Yamaha XT500 + KTM690 'Ben Ten' Mountain Pass Challenge, Eastern Cape, South Africa: Part 1

[@bryantotten2757]

Thanks La.Really enjoyed the adventure

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Thanks Bryan. Follow-on videos of the day 2 and day 3 posted soon

[@johnrainsley5757]

I have a 1979 XT fitted with a Triumph 500 twin, 1960 5TA Engine goes very well and sounds great, lots of comments whenever I stop. Kent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Sounds mad. I'm no bike engineer but is there room for two exhausts with a XT frame?

[@johnrainsley5757]

@@lawrenceatkinson5884 yup no problem, I just fabricated a Siamese two into one then connected it to the original, rides and sounds grate.

[@HWill-iq9sl]

Best video I seen in a long time

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Thanks, it was a trip planned professionally by people with no off road riding experience. For the last 40 minutes of the ride my teeth were chattering I was shaking and all I wanted was the ride to end. I would have paid a farmer to let me have a hot shower if I could find a farmer. I ran out of petrol and we didn't know where we were. The high altitude and slow pace had meant the bikes were running rich and we were chewing through our petrol. 7 l we finished in 170 km. We managed to scavenge a cup full by lying the bikes on the side and ride (what turned out to be) the last 4 km home.

[@descendantofphineas7785]

Thanks for the post, The XT was one of Yamaha's best bike build, sold my 82 to a collector from Brazil, have my xt550 still, love them both. I love being able to drop to idle twist and climb. Cheers

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

I am not an experienced rider and I'm lucky to own both the TT and the XT 500. That epic journey we did shows that the XT is a significant bike off-road and on hard mountain climbs. The torque is addictive. I not change, in fact we going to do the challenge again soon.

[@HWill-iq9sl]

? What tires are you running.?

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

Not sure of the Kenda series but the size on my bike at the back is 4.60 and the front 3.00. Standard size is 4.00 at the back and 3.00 in the front. So I'm running a bigger wider tire than standard. Tyres are mission critical for trip like that. Adventure bike riders have these 50/50 or 60/40 tires which are great when you on tar and then let you down when you're off road. That's the primary reason why other riders have failed this challenge. Well other than taking a bike that is just too big to handle in difficult conditions

[@lawrenceatkinson5884]

My tyres I've already done about 4,000 km on tar. But as I had about centimeter and a half 'knobbles' left on the back one I didn't bother about upgrading before the trip. Mates had sent me videos of adventure bikes spinning the wheels and getting pushed by three friends trying to get up hills on the same course that we went on. I assure you that with proper tyres that will never happen. Prior to this challenge I'd only done 30 km off-road in my life. As with all things in life, being reasonably prepared, having reasonable equipment and good backup and you can do things that others can't do.

[@omargutierrez774]

En español sino muecos amiguitos