johangt
Biker
Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses
Posts: 54
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Post by johangt on Oct 4, 2007 16:33:55 GMT 2
After having the K1200GT now since Nov 2006, people have asked me whether I have been on a tour. At least I can now say that I have been to Natal SPA with the club! We go to Parys often to visit Ina's father and buy Orange jam at Die Koffiekan. Then I got the shock of my life! Ina suggested that we go to Cape Town on the GT - via Durban! We will start on 21 December and try and be in Stellenbosch around 26 December. We started the planning and I must say that the GPS and I are getting to know each other quite well. First it was looking for a road to travel, then places we would like to see and then try and find petrol stations at convenient places keeping in mind that we actually do not want to travel more than 450km per day. First it is out with all the motorcycle magazines and the BMW Motorcycle Club Pretoria web site. A few e-mails to Renier and the planning gets serious. We have to see Clarens and Golden Gate We have to have dinner at the shark tank in Durban - next to the window. This will be our 34th wedding anniversary. We have to travel the winding roads through the Transkei and be careful of the pigs, locals and a few pot holes We have to ride the Outeniqua Pass and visit Mossel Bay (we stayed there for more than 7 years) We have to travel Route 62 We have to go to visit Cape Agulhas We have to bypass the tunnel at Worcester via Route 101 We have to eat in Franschhoek So let me not waste time, a man and his wife has got to plan before they do what they got to do! What exams? UPDATE The AA Travel website is a handy source of information. We have been able to get bookings in places that will enable us to have a great ride before we get too tired: 21 December Midrand to Clarens = 319km Stay over at Eddie's Guest House 22 December Clarens to Durban = 391km Fill up at Engen Tugela after 151km Stay two nights at Garden Court South Beach for our dinner at the Shark Tank 23 and 24 December Durban to Kokstad = 258km Stay over at Manora Guest House. They have people for Christmas so she asked us to stay in the self catering chalet - which is exactly what we wanted! 25 December Kokstad to King Williamstown = 416km Fill up at Shell Ultra City Umtata after 186km Stay over at Amatola Mountain View 26 December King Williamstown to St Francis Bay = 354km Fill up at Total in Grahamstown after 120km Stay over with Chris and Elmarie (our eldest daughter). Martie (Chris's sister and her husband Gideon invited us to stay with them for a night 27 and 28 December St Francis Bay to Mossel Bay = 311km. Due to an error( ) we will be staying in Mossel Bay for TWO nights - Wonderful!!. 29 December Mossel Bay to Stellenbosch via Route 62 (515km) and the Outeniqua Pass. 7 January Leave Cape Town for Beaufort West 8 January Return via the N1 to Johannesburg in time for the birth of our first grand daughter
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Post by leroy on Nov 8, 2007 19:37:40 GMT 2
Enjoy the run. Remember to pack the rain suits as you will be needing it. Gauranteed that you will get rain. Also ensure that your back tyre still has at least 75% tread on - otherwise you will either have to replace in George or Cape Town. Misjudged my backtyre once and had to do the last 700 km on a wing and a prayer, as we were already on the wedgebreaker, and there was no replacements in sight, and the LT is quite heave fully laden. Regards and safe riding. LeRoy
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Post by Dave S on Nov 8, 2007 22:22:27 GMT 2
Sounds like a good trip 2 days in MB - lots of roads to ride in the area - road to Kango Caves is a nice ride - have to ride the same road back though....and also gives you time to ride Outeniqua a couple of times. Not sure where you want to link up with Route 62, but if you go from MB to Albertinia to Riversdale and then take the R323 you will have a lovely ride - takes you through Garcia Pass from Riversdale - links up with R62 where you then turn left to Rons Sex Shop and Barrydale - can then go on through Tradouw Pass to Suurbraak, Swellendam, Riviersonderend to Kleinmond and then take a ride along the coast past Rooiels to Gordons Bay - brilliant piece of road. And then on to Cape Town - lovely route Some pics from our March trip: R323 Coastal road from Kleinmond to Rooiels to Gordons Bay (from the GB side)
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johangt
Biker
Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses
Posts: 54
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Post by johangt on Nov 24, 2007 8:13:30 GMT 2
Thanks Leroy. We purchased the following gear:
RAIN GEAR - Ina: BMW one-piece rain suit, waterproof covers for her boots, waterproof gloves and clothes that dry easily - Johan: BMW rain pants. I already have a rain jacket, waterproof covers for my boots, waterproof gloves and clothes that dry easily.
