing the windscreen like a dervish with one of those car windscreen cleaners. They work pretty well on a glass windscreen, but they scratch the hell out of a motorcycle screen. My ‘moer meter’ redlined instantly and I had to do some serious self-talk to remind myself that the poor fellow was just trying to serve me. Flip, the screen looked awful!

Before

Scratch Stop to the rescue. I have tried to polish screens before with limited success. Typically the scratch remover is too abrasive and dulls the screen, or doesn’t remove the swirls. I got home and wiped the screen clean with a chamois and surveyed the damage. Literally saw myriads of superficial scratches all over the screen. The light reflects off these scratches to make them look even worse. I applied the Liqui Moly Scratch Stop and systematically worked over the screen surface. Fifteen minutes later I polished it up and true as nuts, restored! A couple of little spots required a little more attention but now my screen is like new. Shiny, bright and scratch-free.

After

I got so carried away that I grabbed my helmet and gave the visor the once over. I am very particular about how I clean my visor but daily use and regular cleaning still takes its toll. Massive difference!

Suddenly my wife’s vehicle’s headlights looked a bit dull, so I whipped out Liqui Moly’s Scratch Stop and got to work. See below the ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots of how they polished up like new.

Before

After

Seriously guys, this is an absolutely excellent product that you must have in your garage. Those superficial scratches on the body from branch ends….damn, this Saturday is going to be fun!

You may already have a tube of that old favourite of detailers everywhere, Solvol Autosol. This is excellent for exhausts and the like, however, it is too abrasive for screens and paintwork. The two products are brilliant in tandem. If the scratches are severe you can use the Autosol and then finish the surface to a brilliant finish with Scratch Stop. I attacked my exhaust headers with Solvol and then found the Liqui Moly took them to a new level! I’m totally sold on this stuff! If like me, you maintain your bike in new condition, there is no doubt that Liqui Moly Scratch Stop makes it a whole lot easier, as well as addressing all your household stubborn polishing needs.

To view Liqui Moly’s full motorcycle range click here.

Which is the most important department in any motorcycle dealership? That’s a very difficult question to answer as they all have their place and one can’t exist without the other: everything is interdependent.

There is a strong argument, however, for the workshop being, if not the most important, then with a very strong claim to the title.

You see, salespeople see customers when everything is rosy: they are confronted by row upon row of gleaming metal and the salesperson is merely there to help them make what will be the easiest decision of their lives. Even though they are about to be separated from large amounts of their money, it is not a grudge purchase, so the salesperson is their friend.

The workshop, however, sees the customer when the bike needs servicing or when something needs fixing. The opportunities for something to go horribly wrong are numerically huge and no longer is the owner in the first rosy glow of ownership: now something is wrong with his or her pride and joy and not only is there the inconvenience, but there is also the chance that there might be a delay while a part is ordered or, worse still, that it might involve financial outlay.

None of this is designed to induce a warm and fuzzy feeling in the customer and the workshop or service manager has to have some serious people skills to negotiate what could escalate very quickly if not handled properly.

That is why Harley-Davidson Gold Rand in Boksburg has the very capable Amanda Scott as Service Manager. With over thirty years in the automotive sector and ten years at Harley-Davidson, there is nothing she hasn’t seen or had to deal with and it is this experience that is invaluable in maintaining customer relations.

Not every job can or does go smoothly all the time, despite the best intentions, and the only recourse then is to communicate with the customer before he or she finds out for themselves. As always, it’s a balancing act between getting the job done and doing it right the first time and, for that, there is no substitute for experience and you’ll find plenty of that at Gold Rand.

The excellent workshop at Harley-Davidson Gold Rand has a total of nine bays, equipped to carry out any level of work, from a simple service, to a full re-build, insurance assessments, accessory fitting, even light customising. Four technicians can process up to 170 bikes a month.

The technicians (they’re not called mechanics anymore!) are fully qualified through the Harley University on general and model-specific programmes so you know your bike is getting the best care it possibly can.

Of course, a workshop and the technicians are only as good as the parts and spares back-up that feeds it. Naturally, the global pandemic has played havoc with supplies but Gold Rand has managed to maintain stocks of the majority of service items to effect a quick turnaround of work.

While no workshop can ever be perfect, that at Harley-Davidson Gold Rand is about as close as you can get. In fact, the whole place – showroom, accessories and apparel departments and workshop – are about as good as you will find anywhere in the world and that is all down to the quality and experience of the people who work there.

For more information on Harley-Davidson Gold Rand visit: www.hdgoldrand.co.za

For too long, motorcycle racing has languished far too near the bottom of the racing barrel in South Africa. That state of affairs has nothing to do with the quality of competitors we have here in this country, nor the willingness of many others to go racing, but a whole series of unforeseen circumstances that have served to diminish racing to a point where it was no longer sustainable.

However, there are people involved who are determined that motorcycle racing in South Africa has a future and are prepared to put their money where their mouth is. Special mention must go to Jos Matthysen of Ducati South Africa, multiple SA Superbike champion Clint Seller and Rob Portman of Moto Rider World, not to mention sponsors such as King Price, NGK, Pirelli and Liqui Moly, to name but a few of the important people and companies that have put in huge amounts of work to keep motorcycle racing alive.

For the 2022 season, it looks as if their hard work will start paying off, as we approach the first round in what is now known as the Motorcycle Racing Series of South Africa – or MRSSA – powered by Pirelli.

According to the website, “the goal of the MRSSA Racing Series is to put the fun back into competitive racing, keeping it simple with minimal rules, whilst still racing in a safe environment. The motorcycle-only racing series is founded on the idea of catering for every kind of racer in an affordable manner. In this sense, the Series welcomes all riders, no matter their age, skill level, type of motorcycle or preference of tyres.

“Furthermore, riders do not have to sign up to a club or association to race in the series. All that is required to enter the Series is an active medical aid that covers racing, or MSA insurance cover.”

This sounds like the shot in the arm that motorcycle racing in SA so badly needs and you just know a lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes to make it happen, so the least we can do is support it and get to the tracks for each race weekend. Yes, in years past, that has been a relatively unrewarding activity but, having witnessed some of last year’s Ultimate Superbike Shootout racing, the series that was born out of the ashes of the SA National Superbike Championship, a day at the races is now a really good day out, with plenty of close and, just as important, fun racing. Good crowds at each round would be the icing on the cake.

The first round of the MRSSA Powered By Pirelli will take place at Red Star Raceway near Delmas on the 11th and 12th of March. The following classes will be racing on the day:

• Ultimate Superbike (National level superbike/supersport racing)
• Unlimited Superbikes (Regional level superbike/supersport racing)
• Open Superbikes (Streetbike, Novice, Brunch Run level racing)
• BOTTS\V4 (The best looking, sounding, and most exotic bikes – V-Twin and V4’s do battle)
• Masters (Riders above 45 years old do battle)
• Sub 500 (Machines 500cc and below)
• Classics (Blasts from the Past)

In short, it doesn’t matter what type or age of bike you race, there is something for you. And it’s going to be affordable, as promised: R2500 is the entry fee and that covers Friday official practice (4 sessions) and the Saturday race day (qualifying and 2 races).

One big difference is that there is no requirement for an MSA racing license. Competitors only need a valid medical aid, which they must make sure covers extreme sports. For competitors without medical aid, MSA medical cover is available.

The paddock is sure to be a fascinating place to wander around and the facilities at Red Star have been upgraded by the new owners to ensure a good day out for the whole family. With good racing on the track and good fun in the paddock, this is the beginning of something great in motorcycle racing in South Africa.

For more information about the series and to complete your entry form for Race 1 at Red Star, head here: www.motorcycleracingseriessa.org

Trademore Group MSA South African National Cross-Country Motorcycle Champion Bradley Cox bided his time aboard his Brother Leader Tread KTM early on, before overcoming OR2 winner, factory Husqvarna man Brett Swanepoel’s late charge to win an epic Pepson Plastics 200 at Legends outside Pretoria on Saturday. OR3 winner Matthew Wilson’s Brother Leader Tread KTM was third in a dramatic season opener that saw action throughout.

OR2 man Scott Heygate was fourth on a good day for the Brother Leader Tread KTM team, ahead of Michael Pentecost’s OR1 Franchise Co. CIT Kawasaki. Sleepover CIT Torkcraft Honda duo, OR1 rider Gareth and OR3 lad Haydn Cole were next home Senior winner Kenny Gilbert Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki, Ryan Pelser’s OR3 KTM and Jaycee Nienaber Spherical Holeshot OR1 Husqvarna in tenth

Kobus Jonck took the Masters win on his KTM and KTM Durban lad Ross Ramseyer grabbed High School honours. Junior action saw Brandon Clarke take 85 cc honours on his Spherical Holeshot Clarke Husqvarna, while Jake Pretorius did the double for Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki as he took the 65cc Interprovincial win.

The action started with Cox leading Davin Cocker’s OR3 factory Husqvarna, Pentecost, Wilson OR3 KTM, Pelser, OR2 man Kerim Fitz-Gerald’s Red Bull KTM and Gilbert in the time trial. Swanepoel had a less than ideal start in tenth. Cocker then moved into an early lead from Cox as racing proper started on a tough and dusty 45 km route interspersed with sticky muddy sections and rocky outcrops too.

Cocker led through to end the second lap, by when he’d opened up a 48 second lead on Cox, with Wilson, Pentecost, Heygate and a recovering Swanepoel in pursuit. But Cocker got stuck in the mud for a quarter hour and then hit another issue to plummet down the order to leave Cox leading Swanepoel, Wilson and Pentecost. Swanepoel then delivered a sizzling final lap to close down on Cox, but that was not enough and his time trial deficit was also too much to overcome.

So Bradley Cox took the day from a storming Brett Swanepoel, Matthew Wilson and Scott Heygate, who pipped Mike Pentecost on the final lap. In the classes, Cox took 450cc OR1 from Pentecost, Gareth Cole, Nienaber and Kawasaki duo, Pepson man Wade Den and Franchise Co. rider Tyron Beverley. Swanepoel took 350cc OR2 from Heygate, Erik Merry’s RAD KTM, Kerim Fitz-Gerald on a Red Bull KTM, Juan Niebuhr’s Rhubein KTM and Dylan Cox’s RBS Yamaha.

Wilson came out on top of a competitive 250cc OR3 battle from Haydn Cole, Ryan Pelser’s KTM, Pepson Kawasaki duo Kyle McKenzie and Taki Bogiages and Peter Karam’s Honda. Kenny Gilbert dominated Seniors from Wade Blaauw’ Sleepover CIT Honda, Marco Cocci on a Shimwells Yamaha, Wyatt Avis’ Pepson Kawasaki, Kyle Potgieter’s Fast KTM and Ockert Swart’s Cow Husqvarna. Kobus Jonck’s KTM surprised to beat Husqvarna duo Greg Nairn and Wayne Farmer to win Masters.

Ross Ramseyer dominated 125 cc High School for KTM Durban, from Cobus Bester’s Spherical Holeshot and Wian Wentzel’s Franchise Co. Husqvarnas, Daniel Peckham’s NWE Sherco, Rory Donaldson’s KTM and Joss Alexander’s Husqvarna. Brandon Clarke took the 85 win from Bruno Niebuhr’s Rhubein KTM and Murray Smith’s KTM. And Jake Pretorius beat Matthew Meyer’s Gas Gas and Mackenzie Bam’s KTM in the Interprovincial 65 race.

The Trademore Group MSA South African National Cross-Country Motorcycle Championship heads to KwaZulu Natal for KZN racing’s second round Saturday 26 March.

Brother Leader Tread KTM are gearing up for the start of the 2022 National Cross Country and Enduro Championship. The first race of the season takes Cross Country riders to Legends MX this weekend – a working farm in Gauteng with maze, cattle and indigenous wildlife.

Leading the charge for national titles is the multi-disciplined star, Bradley Cox. The rider took top honours last season when he snatched up the overall National Cross Country Championship and National Enduro E1 Championship. As a nine-time National Champion, the rider mentions feeling particularly excited to chase his 10th title this year.

“I’m stepping into the season with the number one plates – this is the first time in my career I’ve been able to do this. It’s a new pressure for me, but having the same goals and mindset as last year will help me defend my titles. I’m so excited to try get into the double digits of South African titles,” said Cox.

