AFRICA

We took quite a while to come to the consensus as to what motorcycle this trip would be completed on. We also required two identical motorcycles to ensure efficiency in what spares, tools and accessories we carried.

The original idea was to make use of the GS800 adventure motorcycle from BMW. This is the chain driven GS compared with the shaft of the 1200.

The BMW 1200 version was used in the well-known documentary starring Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor where they performed the "Quick Way Down" not really the true "Long Way Down" which we will be undertaking.

This led us to make a premature decision on which bike model we would use for this trip. The marketing machine of BMW is powerful.

Brandon took the plunge. Buying a silver GS800 to evaluate, based on the premature knee-jerk reaction, he took the hit.
The bike was used for a primarily commuting purpose, which in London is a pretty good location to put a bike through if you wanted to evaluate the personality.

Issue after issue with this bike was the reality. Oil leakage was the regular feature. Due to these issues, Brandon and I decided to look at changing tack completely and peer into the KTM world.

Information which contributes to the final decision was supplied by a variety of sources, each with their own opinions.

In the UK, a mixed bag of wisdom regarding the motorcycles was received. Folks are divided into camps regarding adventure motorcycles, KTM, BMW, Honda, Triumph etc. all feature somewhere along the demographics of the biker community.

In SA, the bikers were overwhelmingly in favor of the GS1200, mainly due to the shaft drive being “bulletproof” as they put it.

I am glad we did not pursue the BMW route as I have seen some pretty funny footage of people trying to ride these bikes off the beaten track. To put it mildly, it is both hilarious and cringeworthy at the same time.
We eventually discussed the following topics which would send me on the way to procure a KTM 690 Enduro R.

Weight

The '16 KTM 690 Enduro R has a dry weight of around 140 kilos. The GS 800 is much more than this. A KTM 990 was included in the decision landscape. I believe it was my moaning which won this argument. I was more concerned about having to pick my bike up every 20 meters. Based on this argument and the fact that we wanted to do some off-track Enduro after dumping the pannier boxes, we settled this argument by agreeing on the KTM being the winner here.

Reputation

This is where Adam Riemann from Motonomad came into the picture. Watching Adam and his sidekicks on the KTM 500 EXECs, it became very apparent as to what formidable machines these were. An experienced bunch of guys covering quite a bit less mileage than we were on the 500s was the crux. We watched the Motonomad series in detail, many times. The only issues these KTMs experienced was self-inflicted. Based on the experience of that crew with their knowledge and the visible performance of those bikes with no support crews sold us the reputation argument. Not content with 500s for 10000 miles plus, Brandon and myself leaned towards the 690, a hybrid of Motocross and Enduro / Adventure. There is no point in trying to promote a KTM in the off-road market, it just does that all on it's own based on the renowned reputation.

Cost

There is no getting around the fact that the KTMs fetch a high price, even when second hand. There are very good reasons for this. The anticipated cost of the KTM was fairly high, especially since we had to kit the bikes up from stock with all the gear required for a 13k mile trip. The variety of accessories from various vendors gave us a myriad of options as to how we would kit these bikes up and on what budget. It would be a costly exercise but our belief in the argument was now beyond reproach. Setting up the bikes would have probably come in at some average price point if we had pursued another route.

Familiarity

Brandon was, unfortunately, the victim of a motorcycle theft which resulted in his KTM Duke 690 being stolen. A sad state of affairs regarding the London theft epidemic. The silver lining here was Brandon’s experience with the KTM LC4 engine unit. Experienced in the ins and outs of this engine, despite not having the “special” KTM tools resulted in a conviction regarding the reliability momentum required for the trip. The proof was in the pudding…. And Brandon certainly showed this by working on my bike. The both of us are more inclined to the off-road motorcycles as they are generally more fun to mess about on. We generally know the requirements with these style bikes which make them a balanced choice when you take into account the long journey and the fact we are going to dump our kit and rip around some off-road tracks every now and then.

Experience

So this is where it gets interesting and amusing at the same time. We had made a conscious decision as to which bike route we would venture down… the KTM 690 Enduro R. Trouble was… Brandon was still the owner of the BMW GS 800 and I was still to obtain a bike which was representative of the final decision. I buckled so to speak… I bought a ’16 plate KTM 690 Enduro R with 700 miles on the clock from Pidcock motorcycles. I rushed up to collect this bike and not 5 meters from leaving the shop floor, I was ear to ear with a grin which will stay will be to the end of my days. The power and lightweight pace was something I had not experienced since I purchased a Husqvarna Nuda 900R in 2014. It brought an elevated feeling which is hard to describe and in the most cliched way… I knew this was the solution to the Africa trip from the moment I passed the 50mph mark down the road.

Decision Time

This is where the ultimate decision is taken. Three of us decide to take a ride down to the South Downs in the UK, this consisted of a Honda 600, Brandon’s GS 800 and my newly acquired KTM 690 Enduro R.

It was actually on the way back to my place that the amusing side of the story takes place.

