issue9 by adventure magazine

AFRICA’S ONLY ADVENTU

Adventure

Tech - Gear -

URE & OVERLAND E-ZINE

dventure Magazine

News - Reviews

Adventure Magazine

For more information and sales visit www.hexdiagnostics.co.za or call +27 21 880 1433

Adventure Magazine

Adventure Magazine Crew & Contributors Editor-In-Chief Stephen de Vries Copywright Editor Kirsten Sheldon Photography & Design Kirsten Sheldon Stephen de Vries Stitchedkitten Photography www.stitchedkitten.co.za Contact 082 5888383 022 461 2526 Advertising Enquiries info@adventuremagazine.co.za

Adventure Magazine

Contents GS911 - Ad GSworkShop - Ad KTM CAPE TOWN - Link Bike 2 Bike Action Cam - Ad Gear Review :Motogear.co.za ShiftRacing.co.za Ad Ktm990 Adventure Review Motogear.co.za Ad 950 SE Rally Love and the open road Yamaha Tenere Ad A high desert Adventure Bike 2 bike - Interphone F4 Ad Adventure Magazine

Adventure Magazine

Gear

Click me to feature your product here.

Security chains available at Advrider 021-511-1007

Centre stands at Advrider 021-511-1007

Adventure Magazine

Hyde Developments launches Tenere accessories.

Headlight Covers

Disk protectors

Frame Protectors

Bash Plates

Hand Guards

Adventure Magazine

2009

Ultimate Surviv

Adventure Magazine

9 KTM ADVENTURE 990

vor

The latest model KTM Adventure is nothing new to the open class adventure riders. After all, not much has changed in the last year or 2 from the engine department. Sure the latest LC8 has a bit more oomph and can get you into trouble if your right hand is too greedy. From an outside look itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to distinguish year models. The 09 gets a new cockpit with a 12v power outlet and a hazard switch. Adventure Magazine

15 The new bike also features ABS as standard. The new white colour also looks fresh and different. I must say, the array of orange bikes sometimes get to me, so it’s great to see some added versatility when it comes to choosing a new colour. The Adventure does what it’s suppose to very well. The places I’ve seen these bikes in situations where you would doubt taking an endure bike. The bike feels well balanced and despite its heavy weight, it carries itself well over most terrain. There is obviously the R model with the higher suspension and about 15 hp more, but those are only really for power hungry

hooligans. The 20l tank should really take you about 300km on an average trip and a little less if you are throttle hungry. The bike is really at home on gravel. It’s so smooth and so predictable. Even with stock tires, things should be very smooth. Our particular bike had a TKC80 upfront and a Scorpion A/T in the rear and we never really had any trouble, apart from the dunes (it’s to be

expected). Stock gearing is 16/42, a little shorter than previous years 17/42. This obviously had a slight impact on the top end or cruising, making it run at a slightly higher RPM when cruising. The good part was the lower the gearing, the better it would handle off-road without abusing the clutch. But when things do get technical, you

Adventure Magazine

“The ABS works like a charm on the road. I don’t want to experience it off road”

find yourself on the clutch anyways. The ABS works like a charm on the road. I don’t want to experience it off road as I feel it could get you into some serious trouble when you need to ride more aggressively. I made a point of switching it off every time I started the bike. It just gets a little tiring that you can’t disable it completely. The WP suspension works great, but I feel that you need a little bit more ground Adventure

clearance off-road. There is nothing wrong currently but if the bike is loaded you will have some trouble getting over some obstacles. As per usual the front and rear suspension is fully adjustable. The original 990’s from a couple of years ago had a snatch throttle. The new bike is much better, but I’m afraid it’s not completely cured yet. There are throttle aid’s available online though Magazine

Adventure Magazine

19 and that should get the last 20-30% of the snatchiness away. The luggage rack at the back is a nice touch. This should make mounting your Kappa/Trax/Krauser top boxes pretty easy. Our test bike was fitted with crash bars and pannier racks at the back. A little uncomfortable for the passenger at the back when you need to stand up and

ride, but riding one up this way should not be a problem. The racks at the back in conjunction with the front crash bars could really help minimise damage in the event of a drop. The retail on the bike is R141 000 – 00. We would like to thank KTM Cape Town for the loaner. Please contact Donald at 021 511 7966.