Adding to the rider’s sense of confidence this season is his recent success at the 2022 Dakar Rally. Not only did he finish what is deemed as one of the toughest races in the world, but was the third-fastest Rookie and placed 25th in the Overall General Classification. With a wealth of experience, Cox will represent the orange team in the prestigious OR1 Cross Country Class and E1 Enduro Class this season.

“The experience I gained at the Dakar was invaluable and I’ll definitely apply the things I learnt there to my racing locally. The OR1 Class is the premier class, so I stepped up to KTM 450 XC-F to represent my team. Last season was my stepping year to the KTM 450 XC-F and I’m so excited to finally be on this machine. In Enduro I’ll be racing the KTM 250 EXC-F, so to be on a 4-stroke in both disciplines will give me a good sense of consistency.”

In the highly competitive field of Cross Country riders, Brother Leader Tread KTM will unleash the flying Zambian, Scott Heygate this season. The rider will represent the orange squad in the OR2 Class aboard a KTM 350 XC-F.

The 20-year-old lives on a farm on the outskirts of a small town in Zambia called Chingola and practically grew up on a 50cc that his grandfather bought him at five years old. Heygate has since gone on to win the Zambian Motocross Championship the last five years in a row and in 2021 finished second in the South African National Cross Country Championship in the OR3 class.

Joining Heygate in the fight for OR2 glory is Kerim Fitz-Gerald, who will be riding for Red Bull KTM. After an incredibly successful motocross career, the multiple national champion has taken up the challenge of Cross Country racing. With years of experience to fall back on, the rider has plenty of grit to go with his raw talent and will be a favourite for the title this season.

The team will also be adding young gun Matthew Wilson to their cross country roster, who will competing in the OR3 Class this season. The 17-year-old has been winning championships since the age of nine with multiple Gauteng Regional and National Championships under his belt.

Wilson first stepped onto a bike at the age of three and by age eight was already going bar to bar with his rivals on a 65cc. The rider does most of his riding at Rhino Park and is also dedicated to putting in the work off the bike with a rigorous gym schedule.

In a massive scoop for the Enduro Brother Leader Tread KTM team last season, Blake Gutzeit stepped onto a KTM 300 XC-W TPI from November 2021. He will spearhead the hunt for a national title in the highly competitive E2 Class.

Hailing from the small town of Oslo Beach on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal Natal, Gutzeit has rapidly become one of the most technically gifted riders in the world. Gutzeit’s first memory on a motorbike is at the age of three, but his racing career only actually started from about the age of 14.

The rider is a former Junior World Champion in SuperEnduro and currently lies fifth in the World Championship Prestige Class. His glittering resume includes a National Enduro title, a fourth place at the Roof of Africa and finishing the Erzberg Rodeo.

Brother Leader Tread KTM have also managed to capture the signing of exciting Enduro prospect Matthew Stevens, who will be riding in the J1 class on the KTM 125 XC this season. Stevens is the youngest ever finisher of the Gold Class at the IMPI Enduro and is already a two time national Enduro Champion.

Stevens has massive dreams and tells the story that at the age of nine he wrote his goals on the ceiling above his bed in permanent marker – one of those goals being to win the Roof of Africa in 2023. Stevens has an impressive work ethic and he stands by the ethos that his father has put in place for him: “Any goal is 100% doable if I have a plan, put in the work, surround myself with good people, and have a never-say-die attitude,” he said.

The National Cross Country Championship kicks off at Legends MX on Saturday, 26 February. Husqvarna Racing’s star-studded line-up consists of Brett Swanepoel and Davin Cocker, two young athletes bristling with all the talent needed to bring home their respective championship titles this season.

As a multi-disciplined star, Swanepoel will be spearheading the hunt for glory in the National Enduro, National Extreme Enduro and National Cross Country Championship. The team has revealed an exciting change for the new season as the rider returns to his trusty Husqvarna FX 350 in the Cross Country OR2 Championship.

Swanepoel has also set his sights on winning both the National Enduro and National Extreme Enduro Championship on his Husqvarna TE 300i, where he will be taking on a highly competitive field of riders in the E2 Class.

We catch up with the rider ahead as his first race of the season approaches:

You’re stepping into the season as the reigning overall Enduro Champion. What are the greatest lessons from last season you think will help you defend that title in 2022?

Something that last season taught me is that it’s not over until the very end. I started off the season with food poisoning and it actually looked like the championship was over for me. I went on to win every round after that and the last race of the season counted for double points, so I managed to take the overall victory by a few points! I realized that every race counts and it’s not just about how you start, but also how you finish.

As a multi-disciplined star, you’ll also be racing in the OR2 Cross Country Class. Why the change of class this season?

The Husqvarna FX 350 is just the best all-rounder bike that I’ve experienced and the one that really stands out when I look at my racing career so far. It’s so versatile and its top end speed is incredible – I get so excited at the thought of racing it. So when the opportunity came to move back to the OR2 Class, I went for it!

What has your pre-season training involved? Is there anything new about your training this season that could possibly give you that extra edge?

This off season I actually adopted a ‘less is more’ approach. I often get caught up in training too much and pushing my body into the ground. I’m still training really hard and enjoying a lot of time on the bike, but also giving my body enough time to recover before a race.

What are your goals with the Husqvarna Racing team?

I really want to get the number one Cross Country plate back. I missed out on that last year. The main goal is to win all three championships this season – The National Enduro, Extreme and Cross Country Championship. The Roof of Africa is also a big goal for the end of year – I want to give that a proper push and finish right up top.

I would also like to do some overseas races. I really believe that will help me up my game locally. When you race against the best in the world, you have no choice but to level it up.

It was a riveting start to the 2022 National Motocross Championship for Red Bull KTM. The first round of the season took riders to Cape Town’s Zone 7 track on Saturday, where the orange team blazed their way to three overall victories.

Star rider Tristan Purdon was untouchable in the MX1 Class and in a perfect winning streak took back-to-back victories to defend the red plate. Purdon mentions feeling most confident on the ‘whoop section’ of the track – a section of evenly spaced bumps that the rider cashed in on, affecting most of his overtaking manoeuvres in this sector.

Purdon set off with a blistering pace to secure yet another heat win in the first moto of the MX2 Class. An unfortunate crash in the second moto, however, narrowly kept him from securing the victory overall. He commented: “I feel confident when it comes to whoops, so I used that section of the track to make most of my passes. I’m really happy to have taken the MX1 win! Unfortunately, I ran out of time to make up enough ground in MX2. I had a bad start and fell at one point, which is something I’ll work on before the next round.”

The MX2 victory was snatched up by fellow Red Bull KTM rider Cameron Durow. Having only narrowly missed out on winning the championship last year, the young gun has entered the new season swinging.

Undeterred by a third-place finish in the first moto, Durow lined up for the final heat with more determination to win than ever. He said: “I had a much better start than in the first moto and pushed to get up front early into the race. I worked hard to take the lead and created a decent gap with five minutes to go. I’m super excited to take the red plate going into the next round!”

It was a more demanding day in the saddle for Durow in the MX1 Class. He was off to a slow start by his own high standards but managed to charge through the pack to make his way back up to second. In the final moto Durow had a technical issue that kept him from pushing the pace up front, but after doing some damage control secured fourth place to finish in third overall.

It was a big day for the team’s rising star Jonathan Mlimi, who made his MX2 debut after a highly successful season in the High School Class. While the rider admits that he felt nervous to line up with the competitive class, he also felt more ready than ever to step up to a new challenge.

“After spending time getting used to the KTM 250 SX-F, I felt comfortable enough on the bike to ease my nerves. The first heat went well – I never stopped pushing until the end and managed to finish in fifth, which is something I was really proud of,” said Mlimi.

The rider was off to a blistering start in the second moto and found himself battling it out for a podium spot. While he only narrowly missed a third-place finish in the final moto, to push the pace with the front runners in his new class was a massive confidence boost.

“To battle it out with the ‘big boys’ was such a cool experience. It made me realize that I have what it takes to fight for the championship. I know I’m a rookie, but that doesn’t mean anything. I will push to win because I train to win,” said Mlimi.

Making his Red Bull KTM debut in the High School class was Luke Grundy. It was an incredible first moto for the rider who stormed to take the holeshot and lead for most of the race. The crowd held its breath when he was overtaken and later crashed, but Grundy managed to get back up in time to regain his lead and take the moto win.

After yet another holeshot in the second moto, Grundy had an unfortunate collision that damaged his KTM 125 SX. The rider was forced to ride the rest of the heat in third gear and finished in 10th overall for the day.

A cherry on the top of a memorable day for the orange squad was a victory from South Africa’s rising motocross star Trey Cox. It was the first time that the rider took the overall win in the Pro Mini Class, something he describes as a massive confidence boost for the season ahead.

Despite a slow start in the first moto, Cox pushed his way from eighth to second place. After a much better start in the second moto, he made his attack to take the lead and didn’t look back. He commented, “I’ve been waiting to win the overall for so long, so it was really cool to get that out the way at the first race of the season. I feel so ready for the next round to come! This weekend is a race that I will never forget,” said Cox.

Ten years have passed since KTM ended production of their legendary 950 and 990 adventure bikes – and yet these motorcycles still have a cult following worldwide. Riders of these iconic bikes can now celebrate and share their passion for adventure riding by joining the Motul Tour of Legends Series 2022.

This cross-country ride is designed to bring together fans of the KTM 950 and 990 – and give them the perfect excuse to ride some of the best roads, gravel, and cattle tracks that South Africa has to offer.

On Friday, 18 March 2022, riders will embark from four different departure points to arrive at the Battlefields Country Lodge and Sports Resort near Dundee in KZN on Friday afternoon – and that’s when the true adventure riding will begin.

This year’s Motul Tour of Legends will give KTM riders the chance to enjoy riding the district roads and rural areas of KZN, with a particular highlight being the ‘Old Trainline Road’ over the legendary Van Reenen’s Pass.

The weekend will include social events and fun competitions which will see riders stand the chance to win prizes for the oldest bike, bike with the highest mileage, furthest-travelled bike and most original KTM 950 or 990 adventure bike. The Motul Tour of Legends will be a celebration of all things 950 and 990 and an opportunity to get to know fellow die-hard fans of these incredible machines as riders relive a bygone era of adventure riding.

Accommodation, meals and full GPS tracks are included in the entry cost, and a support vehicle will accompany each group of riders. The four start departure points include Hillcrest in KZN, Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, Modderfontein in Gauteng and Bloemfontein in the Free State.

“This is an event for true KTM 950 and 990 fanatics,” confirmed event organiser Treffon Smith. “If you love the distinct sound of the V-Twin KTM LC 8 engines, just imagine the thrill of hearing dozens of them roaring in unison as you ride with fellow enthusiasts through some of KZN’s best scenery. There are still a handful of places left, so I would urge anyone who wants to join us to register now on our website,” he added.

“Motul is excited to support the Tour of Legends 2022 and contribute to a unique event, celebrating an iconic adventure bike era, that we know will be a highlight this year for KTM fans,” commented Mercia Jansen, Motul Area Manager for Southern and Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. “The fact that so many of these 950 and 990 bikes are still being used for adventure riding today is a testament to their durability and the importance for the right maintenance and care,” she added.

Full event details and the entry form can be found at Motul Tour of Legends – SADAC Travel and confirmed entrants will receive a welcome letter giving exact details of the starting points, as well as the GPS tracks for their particular route to Battlefields Lodge.

For more details of Motul’s product range, please visit Motul – Motor oils and lubricants.

The highly anticipated National Motocross Championship kicks off for Husqvarna Racing in Cape Town tomorrow. Representing the prestigious team is South Africa’s rising motocross star Neil van der Vyver. The rider lines up as a favourite for the Pro Mini title after a nail-biting three-way battle last season that came right down to the wire, proving that he has plenty of grit to go with his raw talent.

On his trusty Husqvarna TC 85, the young gun will be expecting nothing less than to add the Pro Mini title to his already long list of accolades. We catch up with Van der Vyver ahead of the event…

The first round of the season gives you the home ground advantage. What are your thoughts about this event?

I’m so excited to have a home race! This is the first national here in two years. I know the track so well – I’ve been riding here since I was 5 years old. There’s nothing as exciting as having a race in your backyard. I can’t wait to show everybody the hard work I’ve been putting in over the off season.

