When was the last time you did something for the first time? I have been riding motorcycles for the best of forty years but have never been to a motorcycle rally. Personally, I like to ride on my own, and crowds are not my thing. I got a call from a mate who lives in George about a new rally being planned around the Oudtshoorn area. It is called the GrootVoël Rally, and hearing him talk enthusiastically about the future they envision for this one, I said yes. I wanted to find out more, and with the date booked, I had to find a suitable steed to accompany me on this journey.
After a quick chat with Conrad Koen from Off-road Cycles in Pretoria, I managed to secure the new Kove 800X Pro. Obviously, I would need something to carry my undies in, so for that job, there is only one solution: Turkana Gear. Turkana is also involved in a wonderful initiative called the Turkana Safari Challenge. They give you 15 challenges to do, and if you complete them all, you stand a chance of winning some great prizes. As it happens, one of the challenges is to photograph your bike at Gariep Dam. Quite convenient then that I was heading that way!
The Kove is a remarkably light dual-sport motorcycle, but after a brief stint on it, I was wondering whether my derriere would hold up on the 1000-odd kilometres down to Oudtshoorn. As a precaution, I made the decision to stay on the N1, all the way to Gariep Dam, and see if I could find a place to rest my weary head. The luggage solution offered by Turkana included the MadMules rackless soft bags, each side holding 15 litres. To compliment that, I added the Turkana Duffalo bag. That is good for another 25 litres. I normally carry my camera gear on my back, but with the distance ahead of me and the extra luggage solutions, I was able to fit it into one of the bags. Between the handlebars, I fitted the Turkana PelliPouch to hold all my essentials within easy reach. The Madmules fit on the Kove perfectly as the bike is already fitted with a rugged luggage rack.
As day broke on the Wednesday before the rally, I was already negotiating the first bursts of light Johannesburg traffic. The fully laden Kove dispensed the distance with ease. The 20-litre fuel tank gave a respectable range, and while I was filling up in Ventersburg, the first of many onlookers walked over to try to identify the Kove. When they heard what it was, the reaction was universally positive. During the course of the next few days, I realised that many riders are looking for a lighter bike, and the Kove is definitely on their radar. When a bike competes in the Dakar, people seem to look past its Chinese origins.
I stopped at the Sand River Convention site where, in 1852, the United Kingdom and Ireland formally recognised the independence of the Boers North of the Vaal River. Visiting national monuments is also one of the Turkana challenges. Winburg also has a very impressive structure commemorating the Voortrekkers, and the area was remarkably well-kept.
I pulled into Bloemfontein for a quick stop at Safari 4×4, the local Kove dealership. If anyone is in the area, they have great coffee! After a top-up of my favourite beverage, I headed onward towards Gariep Dam. I stopped in Trompsburg for lunch, and it always fascinates me how these small towns have a vibe all of their own. As I was devouring a burger, everyone that walked through the door, greeted the people in the restaurant by their name. Remarkable.
At Gariep Dam, I took the obligatory photo for the challenge and realised that I was not tired yet. As it was still pretty early, I pushed on to Graaff-Reinet. I figured that every kilometre I travel today is one less for me to travel tomorrow. Dinner was a delight at Hello You restaurant and I got chatting to a retired couple about travelling, and before I knew it, it was way past my bedtime. The next morning it was raining, but I was confident that the Turkana bags would keep my undies and camera dry.
I stopped in Aberdeen, which boasts one of the tallest church steeples in South Africa. In Willowmore, I stopped at the first shop that had the word “coffee” on the wall. With breakfast done, I tackled the last few hundred kilometres to George. I had to get a photo of the bike next to the ocean for the Turkana Safari Challenge, and the Outeniqua Pass stood between me and ticking another challenge. Here, the Kove amazed me. I could throw it around on the pass with some vigour, even fully laden. The front felt a bit soft on braking, but the front forks are fully adjustable, so I am sure that can be cured. I made a brief stop at Garden Route Motorcycles which will be the Kove dealer in George. From there I rode to Hartenbos, so I could hit the Robinson Pass back to Oudtshoorn.
My destination for the night was with some friends who stayed on the Oudemuragie road outside De Rust. Here, I could experience the Kove on a decent gravel road. The electronics do not offer a dedicated off-road mode, but you can switch the traction control off completely, as well as the ABS. The throttle fuelling is a bit sensitive, but it handled the ruts pretty well. The next morning I headed for breakfast in De Rust and then made my way to the rally site, the Cango Mountain Resort, outside Oudtshoorn. As the riders started trickling in, I used the opportunity to go up Swarberg Pass with the Kove. I can honestly say that I enjoyed both the Swartberg Pass and Outeniqua Pass equally. This really is a true all-rounder.
About the GrootVoël Rally
Rallies are in abundance in South Africa. Speaking to people, I did get the impression that there is at least one happening somewhere in the Republic almost every second weekend. However, this one wants to be something more than just another rally. This was the inaugural rally called the GrootVoël Rally. Their reasoning was: “If you put on a good rally, the people will come.” The upside of the location is that it is a sufficient distance from the town so the noise does not bother the residents of Oudtshoorn, but it is close enough that you could quickly pull into town should you be running low on braaiwood. As a bonus, the organisers managed to secure the Oudtshoorn airport runway for the Saturday morning, where you could do a quarter-mile drag or an uninhibited wheelie safely.
The rally aims to establish something that could eventually grow into a bike week, rather than just a weekend. If you are going to attend at least one rally a year, they want it to be this one. A lot of thought has gone into the event and there were even two motorcycles given away on the Saturday evening. The organisers are hoping to get manufacturers to buy in on the idea and bring their demo models down for the event. Just imagine having the opportunity to ride Swartberg Pass with four different bikes, back to back! The roads around Oudtshoorn are spectacular. If you are an adventure rider, there are more than enough gravel roads of varying difficulty. The road riders have beautiful passes to enjoy, and the cruisers can cruise down Route 62. It is all there. It is a biker’s paradise!
The event itself catered for all ages and affiliations. There were more than 20 different food stalls—eating lamb on a spit, served on a roosterkoek was something else! There was also a team of about 40 people that kept both the regular and temporary bathrooms clean. Overall, the rally was nothing like I pictured it in my head. These were all just normal people looking to belong somewhere with their tribe. As I walked through the campsite, I saw a beautifully maintained Kawasaki GPZ 900, the poster bike of my youth. Over some coffee, I had a long conversation with the owner about this bike. And right there, I understood the rally thing. We all share a passion for motorcycles, and having a conversation with a complete stranger about a motorcycle is just normal.
As I said in the beginning, big crowds at rallies are not my thing, but this is the beauty of the GrootVoël Rally. There are so many places in the area where you can ride if you want to be alone. And then, when the riding is done, you can come and have a cold one and some decent food, while listening to the entertainment. With more than 1300 visitors to this inaugural event, it shows that there is potential to expand this event. Let’s hope that this rally can become all that the organisers envision!
My thanks to Conrad Koen for entrusting the Kove to me. I covered almost 2000 km over 4 days, and the only issue I had was running out of fuel—my fault. I was enjoying the scenery of the Karoo so much that I did not pay attention to the fuel gauge. When I finally realised my mistake, I pulled into the only service station that had no petrol, all part of the adventure of solo travelling!
