Promoting the NVVM on the MotoRai
99Some time ago the Dutch/Flemish Motoren & Toerisme
motomagazine called for riders reports on the BMW F650. I filled in
the questionnaire and redurned it together with a note and some of my
pictures. Issue 11/99 has the riders report well layed out -
something the editors of this monthly are well able to.
My SixDays was very original stated the article - thanks! On the BMW
stand at the annual motorcycle fair MotoRAI 99 there was another
offroad Funduro of Jaap Zwart. The bike participated in the
TransDanubia rallye and was still smeared with the unmistakable
Hungarian mud.
Promoting the NVVM on the MotoRai
99Monday morning I was called if I liked to promote my favorite
motorcyle safety organization on the annual motorcycle fair MotoRAI
99. A great opportunity to actively promote safe biking. Wednesday
morning only companies and officials visited the fair. Michel
Willemsen - world champion MX sidecars 99 - visited our stand. My
colleagues were surprised to hear that Michel doesn't own a street
bike...
In the afternoon the fair was opened for public. Nice to meet people
that are interested in doing something on safe riding. Pans, Beemers,
Harleys, VMax and a real Ténéré came by. Two
women also did the offroad course I did in April 98. Big smiles and
lots of recognition. Maybe an idea to organise such a course to
improve safe and better riding?
It
started with the offroad course
for starters and after the
Allroad Tour Limburg it became
even worse...This could not go on for ever and after some searching
and test riding I traded my Funduro for a better piece of
offroad-iron, a KTM LC4 400. The 'egs-e' stands for indicators,
luggage carrier, passenger pegs and an E-starter. Meanwhile I added a
new LC4 page to the MenK-site.
The LC4 is a completely different machine than the F650. With a full
fuel tank its weight is below 140 kilos and there are plenty of
horses in the engine. The 398cc deliver about 42hp. The 400 takes off
a little smoother than its big brothers which handles better. Other
measures of the LC4 are rather extreme: some 30 cm suspension travel,
a ground clearance of over 30 cm and a seat height of 95 cm. I think
this will take me where I want to go :-)
Saying goodbye to my faithful Funduro won't be easy. From November 1994 he took me more than 58 000 kilometres on great rides and let me discover the world. Without any problems! My 'SixDays' invention also gave me a lot of offroad fun. In fact the F650 is up to much more than one should think at first sight. It's a pity that it is not enough for me...
Camelbak hydrationsystemMountainbikes and racers are always equipped with it. Water bottles. Preferrably two of 3/4 litres - on a summers ride you'll surely empty them both. And what if you ride your motorbike? You may pause for a coffee or soda. If you are lucky you'll carry half a litre water At Camelbak they know from research how fast the human body starts to dehydrate. Even a small shortage of water reduces performance and concentration. Just read the articles on their site. The organisation of the dakar rallye also is aware of these facts: nobody starts without 10 litres of drinking water. Certainly for a motorist it is very important to keep concentrated.
The Camelbak is a small insulated backpack with a waterbag of 1.5
- 2 or 3 litres (50, 70 or 100 oz.). You can drink small amounts of
water through a hose - every time you need it. Your body is hydrated
in the best possible way. To stop once or twice and gulp some water
is not enough. Your body is only capable of taking small amounts at a
time - with a maximum of 1 litre per hour. The excessive water is put
overboard - you know when. In fact the camel hump saves two
stops...
When I tried my Camelbak for the first time I was amazed by the
amount of water I drank! A small tour of 150 km in three hours with
light terrain and country roads. Back home I discovered I sipped 1,5
litres of water.
The camelbak is not cheap - my 2 litres 'Classic' costs about 50 euro. Other brands cost up to 7 euro less. The simplest type costs about 36 euro. I think this 21st century waterbottle is worth its price!