You came so close to snatching a national title last year. What are the greatest lessons from last season that could help you get your hands on those titles in 2022?

I did come so close, but there were little, silly mistakes throughout the season that cost me the championship. I plan on minimizing those this time and learning from the little errors that held me back. I want to win that title this season and the fight starts tomorrow!

Tell us about your weapon of choice this season. Why could your Husqvarna TC 85 be the winning 2022 machine?

It’s the best bike out there, and it’s matched by the great mechanics that support me. I really love the suspension setup – this machine literally gives me everything I need to deliver the best possible results.

Give us some insight into the kind of training you’ve been doing leading to the start of this season. Is there anything new you’ve been working on?

I have a training programme that I follow. I’ve been spending a lot of time riding lately – there’s no better feeling knowing that you’re coming into the first round fully prepared. Something I’ve placed extra focus on this off season is also my fitness – I believe it’s something that will give me that extra edge this season.

What are your short term goals with the Husqvarna Racing team?

It’s as simple as winning as many races and championships as I can. The team has had my back since day one and the best way that I can give back to them is by winning titles.

What are your bigger, long term goals as a motocross rider?

My longer-term goal is to race overseas someday and have a career as a professional motocross racer. I try not to think too far ahead for now, and rather place all my focus on doing the best I can with the opportunity I’ve been given to race locally with Husqvarna Racing.

It doesn’t take much to get me onto a motorcycle. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing than riding with open sky around me—the wind blowing through my pores and the occasional bug hitting my visor. So when Harley-Davidson Gold Rand invited me to join them on a H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) ride, to a small town situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains called Clarens, my schedule was suddenly as clear as the blue sky.

Three days, several hundred Kays, good music, tasty food and the acoustic background noise coming from multiple V-Twins—life doesn’t get much better.

In typical H-D Gold Rand fashion, the team had demo bikes, support vehicles, sales staff, technicians and a very impressive setup, all on wheels ready to head down to Clarens alongside a tightly-knit band of riders. The Clarens ride used to be an annual road trip for the Gold Rand team before Covid struck, so excitement was in the air, with everyone ready to revisit old memories.

We kitted up, warmed up our machines and rolled out of the Gold Rand driveway and onto the N3 just after the clock struck 9:00 on Friday. It might sound like a cliché, but there really isn’t anything quite like the feeling of riding on a wide-open road. It’s a sense of freedom like no other. I feel like I don’t have to grow up and worry about worldly things—just getting to my next fuel stop.

We quickly made our way to our lunch stop, just after Harrismith at the Engen Bergview One Stop. We sat down and recapped our mornings’ ride, talked all things braaap and enjoyed some good food at Wrap it Up Café, before powering into our last 100 km stint. Faheem was probably riding one of the coolest bikes of the group, with a silky smooth Milwaukee Eight motor powering his Fat Boy, followed by Trevor Dryden’s (technician) badass Breakout and Gareth Van Niekerk’s (sales) Heritage Classic.

Before we knew it we skipped some dodgy weather and were rolling into the town square of Clarens—the entrance of the 1903 Rally. Or, better yet, H.O.G Heaven. The weekend had begun and was filled with live bands, DJs, vendors, best bike comps, two beautiful outrides, and, in typical H-D fashion, two big parties.

Gold Rand had their own stand in the centre of the square with the latest apparel. They added demo rides to the event too, with the brand new Sportster S and Pan America on idle.

Day 2 saw Hogs from all over the country roar their way into the festival, but you could definitely see the legacy effects of the pandemic taking its toll on the turnout. We probably saw around 200 plus bikes coming and going at any given time of the day, but for the people that made an effort to show up, they had a blast. One thing is for sure, if you ride a Harley, you are a Harley nut to the core—representing the brand and its meaning in all aspects of your life.

I love Golden Gate Highlands National Park, so when I heard we were heading on an outride there, I instantly geared up and started the voyage. It’s almost like a go-kart track hidden in the mountains, giving us the chance to ride as close to nature as humanly possible. Seeing and hearing something like a Road Glide Limited riding in the mountains on a piece of tar that’s less than 2 meters wide is just so unreal—love it!

After the outride, we returned for some more festive partying and the people’s choice competition. This is where I started to realise that Harleys aren’t just motorcycles to these Hogs—they’re a total lifestyle. The amount of time, effort, cash and love these fanatics pour into their machines is just amazing. From chromed up machines to leather works of art, and even 23” wheel conversions, these are so much more than just bikes.

It was a successful weekend for the Gold Rand team—and for all of those that showed up. It’s about time that we all break out of our shells and get back to riding and chatting to fellow bikers again. Talking about breaking out of shells, before you could leave Clarens on Sunday morning, you had to do a lap around the square in your undies… LOL! If a shot of espresso doesn’t wake you up in the morning, try a semi-nude ride around Clarens at 5:00 a.m.

The team at Harley-Davidson Gold Rand just love what the brand represents and actively contribute to the brand’s ethos: freedom! A big shout out to the team for inviting me along and accommodating me on the ride. I look forward to the next trip!

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This weekend marks the start of the 2022 National Motocross Championship. The first round of the series takes riders to the Western Cape’s Zone 7 – a track that gives Husqvarna Racing’s David Goosen and Neil van der Vyver the home ground advantage. Also joining the team this year is the talent-tacked Davin Cocker, who will make a welcomed return to motocross racing in the MX2 Class.

Goosen will spearhead the hunt for national titles in the MX1 and MX2 Championship this season. As he gears up to chase motocross glory on his Husqvarna FC 450 and FC 250, we catch up with the rider about his thoughts for the new season:

You came so close to snatching national glory last year. What are the greatest lessons from last season that could help you get your hands on those titles in 2022?

The best way to describe last season is “steady”. There wasn’t that excitement that comes from knowing I was riding to my full potential. I was consistent and close to the championship, but I ended the season wanting to push for more. I’ve spent the offseason preparing myself to take things to the next level.

Tell us about your weapons of choice this season.

The Husqvarna FC 250 and FC 450 is what we’ll be running with this season. I’m starting right where I left off with these bikes – I spent last season finding the perfect setup, so there’s no more fiddling anymore. That’s a great place to be in! I really do enjoy these motorcycles – they’re fast, nimble and handle well. I’m very excited to be on them again.

Is there anything new you’ve been working on in the offseason that could possibly give you an extra edge?

The biggest thing is consistency in my training. Working full time makes it hard to train as much as I would like to, so I’ve found a way to start to take some time off during the week to ride now. That’s the first time in a few years that I’ve managed to do that and it’s going to be massive in my preparations. I’m also doing a lot of running recently to up my fitness, which has been an exciting addition to the programme.

What are your short-term goals with the Husqvarna Racing team?

I think we all have the same short-term goals – to win. As one of the oldest riders in the paddock now, winning a premier championship would be a dream come true. I’ve had so many second places, so to end my career with another win would be incredible.

What are your bigger, long-term goals as a motocross rider?

I feel like this is one of my strong points – I had a real good go at trying to make a career of racing overseas. I came back to South Africa, however, and realised that I wanted to focus on building a career that wasn’t just racing. I’ve managed to build up a business in the motorcycle trade that I really enjoy, but still get to live out my passion for racing at the same time. I’m so content knowing that once my racing career is over, I still get to succeed in my job. I love that racing gave me another career choice that I really enjoy.

The first round of the season is coming up soon. What are your thoughts about this event?

As a Cape Town-based rider, I’m very excited to have the home ground advantage! I felt like I flew to Joburg a lot last season, so to have a race on here for a change is extremely exciting. With that being said, there are going to be a lot of good riders travelling here – so I know that the fact that it’s a familiar track won’t make the racing any less challenging.

What I’ve learnt as I’ve got to know Ducati supremo Jos Matthysen well, is that he does things one of two ways. Not at all or absolutely flat out. Flat out it was, as a sponsor supporting the Bike Fest SA event held over the past weekend in Colesberg. I rode my Suzuki V-Strom DL650 down to the Northern Cape to see how it all went down. Friday was sunny, hot and humid as I cruised through the Free State, where nothing is free and it’s in a hell of a state! Jokes aside, the countryside is looking spectacular after the copious amounts of rain that the country has been blessed with recently. Farm dams are full and the Free State is more of a grassland than I have ever seen it. The endless green vistas under a blue sky dotted with the odd candy floss cloud, made for sweet cruising.

I rolled into Colesburg around 4 pm feeling somewhat parched. It was properly hot! The venue for the Bike Festival was a cordoned-off area in ‘Bo Dorp’, just below the old church which dominates the Colesberg landscape. I navigated by following the sound of music from the Festival. The Ducati presence at the Festival was immediately apparent with tear banners, numerous gazebos and the Ducati truck brightening up the site with a sea of Ducati red.

Allied to this was 300+, the purveyors of amazing goodies like Rizoma and SC Projects, to name a couple, with which to pimp your ride, also well represented. Another exciting addition was that of the world-famous premier sunglass brand Carrera, who have strong international ties with Ducati, represented by their local boss man, Garth. Garth and his wife Tammy were getting their first taste of the SA bike scene.

The organisers set up a large Bedouin-style tent for the live music stage, with tables and chairs and an avenue of local pubs and eateries incorporated into the Festival venue, with umbrellas covering straw bales as seats. Under a shaded area dominated by Ducati gazebos, the festival food stalls plied their trade. The Crusaders bike club, together with other patch wearers made up the majority of the attendees. As per usual, there was much catching up and general revelry on the go. The hot weather, no doubt contributed to the sale of cold ‘bevvies’.

I chilled with the Ducati crew, sucking on a cold one, ogling the stunning array of beasts from Bologna on display and drooling over the 300+ bling. Surveying the crowd I marvelled at this biking common denominator that welds people from all walks of life together. Speaking of crowd, the attendance was down on what I think the organisers were hoping for. Covid, the fuel price and the general state of the economy possibly contributing factors, not to mention folks still reeling from an expensive festive season. Be that as it may, the peeps that made the effort were having a blast. The Ducati crew are a tight familia. Jos has built an enviable lifestyle around Ducati, with fierce loyalty exhibited by all those in any way connected to the brand. The sense of belonging is palpable and infectious.

World of Motorcycles also had a Suzuki display, with a new Hayabusa and a pimped out 1050 V–Strom, together with some cool Suzuki merchandise. Across the way was a BMW stand, next to Trevor from Easy Rider, with his customised Harleys. Man, bikes are just so damn cool! We soaked up the atmosphere, enjoying the camaraderie that is so common to bikers. The music got louder, the sunset lower and the welcome cool of the evening enveloped us. Old friendships were rekindled and new ones formed. With Clint, from Clint and Co, rocking the crowd, I sipped on a last cold chap before easing along to my B+B, pleasantly weary and content.

Saturday dawned with the promise of another molten day. I was up and at it early. I wanted to experience the crisp Karoo air before the sun really made its presence felt. I idled out of town on the road to Cape Town, then stopped for photos and to savour the vast stillness of our magnificent country. Cruising back to town I went to the Festival site to see the Ducati crew setting up shop for the day. Jos asked if I would like to ride the Scrambler Ducati Desert Sled….what a question. We kitted up and rode out of town heading north to Gariep dam. Jos was on a V4 Streetfighter, I was on the Sled, and a buddy Johan was on his new 950 Monster. The air was still crisp and fresh.

The Streetfighter had a full system Akrapovič and the Monster, a black twin-pipe Termignoni slip-on. Listening to the Italian symphony was intoxicating, to say the least. I enjoyed the old school cool of the Desert Sled. The balance of the bike is spot on, with the 900cc air-cooled V–Twin perfectly powered for the bike’s application.

We cruised to below the dam wall, watching the water spill over and fuel the river flowing past us. Johan kindly let me ride his Monster on the return ride. Flip, what a bike! It is a simple recipe that works incredibly well. Monsteristi may bemoan the loss of the signature trellis frame, but functionally the new 950 is a vastly better bike. The road back was a bit bumpy but the Monster shrugged it off and performed superbly. The fun factor of the bike is off the charts. For me, the 950 Testastretta V-Twin is the sweetest of the lot. Torquey and oh so punchy. Oh no, the dreaded bike lust strikes again!

