Handlebar Raisers & Makoue

Thank you to Paul and Alfred for giving me permission to use their pictures



When I saw this little signboard last week Thursday afternoon my stomach started to pump extra acid.

And on entering through this gate I muttered in my helmet “I want my mommy”



I was met by Jan Staal’s wife, Elsie and a few cold glasses of juice after wich I was shown my accommodation



I started to remove my bike’s windshield and after a while later Pauli, Jannie and Andre arrived.



Pauli’s Zebra crash bars



The Bike program Woema from Kyknet was also on the course with 3 Yamaha Tenero’s. The 2 presenters, MD from Yamaha and the cameraman was there.

Jan Inspecting the Yamaha’s



Early morning before breakfast on day 1



Coetzee Zietsman



Theunis



Best part of Brealfast – Krummelpap, butter, sugar & Milk



Jy Luister nie !!!



Picking up your bike – the German and American way





We had to feel how light our bikes are – holding them up with one hand



All the cones and concentration was well soothed with the Boere Jacuzzi



Some of us preferred to stay out



The Next Day – I must admit that I felt better and not wanting my mommy so badly anymore







The quartermile





Up and down hills









And Then …. I want my mommy again







Jan Staal’s son showing us what balance really is



Emergency stops and jumping the dreaded hole





What happens on a trip/course/etc stays on a trip/course/etc



Sunday Morning came and I felt stiff but good

Uphill recovery of the bike





Poor Paul had a bad water crossing

First of all Instructor Andre shows us how



Then it was our turn









All in all this was an excellent weekend. I learnt a lot and would recommend it to anyone.

PS. Take off you handlebar raisers before you go on the course, dont arrive there with a Harley .......

Thanks for sharing Wahl!!!

It looks like you guys had a great time, I want to go soooooooooooo badly!!!!!!!

Wahl wrote:
...Take off you handlebar raisers before you go on the course.....

Why is that?

Oom Jan does not want Harleys on his farm

Good one Wahl.

and oh yes.......well done!!!

Ag lekker!
Dankie Wahl!
Thanks for the pictures Paul & Alfred!

Excellent. Some very fond memories. Ja, ja... Jan has his thing about handle bar risers. I found that the facelift 1200 GS doesn't have that much room for movement because the bar is so much straighter. But risers or the not, in that mielie land we are all equal

Great Wahl - knew you would enjoy it.

Die mielieland was lekker! Omtrent die enigste sand waar ek nie geploeg het nie - miskien omdat dit klaar geploeg was!

Nee Kêrels, asseblief tog. Julle maak my jaloers. Hê effens respek vir 'n 'S' asseblief.

Kan 'n RT daardie kursus voltooi?

Mooi Wahl en dankie vir 'n goeie report

TJ - ruil daai RT in vir 'n GS. Dan kan jy ook so lekker baljaar!!

Nice verslag Wahl.

Die rede vir die handle bar raisers is hoofsaaklik dat dit jou staan posisie in draaie en opdraendes negatief beinvloed. Die 1200 se handle bars kan net verstel word en is dan beter as die raisers. Vra vir Pauli

What is the problem of using risers bar in a GS 1200?????
I didn't understand, although all the goooood explanations.....rs

Mud Pooh-bah wrote:TJ - ruil daai RT in vir 'n GS. Dan kan jy ook so lekker baljaar!!

Nice verslag Wahl.

Die rede vir die handle bar raisers is hoofsaaklik dat dit jou staan posisie in draaie en opdraendes negatief beinvloed. Die 1200 se handle bars kan net verstel word en is dan beter as die raisers. Vra vir Pauli

Problem with just adjusting the handlebars is that the windscreen then blocks it from turning to full lock.

But you remove your windscreen prior to planting mielies, at the farm...

curtz_1 wrote:But you remove your windscreen prior to planting mielies, at the farm...

Yes - but not on a normal ride....

Mud Pooh-bah wrote:Die rede vir die handle bar raisers is hoofsaaklik dat dit jou staan posisie in draaie en opdraendes negatief beinvloed. Die 1200 se handle bars kan net verstel word en is dan beter as die raisers. Vra vir Pauli

For Bruno - The reason for the handle bar raisers is mainly that it negatively affects your standing position in corners and up the hills. The 1200's handle bars can simply be adjusted and is then better than the raisers. Just ask Pauli.


Ok Muddy... now my official reply. I don't know about you and Pauli, but even with the bars tilted forward so my arms and open hands are in a somewhat straight line with the controls, and not so much as to catch the windscreen, I'm still not 100% comfortable. I'm sure as with everything, the Germans built this bike with an average sized person in mind. I would believe my length falls outside the average... Non-average people require non-average solutions!

PS - Had them fitted to the G450X too

Marnus

Just start eating less Mieliepap and Zambok burgers

Everyone's configuration will differ and it is best to experiment with the various options to get the optimal set-up for you and your bike. I think what oom Jan is advocating is not to blindly just fit the highest raisers, as it does influence handling negatively. Off course there is always the possibility that if you go too extreme, you might look like a baboon hanging from a tree

Mud Pooh-bah wrote:Off course there is always the possibility that if you go too extreme, you might look like a baboon hanging from a tree

..hence the Harley rider.