CLOTHES - We purchased our clothes in Sportsman Warehouse, Total Sports and Edgars - 100% Polyester. - We tested the clothes by washing them on a rainy day (in the afternoon) and hanging them in the shower to dry overnight. They were all dry the next morning. - We then tested our System 5 helmets in the rain to Vanderbijlpark and back one Saturday while it was raining. My glasses keeps on fogging up, then I have to lift the visor a little bit with the result that my face and the helmet got wet. The helmet dried out nicely overnight. Anti-fog for my glasses seems to do the trick.
WARNING - TYRES - What we never realized was that the holes in the BMW wheels and those of other motorcycles are not the same. So even if you can purchase tyres on your trip and get it fitted, it does not mean that they will be able to balance the wheels for you.
MOTORCYCLE GEAR - We now have the CO2 cartridges and patching kit in case we get a puncture. - We also purchased a pump as last time I got a puncture, I used all three canisters to inflate the back wheel. It does not help to have the puncture kit but no air! - A knife / pliers to remove any nails from the tyres should we get a puncture. - Duct tape for those unforeseen breaks (the knife is also used here) - Yellow reflector tape for the back in case we end up in a heck of a rain storm. We do not really plan on driving at night. - GPS with all the way-points and petrol filling stations marked.
FIRST AID KIT - The normal plasters, Tweezer, Dettol, Granpa, Rennies, Andolex-C for sore throats
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johangt
Biker
Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses
Posts: 54
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Post by johangt on Nov 24, 2007 8:24:27 GMT 2
Thanks Dave, - I have just changed our route a little bit to include Garcia Pass. This is now our longest route on a single day at 640km as I would like to add Cafe Agulhas to this trip. During our two days in Mossel Bay we would like to do a round-about from Mossel Bay via R328 to Oudtshoorn for breakfast and back via Outeniqua Pass. - We stayed in Hermanus for a year just after we got married and it will be great to see that dorpie again. Ina used to "race" the bread lorry from Hermanus to Stanford where she was teaching and we would like to have a look at that school as well. (The bread lorry sped along that road at 120 - 100 on the downhill and 20 on the uphill with the road giving very little opportunity for overtaking). I think it will be a little easier to overtake on the K1200GT.
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Post by Dave S on Nov 24, 2007 23:41:19 GMT 2
We've also just finalised our trip. Decided two weeks ago to go for a ride! Leave 26/12. First stop Upington, then to Britannia Bay - spend two days there. Arrive in Cape Town on 30th. Leave again on 2 Jan via Suurbraak, Tradouw Pass, Barrydale, Rons Sex Shop for a cold drink, Garcia Pass, Oudtshoorn and on to De Rust and stay there for the night. Then to Kimberly for night of 3 Jan and home on the 4th. Total of about 3 700km excluding the riding around we will do in Cape Town.
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johangt
Biker
Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses
Posts: 54
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Post by johangt on Nov 29, 2007 21:43:40 GMT 2
Hi Dave, How did you get the pictures into the message? I would like to add some photos of our preparations.
We just bought two helmets that are somewhat lighter than our System 5's. Ina bought a Shoei Raid 2 Erratix TC-4 and I bought an Arai TX7. We found some interesting differences between these helmets:
The System 5 covers more of the throat area than the Shoei or the Arai. What this means in practice is that we both had to buy scarfs to cover the neck area.