As if that was not enough, Jos pulled over and told me to hop on the Streetfighter. Mind-boggling is all I can say! Way over 200 hp in a light and taut chassis that begs to be thrashed, unleashing a V-4 wail that raises the hair on the back of your neck. To be frank, I am not even vaguely talented enough to wring the best from the beast. For those select few who can, it will be mind-blowing. The front wheel begs to go airborne at almost any speed or gear. Yikes! There was a time when I would have revelled in that power and ability, but that ship has sailed.

Back at the Festival, we enjoyed a slap-up breakfast, then settled down to a day of biking brotherhood. The afternoon saw a brief shower of rain which did nothing to dampen the spirits of festival-goers. It actually just helped to ramp up the humidity. Earlier in the day a fellow had ridden the V-4 Multistrada and returned somewhat star-struck, but it was the Streetfighter that totally blew him away. A deal was done there and then, after which you could not even surgically remove the smile from his face! Jos just shook his head as yet another of his personal favourite bikes was sold out from under him. What a place to buy a bike like that. All the Ducatisti gathered round a trifle enviously, congratulating the proud new owner as he took his new pride and joy for a spin.

And so another Bike Fest SA event drew to a close. For me anyway. I would miss the mass ride planned for the next day as I needed to get home early. At 5 am the following morning I rode out of a still dark and silent Colesberg. The chilly morning air had the ‘Strom’s motor singing a sweet tune as I rode towards Bloemfontein, reflecting on the ‘Gathering of the Clans’. Till next time… A big thanks to Jos and his team for making me feel part of the family. It is much appreciated!

For more information on upcoming Bike Fest SA events, click here.

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Ever-tightening emissions regulations in Europe, known as Euro1, Euro2 and so on up to the current Euro5 level are making it more difficult for manufacturers to adapt existing engines to meet the new regulations while maintaining power outputs and performance.

It is a balancing act that rests on a knife edge and that in turn means after-market tuning and calibration of such motorcycles has to become ever more sophisticated in order to keep up.

To accurately tune/calibrate these motorcycles the latest ECU Calibration equipment is required. Rapid SA, a division of Fire It Up!, are the importers and distributors of Rapid Bike and Dimsport tool’s dynos and calibration equipment, designed to work closely with the marine, trucking, tractor, private vehicle and motorcycle industry, offering the best solutions for Economy and/or performance.

Akrapovič Exhausts started recommending the technology from 2016/17 – when Euro4 motorcycles were introduced – in order to extract the best power delivery when their exhausts were fitted, using technology capable of tuning motorcycles without ‘tricking’ the ECU.

Focus on KTM Models

With hundreds of stock maps to calibrate, tuning the latest KTM engines requires months of development. Extracting more power from a Euro5-restricted engine is achieved by removing the restrictions put in place by the manufacturer to achieve the target emissions. This removal enables the engine to run as efficiently as possible. The more efficient the engine is the more reliable, powerful and economical it is. Improvements in throttle response and engine smoothness can also be detected.

The end result on a 1290 Super Duke R is in the region of a 23bhp increase in power which makes this beast not only faster but also more refined. The same software calibration for the 1290 Adventure models is also available. Prices from R6950.

Rapid SA is currently working on calibration maps for the new Triumph models, including the Rocket 3. These should be available in the next month or so and promise to give similarly impressive improvements to performance and efficiency.

For more information contact Dean Michau at RAPID SA.
Tel: 063 967 5069
E-mail: [email protected]

Sparx Distributing are proud to announce the return of the iconic Nolan and X-Lite helmet brands to South Africa. This important development will bring much-needed diversity to consumers looking for the very best in motorcycle helmet design and performance.

This development is appropriate as 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Nolan company. It was in 1972 that Nolan presented the NO1, the first injection-moulded Jet-type helmet in LEXAN™ polycarbonate. This material was lighter and offered greater impact protection than previously used materials.

In the intervening 50 years, Nolan has become the leading helmet manufacturer in Europe, producing 400,000 helmets annually at their factory in Italy. The constant commitment to research and innovation are reflected in the latest 2022 collection, including two new full-face models in polycarbonate, the N80-8 and N60-6. For the 50th Anniversary year, Nolan has produced a series of anniversary designs on N100-5 PLUS, N80-8, X-1005 and X-803 RS ULTRA CARBON. These designs stand out for their sophisticated colour combinations, the details in gold, the flowing lines and the celebratory “50th” anniversary logo.

An important part of any helmet company is the research opportunities provided by supplying helmets to motorcycle racers. For NolanGroup, racers have always been synonymous with Communication and Research. They represent the ideal testing ground and context for the emergence of vital technical solutions for the mass-production of all models, not just those specifically for racing.

Over the years, riders supported by Nolan have included Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Carlos Checa, Marco Melandri, Chaz Davies, not forgetting South African legends Kork Ballington and Jon Ekerold. Current Riders are Alex Rins, Aron Canet, Iker Lacuona and former MotoGP star & Dakar 2022 sensation – Danilo Petrucci. With talent such as this, only the best feedback has been given to help improve the product.

NolanGroup proudly underlines that all of its products – Nolan, X-lite and Grex – tested by SHARP, the prominent independent test system run by the British Government, have obtained at least 4 stars. Furthermore, all of the ‘flip-up’ helmets have received the highest possible rating in terms of chin guard latch reliability. This means that, for each of the products tested by SHARP, the chin guard remains completely closed during each of the 30 impacts.

No less important to the South African market is the re-introduction of the X-Lite helmet brand. X-Lite came into being in 1998 as a subsidiary of Nolan and became the new division for the development and production of composite-fibre helmets, a hugely important development in helmet construction, saving weight and adding strength at the same time.

The first shipment of Nolan / X-lite helmets includes the following models:

Full Face – X-803 RS Ultra Carbon

X-lite’s high-carbon-content full-face racing helmet, in the most racing-oriented version ever: a Racetrack Aerodynamic Spoiler (RAS), the innovative Liner Positioning Control (LPC) and an additional Dark Green visor (supplied). Let yourself be absorbed by the essence of the X-803 RS ULTRA CARBON, whatever your journey.

Full Face – X-803 Ultra Carbon

X-lite’s high-carbon-content racing full-face helmet, is the result of the knowledge developed over decades of competitions at the highest levels in MotoGP and SBK, thanks to the precious contribution of their riders

Full Face – N60-5

The Nolan polycarbonate shell road full-face helmet with a contemporary, sports-inspired design. Its technical characteristics make it suitable for any situation, both in the city and on the motorway.

For more information, please contact:
Steve Theron
Sparx Distributing
+27 (0)72 912 4658 (Mobile)
e-mail; [email protected]

Since 1977, the Brabus tuning house has worked its magic making already fast Mercedes-Benz cars go even faster and look even tougher. Along with AMG, they have defined the look of performance Mercedeses for decades and invited customers to pay through the nose for it. They have ‘never’ not been busy!

Back in December 2021, rumours started circulating that Brabus was about to enter the world of motorcycles. In line with their four-wheeled work, they wouldn’t be taking a run-of-the-mill motorcycle and imbuing it with performance way beyond that which the manufacturer had intended. No, the brief was to take the most insane performance bike and give it a sheen of respectability while maintaining the insanity.

To that end, the KTM Super Duke 1290 R Evo was chosen for the Brabus treatment and, a couple of days ago, it was finally revealed to the world.

Brabus has left the mechanicals well alone: after all, how do you improve on 180bhp without needing a pilot’s licence? Instead, Brabus has concentrated on the style of the bike, completely re-dressing it in a whole new style.

According to the press release, “key ingredients are the Brabus ‘Black and Bold’ design language, including two signature paint schemes, high-end carbon body elements and a stylish custom-made seat, treated with expert attention to detail by the Brabus interior specialists. This all defining the bike’s exceedingly unique and sporty character and ensuring an instant 1-second wow factor.”

The release goes on to further raptures of hyperbole stating, apparently without embarrassment:

“The Brabus 1300R is about so much more than just an extraordinary riding experience, it also makes an unapologetic statement about luxury, exclusivity and sovereignty.”

Well, there you have it! Of course, whether Brabus has been successful or not is a matter of personal taste and, perhaps, the size of your wallet. Only 77 of each colour scheme will be built – the number reflecting the year of the company’s founding – and come with a price tag of around R800,000.

Despite this rather off-putting price, it seems that it didn’t put people off too much as the whole production run sold out within minutes of the online sales portal being opened to the public.

So, if you were hoping to see one in the flesh and perhaps even own one, you might have to prepare yourself for disappointment. Or relief, depending on your taste..!

Given the success of this partnership, expect more collaborations in the future. Perhaps a luxury version of the 1290 Super Adventure that will look good outside Harrods in London or cruising the Champs Elysees in Paris?

Husqvarna Racing is about to unleash its team of championship contenders for 2022. The star-studded lineup consists of Brett Swanepoel, Heinrich Aust, Davin Cocker, David Goosen and Neil van der Vyver. Five athletes bristling with all the talent needed to bring home five championships this season.

Swanepoel will be spearheading the hunt for glory in the National Enduro, National Extreme Enduro and National Cross Country Championship respectively. The team has revealed an exciting change for the new season as the rider returns to his trusty Husqvarna FX 350 in the Cross Country OR2 Championship. He explained: “The FX 350 is just the best all-rounder bike that I’ve experienced and the one that really stands out when I look at my racing career so far. It’s so versatile and its top-end speed is incredible – I get so excited at the thought of racing it!”

As a multi-disciplined star, Swanepoel has also set his sights on winning both the National Enduro and National Extreme Enduro Championship on his Husqvarna TE 300i. Here he will be taking on a highly competitive field of riders in the E2 Class.

The Husqvarna Racing team has also revealed some exciting decisions about young gun Heinrich Aust. Having come painstakingly close to winning the National E1 Enduro Championship last year, the rider will be relentless in his pursuit of the title this season. To best equip him for both the championship fight and faster flowing nature of Enduro, the team has decided to put Aust on a four-stroke Husqvarna FE 250.

In the National Extreme Enduro Championship, the team has moved Aust to a Husqvarna TE 250i as he steps up to the E2 Class. With a strong belief in his immense talent, the team believes that the motorcycle will condition him to become a far better all-round enduro rider.

“I feel like I’m throwing myself in the deep end this season, but it’s the only way I’m going to get better. I know that racing against the kind of talent you find in these classes will set me up for great success,” said Aust.

Cross Country star Davin Cocker will remain in the OR3 Class as he attempts to defend his hard-fought 2021 championship title. The team has revealed that the young talent will also compete in National Motocross Championship this season in the highly competitive MX2 Class.

“I raced motocross for most my life until I decided to give Cross Country a go in 2018. I missed motocross, so I jumped at the opportunity the team offered me to get back into it. I’m so looking forward to hitting some jumps again! I know that motocross will ultimately help me with my pace and consistency in Cross Country too,” said Cocker.

The rider will enter the season with the Husqvarna FC 250 as his weapon of choice, a motorcycle he describes as a “nimble machine that packs the power to keep some of the bigger bikes at bay.”

Leading the charge for motocross titles is David Goosen. It was an unforgettable debut season for Goosen who was recruited by the Husqvarna Racing team at the start of last season. As a top contender for both the MX1 and MX2 Championship, the rider had a consistent season as he settled into racing on his new Husqvarna machines.

Having spent a large portion of 2021 finding the setup that suits his style of racing, Goosen will return more confident than ever on his Husqvarna FC 450 and FC 250. He commented, “It was an amazing year joining the team – we learnt a lot and are still busy learning. I’m excited to line up again this year because I know I have the potential to iron out some of my weaknesses and continue to enjoy the sport and the challenges that come with it.”

Rounding out the all-star team line-up is Neil van der Vyver. The rider lines up as a favourite for the Pro Mini title after a nail-biting three-way battle last season that came right down to the wire, proving that he has plenty of grit to go with his raw talent.

On his trusty Husqvarna TC 85, the rising star will be expecting nothing less than to add the Pro Mini title to his already long list of accolades.

“The offseason has been one of detailed planning for the Husqvarna Racing Team for 2022. As is clear in our heading, we have a small team but one that is stacked with a combination of talent and experience. It’s the first year that we have no change in personnel and that on its own is exciting.

