Author Topic: Journey to see TTR400 in South Africa (Read 5559 times)

andy750 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 10, 2018, 06:19:24 AM »

I think it’s an onyx

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flatlander · « **Reply #26 on:** November 10, 2018, 02:23:43 PM »

oryx... with an r. they also taste pretty good

that brings back memories from our travels in namibia. great place if you like your deserts hot and dry! we even found a guy from new zealand who had crossed into the country from botswana, solo on a motorcycle and was stranded with a flat tyre in the midday sun. in an area where you're lucky to see another vehicle in 2 days. helped him out and and left him with a beer from our coolbox. still wonder how the rest of his trip went.

are you heading up north as well, to the game reserves?

andy750 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 11, 2018, 12:13:51 PM »

Flatlander- we have seen a couple of guys on bikes very impressive! I wish it was me! I tasted oryx tonight very tasty! We are now back in Windhoek sadly with no time to head north

My delicious oryx steaks

And the chef who grilled them

In this

The morning started of with a sunrise hike on the dunes

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andy750 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 11, 2018, 12:19:27 PM »

with some great views

Followed by running down the dunes to see a 900 year old dead forest

Followed by a twisty 4x4 drive to Windhoek

Life is good!

Cheers
Andy

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andy750 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 11, 2018, 12:21:46 PM »

Y

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ofreen · « **Reply #30 on:** November 11, 2018, 01:01:23 PM »

Great photos Andy. I have some time on my hands, so forgive me for messing with 3 of them that caught my eye.

andy750 · « **Reply #31 on:** November 11, 2018, 09:14:27 PM »

Of course Greg play away I have lots of tree photos

Sunrise

The dune in the background is the one I ran down

On top of the dune at sunrise

What was cool was I could see the insect/snake tracks from the previous night as ascended

Finally meeting Kevin on Tuesday after a quick stop at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Cheers
Andy

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flatlander · « **Reply #32 on:** November 12, 2018, 01:52:50 AM »

great stuff! well enjoy the rest of your time there in windhoek.

if you get a chance, next time also visit the northern parts of the country. tons of wildlife there. but you won't put up the picknick table next to the car there, or you may end up being dinner yourself!

andy750 · « **Reply #33 on:** November 12, 2018, 03:56:54 AM »

Cheers Flatlander!

And yes the north is def on the list for next time!

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Stev-o · « **Reply #34 on:** November 12, 2018, 03:39:20 PM »

Great pics! Thanks for sharing, Andy...

andy750 · « **Reply #35 on:** November 12, 2018, 08:16:33 PM »

You are welcome Stev-o!

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RAFster122s · « **Reply #36 on:** November 13, 2018, 08:48:44 PM »

Here I started to think you had bought the original Africa Twin, the 700 or 750cc version...they were TransAlps on steroids when well equipped. The TransAlp is a very nice bike, good for light offroad and touring much like the Vstroms. I may pickup a WeeStrom (Vstrom 650 version) as I do not anticipate the need for a litre bike...but maybe I should. Looked at some nice used Vstroms at a nearby dealer, decent prices I thought for the way they were trimmed. Just not the engine and body guards I would have like to have seen on them.
The new Africa Twins are very nice bikes too.

Enjoy your time in Africa. Cool pics!
Running down dunes is fun but if you have a steep one and a plateau on top taking a running jump down the dune is great fun too. As long as you stay upright the only negative is you fill your shoes with sand, but you have that either way walking on dunes. Enjoyed the running and jumping off the edge dropping 25 feet down the face of the dune at Kill Devil Hills in NC. You bury your legs half way up your calves in the sand.

David

andy750 · « **Reply #37 on:** November 18, 2018, 01:26:44 AM »

Sorry for the delay but we are now heading home and currently transiting at Heathrow. We spent the last few days with Kevin (ttr400) and had an amazing time.

Not only is Kevin a true adventurer, a great designer/machinist/restorer of classic cars/motorbikes, maker of CB400/CB750 parts etc etc he is also a great guy who took time off from his busy schedule to travel with us for a few days and share his vast knowledge of overland travel/motorbikes/mechanics etc etc. thank you Kevin!!

I have a lot of photos to post and may not get to them all right now but will post more when back home. Here is a start;

I last saw Kevin 4 years ago on his trans-America trip: he picked us up at J’burg airport and it was like we had met yesterday. Here we are on the road to Sabie/Panarama route

They had gin and tonics on draft

Sabie is a great weekend spot for bikers and so of course we visited one on Kevin’s old biker bar haunts: Woodsmans

View from our accommodation - a massive 4-bedroom house that slept about 10! Very cheap as well

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andy750 · « **Reply #38 on:** November 18, 2018, 01:27:44 AM »

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andy750 · « **Reply #39 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:13:03 PM »

Near Sabie is Blyde River Canyon which makes up part of the Panorama route - spectacular scenery

andy750 · « **Reply #40 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:22:30 PM »

After the Sabie trip and the day we were flying home Kevin offered us a chance to see where he works...so of course we jumped at the chance. Not only does Kevin design and machine CB400/CB750 parts (http://www.ttr400.com) he also restores vintage motorcycles and cars. Kevins workshop was an Aladdins cave of motorcycles and parts. I told Kevin Ill post the pics and he can provide more specific info

Mercer car see below:

andy750 · « **Reply #41 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:25:21 PM »

The Ariel (1926) that Kevin has restored...

andy750 · « **Reply #42 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:27:53 PM »

A selection of the bikes he is working on

andy750 · « **Reply #43 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:30:22 PM »

The CR750 is beautiful. Kevin made the 4-4 pipes, carbon fiber fairing....

andy750 · « **Reply #44 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:33:19 PM »

Then there was his amazing CB400...carbon fiber tank, custom swingarm, ohlins shocks, carbon fiber Norton-style license plate holder, and too many custom parts for me to remember!

andy750 · « **Reply #45 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:35:11 PM »

And lots of very cool custom parts that Kevin has made lying around....

andy750 · « **Reply #46 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:37:58 PM »

Kevin works in a place that is the top producer of carbon fiber wheels...very cool to see the whole process from mold to finished product

andy750 · « **Reply #47 on:** November 19, 2018, 05:43:41 PM »

Kevin can even tame cheetahs!

Kevin managed to get us into a cheetah sanctuary near Pretoria. My daughter was doing a school project on cheetahs and wanted some photos of cheetahs so....

And with that the Journey to see TTR400 in South Africa was over and we were off to the airport and flew home....what a trip! Thank you Kevin for all your help!

If anyone is thinking of going to South Africa please get in touch with Kevin. He is a wealth of knowledge on motorcycles, racing, overland travel and an excellent tour guide!

Cheers
Andy

ttr400 · « **Reply #48 on:** November 19, 2018, 08:43:17 PM »

Hi Andy,

You took some great pics, glad you had a good time.

Man those Cheetahs were something else!!

Kevin

scottly · « **Reply #49 on:** November 19, 2018, 08:58:35 PM »

Thanks for sharing, Andy!

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Author Topic: Journey to see TTR400 in South Africa (Read 5559 times)