Adventure Magazine

950 SE Rally Bike Build Adventure Magazine

22 So we came across a thread on Adventure Rider about a bloke down under who was converting his stock KTM Super Enduro 950 for the safari race they have over there. The Super Enduro is a very capable bike straight from the factory. The “Ready to race” Slogan really is the truth. The stock WP suspension is on top of the pyramid when it comes to suspension. The downside on the stock Super Enduro is the fuel range and the fuel consumption add that to constant race speeds the Super Enduro does not really go all that far on a tank of fuel. First things first; Race prepping the bike in turns

proving to add some better flowing exhausts which is also lighter. The stock cans weigh over 10kg’s! Akroprovic’s, as with most KTM’s, were the number one choice and they sound amazing on the bike. The mid-range exhaust howl screams and echo’s through buildings and sandy hills alike. The Bash plate needs to be replaced with a much stronger unit. There is really

Adventure Magazine

no way to know what you might run into in a race. Just before things got started, they noticed a blown rear shock seal and this had to be rebuilt and the springs and valving was sorted out too. Talk about “everything happens for a reason”; As with all mods, the most important would probably be the fuelling therefore they got hold of RVAqualine in Australia and sourced the 30Liter Safari tank for the Super Enduro. There are other options available though, but this seems (and I’ve proven it) to be one of the most effective methods. The Adventure Magazine

front Brembo’s which are usually up to the task of stopping you (rather quickly I might add) was replaced with a 320mm disk, 4pot calliper setup. This is “the” front brake setup you want on your new bike. I can’t stop

24 Day and night difference. HIDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s come highly recommended.

Adventure Magazine

continuously telling people: along with speed comes the right stopping power. Dust visibility is very important. The tracks are extremely dusty and as some of the pictures show you a dual headlight HID setup was incorporated with custom plasma cutted brackets and a 3mm Plexiglas fairing to house the tripmaster and original instrumentation. It is really done to perfection, as it looks very unique in its own

Adventure Magazine

way. The bike has done a couple of races and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been assured that there are still more on the cards. Things change all the time and there are constantly new and better products becoming available. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a matter of time before this Super Enduro and the builders have one of the most competent competition bikes available!

Adventure Magazine

Love

n e p o e

h t d n

Adventure Magazine

d a ro

28 Our bonding tour Introduction When Riana suggested to me about three weeks ago that we should go on a bike trip to get back to basics and find sanity again, I immediately jumped to work out the route and book accommodation. This would be her first ever trip on the bike with me, something I have been dreaming of for a very long timeâ&#x20AC;Ś. We both had a very challenging year and we needed the time together without the kids to bond again and to strengthen ourselves and our relationship for the coming year. kids when they volunteered Friends came to our to stay with the kids in our assistance to look after the house, as it would give them a chance to do some work on their house. I gave Riana the bigger pannier of the GSA for her clothing, took the smaller left pannier for myself and made place for her â&#x20AC;&#x153;lady tassieâ&#x20AC;? in the top box with the rain suits and tool roll. Adventure Magazine

