Die "nuwe" KLR 650

(English below)

 

Ek het gister my KLR in Johannesburg by Tours for Africa gaan haal.

 

Toe ek op die parkeerterein stop, kon ek nie my oë glo nie. Waar ek 'n redelik kaal KLR verlede Donderdag daar gelos het, het 'n nuwe fiets gestaan, toegerus vir die slegste wat Afrika kan bied.

 

Dit is debateerbaar wat was nodig en wat nie. Vir my is die antwoord eenvoudig. As mens 'n fiets koop en in suidelike Afrika baie gaan ry, kan mens dit met die standaardfiets doen. As mens oor Afrika wil ry, alleen, sonder 'n begeleivoertuig of ander ryers, as mens nie by Afrika wil stop nie, dan is elke verbetering 'n stukkie lewenspolis wat mens koop.

 

Wat my die meeste aan my fiets verras het, was die rygerief van die nuwe swaardiens skokbreker en sterker vere voor in die vurk: My fiets staan hoër, ek ry baie stabieler en voel ook veiliger. Brandstofverbruik: Ek was taamlik pessimisties weens die hoër windweerstand. Johannesburg tot Pretoria het ek gemiddeld 80 km/h in die verkeer gery, tussen Pretoria en Naboom 110 - 120 km/h met 'n redelike kopwind van links tienuur. Toe ek op Naboom gisteraand volgemaak het, was die verbruik 20.91 km / l!

 

Ray, baie dankie vir die baie professionele werk aan my fiets! Op die foto is Ray (regs) en sy baie bekwame seun Donovan. Soos sy pa het Donovan al Afrika tot Kairo op 'n motorfiets deurkruis.

 

Vandag is die vyftiende Februarie. Vyftien Maart vertrek ek.

 

 

I went to fetch my KLR in Johannesburg yesterday.

 

I couldn't believe my eyes as I stopped at Tours for Africa. Last week Thursday I left a naked KLR there. On the parking area for bikes stood a "new" KLR, fitted for the worst that Africa could throw at you.

 

It is debatable what was necessary and what not. If one buys a bike to tour here in South Africa a standard bike is sufficient. However, if one plans to ride over Africa and continue beyond the African continent, if one is alone without a support crew then every piece of accessory that is fitted to my bike now is like life insurance. I don't want to do this tour without that.

 

The new heavy duty suspension was the biggest surprise. I sit higher on the bike and it feels so much more steady and safe. Fuel consumption: I had my doubts about the influence the panniers would have on the fuel consumption. Again a surprise. I filed up in Johannesburg, cruised along with the traffic to Pretoria at 80km/h, from Pretoria to Naboom at 110 - 120 km/h with quite a strong headwind from left ten o'clock. I filled up again in Naboom. The bike gave me 20.91 km / l!

 

Ray, thank you so much for the work done so professionally! On the photograph Ray is standing on the right and his son Donovan on the left. Like his father Donovan is a well-travelled young man who did Cape - Cairo - Cape already on a motorbike!

 

Today is the 15th February. In one month I leave on my trip. One month!