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Physical Address:
PLOT 28, GRAHAM RD,
TYGER VALLEY,
Pretoria-EAST.
SOUTH AFRICA
078-6083850         Email A-MX
        

The country is basically in a recession, interest rates were high but have started to move down, and basically business isn't that great at the moment for most people. About 2 and half years ago the quad industry was in a boom that hasn't been experienced in this country since BMX bicycles came on the market.  Everybody just had to have one.  It was something that the whole family could enjoy.  From the cheap chinese imports to the branded names, anything and everything was available.  So what happened to all the quads?

Naturally, with this type of phenomenon you experience all kinds of situations.  You get the riders that are fanatical and will do anything in their power to keep the name of the sport high, to your average social/family rider who just want's to have fun, to the asshole who gives the sport a bad name through behaviour and a lack of common sense.

Strangely enough, quadding picked up a bad name very quickly and the public used this to their advantage to advertise the fact that it was a dangerous sport or in this case a machine.  But as we all know the machine is only capable of doing what the rider actions it to do.  If you actually think back a couple of years, Jetski's picked up a similar reputation.  The public slated these toys and that only irresponsible adolescents ride those things.  Soon enough areas started to deminish where these toys could be used and only the die hard jetski rider would make an effort to use his toys, even it it meant that he had to it under tight controls.

With the housing boom that we experienced over the last 10 years or for that matter any development, many riding areas have deminished and people aren't able to ride their quads as freely as they thought they could.   Soon enough quad riders started to infiltrate the areas where MX bikes play.  Very quickly a resentment built up between these two groups.  This was mainly due to the fact that MX riders had a certain unwritten code or rules on how to behave and act when they were riding.  Quad riders never had this, and soon joyous behaviour actually became destructive behaviour.  I mean, how does one expect a quad rider to learn this so called unwritten code if he has never been part of an off road group or social structure.

But as life would have it, just as quick as it started, just as quick as it ended.  In this case it was with a bang as well.  Our new Credit Act, coupled with high interest rates quickly sifted through the public and those that could not afford it got rid of their toys just as quickly they bought them.  Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of quad riders but I think these are the people that respect the sport and the people and the environment around them.  As with all other sports you will always have A (asshole)  factor which will do their utmost not to abide by the unwritten rules and basic common sense.  Hopefully the public can identify with this and not brand the whole sport on this particular A - Factor.

I think all that's happened is that the quad sport has become more dedicated to the rider who enjoys the sport and want's to experience the thrill that it brings.  It's not the flavour of the month but a past time that he enjoys without having to consider the consquences of other riders bad behaviour.

What has also become apparent, is that for some riders have moved on and are now riding  MX bikes.  The followers of this sport seem to be more dedicated and seem to get less backlash from the public.  In the last couple of months the two wheeler side of the off-road fraternity has actually grown.  More quad riders have moved across then what MX riders have retired.

I think quads will always be around but definitely not in the same capacity as we saw a couple of years ago.  Quad riding is far more a family orientated sport and it will always remain that way.  Purely for this reason people will need to accept that they will be around to stay! 

Over the last 12 months I have seen a major increase in the Dual Sport market.  Whether it is new buyers coming in or riders that have been involved and are now upgrading to a better bike.    On various internet forums such as Wilddogs on is able to read many ride reports on people that have travelled all over with African continent with various motorcycles.  From the small types (400cc) to the big bores (950 -1200cc) have been used and on numerous occasions one is brought up to date with their pro's and con's.  

Your big dual sport bikes like the KTM 950/990 and the BMW 1150-1200 have always generated an enormous amount of interest due to their reliability, carrying capacity and lets not forget all that awesome power.  Now being in the fortunate position of owning an Off Road Shop I often get the opportunity to test the various types of bikes.  Now as most of you will know I am not a big guy and I must be honest these big bikes are bloody heavy.  What gets me thinking is when one travells long distance tours and you get to parts that are very remote and you require a good amount of technical skill.  Generally these bikes are loaded and can weigh anything from 300kg up with rider and kit.  That is alot of weight to manouvre and pickup should you loose control or drop the bike.  It has been mentioned that when you are touring and you run behind schedule it's great to open the throttle and you are able to cruise at higher speeds without the weight being to much of a compromise.