29 I recently acquired a small Touratech multipurpose bag that can be strapped onto a pannier/top box or the bike itself for the puncture repair kit (not knowing that it would come in very handy later on....), cable ties and spare gloves. On the other pannier a small bag was fastened for the odds and ends that we could not fit into the panniers and top box (in here I discovered later an extra towel and a pair of high heel sandals that was never usedâ&#x20AC;Ś.) The tank bag was used for the camera, our wallets, sunglasses, cell phones, iPod and chargers. I was initially concerned that Riana would not be able to cope with the one pannier, especially when she started to name all the clothing that she wanted to take along. I just left her with the pannier inner bag and much to my surprise ALL her clothing managed to fit into the bag!! Upon our return, we took stock of what we did not use, and we both ended up with one t-shirt, one pair of socks and a clean pair of underpants. I was

mightily impressed with my biker chicksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; packing skills, especially as she is an image consultant who ensures that the every item worn, fit together!! Day 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17 December D-Day was 17 December. I initially wanted to leave at around ten, but with all the motherly responsibilities, we only managed to leave at 11. From Centurion we followed

Adventure Magazine

30 the Bloemfontein Waterfront. We can recommend the exceptional service, cold beers and quality steak at Braza!!!

the highways around Joburg to the R59 towards Vereeniging and onto Parys where we had our first stop for the day.

Day 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 18 December Day two would take us from Bloemfontein to Cradock. My initial planning was to try and avoid the main roads. We were packed and ready to roll at around 09:00.

From Parys we travelled to Kroonstad via Vredefort, avoiding the highway. We enjoyed an ice cream in Kroonstad and then travelled to Bloemfontein for the night via Henneman, Virginia and Theunissen. Day 1 and 7 were the longest days of around 490km each. I took it very careful not to frighten Riana on the first day, and to ensure she was at ease. The Autocom system on the bike assisted a lot as we could communicate with each other. That night we enjoyed the Christmas lights and very good company of friends at Adventure Magazine

31 We travelled to Edenburg and Trompsburg before we stopped to stretch our legs and to get something to drink. My initial plan was to travel from Trompsburg to Springfontein and to avoid the N1. This route turned out to be a gravel road, and as much as I wanted to take it, Riana asked me very nicely to please stay on the tar road until she was comfortable enough for us to travel on gravel. Our planned route from Springfontein was to Bethulie, Venterstad, Steynsburg and Hofmeyr to Cradock. When we got to the Bethulie offramp, all the vehicles were diverted onto the road we planned to take from the N1 due to an accident on the N1 close to Colesburg. We stopped in Bethulie for lunch that consisted of cheesecake and strawberry milkshakes.

The road from Bethulie to Venterstad took us over a very long bridge that crossed the Orange River. On the map it actually showed as crossing a part of the Gariepdam. We had another stop in Hofmeyr before reaching Cradock.

We were both happychappies, enjoying everysecond together. Adventure Magazine

32 We experienced Cradock as a town with warm and wonderful people. We enjoyed a romantic candle lit dinner at the Cradock Hotel – a proper cooked meal like we had years ago when we were children!!

Suddenly, some of the movement on the rear (started the previous day) started to make sense, and I thought it was the road that caused it…. This also meant that I travelled from around Bethulie with a deflated rear…. In Cradock we stayed at the Heritage House B&B. We had a delightful breakfast and great service from the guesthouse owners!!

Do yourself a favour and have supper at the hotel in Cradock!!!! Day 3 – 19 December Today we would see the coast and we were both very excited. I started to pack the bike and discovered a flat rear tyre while Riana was meditating before the day starts. I could see no nails and the only visible damage was a cut in the tyre I was aware of for the last 5 000km’s. I used one CO2 bomb to inflate the tyre enough to get to a garage as there was NO air in the tyre.

A few kilometers outside Cradock I stopped to check the tyre pressure which was fine at that stage.

Adventure Magazine

33 Riana came to the conclusion that she drove far enough as pillion to have enough experience to write a book “101 ways to sit on a bike”. It was evident in her moving behind me that she probably found the 50th way to sit!!!!!

When we reached Cookhouse I again stopped to check the pressure. The tyre was losing air very fast and after a careful inspection and with the assistance of water poured onto the tyre, I nailed the problem down to the cut I picked up about 5 000km’s before. It took me 3 plugs to repair the tyre and we were on our way again.

rid of her frustrations, I had to give her the opportunity while checking on my tyre fixing ability. This also gave me time for some interesting photography.