Our Motocross team with David and Neil gets bolstered with Davin in the MX2 Class, and we look forward to seeing Davin develop in this highly competitive class. It’s incredible to think that our multiple South African Champion, Neil, who recently turned 14 is going into his sixth year with us! As for our top man, David, it did take us all some time to get back on track last year but we are all ready for him to show the pace he has this year.

On the Cross Countryside, we once again run with Brett and Davin and both will certainly be the guys to beat in their respective classes. Brett has moved to his favourite machine after scrumming with the 450 last year and we know his pace on the FX 350 is amazing. Davin is also very much the rider with a target on his back but has matured so much that he’s going to be difficult to catch. With Kyle at his side at all times, his support structure will mean he can be fully focused.

On the Extreme Enduro and Enduro front, both Brett and Heinrich showed last year that they are capable of taking top honours in both categories. The move here has been to put Heinrich on a four-stroke in Enduro and a two-stroke in Extreme – this will build this young gun into an all-round Enduro specialist as he has already shown his pace throughout 2021.

For our top man, Brett, last year was just a nightmare – a combination of food poisoning on a national race day and small navigation and technical issues meant he was constantly on the back foot. What was impressive was the fightback from Brett and we intend to ensure the mistakes are non-existent this year!

Team personnel has also been given a shot in the arm with Grant Frerichs and Junior Ngwenya ensuring that all is 100% with race bikes and pit support. I always insist that success is in the detail!” said Husqvarna South Africa’s Brand Manager Fred Fensham.

Is there any more bleak time of the year than the MotoGP off-season? Even here in South Africa where it coincides with summer, the lack of any racing stretches ahead like an arrow-straight, featureless road that has simply to be persevered with in order to get to the good bits.

Into February, however, things start to brighten up a little as, one by one, the teams open their doors and small details start to emerge regarding runners and riders. Then testing starts and we can sense that the hibernation is nearly over.

Not that testing tells us much! Whilst it is great to see MotoGP bikes and riders back in action, the permutations of what they are trying to achieve and how they are going about it are endless and often bear little relevance to what happens come race day. A fast lap on soft tyres is sometimes just a ploy to catapult the team into the limelight by grabbing the fastest time of the day while rivals are working through complicated set-up programmes.

Of more interest is the riders’ reactions to what they see on track. Aprilia were looking particularly tasty, setting the fastest time on day one and the second fastest time on day two. Of more importance, however, were Fabio Quartararo’s comments that the Aprilia, now being run as a full works team and not by Gresini Racing, looked especially agile and balanced on track in addition to its impressive top speed.

Indeed, in the hands of Espargaro and Viñales, the Aprilia was putting in consistently fast longer runs, something that is essential if good grid positions can be converted to good race days.

Elsewhere, Mir was happy with the top speed of the Suzuki, something the bike has lacked in recent years despite having what is widely considered to be the best chassis on the grid. As Suzuki found last year, having the sweetest-handling chassis means nothing if your top speed is down on the rest: all you end up doing is squandering the advantage you build in the corners by using it to make up for deficiencies in a straight line rather than using corner speed to compliment the straight-line speed.

Conversely, Quartararo bemoaned the fact that Yamaha hadn’t addressed the lack of top speed issue that was leaving him easy prey for the super-fast Ducatis. The Yamaha famously runs very fast when out at the front in clean air but getting there is a problem against the Ducatis.

Of course, 2022 is the first season since 1996 that a certain V. Rossi is not on the grid and while there is no doubt his presence will be missed, there are plenty of other riders for us to watch, as indeed there have been for the last two seasons of Rossi’s below-par participation.

Not least of these is Darryn Binder who has received both praise and criticism for his leap from Moto3 straight to MotoGP. He’s not the first to do it – Jack Miller holds that honour – and there will be more people looking for him to fall flat on his face (so they can say ‘told you so and try to look smart) than there will be willing him to succeed but I am not convinced that the move was ill-advised. He’s definitely got the talent and he’s been racing long enough to have tempered some of the youthful aggression into speed and skill and that’s before we get to the subject of his physical size which was simply too great for a Moto3 bike. A MotoGP bike should fit his lanky frame much better.

As for the idea that riders should be forced to come up through the ranks before entering the top tier, that to my mind is just sour grapes. If you’re a racer, then you’re a racer and you can make anything go fast: it might just take a little more acclimatisation if you leap-frog a stage.

I seem to remember that Brad Binder was taken by surprise when he first jumped onto a MotoGP bike and he’d competed in Moto2. After a few races, he looked as if he was born to it. So, let’s stop all this nonsense about Darryn. Either he’ll make it work or he won’t and it will have nothing to do with missing Moto2 if he doesn’t.

Pre-season, there are always plenty of questions flying around, not any of which are answered at the official tests but all of which add to the rich tapestry of the season to come.

It is no secret that Yamaha will have to pull up their socks if they are to retain the services of Fabio Quartararo beyond the end of his current contract, which expires at the end of 2022. Similarly, various teams have the Frenchman on their wish list and have made no secret about the fact.

Should Yamaha not be able to mount an effective repost to the speed of the Ducatis which, after the first test, it appears they have not been able to do, Quartararo might tire of being ignored, just as Rossi and Viñales before him, when urging the factory to endow the M1 with more top speed. Yamaha is firm in its view that the M1 doesn’t need more power but if that continues not to chime with what Quartararo is experiencing on track, he may succumb to the entreaties of Ducati or Honda and it is likely he will do that sooner rather than later in the season if early race results back up his misgivings.

Ducati comes into 2022 with an unprecedented eight bikes on the grid: two factory bikes (Bagnaia and Miller), two Gresini Racing entries (di Gianantonio and Bastiannini), two Pramac entries (Zarco and Martin) and two VR46 entries (Marini and Bezzecchi).

Miller might have struggled in 2021 but Bagnaia excelled, even at tracks that aren’t traditionally strong ones for Ducati. Martin has won races and it would be a fool who would rule out Zarco taking his first victory, not to mention the young guns providing a scare or three. For the Yamaha riders – indeed, for the whole grid – that is an awesome arsenal against which to do battle.

Another big question is how Marc Marquez will fare in 2022. Injury hampered in 2020 and 2021, he showed flashes of his old brilliance with three victories in 2021. Without the Spaniard to lead development, the factory lost its way and went back to the drawing board for the 2022 bike, based on feedback from its other riders. Will it suit Marquez or is he good enough to ride whatever he is given and be as dominant as he was up to the end of 2019? MotoGP without the brilliance of Marquez might have been just as entertaining and a lot more unpredictable, but there was definitely a void left by the absence of the most spectacular rider on the grid.

Marquez’ team mate Pol Espargaro and brother Alex Marquez and Nakagami on the LCR Honda entries need to up their game in order to keep their places in their respective teams, especially with Quartararo and Mir on Honda’s radar. Maybe the revised Honda can help them do that.

So, Yamaha are nervous, Ducati confident and Honda determined. So far, so good. But what of Suzuki, KTM and Aprilia?

We’ve already touched on Aprilia and there can’t be anyone who doesn’t wish success for Aprilia. Last year they were closer than ever and let’s just hope that testing glory can be carried through to the season proper.

Suzuki came into 2021 off the back of a very successful 2020 campaign, taking the title for the first time in the MotoGP era. But the lack of top speed hampers qualifying performance and, with the closeness of the racing these days, starting mid-pack is just not enough to make a difference on race day, requiring Rins and Mir to try too hard with predictable consequences – for Rins at least, who gained more coverage for crashing than Mir did for keeping it rubber side down. Mir did well to take third place in the championship but never looked a likely winner. Yes, the GSX-RR is the best overall package, but without straight-line speed, it is just too compromised, no matter its behaviour in the corners.

KTM blew unbelievably hot and cold throughout 2021. Miguel Oliveira’s run of three podiums – second, first, second in Italy, Spain and Germany respectively – and Binders audacious victory in the wet in Austria were incredible high points but elsewhere they looked all at sea. Always good on Sunday due to the speed drop-off between qualifying and race speeds not being so severe for the KTM as for other bikes, the need to qualify better was the same for the Austrian team as it is for Suzuki. According to reports, KTM has opted for an evolutionary approach to the bike for 2022 to try and build on its strengths and correct the weaknesses.

There are some riders who really need to pull up their socks in 2022 if they are to retain their seats, especially as there are plenty of contracts up for renewal at the end of the season. The riders who are languishing at the bottom of the league and facing relegation include Jack Miller, whose time on the factory Ducati hasn’t been the bed of roses he thought it might be. Similarly, Alex Rins is going to have to work hard to keep his seat at Suzuki and the LCR pairing of Alex Marquez and Takaaki Nakagami have been told to pull their socks up, even if only to make a good impression while there are still alternative quality seats still available elsewhere.

But the most glorious thing about all this is that, actually, no-one has any idea what is going to happen when the lights go out for the first round under the lights of the Losail circuit in Qatar on March 6th, let alone what things will look like by the time of the last race in Valencia on the 6th November and that’s half the fun of it. We can sit here in the comfort of our armchairs and pontificate all we like but, as previous seasons should have taught us, the only thing that is certain is the uncertainty.

There is one more official weekend of testing on the 11th of February and you can expect it to throw up more questions than answers.

“Bike Night” is an event created by FAST. KTM, where a group of riders meet once a month on a Thursday afternoon, for a social and a ride. But there’s a catch, ‘FAST’ don’t let you know where the venue is till you arrive at the meetup point, which is at FAST. KTM in Alberton.

Meeting at FAST. is strictly to push us out of our Covid comfort zones and to start socialising with like-minded bikers again.

The sound of rumbling V-twins and singles were heard at last Thursday’s meetup at 17:30. After eyeing some sweet Austrian machinery and sharing some words we cruised out as a band of brothers and sisters, riding through the urban jungle and on the open road.

After a few light front wheels were lifted and a laugh or two was had, we pulled into LA Nuova in Fourways for a burger and a cold one. It’s nights like these, in the middle of the week where you realised how jumping on a motorcycle can just change your whole week. A simple ride that feeds the soul – creating new friendships and strengthening others, is what Bike Night is all about.

See a gallery of how it all went down…

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Keep an eye on the FAST. KTM Facebook page for upcoming events and future rides.

AMP (After Market Products) invited us to experience the beginning of a new chapter, with the introduction of UFO Plast to their portfolio of brands that they import and distribute. ‘UFO’ is an Italian based company with deep roots in the off-road world, going as far back as the late ’70s. This brand has grown a reputation across the waters for its unmistakable design and quality, serving everyone from weekend riders to professional athletes.

With the World Of Yamaha home theatre at AMP’s disposal, we got to see their vision of the UFO Plast brand in full motion.

From MX and Enduro plastics to kits, boots, helmets and racing accessories—UFO has got you covered. Not only have they got you covered, but rather kitted to kill at a Moto or Enduro with slick Italian design. They have got two kit ranges, one being the more expensive and breathable and the other cheaper but more durable. This range will be available for both adults and kids.

As far as plastics go, we are promised an OEM fit from UFO for most current MX, Enduro and vintage bikes. Yes, I said vintage! How cool is that? Kit your CR, KX or RM500 in OEM plus plastics for the weekend VMX. A plastic kit will also be available for the first time for the Honda CRF230 and mountain goat, KDX200 Kawa.

After having the chance to touch and feel AMP’s first UFO Plast shipment, all we can say is what a promising brand! The stock should be arriving shortly with the second and third shipments already on the water.

Coming soon to an authorised AMP dealer near you.

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We told you that we would be riding a SYM CityCom S 300i ABS for an extended period, to assess its (and similar vehicles) suitability for meeting the transport needs of city dwellers. We compiled a list of criteria that/ we considered relevant. The first of which is cost. This is relevant in that you can argue that if you spend around R80k on a commuter you could have ‘subsidised’ the fuel account for your car for many months. This of course is a valid argument and true, however, it doesn’t even begin to tell the full story. You may think that we are arguing from a point of bias, so let’s see if the numbers really stack up and support the ‘get a Scooter’ argument.

It is common for the average Saffer family to own two cars. A larger ‘family’ car and perhaps a smaller runabout. Let’s assume for a mo that we replace the runabout with a Scooter like the CityCom 300i. Wifey now does the school run and child ferrying with the family car and hubby commutes on a Scoot. Something like a Hyundai i10 is a typical runabout. At a purchase price of around R180,000 and financed at 8% over 60 months it will cost the family R3649 p/m. The 35L tank takes R700 to fill and she does an average of 65 odd kilometres a day. This gives us a monthly fuel bill of R1552, giving us a total monthly expense of R5201. We are ignoring insurance and maintenance costs for the object of this exercise as this will further tip the cost scales in favour of the less expensive vehicle.