If it were up to me I would say the 650cc range of bikes are perfect for all aspects.  They have the power to cruise at higher speeds yet they are small enough to handle on more technical terrain.  A good example of this a friend of mine use to own a BMW 1150GS and he wasn't a very confident rider especially when it came to off road conditions.  Anyway, he decided to sell his bike and he bought himself a KLR 650.  It is amazing to see how his confidence level has improved and the way he handles the bike.  He rides the bike as if he was on a MX bike.  I think it boils down to the fact that you need to buy something that you are able to handle instead of wanting to keep up with the guy next door. 

Don't get me wrong, I would love to ride on one of the bigger bikes, they just have that certain appeal to them.  But in order to really enjoy them I think one needs to be able to ride a 650cc class bike to it's fullest capabilities and then some more.  Only then would one fully appreciate the capabilities of a big bore bike.  In my case, I think it's more about being able to handle and pickup a bike in any situation without having to rely on anyone else for help.

So is bigger really better?

That is a question you will need to answer for yourself.  I know what I would buy and what I want from a bike.  The next question is do you know what you want out of a bike?

There are whole lot of other factors which make riding big bikes less attractive then the small bikes.  Factors such as fuel consumption, tyres, servicing, repairs, acccessories, etc, can influence your decision quite dramatically.   Many riders who have had big bikes have down graded to 650cc.  Not that this is an indication of any sort but it makes one think why?  Another important point to remember is to purchase a bike that suites your needs.  You need to feel comfortable on the bike, and it shouldn't intimidate you for to long.  Remember any new bike will give you that initial scare, but that should fade with time as the experience and time in the saddle will give you the confidence to ride the bike for the purpose it was manufactured.

So what is available in the 650cc category:
Honda XR 400 - 650
Suzuki DRZ 400 - 650
BMW Dakar 650
BMW Cross Challenge 650
Kawasaki KLR 650
Kawasaki KLE 500
Suzuki Vstrom 650
Honda Transalp 650
KTM 690 SE
KTM 640
KTM 625
Yamaha XT 600 - 660

The bikes listed above gives one a good idea of what is available and what is most popular amongst most riders.  If you are on one already - good for you!  If you are planning to move up to a bigger CC bike then make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.  Getting a bike because it looks "cool" is not the way to go.

The off road industry is seeing one of it's worst times in recent history.  The Quad and Off Road bike markets are at one of their lowest points and consumers are scrambling to see what expenses can be saved.   Suppliers seem to be visiting on fewer occasions and news regularly comes through of different shops that are closing down.  With the ever increasing fuel price (app R9.80) and the weakening of the Rand people seem to be considering scooters and road bikes more seriously to save transport costs.  So we all have to tighten our belts in order to survive the difficult times, yet in recent times with all the negative economic factors we seem to find ourselves in a whirlwind of instability and unable to settle with some consistency so that forward planning can take place.

Now as a dealer I need to pull out all the stops to make it attractive somehow to keep my customers coming back so that I am able to at least maintain my regular expenses.   It is extremely difficult though, as how do you go about getting customers to spend their money on luxury items before putting food on the table?  If it wasn't for the fact that I had a workshop that could deal with various problems then I would have literally seen my ass months ago.  Coupled with the facts that my overheads are reasonably low and that I am willing to give a good service that one otherwise woudn't generally find in other larger shops.

As an independent dealer not loyal to any specific brand we are very often obliged to deal with Branded Shops in order to get our parts that we require to fix customers bikes.   What amazes me in times like these is that many shops are not willing to provide a service.  However I must mention that the dealers I have managed to build up a reputation with have looked after me very well.  Then you have other dealers that you try and build a relationship with and they keep on tarnishing you with the same brush as some of their customers who do not seem to pay them.  I have always gone out with a stand point of that I trust you and if you ever destroy that trust even once then I will tarnish you with a brush that will not give you the same benefits as customers who are trustworthy.  It seems nowadays that not to trust is the best form of business, although if I had to display that attitude I wouldn't be here today.

Such is the same with suppliers.  All the suppliers that I have contacted to start a business relationship with I am very faithfull to.  Then suddenly when times are bad you get the suppliers who were not interested in doing business with you when times were good, and now they are knocking on your door to get a sale.  The funny thing is, what makes them think that I would have extra money now to go and spend on their products that I could get from my regular suppliers?  Loyality comes at a price, whether it is an investment of time, trust or the operating of an account.  As they say, "the proof in the pudding" allow me to show that I am a trustworthy customer and I will not dissappoint you.