At last we were at the coast, two weary, but very happy individuals.

Day 4 was spent around PE at the Boardwalk with special family and I actually forgot the camera at home when we went out…. Day 5 – 21 December We were on the road again, this time back north….. Our destination for the day was Nieu-Bethesda. But Looking at the threat, I no-one can travel on an personally think this is not empty stomach, so we first bad for the Heidenhau that settled for breakfast on the did about 14 000km’s!! beachfront. When we left home, Riana said she wants to shout from the highest hill top to get Adventure Magazine

We stopped in Jansenville to get something cold to drink. It was at that stage around 36 degrees but my lovely wife still looked cool and refreshed. Go check out the mohair blanket shop and get yourself one for winter!!

When we entered GraaffReinet the GSA showed the temperature to be 43 degrees!!! Even the wind that normally cools you down while riding was frying hot and burned us!! Riana stated that she was a hot, fried, bruised bum chick!!! Graaff-Reinet church We struggled to get fuel in Graaff-Reinet as ALL the fuel stations were out of unleaded! For the second time in 74k km’s I filled the Beast up with leaded fuel… The turn off to Nieu-Bethesda – gravel at last!!! The gravel road from the N9 to Nieu-Bethesda was in a very good condition.

I love travelling in the Karoo! The vast open spaces and hardened landscape will make me go back again and again!!

Riana however just wanted to get to a cool place to relax… The contrasts in the Karoo always amaze me. The road we came from.

Adventure Magazine

35 At last we made it to NieuBethesda and found some shade to stop in.

The gravel road back to the N9 towards Middelburg. Riana was exhausted and appreciated the clean and cool room and the soft bed under her numb bum at the Outsider Guesthouse.

When we reached the N9, I asked Riana if we can travel on gravel again and immediately got a thumbs up!!!!

We took a walk through the Along the road we passed town when it cooled off a bit. a river with a very powerful Day 6 – 22 December name. Day 6 took us from Nieu-Bethesda back to Bloemfontein. The day started off on a high note with a proper breakfast served. Stretching our legs at Colesberg. We overnighted in this town at the “Lighthouse Guesthouse” 17 years ago on our honeymoon. A last view of the town Day 7 – 23 December Adventure Magazine

36 Today we were going home. It was uplifting and precious spending quality time together, but both of us missed the kids and just wanted to get home. The day, however, still held an adventure of a different sort for us. We awoke to the sound of rain and looking north, we were faced with this.

from Bloemfontein to Ventersburg. I decided to stay on the highway for as long as we faced rain as I was not in the mood to try and avoid potholes whilst fighting a very strong cross wind!! At times it felt as if the wind was trying its best to blow the GSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wheels out from underneath us!! The weather cleared up from We took on the challenge Ventersburg and we had and experienced rain and a nice run home to be revery strong cross winds united with our kiddies.

Adventure Magazine

37 This was a most unforgettable and amazing seven days that we have spent together. We did a little less than 2 600 kilometers in the 6 days we were riding. We again grew closer to each other, found answers on a lot of questions we had, and after 17 years married, and are in love again!! Riana’s words when we stopped at home were “We will do this on a yearly basis, next year we take the train to Cape Town and travel back home”. I could not wait to get the maps together and start planning…

precious talking time with God. I realized the amazing truth of having my head covered, my husband as the visionary, my protector, the one who leads and provides. God has created man and woman………” Thank you for reading. Leon and Riana Fouché

Riana’s comments: “I recommend a bike trip to any couple that needs time out. Our covenant relationship is the most important aspect on earth and every good purpose is birthed out of this relationship. We were truly blessed and are ready to take on the world in 2010. The time with my head covered, Leon responsible and in control of our journey, having the vision clearly of our destination, was the most Adventure Magazine

Adventure Magazine