I have never ridden a BMW GS. Down the road from my house, I wanted Brandon to experience the 690 due to the more than likely decision we had taken regarding which bike…. I pulled over and signaled that Brandon should have a pop on the 690. I jumped on the GS 800 and we proceeded to pull out of the layby, I was quite amused by the fact that the turn signals of the GS are completely retarded but that was before I was convinced by the bike seat that I should have donned my smoking jacket and proceeded to sit in an armchair where there was little excitement except that which was going on away from me in full view via the side mirrors. I led from the front… while I was wallowing in the armchair of the GS, Brandon was rip-roaring on the back wheel down the down with a grin visible through the helmet. This is the moment the deal was sealed. Literally the next day, Brandon flogged his BMW armchair and set out the purchased the KTM 690.

The adventure had now begun... Mostly due to the fact that I was able to get off the BMW at the pub and malign Brandon on what a subpar bike the BMW is.

We wanted a lightweight, fun and practical bike… the KTM 690 Enduro R was the logical option.

Videos on this to follow...

So, what is to be said about embarking on an adventure like this? Well, from my experience, this anticipated feeling or emotion does not hit you in the beginning or fully until your first major challenge.
This emotion builds momentum in stages, slowly from the moment you start packing and gradually building up to that first significant milestone of managing a situation.

It is also extremely liberating leaving everything behind. I was lucky to be able to let UK life tick away in the background while I disappeared on a motorcycle through challenging territory.
Locking your house up for the final time, looking at you car sitting in the parking space for the next however long is an interesting feeling… did I leave the gas on?
The feeling you get when you twist the throttle on departure, feel that huge single thumping about. Gaining speed, wind your way through traffic and when you hit the motorway, that wind starts getting louder in your helmet.
You think nothing can catch you, stymie your escape from this chapter.
That feeling is many times more vivid than riding your bike on a normal day.

To start this part of the story off, it would make sense to start from the morning of the day of departure.
Brandon and I lived about 50 miles apart the day we set off. I had all my items generally organised, including spare tyres and the bags I intended to use.
After packing those onto the bike, it was clear that this was too much and a bad idea, especially wanting to take along two tyres for the trip so that we can change with one less added expense.
After looking at this, there was a mad scramble to remove excess baggage… once again.
After few bits of shuffling and repacking I was off. The bike felt very different as it was the first time I rode with it loaded the way in the current configuration.
The thoughts cross your mind, am I too heavy, is everything strapped on, how is my oil? I will get to the oil story in due course as it is a story on its own.
I was now on the motorway heading up to Brandon’s house, I couldn’t help but think of the things I may have missed off the list.
It takes a while to get your mind settled, but once it is, you just think sod it, just go. Which is the mindset which works best.

I arrived at Brandon’s to find him beaming, but also not without a certain element of emotion present. The same one I was experiencing, that "have I done everything I need to do" worried feeling.
We got into chatting about all the things we have experienced in the run up, especially during this day and its amazing how that talking amongst each other sets a tone of calm.
That tone is one of the most fantastic elements of doing a trip like this with a friend.

You are doing what you love, you are on a unique journey where you will see so much of the world and have each other’s back.

After a couple of modifications to various bits around the bike, we set off for the Gherkin in the City of London where we intend to depart with the well-wishing of our family and close friends.

Weaving through London’s small streets and congested traffic, we made out way to The Gherkin for our rendezvous with our special guests. Arriving, we found nobody waiting. A second later, Shawn comes walking up and says “There you guys are!”. We parked on the dark side of the Gherkin and it was not long before everyone caught onto this fact and started making their way around to the courtyard of the Sterling.

What wonderful moments to share with all those that saw us off. The conversations sparked up between everyone, including those who had never met each other was fantastic to see take place. The smiles and laughter filling the vacant air, that air you experience in London on a weekend, calm and empty. The rat race has called it quits for the weekend.

After a while of photos, chitchatting and clock-watching, we decided it time to depart in order to make our train across the channel. Hasty goodbyes were said, a few embraces and some uncoordinated getting my kit together again for the ride.

I was thinking a departure wheelie would have been a good idea but decided against this. Making a fool out of one’s self by coming off your bike on a trip before you have even began would be a bad start and a huge embarrassment.

Chattering away on the radios, we made our way out of the capital city, rerouting as we went due to the typical congestion in some parts. Eventually we find ourselves on the A2 heading South East towards the channel tunnel.

Arriving at the entrance is the first little buzz and fuddle you get into, now the process of removing things like gloves, attempting to manoeuvre closer to ticket machines, talking on the radio etc. and taking your passport, without dropping things and then replacing them into their original locations is a habit you need to form.

Using bikes to the tunnel is great for making up time, which we did. Enough time to head to Burger King for a last snack before we crossed into France. Our tickets were called up and we set off for the train loading. Motorcycles being smaller have to wait for vehicles, after which we take up the slack at the rear of the carriage. Loaded up, and jackets off we stood and stared at the bikes.

The feeling of adventure now starting to course through our veins.