As with everything else we deal with situations as they arise.  We are all a customer to somebody and a supplier to others, and how we support each other will determine whether we will be here tomorrow or a memory of the past.

By the looks of things the quad market has died a sudden death.  Sure! There are a couple of factors that can influence market trends, and nothing more then the current interest rate.  It is often said that with the death of one thing there is a birth of another.  I reckon that has to be the Dual Sport craze.  On/Off road biking has hit South Africa by storm.  Most importantly I think it gives the rider the freedom to choose where he wants to ride.   He is able to leave his front door and explore new frontiers without having to look for places to ride.  Secondly these bikes are a recognised mode of transport that doesn't instill aggressive behaviour.  And If I really think about it then the Paris to Dakar Race has woken the Adventurer in all of us no matter how small.  I think it would be just about anybodies dream to be able to complete a race of that calibre.   So whats the next best thing?  Get the bike for starters and get out there and enjoy the country side.

Some of us however get a little more hardcore than others, but I think what is important is being able to enjoy the bike for the purpose that it was made.  It doesnt make a difference how long your trail is, or how difficult it is, but that you are able to share your experiences with fellow riders and friends and have long standing memories of the adventures that you went on.  I think by the very nature of this sport it seems to be very much self regulating.  To get started you need to be licensed to ride and  your bike must be properly registered with the appropriate authorities.  What I have also noticed is that the average age for people enjoying this sport seems to be older yet more responsible individuals that will do just about anything to keep the Dual Sport name high.

Riders in this arena treat each other with respect and are always willing to help in times of need.  Information is shared on various forums to keep the riders up to date with latest developments.  The internet is full of websites on how to do your own repairs, make modifications and even get information on trips that have been completed.   Accessories are readily available from local suppliers and if they can't help you then importing the item from abroad isn't to much of a problem either.

I bought myself a KLE 500 earlier this year due to the "peer pressure" thing and I must say I was pleasantly surprized at the camaraderie you experience with the people in the same sport.  It just amazes me that since I have been involved with Dual  Sports that I haven't come across one incident where there has been confrontation between the public and the riders.  Now thats what I like!  Being able to do a sport that the public doesn't necessarily frown on.  What makes this sport so unique is being able to take such a big bike off road and ride in areas that you would think twice even walking over.  I must admit though, as I have been an off-roader all my life, I still find it difficult to get use to riding in traffic on the freeways.  You are so on your guard for any situation that by the time you get to your destination or start off-roading that you are as tired as can be.  Many riders now use their bikes to commute to work.  It saves you travelling time and I am sure there is a large fuel saving as well.  The traffic situation in Gauteng has forced many people to re-evalute their mode of transport.  Thereby it makes sense to ride your bike during the week and enjoy the off-road on the weekends.

This sport also lends it far easier to enjoy it with your spouse.  The so called "Breakfast Runs" have become ever more popular and not to mention taking your bike and overnighting in some remote locations.  Whatever your reason is for having such a bike, is a good reason.  You have picked a sport that is practised on mature levels and you are bound to build up plenty of friends that you can ride with.

Do we need to pay for an outride?  So often people have questioned my motives for charging people to take them on an outride, especially in De Wildt.  Why should anyone pay to ride in an area that is classified as trust land which just about anyone has access to.  I have been involved in off-road riding close onto 15 years.  I started riding in De Wildt with 2 wheels and got to know the area as my experience grew with riding an off-road bike.  As I became more aware of my surroundings I noticed that this area was a well kept secret that only a select number of bikers got to know about.  My off-road career eventually took me to quads and I was the odd one out when it came to riding with my friends.  They all still had there 2 wheelers and I was eventually left to fend for myself as I couldn't ride in the same places as they could.

