Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Wow - it looks fantastic. Did you go by bike? What are the possibilities of a bike-friendly weekend there?

Unfortunately I was in my 4x4 Charles as my ADV has found a new owner and I only get the replacement next week. The aim of my visit was two fold, one being as a recce for future trips!! There were many bikes that came past heading towards the Ceres - Calvinia road but all turned around at the Doring River crossing. One or two bikes did overnight at Enjolife. I arrived at the river yesterday morning and could see the tracks where all the bikes had turned around. I was a bit surprised that the guys had not attempted the crossing but could sort of understand their hesitation as to enter the river that was about 40 M wide you dropped down a very soft .5 M sand bank. You then had to exit like wise on the opposite side but with no run up. The water was just below knee deep. If it was us I would have just got the group to help each other, which I suggest would not have been too difficult. Yes a trip here is in the offing!!!!!!!! Very "biker friendly" people.

Looks and sounds awesome! Please put my name down Geoff :-) he he

And mine..!!

Me toooooooooo!!!!!

This what the Doring river crossing looks like now. And it is very doable.!!! Doring River on a normal December day or summer day Doring river is ok to cross if you know your oats: This is a photo Leon sent me. Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

The Doring river crossing Geoff mentions is a very interesting place. The Doring starts a way back just around Katbakkies pass. Infact its a nothing doing, lazy sod and does nothing to earn its keep, it skollies water the Tankwa does not want, then tosses it off into the Olifants a little later (jus b4 Klawer), bypassing the Biedouw valley then sleeps that off for a while, doing nothing. So not a long river really. But you can struggle to cross it in the morning, and in the afternoon it could be knee deep, or a few days later. And equally it can be swift one day and a trickle the next. It drains the Western Tankwa Karoo. So the sudden showers 100 kilos away change it from dry bed to raging river in hours. The Tankwa Karoo water is all sheet water- no soaking in, It drains away into the Tankwa River and this swells very quickly - a few hours only and then its gone. Some lazy water takes its time to get there so it trickles on a while. It simply runs downhill (all rivers do that), (Charles told me Isaac Newman, Newcom? or some such told him its because of gravity, not magnetism). The crossing is soft sandy banks and then round stones in the bed- large round stones that roll and shift under your wheels - you really need to stand up and commit -no pussy footing or dithering. No speed either, just keep momentum and go. Because its long, the 1200 builds too much wake and chokes if it is nearly knee dep. But the 650 takes it all and wades through. The 1150 is good to go but a snorkel is advisable. Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

Leon en kie crossing on a dry day: Jy kan sien jy sokkol en die lyn, hy's nie duidelik reguit oor nie. Die banke, hulle is sagte sand, gee vet of val om. Dan more oormore hy's baie vol: leon en kie gebruik die pont om hul lewens goed oor te dra. Let op liezel word nie toegelaat oppie pont nie, sy moet ook nat kry En die dag daarna het hy nog water gesluk by die Tankwa. Kyk hoe vol is hy nou enlarge this photie and you can see the lyn to take Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

Interesting stuff, thanks Andy

Practical lesson in manhandling a bike across a water obstacle or any obstacle. You only tire yourselves out fighting mother nature by "forcing" a bike - pushing from the rear. Far more efficient, safer and quicker to attach the straps you always carry as low down on the front fork as you can and then PULL the bike behind you, supporting it on both flanks. That way as the front wheel meets an obstacle you rake the weight off and it rolls much easier. Pushing or "forcing" a bike over obstacles saps energy and damages the route as well for those following: WORKING HARD Leading the bike by its lowest point makes it easier: WORK SMART leading is kinder to the environment: just some tricks you learn when you ride with a group Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

What straps? Sorry, Buy from your local hardware or make up yourself, se set of four straps. These fit snugly under your seat, in your tail/tankbag, in your tool pack, anywhere near at hand. They weigh next to nothing. How long. Each strap with eyes both ends ±1,5 to 2m long On their own: Recovery straps (which save your back from almost certain injury). Because they are short they are easy n quick to thread and haul on, then remove after. Joined together: They become ideal tow line for bike recovery. All four: Trailer recovery:- I loop them onto the strategic hardpoints on the frame, they are handy in helping get up onto the trailer and once on you use the tie-downs to tension them to the trailer. Never knot your straps. Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

If in doubt, the basic principle is that towing (pulling. leading) offers more control than by pushing (easily becomes 'shoving' n 'forcing') Easy to remember- It's like us humans, We are easier to control if we are lead m than if we are pushed. Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

Very interesting Andy thanks , please show me your ropes at the next club meeting, so I can see what to buy . Question , on the photo Leon sent you of the biker riding on his own , he is sitting down. I notice that some experienced bikers do sit down when they cross water , why is that ? as Leon always suggests standing ? ''"4 wheels move the body,'' ''2 wheels move the soul"''

Hi Renette They're just straps, like the 'tie-ons' that you use for canoeing to tie your boat to the roof etc. Probably the best is a set of two straps, medium (about 5 cm wide) that comes with those ratchet things. You would leave the ratchet part behind and just use the straps. '''There is more than one way to do this, but only one right way: standing''' The people who sit do so because they believe that if the bike lurches to the side they will be able to right it using their feet. Leon stands because he knows that if the bike lurches to one side he has more chance riding it out of trouble than trying to hold up a quarter-ton of bike with one leg on an uneven slippery surface. I would go with Leon's advice. As they used to say in my old company: "Do you have 10 years' experience, or one year's experience ten times?"