A SYM CityCom 300i will, by comparison, cost R1622 p/m and consume R825 worth of fuel, for a total cost of R2377. This is a saving of a whopping R2824 p/m. The Scooter will literally pay for itself. To take it one step further. If the saving (which they are already incurring) is invested in a decent unit trust for the 60 months duration of the exercise it will grow to R218682 (assuming a 10% return), which will be more than enough to pay cash for the next Scoot. Now the big saving begins as they now only finance a car. If the big saving is now similarly invested, the family can pay cash for their next car…how about that?

Let’s talk performance. The SYM is a weapon in city traffic. It is fast, nimble and incredibly easy to ride. Twist and go gets you ahead of any traffic and the brakes are brilliant. Suddenly the dreaded commute becomes fun! It easily cruises at highway speeds too, so you are not intimidated by faster traffic. Reliability on these particular scooters is legendary. If you don’t believe me, just ask your mate Google. Five-star reliability ratings are commonplace worldwide for the CityCom 300i.

Then of course there is the practicality aspect. A car scores high on the practicality scale only insofar as its ability to carry stuff, be that cargo or people. It also keeps you dry in a downpour. Apart from that, in a commuting context, it sucks. Aircon also keeps you warm or cool, for what that is worth. A scoot, on the other hand, gets you out in the real world. You literally smell the roses. Frustration levels plummet and suddenly you have time to spare. The under-seat storage keeps your luggage out of the weather, charges your electronic devices while you ride and stores your rainsuit or brolly. Parking is no longer an issue either. Commuting becomes fun!

Lastly, and certainly not least is the introduction to a practical, fun and inexpensive way to go about your daily business. This extends to getting up early on a weekend, popping your partner on the back and cruising somewhere cool for a coffee or meal. As your enjoyment and nerve grows, a weekend away to Clarens, Dullstroom or Kaapsehoop becomes a whole new avenue of adventure. Rather than simply existing, you start really living! Save a wad of cash and get a life! Sounds compelling, doesn’t it?

Kawasaki enjoyed a brilliant start to its 2022 Cross Country Motorcycle Championship season at the Northern Regions GXCC season opener at Verena on Saturday. GXCC champion Mike Pentecost roared to overall and open class OR1 victory, Kenny Gilbert and Lee Thompson took a Senior class 1-2 and Danel Delport won Ladies Pro-Am, as Team Green’s Pepson Plastics Motul and Franchise Company Tork Craft squads filled the podiums across the board.

Pentecost was in fine form as he sped to the day’s win aboard his Franchise Company Kawasaki KX 450 X. Teammates, Pepson Plastics rider D’Artagnan Lobjoit was fourth and Franchise Co rider Tyron Beverly fifth. Kawasaki’s big bangers were also first, second and third in their regional class classification.

“I’m happy with an overall win to start my season!” Mike Pentecost confirmed. “I had a few snags though — falling at the start put me back so I had to work to the front as quick as possible. “I had a blast on an extremely rough track. “Big thanks to Kawasaki SA, the Franchise Co. and the whole team. “My Dunlops hooked up amazingly, Fox Racing SA always makes me look like a winner and the GXCC team always does an amazing job — can’t wait for the next one!”

Pepson Plastics Motul duo, multiple former SA Cross Country champion Kenny Gilbert and Lee Thompson, perhaps better known for his circuit car racing exploits, delivered a dominant Kawasaki Seniors class 1-2. Franchise Co man Carel ‘Mielies’ Le Roux took a fine second in Masters and the regional win and Pepson Plastics team boss, Veteran Iain Pepper celebrated his comeback with a holeshot and a solid run.

“It was a fun day out on my Pepson Plastics Motul Kawasaki KX450X,” Kenny Gilbert admitted. “The track was demanding because it got very rough as the day went on. “The spirit in Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Racing Motul is second to none and I could not be happier to be a part of the team. “GXCC put on another great event at Verena — now I just can’t wait for the next race!

It was a good day for Kawasaki in the junior classes too. Jaden Els was second in 85cc Junior, with Johandre Vermaak fourth and Pepson kid Clayton Human 11th in Senior. Pepson pair Jake Pretorius and Dylan Human came home third and 13th in 65cc. Multiple SA Ladies Motocross champion Kayla Raaf ended second among the GXCC girls on her Pepson Plastics Kawasaki with Chedee Grobler fourth for the Franchise Co. Her teammate Danel Delport won Ladies Pro-Am.

Franchise Co Kawasaki KX 250 X lad John Botha made up for a tough day in OR3 with fifth in class on his 250cc GXCC OR3 debut. He was the third regional OR3 competitor home. Pepson Plastics rider, Kyle Mackenzie was running in the top three early before hitting drama and Dijan van der Merwe ended ninth in OR2 on the Franchise Company’s experimental Kawasaki KX 280 X.

Next race on the calendar is the 2022 Trademore Group National Cross Country Motorcycle Championship season opener and also the Kawasaki team’s home race. The Pepson Plastics Cross Country National will goes down at Legends MX, Rhino Park, Pretoria on 26 February. “That was the perfect start to the season,” Franchise Co. team boss Harry Grobler summed it up, while Pepson Plastics’ Iain Pepper added, “Now for the National season opener and our home race — we can’t wait!”

Since Hero motorcycles hit South African shores they have been making waves with their solid engineering and reliability. This was epitomised by a Rally kitted X-Pulse 200 finishing the Roof of Africa recently. Breaking news on the world Rally scene is that our Kalahari Ferrari, Ross Branch is leaving Yamaha to join Hero Motosports as one of three factory riders for the 2022 season. I say ‘our’, despite the fact that Ross hails from Botswana, because damn, that’s close enough! Ross burst onto the world rally scene by winning Rookie of the year in his first Dakar in 2019 and following that up with a privateer stage win in the 2020 Dakar. He also won the first Rally of the year in 2021 in Kazakhstan. He has been plagued by injury and sheer bad luck, but consistently shown that he can mix it with the worlds’ best.

Ross has shown sportsmanship, grit and determination that, coupled with his huge talent make him a fantastic team man. Ross joins Joaquim Rodrigues and Franco Caimi on the Hero factory team which will contest the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March. The Hero Rally 450 has shown that it is super competitive with JRod’s stage win in this year’s event. It could just be a match made in heaven for both Ross and Hero Motosport. Both entities are hungry for success and eminently capable. We wish Ross and Hero everything of the best in their journey together. We are behind you all the way!

Ross Branch, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: “I am thrilled and extremely honoured to be joining a team that’s making the headlines for all the right reasons. I’ve been tracking the growth of Hero MotoSports for the last couple of years, and have often been amazed at how quickly this young team has made it to the top league. I’m joining the team at a great time, and I hope I’ll be able to do my best to deliver great results. I look forward to riding alongside some of the best and most promising riders in the sport, who are also my good friends. I thank Hero MotoCorp for putting their faith in me, and I consider it a great honour to be representing the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters at some of the world’s toughest races!”

Hero South Africa: “We are thrilled to have Ross Branch the ‘Kalahari Ferrari’ join Team Hero, to continue their success on the world rally stage. As Hero South Africa we pledge to offer our full support to Ross. Hopefully, Ross and his 450 will be available in SA soon which we are really excited about and will arrange some evening or event. The Hero brand continues to grow month on month and the XPulse 200 in particular which shares design principles with the Hero Rally 450.”

After the huge success of the demo day held at Harley Davidson Gold Rand on Saturday 29th January, when Harley riders from all over Gauteng converged to ride the new Sportster S, we feel we should point out to all our readers that H-D Gold Rand in Boksburg and H-D Mzansi in Sandton have demo models of both the Sportster S and the Pan America adventure bike available for demo rides any day of the week.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S

Harley-Davidson Pan America

To arrange a test ride on both bikes, please contact either dealership and they will be happy to assist you.

Harley Davidson Gold Rand: 011 823 3763
Harley Davidson Mzansi: 010 492 4565

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Suzuki’s V-Strom 1050XT is not only one of the best adventure bikes on the market at the moment, it is also, by a long way, one of the best value-for-money adventure bikes, retailing at R221,950 when all its rivals are pushing at least R300,000.

The price does not reflect the ability of the V-Strom, which is nothing short of brilliant both on and off-road. What it might lack in terms of horsepower and ultimate equipment levels to its rivals, it more than makes up for in terms of engineering quality and overall ability, not to mention price.

To sweeten the deal even further, Suzuki South Africa has nine (9 Yellow) brand new V-Strom 1050XTs to clear for a never-to-be-repeated price of R199,950.

Right now, you’re convincing yourself there must be a catch. You won’t find one. The bikes are all brand new out-of-the-box with zero kilometres on the clock. They are 2020 model-year bikes but, as the spec hasn’t changed from 2020 to right now, 2022, they are exactly as you would be buying had they been built in 2022. They’re not new-old-stock: they’re brand new, current bikes.

So, stop trying to find the catch: there just isn’t one. What there is, is the chance of a lifetime to get your hands on a brand new example of one of the best adventure bikes on the market today for a price that wouldn’t even get you a three-year-old rival.

What are you waiting for?

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

If we didn’t already know it, buying online suddenly became a necessity in 2020 and 2021 as the global pandemic forced businesses to close their doors to walk-in customers and to rely on e-commerce portals.

Yamaha’s SA distributors recognised this and, in December 2021, launched not one but three online shopping platforms, one each for its three Gauteng retailers: Linex Yamaha Randburg, Linex Yamaha Lynwood in Pretoria and World Of Yamaha in Marlboro.

The move brought the huge stock of accessories and apparel into the homes of all motorcyclists for their ease and convenience.

“Online shopping is a key component of any successful retail business, as it exposes our fantastic range of products to a broader customer base,” said MD Robin van Rensburg.

Yamaha have worked closely with tech developers to provide an outstanding user-friendly platform with a huge variety of accessory and apparel brands that are easily navigated. Secure payment facilities are provided by PayGate and collection and delivery of products is facilitated by SA’s top logistic service providers. Orders can be collected in-store if so desired.

The initiation of the online shopping facilities by Yamaha is 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.
Even with Covid restrictions lifting gradually, many people will want to continue to shop online and the three Yamaha websites will help to make that a reality.

Limited Offer:

As part of Yamaha SA’s new ‘online platform’ launch, our readers are given a 10% discount when purchasing any motorcycle accessories online.

To redeem the discount, use the following code: ZABIKERS10 at checkout.

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

Kawasaki is out to build on an excellent South African National and GXCC Gauteng Cross Country racing foundation in star-studded 20-bike twin Pepson Plastics Motul and Franchise Company Tork Craft teams attack on both 2022 championships. The green machines bounced back in championship-winning style after a long hiatus in 2021. Now Kawasaki is set to make an even bigger impression in its second season back, starting with the opening GXCC round at Verena, Saturday 5 February.

“We enjoyed an incredible comeback season with Kawasaki’s brand new KX X range in 2021,” Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Motul team principal Iain Pepper confirmed. “Now we are poised to build on that success, and so many valuable lessons learned as we attack the 2022 season with a 20-bike twin-team effort. “Our e2022 campaign will see both Pepson Plastics Motul Racing with Scottish Cables, and Franchise Company Tork Craft Kawasaki running multi-bike teams across several classes. “We are ready to paint the town green!”

“Kawasaki will attack both the National Cross Country and Gauteng Regional GXCC Regional championships in 2022,” Franchise Company Tork Craft Kawasaki Racing boss, Harry Grobler added. “We are fielding top riders in the 450cc OR1, 300cc OR2 and 250cc OR3 classes, as well as in the Ladies, Masters, Seniors, 85cc Juniors and 65cc Juniors. “We are out to defend our rookie season titles and add to those in an even bigger and better campaign this year.“

Kawasaki’s effort is headed by double national and GXCC 450cc OR1, and overall GXCC champion Mike Pentecost fresh off an extensive off-season training program on a Franchise Co. Tork Craft KX 450 X.

