have created a nifty little lifestyle business . Given the quality , I don ’ t think it will be long , before we see his range available for sale in the city .
With the hours of the day running out and the long road home beckoning , we again mounted the KTM and made our way South . Not before having to navigate some seriously soft sand to get back to the tar .
We ate Bettina ’ s lunch packs at a spot in Veldrif called Bokkom Laan . With views over the Berg River ; fish drying in little custom-built structures near the water and fishing boats carving their way up and down the water . We ate in silence .
There was just enough time for a final classic West Coast stop at the village of Darling to enjoy a famous Darling brew . We ordered a couple of beers called Bone Crushers and clinked the bottles together . I thanked Big Mike for keeping us on the ground , and we spoke about the bike . All in all , I think I like the R a little more . Mike agreed . I know many would argue this though and find the R version too tall , too rough , and too much of a dirt bike . I choose the dirt over the tar 9 out of 10 times though and Big Mike is the same . The S was interesting and impressive , if a bit of a different ride to what we thought it would be . I can sum it up by saying , the R is for the weekend rider who looks for dirt , the S is more suited to someone wanting the agility of a smaller frame and is going to spend half or more of their riding time , on asphalt . Either way , both KTM models we tried out were super impressive and felt right . As we sat , cold beer in hand , only a short ride back to KTM Cape Town , I realised , we were both sitting staring at the bike . Big Mike was taking in her curves , while I listened to the engine clicking as it cooled . Without turning to face him , I asked , “ What ’ s next mate ?” he just laughed as he told me , he was thinking that very same thought .
I love returning test bikes to the dealerships with lots of sand and mud sprayed all over them . At KTM , the guys are thrilled when the beasts are brough home dirty . After all , this is exactly what they are made for . CV
TRAVERSE 130