So what does one do?  You start a website and report on your adventures that you have experienced in De Wildt.  I said to myself that if a 2 wheeler is able to ride in De Wildt then so can a quad.  So I started the tedious task of logging all the routes that the 2 wheelers used.  From here I had a look at which sections where to technical for quads and started looking for detours that would allow the quads to travel the same route, or at least 90% of it.  I spent every free weekend that I had, logging new routes and modifying existing routes so that quads could get access to De Wildt.   I started my website in May 2004 and by July 2004 I was already receiving enquiries from people that wanted to join me on my rides.  By the end of 2005 I had built up a substantial trail network that quads could use and not have to worry about getting lost.   By now my website had received a fair amount of interest and there where more and more enquiries of riders that wanted to experience what De Wildt had to offer.  By this time I was almost riding every weekend to cater for all the enquiries I had received from quad riders and even some 2 wheelers.

In essence I was now riding most weekends.  It was now starting to cost me money to maintain my quad.  People where having all this fun and it was costing me money.   So I decided to start charging people for the rides that they wanted to experience in De Wildt.  Riders could choose trails from as short as 70km, to as long as 180km's with just about all kinds of terrain that one would want when you are riding.  I started charging people R50 for a short ride and R80 for a long ride.  Now in 2007 the price is as follows: R100 (short ride ±80km) and R150 (long ride ±140km).   Since 2004 I have taken close onto 400 individual riders into De Wildt.   Plenty of these riders have returned subsequently for more rides.  My rides are professional and I cater for all levels of experience.  Riders are briefed before every ride and the ride is strictly controlled to ensure that a high level of respect is exercised in the environment and the local communities.  Adventure MX rides in 3 different areas, namely: De Wildt, Radium, Kameelpoort.  We do not spend any of our time in MX parks as this doesn't give you any experience in off-road riding and you don't get to see what this lovely country has to offer to the outdoor rider.

Now what amazes me is that people are prepared to go to MX parks and pay for their rides.  Riding in circles all day long, in my books doesn't classify as fun.   Sure it's a place where you can take the family, and where the kids can have fun.   You have ablution facilities and you can have a braai.  But then you would need to deal with dust on your food, riders racing in the parking area, riders riding in the wrong direction on the route and total disregard for respect.

Another issue that also amazes me is that riders are prepared to ride in places that they are not allowed to.  Private property seems to been renamed as "Personal Property" and riders that now own a bike or a quad believe that they can ride on any piece of open ground especially in urban areas.  It's amazing when riders hit the dirt that just about all consideration and respect seems to be blown out of the exhaust.  Yes! I know that there where plenty of trails that where around a couple of years ago, and that you are now going to blame this on the urban sprawl.  But then it's about time to adjust to your surroundings and deal with what you have got and what don't have.

This is a reason why De Wildt has now become so popular.  The lack of riding space closer to towns has been reduced dramatically.  So now we have more off-road riders to deal with in an area that was always known to only a select few. Now all these riders come from all over the place and help themselves to an area which is like heaven for bikes and quads.  With the sudden influx of riders the local communities have to deal with more than their fair share of dust and noise and dis-respectful riders.   Instead of getting to know more about this area from experienced riders, where to ride, places to avoid, trails and the direction you ride them, riders have started to do their own thing which has led to a riding area that is slightly out of control.

Riders like myself have spent countless hours perfecting the trails to have minimal effect on communities and the local environment.  We are able to show riders where to go and how to ride.  De Wildt has always been regarded as a free zone for all to ride in, the only difference is how you do it and what sort of name you leave behind.  As I have said to plenty of riders, De Wildt doesn't belong to me but for a small fee I will show you the in's and out's and then you can do it on your own.  So, you do the maths, the R100 or R150 I charge to cover some riding expenses (tyres, services, fuel, time, etc), and for working out trails is a small price to pay when you have such a resource available to have fun with.

When we ride in groups someone has to lead  and someone has to sweep.  Is leading a group of rides as easy as it looks?  Those that ride behind may think he is lucky as he doesn't need to contend with any dust.  But that is just about as far as it goes.  Generally if you are the one to organise a ride then you are also the one that needs to take responsibility for the whole group.  So it is important to be prepared so that you can contend with just about any eventuality that may rise.  As a ride leader myself I often like to experience how other riders lead their groups and where I may improve my tactics so that I may offer an even better experience going forward. 