He’s backed by national number 3 and GXCC runner-up, and also pre-season fit D’Artagnan Lobjoit, and Craig Alcock’s Pepson and Tyron Beverly Franchise Co. machines. Penetcost’s objective is simple — to go one better and take the overall 2022 SA National Championship. Lobjoit is out to win too.

Kawasaki is also making a concerted four-bike KX 250 X challenge on the OR3 class. Boasting an exciting blend of youth and experience, Taki Bogiages and Kyle Mackenzie head up the quarter-litre chase off an impressive debut in 2021, once again aboard a pair of KX 250 Xs. They are joined by regional High School champion John Botha moving up to OR3, alongside Wian Wenzel on a pair of Franchise Co. entries. Dijan van der Merwe meanwhile takes on the 350s aboard a big bore KX 280 X in OR2.

Perhaps the most exciting Kawasaki Cross Country new recruit news however surrounds its double Pepson Plastics Motul Senior class attack. Multiple SA Cross Country champion Kenny Gilbert is back on a KX 450X and multiple SA motocross champion, Wyatt Avis on a KX 250 X. Both are likely contenders National overall honours. Lee Thompson will race Regional Seniors, Masters regular Carel ‘Mielies’ Le Roux will be out on Franchise Co. Tork Craft machine and Iain Pepper will make occasional Veteran Regional appearances too.

There’s just as exciting news about Kawasaki’s GXCC Ladies effort. Four-time National Ladies MX champion Kayla Raaf will run in Pepson Plastics colours and reigning Pro Ladies champion Che Dee Grobler will race for Franchise Co, backed by Danel Delport in Pro Am. Kawasaki will also chase 85cc Junior glory with Jaden Els and Johandre Vermaak riding for the Franchise Co, and Pepson’s Clayton Human. Pepson Plastics lads Jake Pretorius and Dylan Human will race in the 65cc class.

“We have no shortage of talent riding a fleet of brilliant 2022 model Kawasaki KX Xs in both the SA National and GXCC Regional championships,” Iain Pepper points out. “Our entire team, from us managers, through the technical and back-up crew to our ace riders cannot wait to race,” Harry Grobler concluded. “We wish all our riders the very best for the season ahead and thank all our sponsors and partners for their contributions to make it happen. ”It all starts at Verena this weekend — bring it on!”

With the complexity of modern ECU’s, there is consistently a ‘SA First’ release from Dimsport (distributed by Rapid SA) when it comes to accurate and reliable ECU Calibrations designed by experts. Dimsport are technical partners with Akrapovic and their Rapid Bike and ECU calibrations are recommended by Akrapovic.

The 2020 S1000RR/XR/R software update that was released by the Rapid SA team caused quite a stir in South Africa and is considered by many as the best in the world even when compared to famous American BMW Tuners. The S1000RR attracted more than 2 Million views on social media when released.

The Rapid SA Team, based at Fire It Up! in Bryanston have been working for over 6 months on the current 1290R SuperDuke which is already a monster, the Software update although extremely complicated removes the Euro restrictions that have been put in place that sacrifice low down/useable HP and Torque for emissions, tyre wear, noise pollution etc.

As many people now know that with all Euro 4 and 5 motorcycles performing a de-cat or full exhaust system makes the engine perform badly or in some cases, the motorcycle will not run at all. The calibration performed by Rapid SA does not change any engine limits or parameters and therefore reliability is guaranteed.

The new Software Calibration from Rapid SA is finally available and the first customers have been thrilled with the overall difference from low down horsepower to a smoother throttle response. The update is available for 1290 engines including the Super Adventure.

Rapid SA only uses Dimsport Calibration equipment and therefore they guarantee the software and update. The service is now available at Fire It Up! stores in Bryanston, Pretoria and Cape Town and professional workshops.

For more information contact Dean Michau at Dimsport SA.
Tel: 063 967 5069
E-mail: [email protected]

Harley-Davidson moves into their second year of significant model releases with the arrival on South African soil of the brand new Sportster S.

The second H-D model to use the new Revolution Max liquid-cooled v-twin engine after the Pan America adventure bike, the Sportster S, takes the spirit and essence of the old Sportster and brings it bang up to date, with a new chassis, suspension, brakes and electronics to go with the new engine. Read ZA Bikers ride report here.

The new Sportster S is sure to generate a ton of interest and, with that in mind, Harley-Davidson Gold Rand in Boksburg has organised a demo day on Saturday 29th January to give customers an opportunity to be the first to ride the highly-anticipated new model. They promise you won’t be disappointed.

Rides are available from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Gold Rand Harley-Davidson, corner of Atlas and North Rand Road, Boksburg.

For more information contact H-D Gold Rand on – 011 823 3763

While we would never advocate riding your bike with anything less than full protective gear, sometimes you just have to make an exception to the rule and every year that exception comes in the form of the Anti-Pants run, organised by Skinny van Schalkwyk of Tank Girls and South African motorcycling fame.

What started as a low-key affair a few years ago, has grown into a bona fide must-attend event on the motorcycling calendar. The purpose of the event is to raise both awareness and money for animal conservation programmes. This year, it was the turn of the Two Oceans Aquarium’s sea turtle rehabilitation programme.

Now in its fifth year, the attendance has grown out of all expectations. At that first event, the participants could be counted on the fingers of both hands. This year, 2022, 210 bikes were counted at the start and many of those were carrying two people.

While that is impressive, the aim of the event is to raise money and, at the time of going to press, that figure stands at a fantastic R20,000, with more pledged to come in.

Why ride with no pants? I suppose the only answer is ‘why not?’ It is certainly a spectacle, especially with a kilometre-long train of bikes leaving the Union Buildings and riding through the streets of Pretoria. Other road users and pedestrians certainly sit up and take notice.

The bottom line is that it is a great way of making the ride more memorable. Anyone can organise a mass ride but persuading people to take their pants off to ride brings a feeling of joining in with something special and, if it makes the participants more aware of a good cause, then all the better.

And let’s not ignore the fact that it’s just great fun. Everywhere you look all you see are smiles. And isn’t that what it should all be about?

The ride is sure to grow and it would be great to get newcomers involved next year. Forget your embarrassment: there will always be someone who will look sillier than you without their pants on! If you weren’t able to attend this year, you can still contribute to the cause at the following bank details:

Gerda van Schalkwyk
Bank: FNB (250655)
Acc: 62905568195
Reference: Anti Pants & Your Name

In November last year, we had the opportunity to spend some seat time on Husqvarna’s eagerly anticipated Adventure bike, the Norden 901. Although packed with all the bells and whistles that you may want, Husqvarna wants you to explore even more with the Norden. In order to explore more, Husqvarna have released an extensive range of technical accessories, manufactured exclusively for the Norden 901.

Read ZA Bikers test report (here).

The Norden is a bike that will not limit, but rather enhance your wildest adventures and this same philosophy has been brought to their technical accessories range. Here is a shortlist of what you could equip your Norden with…

Touratech Cases and Top Case

Encouraging unrestricted adventures, with a combined total of 114 litres of storage space the Touratech panniers are designed specifically for long-distance travel. Constructed of high-strength aluminium with strong and pliable silicone seals, anything placed inside the panniers is always protected, even in the most extreme weather conditions.

Side Bag Set and Luggage Bag

Seamlessly integrating with the aesthetics of the Norden 901, the easy to install Side Bag Set and Luggage Bag are expertly assembled from waterproof material and welded seams to ensure all belongings remain safe and dry. For all-round usability, the effective roll closure design allows for fast and easy access.

Ergo Rider’s Seat and Ergo Pillion Seat

Creating an enriched riding experience for both rider and passenger in colder climates, the Ergo Rider’s Seat and Ergo Pillion Seat offer three easily selectable temperature settings. With day-long comfort assured, the elegant, uncompromising finish subtly enhances the unique overall design of the Norden 901.

Heated Grip Kit

Complimenting the Ergo Rider’s Seat and Ergo Pillion Seat, the Heated Grip Kit is another essential Technical Accessory, which allows for uninterrupted winter exploration. Operated by a simple-to-use handlebar-mounted switch, the Heated Grip Kit offers four heat settings for personalised comfort throughout every adventure.

Akrapovič “Slip-on Line”

Providing a significant weight reduction over the standard exhaust, the Akrapovič “Slip-on Line” is manufactured from high-grade titanium and assembled with the highest levels of craftsmanship. Complete with two protective heat shields, the lightweight system produces a sporty sound with an overall appearance inspired by the Husqvarna Factory Racing rally machines.

Lowering Kit

For shorter riders or those focused solely on the open road, the Lowering Kit includes all the components and hardware required to lower the Norden 901. Designed to offer unaltered riding dynamics, the Lowering Kit provides a 22 mm lower seat height than standard.

Windshield Spoiler

Providing a simple solution to extending the standard component, the Windshield offers improved protection from wind and reduces any potential strain on neck muscles. Particularly effective during long days in the saddle, the Windshield can be installed in a matter of minutes.

Diverse Protection

Adding valuable protection to the Norden 901, three Technical Accessories have been developed to ensure non-stop exploration. Designed for challenging offroad conditions, the Engine Protection Grille provides an extension to the original skid plate to prevent mud build-up around the exhaust header, ensuring optimal engine temperatures at all times. Protecting the lights, the Auxiliary Lamp Protection and Headlight Protection are easy to mount and offer effective defence against stone damage for uninterrupted riding adventures.

Husqvarna Motorcycles’ full range of technical accessories will be available at authorised Husqvarna Motorcycles dealers in South Africa—availability has not yet been confirmed. For all details on pricing and availability, please refer to your local Husqvarna Motorcycles dealer (here).

The world does seem to have entered 2022 with a renewed vigour and not nearly so much wailing and gnashing of teeth which was a characteristic of the 2020-into-2021 transition. Maybe we have had a collective good look at ourselves and realised that it doesn’t matter what we think, the world will get back to normal ways when it’s good and ready and there’s pretty much nothing we can do to change that, so we might as well get on with life.

That certainly seems to have been the outlook of motorcycle manufacturers around the world. The blip that was hard lockdown in 2020 only served to give them more time to dream up, even more, mouth-watering new models for us to drool over when the time was right and, luckily, the time for them to emerge from the chrysalis seems to be 2022.

The following is a (possibly incomplete) run-down of what we can expect to see in the showrooms in the coming months and, as an antidote to the January blues, there can be nothing better than the prospect of not only some re-worked existing models, but some brand new delicacies as well.

In the spirit of fairness, we’re going to do this alphabetically, even if we secretly desire some models more than others, as is only natural. The simple fact, however, is that this list demonstrates that the world of motorcycling is in rude good health and shows no sign of capitulating to the increasing attempts to stop us doing something that some are convinced is detrimental to our health. Quite the opposite: those who ride are generally happier and more fulfilled than those who rely solely on four-wheeled transport and we’ll never tire of trying to convert the unwashed masses.

Aprilia

Aprilia are concentrating on the 660 platform, with the Tuareg 660 adventure bike vying for supremacy in the increasingly popular middleweight segment. Powered by the 659cc parallel-twin engine that does service in the RS660 and Tuono 660, there are new camshafts in the Tuareg’s engine to bring torque delivery much lower down the rev range, while power output is pegged at 80bhp.

Traction control and ABS can both be switched off but there is no internal measurement unit which means no lean-sensitive ABS or TC, but that does not need to be a deal-breaker.

There’s also a Factory version of the Tuono 660, which gets a 5bhp power hike and more adjustable KYB/Sachs suspension at the front/rear.

Read ZA Bikers test report (here).

Ducati

The Bologna deity is committed to giving us thrills on and off-road in 2022. The Streetfighter V4 SP sheds a load of weight through the use of carbon wheels and other carbon fibre goodies scattered here and there to pare weight down to 198kg wet, while retaining the monstrous 208bhp power output. Whoever thought that the KTM Super Duke R with 180bhp was pushing the envelope too far for a naked sports bike obviously neglected to pass the memo onto Ducati, who demonstrate that glorious Italian knack for not giving a damn about what might be deemed to be too much.

Slightly less bonkers is the Streetfighter V2 which could be seen as a naked Panigale V2 but has a longer swingarm and revised gearing and power delivery, together with naked styling, meaning a much more relaxed riding position but no less fun.

A very significant new model from Ducati is the new DesertX adventure/enduro bike. The all-new DesertX utilises a steel trellis chassis and rolls on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wire-spoked wheels wrapped in OE-fitted Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber, allowing for maximum ground clearance and off-road mobility.

