Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Congrats Mic! Don't be fooled the 650 is not a small bike! The 650 Xcountry is a really cool looking bike! To this day Taryn say I should have bought the Xcountry instead of the F650GS. See you on a ride soon! Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

congratulations. When I first saw the x-country I didn't like it at all. But the more I see it the better looking it gets. Now I think it's a stunning looking bike. And I'm sure it rides like a dream. happy and safe riding,

Thanks Steven and Corne', the x country is really a cool bike. It doesn't look too good in pictures, but seeing it in the "flesh", it is really nice. Reminds me of a XT500 Yama I had years ago in terms of ride and feel. I put on a BMW screen and a luggage rack for soft luggage. I was concerned at the small fuel capacity, but checking the consumption, I don't think I will be at too much of a disadvantage. It is also the ideal starter bike for me and my intended daily 30km commute. Thanks for the warm welcomes, really appreciate it

Congrats and welcome Mic You are amongst friends here - many of us hadn't ridden for decades before getting our BMWs. What worked for me was to do the 1 day intro to off-road riding at Nelson's Creek - although is it off-road, it covers basics of handling the bike accurately at low speed. It improved my road riding and commuting ability immeasurably. Also, come along on a breakfast run. You will be looked after. I was afraid of riding in a group, but the club rides very responsibly and makes it easy for beginners. Enjoy your new baby.

Welcome Mic, Hope to personally welcome you on one of our Club off road rides shortly. Don't forget to make sure you have ALL the right protective riding gear!!!! Geoff Club off road ride coordinator.

Congrats, its always nice to get another BMW rider. See you on the road some time, if you go off-road I'll definitely be there!!!

Mic go book your license test as soon as possible.. get it over with... 18 months might seem like a long time but before you know it your learners would have expired.. Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Thanks Geoff, I just need a decent pair of pants, jeans just don't cut it. I was thinking of overpants so that I could use them over my work pants daily, but for leisure riding that isn't going to look all that good or be comfortable. I was at Bikestuff this morning and they couldn't help me. Any suggestions of where I can go?

Leather Forever, Durban rd, Bellville. (They don't only do leathers, they make kevlar-reinforced jeans and sell cordura jackets and pants). From N1, turn down Durban rd towards Voortrekker. Leather Forever is close to the N1 on your left. They do alterations and repairs etc and are very helpful. Johan did the Intro to Offroad course with me almost two years ago now.

Welcome here Mic;) This is my baby bike :) My X Country

Hi Red! How are you enjoying the bike. I read your contri with the extra tank and that actually convinced me that this is the bike for me.

Welcome Mic I went from a R1000RS 33 years ago to a C1 3 years ago, then to a R1150RT, then R1200RT then K1200GT, in four months, you can do it too. Forget the baby, get a wild teenager, with aftermarket pipes. You will feel years younger. It is called midlife crises by the jealous.

That's no baby! Very difficult to behave on that bike. The front wheel kind of lifts on it's own! Certainly not an old man's bike - pretty soon you'll be passing Neil on his scooter :-) ''The world needs dreamers that DO!''

Hi Mic, I'm also still assembling all the gear, so keep us up to date with what you decide. I'm torn between getting overpants and using them for commuting and trips (for now)... OR getting dedicated leather biker pants for longer trips and just one of those bright orange raingear suits for commuting. I think since I'll spend more time commuting than touring, the overpants is a better idea. Let me know what you decide. PS: a colleague got his overpants at a bike shop in Milnerton, can't remember the name, on Koeberg road next to the new Priclo trailer spares shop. --- [font=Courier][size=2][color=grey]Faster than summer fruit through a short granny[/color][/size][/font]

The topic of protective gear has been debated MANY times here. For the benefit of "newbies" here is my limited experience: This time of year you will most likely be looking for the most watertight and warm jacket. In a few maonths time you will dehydrate in that same jacket - going to the corner cafe. There are a few ways around this: - Buy something like the Richa jacket from Wild@hart. YES, it is expensive. But you get three jackets in one. It can be a well ventilated jacket in summer. Then you add the first liner if the wind gets chilly. In rain you just add the second inner. These inners can be stowed on the bike. - Others do the same by using a plain summer jacket and the using a cheap rain coat and jersey. - Those with the big bucks (or forward planning) end up with 3 or 4 jackets. Apart from the expence this also creates problems with space to store these bulky jackets. SPEAK to "old" riders and get more info about the practicality of various options before you just splash out the cash. Almost forget. BMW products are expensive, BUT on certain products there price is no higher than other quality brands !!

As Geoff Russel will tell you dress for the fall. Don't ever buy something where you thing "that should help a bit if I fall". It must do the job or not. I've been riding for +- 30 years and never did I expect this with all the kit on. ;) In hospital day 7

Also get a kit where the Jacket can zip onto the pants... A jacket is useless if it slides up and you get `lekker` raw roasties on the back or hips... Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

How many people actually zip their jackets to their pants? I'd like to but its almost impossible to do this on your own, you need a swivel head.

I do it every time when i get on the bike... it's like anything... the more you do it the easier it gets... Corné Kloppers 0849130391 ckloppers@gmail.com

Sorry, I wasn't clear - just wanted to know about pants. I already have a Maxxis jacket with very warm removable liner and IXS gloves. Pants are next, boots later. And I just don't see myself walking around at work with leathers all day... there's gotta be a safe alternative. Maybe Kevlar jeans.

BMW City pants. Wearing mine in the office right now! The offer great protection, they look good (you can wear em without looking like a biker). They come in cordura and denim versions. My first concern was that they're not waterproof, but overpants/rain suit fixes that. They're very versatile.

I still wear my Kevlar jeans that I had on that day ;)

I agree with Cloudgazer, City pants are excellent. The ONLY drawback is if you buy seriously hardcore boots they don't fit over and are uncomfortable tucked in. Even with that they are my first choice for comfort and they're pretty rugged. ''The world needs dreamers that DO!''

XKulcha makes a nice pair of overtrousers that opens at the outside of the leg, so you don't have to dance around to get the boot through the pipe or take the boots off. See their ads in 2Wheels for contact details.

I have a pair, wear them more than anything else, but much less protection than the City Pants. Citypants - better protection, great to wear, hard wearing. Overpants - less protection, can wear them anywhere (to work) and you can wear kneepads underneath. Leather Forever in Durban Rd are keen to make the overpants and they'd custom make them for you with better protection than the XKulcha ones. Just some additional input. Cheers Pete ''The world needs dreamers that DO!''