Sitting at the back the System 5 is more effected by the wind than the Shoei.
Sitting in the front the Arai TX7 has much more air vents than the System 5 with the result that it is not only a lighter helmet, but also a cooler one.
Fogging: In order to prevent my glasses from fogging up, I use a anti-fog spray. This, however, only works for a short while in the rain. After that I have to open the visor slightly in order to prevent my glasses from fogging up. This of course means that my face does catch some rain. When you open the vent of the system 5 at the mouth, it creates quite a lot of noise and is not as effective as the vents on the Arai.
Which is the best helmet? I would say the System 5 in the winter and the Arai in the summer. I would also choose the System 5 above the Arai for short distance travelling. The reason is that with the very light frame of my glasses it is easy to put the helmet on and take it off. With the Arai I cannot wear my light glasses as the frame bends when I try and stick them on after donning the helmet. With the Arai I now have to revert back to my old glasses that has a stiffer frame.
As far as the Shoei Raid 2 Erratix TC-4 is concerned, it has much less vents than the Arai, but that is exactly what Ina wanted. She does not like wind over her face. The Shoei is lighter and saves the neck muscles. However Ina's throat gets very cold and she will now be wearing a scarf or a balaclava. Due to her wearing glasses like I do, she has the same problem and will have to use her old, stiffer galsses with the Shoei.
Which is the best helmet? I do not think that there is one answer to that question. Ina and I will be using both our helmets!
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Post by Jamie on Nov 30, 2007 5:25:22 GMT 2
Which Shoei model is that ?
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Post by Dave S on Nov 30, 2007 7:35:06 GMT 2
Johan - seems you got the picture right as I see a pic in your one post - I use photobucket to save pictures into then just copy an past the link into the message block on this forum.
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johangt
Biker
Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses
Posts: 54
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Post by johangt on Nov 30, 2007 10:30:00 GMT 2
Hi Jamie, Unfortunately I could not find the name anywhere. However, Ina found it and it is the Shoei Raid 2 Erratix TC-4
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johangt
Biker
Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses
Posts: 54
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Post by johangt on Nov 30, 2007 10:52:54 GMT 2
Due to the fantastic response we have had on this issue, I moved this topic to a more suitable place - Biking Gear under FORUM.
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Post by Dani on Dec 7, 2007 8:31:40 GMT 2
Thanks Johan.. I'll continue on the topic Jhb to Cape Town - although it's actually our 'Golden trip'. 2 GS's, 2 pillions (teenagers - female), rain coats, ... wish us luck! Here's our route: We might just change the route here and there - maybe to include part of route 62 between Cape Agulhas and George... any suggestions?
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johanrt
Biker
Me & my best find .....to date.
Posts: 56
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Post by johanrt on Dec 7, 2007 16:44:40 GMT 2
Wow Dani, thats really touring the country. Good luck and I can't wait to see the pic's.
Johan it would be nice if you post a map of your planned route too.
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wahl
Paddlefoot
Posts: 18
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Post by wahl on Dec 7, 2007 21:08:35 GMT 2
Hi Dani When are you planning to do this golden trip?
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Post by Dave S on Dec 7, 2007 23:21:13 GMT 2
Dani - do the coastal route from Gordons Bay to Rooi-Els (above is in-ride pic taken by Dorothy and picture of the RT parked on this road), Kleinmond. Lovely winding, scenic road. From Kleinmond - Botrivier, Caledon, Riviersonderend, Stormsvlei, Swellendam, Suurbraak, Tradouws Pass, Barrydale (stop at Country Pumkin and then on to Rons Sex Shop on R62). Just past Rons Sex Shop (quite a few KM really) turn right on R323 that takes you on a nice scenic route to Garcia Pass (pic above) to Riversdale, Albertinia, Mossel Bay and then you back on your planned route. Kleinmond to Mossel Bay on this route is +-450km. You won't regret it!
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