It is powered by the 937cc 11° Testastretta V-twin as seen in the Multistrada V2 and Monster models, which is rated at 110 horsepower at 9,250, with dedicated internal gear ratios with emphasis on off-road performance, first through fifth being much shorter in comparison to the Multistrada, while sixth is longer for tarmac stretches of riding.

It gets the six-axis Bosch IMU-based electronic rider-aid suite, offering six selectable riding modes including Sport, Touring, Urban, and Wet modes. Furthermore, an Enduro mode reduces power and increases electronic intervention while Rally model enables full power delivery and reduced intervention.

If the Scrambler is style over substance and the Multistrada Enduro simply too large (and expensive) to throw around convincingly off-road, then the DesertX might just be the Ducati you’ve been waiting for.

Harley-Davidson

2021 was always going to be hard to top for Harley-Davidson; after all, the world’s most traditional manufacturer moving into a field it has never played in and knocking the ball out of the park would be a hard act to follow. However, the Pan America adventure bike was merely the first shot in a volley of new models that will use the new Revolution Max, water-cooled v-twin engine and the second model is about to hit our shores in the shape of the Sportster S.

The old Sportster was so long in the tooth that it was obvious its time was up, even had emissions regulations not pushed it out of so many markets. Harley chose to keep the essence of the old Sporty with the new Sportster S but that is where the similarity ends. The Sportster S is the ‘baby’ cruiser for the 21st century. The engine has been de-tuned from 150bhp as found in the Pan America to 121bhp in the Sportster S but that is almost twice what the old 1200cc Sportster had and the chassis is all-new and thoroughly modern.

Read ZA Bikers test report (here).

Husqvarna Norden 901

The Norden 901 will be Husqvarna’s first foray into large-capacity adventure bikes, having previously stuck to MX and enduro machinery, although the arrival of the Swartpilen and Witpilen demonstrated new thinking in the company. Coming under the same umbrella as KTM and GasGas, it is obvious that the Norden 901 is based heavily on the KTM 890 Adventure but it promises to have its very own flavour. The ZA Bikers launch report was published last November, a bit too recent to re-hash the information here.

You can find the report (here).

Kawasaki

No new models per se, but the H2 SX SE gets Kawasaki’s Advanced Rider Assist, otherwise known as radar detection, working with the adaptive cruise control. It also gets semi-active Showa Skyhook suspension to take the tech package into the stratosphere. The engine remains the same and, really, why would it need to be changed? With nearly 200bhp of supercharged urge, there was never anything wrong with the way the H2 went!

There’s an SE version of the retro Z900 RS, which adds uprated suspension to an already accomplished package and new colours are available. Joining the Z900 is the Z650RS, a similarly retro version of the Z650 and copying the style of the 1970’s Z650, although using a parallel-twin engine and not an in-line four.

Read ZA Bikers test report (here).

Finally, the Versys 650 gets new front end styling, bringing it right up to date.

KTM

Nothing major from the Austrian brand but the Super Duke R evolves into the R Evo, which gets electronic suspension from WP with anti-dive technology. Of course, there is the Super Duke 1290 RR but, unless you were very quick off the mark, you’re not getting your hands on one as all 500 units sold out within 50 minutes of going on sale.

The other 1290 model to get a re-vamp is the Super Duke GT, where the madness of the Super Duke is allied to more comfort and practicality to create the ultimate mile-eater that loves the curves as much as it does the highway. It gets the lightweight wheels from the Super Duke R and a new TFT dash and new switchgear.

Moto Guzzi

Huge news from Moto Guzzi for the first time in who knows how long and very welcome it is too. The new Mandello V100 is the first Guzzi to feature water-cooling for the cylinders. The engine is still the transverse v-twin, with a capacity of 1042cc, four valves per cylinder, wet-sump and hydraulic clutch. The engine is incredibly compact, being 10cm shorter than the engine in the V85. 113bhp and 105Nm are claimed, with 90% of torque available from just 3500rpm. Rev limit is 9500rpm. There’s a single-sided swingarm but now it is mounted low to avoid torque reaction.

The Mandello’s party piece is the active aerodynamics in the form of two fold-out wind deflectors mounted on the side of the tank. Guzzi claims that, in their outstretched position, they reduce air pressure on the rider by as much as 22%, aiding long-distance touring. The screen is electrically adjustable.

There’s a six-axis IMU offering up lean-sensitive TC and ABS and cornering lights. The top-of-the-range model comes with Ohlins semi-active suspension, quick shifter and heated grips.

To say that this is an important model for Moto Guzzi would be an understatement and it would be great to see it further improve the fortunes of the venerable manufacturer with such a storied history.

MV Agusta

Under its new Russian owner, Timur Sardarov, MV seems to have, for the first time in many a decade, a new stability, giving rise to an ever-improving model line-up.

2022 will see the introduction of a massively significant brand new model in the shape of the Lucky Explorer 9.5. As the name suggests, it is a full-fat adventure bike, using a stretched version of the company’s 800cc triple-cylinder engine, taken out to 931cc.

Taking obvious inspiration from the Cagiva Elefant Paris-Dakar Rally bikes, sponsored by Lucky Strike, in the 1980s, the 9.5 (and smaller-engined, more road orientated 5.5) is, in the words of MV, a modern interpretation ‘of the spirit of the African rallies of the golden age’. In other words, it is an adventure bike, without which no manufacturer is complete these days.

At the heart of the 9.5 is MV’s new 950 triple, developed specifically for this model, pumping out 123bhp and 101Nm of torque. The chassis of the bike is made of steel with a light aluminium swing-arm all sitting on dirt-friendly 21”/18” wheels and long-travel suspension (8.6” front/8.3” rear). In addition, the bike’s wet clutch will come in two versions: standard and automatic Rekluse.

The 5.5 version has a 550cc 2 cylinder, in-line liquid-cooled engine delivering 47.6bhp and 51Nm of torque.

Suzuki

Since 2015, the GSX-S1000 models, in both naked and faired form, have been two of the best models in their respective categories. Powered by the bullet-proof K5 long-stroke inline four-cylinder engine from the 2005 GSX-R1000, it was a brilliant mixture of rock-solid engineering and blistering performance.

Read ZA Bikers test report (here).

For 2022, the naked GSX-S1000 gets sharp new styling while the faired “F’ model grows up to become the GSX-S1000 GT sports tourer, with a whole new dose of long-distance practicality.

It is immediately obvious that Suzuki has extensively re-worked the old ‘F’ model, which was never hugely convincing as a long-distance tourer. Now, the fairing and screen are much larger, adopting the new sharp-edged styling that graces the naked version. Ergonomics have been completely refined and colour-coded panniers are available. In short, this is the sports tourer that the GSX-S1000F was always trying to be.

With 150bhp on tap and a wonderfully solid and stable chassis, there is now equal emphasis on both ‘sport’ and ‘touring’.

Triumph

Every year has been a big year for Triumph and 2022 is going to be no different.

The completely new Tiger 1200 is sure to shake up the large-capacity adventure segment as much as the Tiger 900 did a year or two ago in the mid-sized category. It’s lost weight, gained power and usability through the use of the T-Plane crank which gives the low-down grunt of a twin and the screaming red-line of a triple. Call it the best of both worlds.

The Speed Triple RR adds a beautiful half-fairing to the established and brilliant Speed Triple 1200 RS package.

If it stops short of being a full-on superbike, it is Triumph’s own take on the genre, leading to a brilliant and usable bike that is a combination of the best of both worlds.

It gets Ohlins semi-active suspension in addition to the cafe racer fairing and, in line with all Triumph offerings, it is beautifully made and supremely stylish. While it has clip-on handlebars, the riding position isn’t as extreme as a superbike while being more extreme than the naked Speed Triple RS. There really isn’t much out there that combines style and performance in the same way.

Also from Triumph is the new Tiger Sport 660, the latest variation on the Trident 660 theme. Expect it to be just as much fun as the naked bike, with a whole new dose of practicality at what is sure to be a very competitive price.

Will 2022 be the year that we see Triumph’s entry into the MX and Enduro market? We’re not sure about that but it remains a mouth-watering prospect.

What We Wish We Were Getting

If that’s not enough to keep you satisfied, we’d have to agree as there are one or two bikes that we will sadly not be seeing in South Africa, although never say never.

Who wouldn’t be excited about the Buell 1190 Hammerhead? Picking up where Buell left off, the new sports bike will be powered by the 1190cc Rotax v-twin engine last seen in Buells ten years ago before everything went belly-up.

With the TVS buy-out of the remains of Norton in the UK and the establishment of a new factory, it seems the future of the iconic British brand is secure. Whether we see the new V4SV sports bike or the V4CR naked in SA is another matter.

And finally, another British brand – BSA – has been revived, yet again by an Indian manufacturing giant. Mahindra, via its Classic Legends arm, is the parent company and recently also revived the Jawa name. The first model is a 650cc single-cylinder engined model called the Gold Star 650. It toes the ‘modern classic’ line faithfully and gives rise to the mouth-watering prospect of three iconic British marques going head-to-head in showrooms for the first time in 50 years. Who wouldn’t be fascinated by that?

It wasn’t Hero Motorcycles’ first visit to the Dakar Rally, but it was, by any measure, a hugely successful campaign for India’s – and the world’s – largest motorcycle manufacturer.

With seven of the world’s top manufacturer teams battling for the top prize, Dakar 2022 was the most competitive edition ever: 12 gruelling stages and over 8000 kilometres of unforgiving terrain. Through it all, the Hero Rally 450 machine proved its mettle yet again with no technical failures.

Hero rider, Portuguese Joaquim Rodrigues (also known as J-Rod), set the fastest time on Stage 3 of the rally, the first for an Indian motorcycle manufacturer and went on to claim a third-fastest stage time as well, on his way to 13th overall, with teammate Aaron Maré taking 15th place, in the RallyGP class. In all, Hero claimed eight top-ten stage finishes.

Team manager Wolfgang Fischer said, “We’ve made history! It’s amazing to enjoy the first stage win for Hero MotoSports at the Dakar today. We’re experiencing the sweet taste of victory after all the hard work a lot of people have put in over the past few last months and years. It is also J-Rod’s first stage win at the Dakar, and he absolutely deserves it. I’m really happy that he’s the one to have brought home this achievement for Hero MotoSports. Congratulations to the entire team, and to all our fans around the globe.”

After winning the stage, J-Rod said, “I’m extremely happy with how my day has turned out. Even though the stage was really fast, with a lot of difficulty around alternating dunes and tracks, I was able to push hard right from the very first kilometre. The Hero Rally 450 has been performing extremely well, and I’m happy that our great combination has helped bring home the first stage win at the Dakar. Thank you, Hero MotoSports, for all the effort they have invested in me, and for putting me through a large number of races this year – this has definitely boosted my confidence by leaps and bounds.”

There was an added South African element to the Hero Motorsports team. Aaron Maré was born in SA and lived and raced in Europe and America before settling in Dubai in 2016 and being bitten by the sand racing bug. His career highlights include podiums and wins at the UAE Baja Championship, Dubai International Baja, and Emirates Desert Championship. He also won the Desert Storm Rally 2019 in Jaisalmer, India. This was his second Dakar Rally.

The challenges of the Dakar are well known and understood by motorcycle enthusiasts the world over, but a reminder of the extent of the challenge never goes amiss. For example, the following day’s Stage 4 comprised a total of 707km in the saddle, including the special, timed, section of 465km. Of that, 200km was fast, sandy tracks, wadi crossings and chains of sand dunes, all of which has to be navigated accurately, while riding as fast as possible and, most importantly, not crashing. The strain on the bike is no less harsh. And that is just one of the 12 racing days!

The challenge can hardly be fully appreciated from the comfort of an armchair but any team relatively new to the Dakar that manages to achieve what Hero MotoSports has achieved, is worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as its established competitor manufacturers.

Hero Motorsports is very quickly getting to grips with extreme enduro racing and looks likely to shake up the old order as dominated by Honda and KTM, GasGas and Yamaha. With such a successful 2022 Dakar campaign behind them and with a further year of racing experience, expect big things from Hero at the 2023 Dakar.

For more information on Hero motorcycles in South Africa visit: www.heromotorcycles.co.za