Thanks Charles :) ''"4 wheels move the body,'' ''2 wheels move the soul"''

There is more than one way to do this, but only one right way: standing sorry to differ charles but how many years have you been riding?i have 30+ years and ALL of it offroad.most of the guys sit.don't want to start an argument here but the instructors work a standard plan to suit most people.i think we should let the instructors have their say as to why they insist on standing and we take it from there.none of us are qulified enogh to insist that standing is the ONLY way to do it,different situations require different approaches yours in debate mark i only work to support my hobbies!!

Thanks Halfjob ,so what are the benefits of sitting through a water crossing, as opposed to standing? And what conditions would make you stand , or do you always sit going through water? What Charles said makes sense to me at this point, but I am open to other input, especially since I have also been puzzled as to why some experienced riders sit riding through water, although there are also plenty of experienced riders who stand also. ''"4 wheels move the body,'' ''2 wheels move the soul"''

Mark, you are right, there are situations where standing makes little sense. I can think of a few: # Your bike is not set up for standing because the handlebars are wrongly set or some similar problem, # The bike is light and you can control it well with your feet, # You have a pillion who is not familiar with standing and you feel better sitting, # The crossing is too risky to do at reasonable speed, so you are inching through very slowly and 'walking' the bike through. On the other hand, the years of experience of the instructors with big dual-purpose bikes, teaching beginners and experienced riders alike, must count for something. When Leon says 'stand up, look up, open up' he does not qualify it with conditions like 'unless you have 20 years experience' or 'you are feeling tired' or 'you want some variety'. It must be because standing is the most effective means of getting the job done under most circumstances for most people on big dual-purpose bikes. However, that is not to say that you won't succeed sitting. As for myself, I have tried both and found that standing works better for me. But do not let my personal preference become a moral imperative for others - let's hear from the instructors rather.

I'm an absolute noob when it comes to years of riding. However I do find that standing makes it easier for me to handle tricky terrain. Standing also allows me to keep my feet on the pegs for longer and most importantly using my back brake! When you sit and paddle you can only use your front brake... Anyway I think it's best to do what you feel comfortable with and what works for you! Standing, sitting, paddling or being pulled across as long as we all make it to the other side ;-)

Anyway I think it's best to do what you feel comfortable with and what works for you! that says it all,people should try both and decide whats best for them.as i said the experienced guys also do both but you will find that the situation decides which option to follow, so the best scenario is to know how to handle both and do whats best for you. i only work to support my hobbies!!

I Agree with Halfjob. You need to do what works for you. I'm still finding that out. One ride I find it was sitting, the next day standing works. I can't argue which is best and when. I do both- and just as it grabs me on the day, at the time, by the obstacle. I do find my state of fitness and my level of exhaustion are the two factors that dictate mostly how I ride. Rynet, for you, I bring a set of recovery straps and I'll gladly demo how to use the,. The eyes both ends are very important for handleability. I sommer get a whole length of canvas webbing 45mm wide or so and then cut to size and my local muslim upholsterer sews in the eyes while I wait for ten bob. They tend to walk off if you don't watch where others dump them, but I don't get upset, they do have a shelf life. Wear n tear an all that Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

When I first learned to ride sand, at the back of a group on the West Coast trip where Leon was the sweep, he was giving me advice and help. His advice was that I should stand up, look up and open up. I did not feel up to it and insisted on paddling through the sand. I felt it was best for me. But as I got more and more tired, and less and less able to stand, Leon insisted that I do as he says. Still I followed my own preferences. Eventually, I reached the stage where I could not ride any further. I wanted to beg Leon to let me leave my bike behind and go as his pillion. Still he insisted that I stand up. look up and open up. In frustration and anger, and determined to show Leon that it would not work for me, I stood up, looked up, and opened up, and the remaining 30km of thick sand disappeared under my wheels as I flew along. I kicked myself for not listening to his advice. Ironically, if I had paid for a training session with him I would probably have followed his advice in the beginning and saved myself a lot of energy and pain. What am I saying? You decide. Website Administrator [http://honeybadger.net Honey Badger IT Services]

You're a stubborn old fart? :P:P:P

Mystery solved! I nearly posted these pics to this forum yesterday to ask if anybody knew where it was :-). They're old pics taken about 10 years ago while on a very memorable 3 day trip on my XT500. I never forgot the river, but had no idea where it was!Didn't even think about a snorkel!We did walk the river first...

Awesome Bruce! Thanks. Well the KTM's, KLR's, XT's and TransAlps and GS650's all have intakes up high where they should be. This is an awesome river and it inpires me to go there for some updated photos of Jan 2009! I think I'll do a two nighter- Oasis and then soulcoutnry farm and back down the R355 to Katbakkies, R303, Gydo, Ceres, Mitchells, Bainskloof and home. Please mail me those photos for my Doring river collection. Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

Unfortunately those above are the best that I have. The originals are in the UK, but I will try to get better copies. Apparently using a digital camera to take a photo of the original is better than scanning. I'll send them to you when I get better copies. This is the friend who has them... on a TT600.. barely getting wet...

Ok, I have received an email reply to the question about whether to stand or sit during a river crossing from Leon Kroucamp. Leon prefers to be out riding than on the forum, so you will not get him to participate here. Note, this reply is relevant for the big, heavy, dual-purpose bikes we ride: Website Administrator [http://honeybadger.net Honey Badger IT Services]