CATEGORIES

How Is A MotoGP Bike Assembled?

When assembling all the parts of a MotoGP bike, precision is key. Everything needs to be just perfect to get the best results.

How To Do Fibre Glass Repairs

The chances are, sooner or later. you’ll have a (hopefully minor) tip off – and I’m not talking about one from the bookie on the 3.15 at The Vaal. If you’ve got a dedicated track bike or race bike the chances of you throwing your bike down the track will be higher.

Derek Rickman 1933 - 2021

A legendary early British dirtbike ace, later an astute businessman, Derek Rickman passed away on July 3 at the age of 88, after a recurring battle with cancer.

CHARLEY'S CHAT

ANOTHER STORY OF CHARLEY AND FRIENDS’ MADCAP ADVENTURES...

Rickman - MÉTISSE HISTORY

Brothers in Arms

EXTREME Hyperfocus

KTM RC 8C is Ready to race

Long Term Update KTM 1290 Super Adventures

It’s been a little over a month since the big KTM found a home here at Bike SA. The initial euphoria has not worn off yet, its still all smiles, says Nina, who is taking care of the bike during it’s 12-month stay with us.

Down Memory Lane

Egli Enfield 624 café racer

Corradino D'Ascanio Father Of The Scooter

Corradino D’Ascanio – father of the scooterC orradino D’Ascanio was responsible not just for the original Vespa scooter, and by association the creation of not just one of the biggest brands in motorcycling.

The Collectors Malcolm Theron

Collectors draw their passion from many different sources. It is surprising, however, how many are inspired in their early love of motorcycles by a sporting hero. In the case of Malcolm Theron, that hero was Kevin Schwantz aboard his Lucky Strike or Pepsi Suzuki RG500 in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

KTM 1290 Super Adventures

LONG TERM TEST

75 Years Of Vespa

This week sees the 75th anniversary of one of the greatest and best-known names in, if not exactly motorcycling, then certainly ‘powered two-wheelers’ – Vespa.

5000KM Loop With Iron Butt Leg

“What had you been smoking, you halfwit?” I thought to myself as I looked at the bike’s clock. I’d been in the saddle for nine hours and had less than one hour to reach the Namibia/ SA border 145km away before my Covid certificate expired. And even if I made, it another seven hours of riding loomed after that. You idiot.

KTM 890 & 1290 Adventure Models Flowers In The Dirt

How many times in your life do you have the perfect ride? A ride when the weather is just right, the roads just right, the scenery beyond belief, the traffic thin, the right bike under your bum and - the cherry on top - the destination at the end one of anticipation and in an environment that one feels totally at ease and amongst equals?

Triumph Trident 660 Triple Fun

Local Launch

Serious Speed Fighting

Triumph speed triple 1200 rs

Aprilia Tuono V4 The Best Just Got Better.

The most sophisticated Tuono to date with a new Marelli ECU, combined with an all-new 5in colour TFT dash, allows more innovative rider aids than ever. New looks, a higher revving V4, new swing-arm and a new aerodynamic package – it’s the best Tuono to date. After a day on track at Misano MotoGP race track, in perfect conditions in Italy, on sticky Pirelli slicks, I’m blown away. Aprilia have managed to improve an already excellent bike.

A LADY'S PERSPECTIVE

TRIUMPH TRIDENT 660

Michael Scott MotoGP-PIT LANE

Michael Scott - a regular in the MotoGP paddock since 1984 and familiar to motorcycle racing fans worldwide through his best selling books on the likes of Wayne Rainey and Barry Sheene has been covering MotoGP since long before it was MotoGP. Remember two-strokes? Scott does.

The Custom Builders

Flying Spanner Workshop

Tales From The Hood

Mathapelo’s birthday

All The Leaves Are Brown

So far in the season there have been plenty of club and regional events but now the nationals have come to life as autumn leaves start to fall

KTM 1290 Adventure On A 4000km Odyssey

Saturday… It was a horrible start to the day. There was carnage just past Pinehaven. A truck and a car had collided head-on and the road was strewn with wreckage and bodies. The collision had happened just minutes before and already there was a gaggle of people directing traffic and trying to help the survivors. I had no ghoulish need to stop and continued towards Tarlton contemplating the fleeting nature of existence, determined to have a safe day on the road.

Micheal Scott Pit Lane Pan Roddi At Your Peril

Want to become unpopular for no good reason? I am already an expert, but now I refer you to Marco Lucchinelli.

TRIUMPH TE-1 PROJECT E-SPEED TRIPLE

There isn’t a single manufacturer in the world today which isn’t working on a future range of Electric motorcycles (rather than E-scooters or E-bicycles), but so far only two models from any of them have made it to the marketplace: Harley-Davidson’s Livewire E-Cruiser, and KTM’s Freeride E-XC off-roader.

Michael Scott MotoGP -PIT LANE

Michael Scott - a regular in the MotoGP paddock since 1984 and familiar to motorcycle racing fans worldwide through his best selling books on the likes of Wayne Rainey and Barry Sheene has been covering MotoGP since long before it was MotoGP. Remember two-strokes? Scott does.

THE WINDPUMP tour

Chatting to my Karoo farming mate, Jaco Loots, the other day I lamented that I’m seeing less and less “windpompe” in the Karoo these days. He told me that most farmers in his region are turning to solar-powered pumps as the old steel flowers of the Karoo are getting harder to fix and that their virtually maintenance-free solar replacements, with their almost indestructible plastic piping and sun harnessed energy, are the way of the future.

The Franskraal Tour

Much selling and buying of motorbikes happened in the Yell household over Christmas. It was with great sadness that I finally decided to sell Sir Galahad (my 30-year old Honda Africa Twin XRV750) and buy a half share in a bike more suitable for Annette to ride as well. We’d been talking to her ex editor’s husband, De Wet, about the possibility of buying his tricked-out 2008 Suzuki DR650 for some time, and struck the deal as soon as Sir Galahad was sold.

Peter Williams Engineer

Williams and the magnesium alloy wheeled ‘Arter’ Matchless. Note the front and rear disc brakes that Williams also helped develop for motorcycles. Despite the front one being tiny by today’s standards, it was still an improvement over drum brakes.

Magni MV Italia Yesterday Once More

There’s certainly no company more entitled to produce a retro model using current MV Agusta hardware than Moto Magni, whose founder the late Arturo Magni was the architect of the historic Italian marque’s remarkable haul of 75 road racing World Championships in 26 years.