Very Proudly South African.
Sure! What the Boks are doing at the world cup might be impressive, but let’s face it. The margins that they are winning by have turned many a fan into a raving alchoholic! Our motorcycle peeps know how to do it properly. 3 South Africans on the podium at this years Sea to Sky. Then theres young Brad Cox who is doing a proper job on the Rally scene.
Heres a pic or two:
And then, theres the team who have made the Roof Of Africa PZ490. Now, We know that we are going on a bit about this bike, but it is, absolutely something quite amazing to behold.
If you are a regular visitor to our site, you’ll have seen this apparently Whacky bunch of engineers who have designed and built a 490cc engine and mounted it into a KTM 300 frame so that the tall, skinny engineer, Riempies can take on the Roof.
In case you missed it all, this was part one – when it was still all just an idea:
SA made 500cc Two-Stroke for Roof Of Africa
A week, (or was it two?) ago, they announced that the engine was done – and they sent us more dope. It’s a fascinating read – that shows how teamwork and sheer determination got the engine made in several countries around the globe.
Ain’t technology grand?
You can look that up right here – it’s a good read:
500cc two stroke engine. Proudly manufactured in SA.
Then, just days later, we were asked to please come down, sit under the trees and have a chinwag about it all – and…. In rode Riempies on the bike.
Guys, you need to understand just how impressive it is to watch a project go from an idea, to bits of plastic and metal – to a complete, running motorcycle.
We really need to doff our caps. Nice one guys! Just flippen amazing does not even begin to describe what you lot have done.
So. What’s next?
Well, as we type, the guys are out testing and getting the bike ready for Roof.
Talk of going out to the rocks were hushed up as our lot pricked their ears up…
“We’ll let you know when it’s ready.”
As you can imagine – in lead builder Koos’ own words:
“About Saturday’s proposed ride: I called it off this morning because the bike is not ready. We have a mess of small issues that need sorting before we go to the rocks. This is no time to whimper and hobble, when we hit the rocks we must be as near to 100% as we can be. Including this one, there are only 5 weekends left before the Roof, we must use this time in the best way possible to make the Roof special! Our plan is to hit the rocks in the afternoon next week when we’re ready, hang in there, we’ll keep you posted.”
And we’ll keep you posted. And hopefully get to take a spin on the bike.
We watched Riempies ride it, it seems like it can be quite tame low-down which is what you want, but – as you’d expect, “Maak oop die petrol” and she gets just a little bit faster…
It’s properly epic!
Watch the latest vid – and we’ll see you at the Roof! Please go along and say hello. This really is something quite historic!
We’ll be chatting to the guys live on the Dirt And Trail Facebook page next week at our regular Roof Of Africa chat.
Please tune in, say hello, ask questions, these guys are engineers, so they know stuff.
Details for the date and time for the chat go out soon!
https://www.facebook.com/dirtandtrail
To follow these guys: www.matjien.com
