[Dave_J]

Back in my younger days I rode a lot of full dirt bikes around 125cc to 250cc. While I did not have a load most times, I did a few long 'Fire Service' or logging roads up into the mountain. sometimes I had all my camp gear too. Fire Service roads are not maintained well and look like Noraly's ride.

So, do I think I could have done that pass when in my 30's on a 450cc to 850cc Adv bike with my gear packed.... YES.
Today? HeII No!!! I'll just watch her do it.

 

[Kobus]

The most beautiful place in the world, Cape Town. It is amazing to travel there on a motorcycle. Common lets organize a group and go, the food is spectacular and to stand on top of Table Mountain (one of the 7 wonders of the world) is just breathtaking. The flower she refers to and the one that she stopped at is called Protea (there are various variants of this plant) and is the national flower of South Africa and only grows there in the Western Cape area. Hence why the national cricket team is called The Proteas. What a brave girl to ride as she does. Respect.

 

[Dave_J]

Just watched Season 5 Episode 82. Riding on MUD roads in the rain. No Joy there for me.

It is winter time and cold but she is still having fun. The winter just started so she may run into snow soon.

 

[Dave_J]

Today Noraly posted her 22,000 KM round trip finish back in South Africa. Thats 13,700 miles in 6 months in all types of weather and (BAD) road conditions.

If the Royal Enfield 650 Fury does come out, S&S (the Harley king) makes a BIG BORE kit and a hotter camshaft too. Makes the 648cc a 859 CC. Puts out about 67 HP. Yes about 2/3's the power of the BMW 800 but about 1/2 the price too.

 

[Dave_J]

OK, she is done with season 5. She is back in Holland and prepping for season 6.

She broke the rear subframe on her CFL250 during the final Stage 6 Rally. The final disposition of her CFL250 is great.

 

[Bluestrom13]

If the Royal Enfield 650 Fury does come out, S&S (the Harley king) makes a BIG BORE kit and a hotter camshaft too. Makes the 648cc a 859 CC. Puts out about 67 HP. Yes about 2/3's the power of the BMW 800 but about 1/2 the price too.

Enfield Interceptor for sale here today. Registered 2019, 22000 MILES recorded. Condition as picture - immaculate. RE quality has come a long way this last 4 years.

Hitchcocks Motorcycles (UK) do an 850 kit, with optional camshaft, that requires NO machining, if that's worth knowing.


Noraly is half the reason I bought my Himalayan.
Pleased I did. Miles I was putting on the Burgman it might have been worn out by now else.

 

[Dave_J]

I'm a betting man on somethings. I'd almost bet a shilling she goes for a RE Himalayan again but not so sure with so many smaller weight bikes out there.

A CRF300 (286cc) would give her the extra power and lightness like her CRF250. The new CRF300L is almost 9 pounds lighter than the CRF250L it replaces and a little extra power, from 24.8 to 27.3 hp at 8,500 rpm, and a huge increase in peak torque, from 16.7 pound-feet at 6,750 rpm to 19.6 pound-feet at 6,500 rpm.

Last I knew a Hymalayan 411 has 27.5 hp at 6500, nice down low. They weigh about 425 lbs, that's 0.065 HP per POUND.

But the CRF300 has 6 speeds to keep you near the 8500 RPM range. Wet weight is a claimed 313 pounds, thats 0.087 HP per POUND. A Himalayan would need 37 hp to match that power to weight ratio

Only major issue for Noraly is the seat height of the new CRF300 at 880mm (34.6 inches)

She did get to ride a KTM 701 while on break during the Rally and she LIKED it but I think its too heavy for her layout and gear.

What ever bike she gets, she needs to have someone really Rally prep it for this abuse she hands out. The stock CFR250's sub frame was not designed to haul as much gear in the conditions she goes through. A longer swing arm and a REAL good spring/shock will allow more weight to be carried on the frame.
A secondary fuel tank mounted down lower under her butt too. There are a lot of lightweight hand transfer pumps so she could fill up her bike and/or a fellow riders.

 

[cooperman]

She already has a Himalayan, I think it's still stuck in Peru, doubt she'll ever see that again. I think which bike depends on what she has planned next. I'll bet she he been talking to some of those riders she was with and they have given her some ideas on what rallies to do next. My guess is she will combine a road trip with a few rallies. The CRF would do the trick, by now I'll bet there are a few out there who will give and prep a bike for her just for the publicity.

 

[Uncle Fester]

OK, she is done with season 5. She is back in Holland and prepping for season 6.

She broke the rear subframe on her CFL250 during the final Stage 6 Rally. The final disposition of her CFL250 is great.

She is one hell of a rider.

 

[Dave_J]

She is one hell of a rider.

Yes, agree 95%. She still needs to learn but she has learnt a lot during Season 5.

One thing I seen was she lets off the throttle when getting into deep sand, then after the front tire digs in she tries to power out of it and the CRF250 just did not have the power.
Or when she is in deep sand and the front wheel digs in, if she had more power she could crank the handle bars sideways and hit the throttle and slide the rear tire out, But she drops the bike 90% of the time.

That said, she'd wip my arse in a New York minute.

 

[Bluestrom13]

Last I knew a Himalayan 411 has 27.5 24.5hp at 6500, nice down low.

Himalayan fanciers State side - This is available . Not alot of $$$ either. Over size barrel Kit to suit at Hitchcocks M/cs.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Before Covid hit she was driving from the tip of South America to Alaska. Would have been nice to see her drive through here. Maybe in the future.