Today was my first Dual Sport ride which I happen to do with a pillion.  To give you an example, today's ride was lead by Lyndsay Cotton (Plothond) and even though it was a very easy ride you immediately feel at ease as the conduct and professionalism that comes through immediately puts you at ease.  For any rider joining a group this must be one of the biggest fears to get over - thoughts of will I be able to keep up or am I good enough to ride with these guys.  For the most part I believe this is where you make a ride or you break it.  You will have noticed that I have used phrases such as "being prepared" and words like "professionalism" which is what you have to be to make a good ride leader. 

Anyway we were coming to the end of our ride and we came across a big group of quads close to the quarries near Mamelodi.  What struck me was as we were passing them each member of the group had helmets on and when I passed the leader which was on a Kingquad (I think) he had no protective gear on, not even a helmet.  Now I had to ask myself, I wonder what all these riders think of him.  Is he a hero because he can ride without a helmet or is he just an asshole because he has no respect for the sport.  It still amazes me with all the attention that quads get in the media that people still continue to "disrespect" off roading with such ignorance.  So by setting this kind of example these riders go home and may display the same type of behaviour.  Strangely enough when accidents do occur then it is just these people who where not educated correctly and get seriously injured or die.

Enough of the negative and lets look at the bright side.  So where do we start?   We Lead By Example....  By following some basic guidelines we can ensure that any off-road trip will turn into a successfull ride that can be enjoyed by all.
1.  Prepare your route or trail.  Make sure that you are able to exit or reach exit points quickly.
2.  Make sure that you have a basic first aid kit to cover small accidents.
3.  Have a cellphone so that you can keep in touch with emergency services and lost riders.
4.  Wear proper protective clothing for the ride, and all members of the groups should have basic kit.
5.  Have a riders briefing to explain what your intentions and expectations are.
6.  Keep the group together considering every riders limitations.
7.  When taking turns or changing directions, that every riders waits till the last rider has followed through.
8.  Limit the size of the riding group to no more than 15 riders.
9.  Have regular stops for riders to catch their breath as riding takes plenty of concentration.
10. No rider gets left behind alone.  You always make a plan to get every rider back to where you started from.

Brilliant riders don't necessarily make good leaders, however good leaders make good riders as there knowledge is passed on to people in the right way.  As I have so often quoted before:

"It's not who you are or what you ride, but how you ride." 

Not everybody has the skill to organise and lead a group of riders.  It takes time and resources no matter how small the trip may seem.  So next time you are fortunate enough to be lead by a willing leader that has the patience and skill to make your ride enjoyable give him a pat on the back and tell him you had a great time.  Because any ride that you have been on and have come back and enjoyed is a successful ride.

I am sure by now most people who are net literate have come across a discussion forum of some sort.  So what is it that makes these cyber lounges so interesting?  The fact that you are able to meet new friends who enjoy the same sport, the sharing of technical information, getting to read about the latest trends in your sport, and so the list goes on.  With the software being free, just about any person can start a forum if he wants to start a new trend.

If you are passionate about your sport then these forums can be very addictive.   It usually starts by being introduced to these forums by links from other websites or friends who have come across the forum and pass the link on to you.  Many of us browse this forum as a "guest" first to see exactly what happens and to get a feel for the in's and out's of what to do.  You come to a point where you then register and become a member of the forum under an alias.  This helps hide your identity and gives you certain security that should you have something contentious to say then just about nobody will know who you are.

One goes through stages where a forum can get pretty addictive and you visit the website as often as time will allow you.  This will be evident as certain users rack up post submitted in their thousands.  However it does not necassarily mean that all these posts are informative as many users submit posts with dumb answers, one liners, smiley's or a plain simple yes or no.  Forums should have a main goal or an objective and this should be maintained at all times.  Once this is lost and the administrators fail to control the content thereof then the discussion forum starts to fail. 

Forums are very useful to pick up information about subjects that you are interested in.  In this case on off-road forums the technical subjects often have a wealth of informative content that you would otherwise not easily have come across.   Often this information is provided by users who have experienced a situation and is willing to share this in order to make the next person's life easier.  Many users also surf the net to pick up related information and post it on the forum so that other users are able to get quick access to the same information which could help with many issues.

Discussion forums have also had a negative effect on people or businesses.   Very often a situation has been highlighted in a negative light as the "user" has tried to get a point across without contemplating the consequences.   Very often not all the parties are present to provide their own opinions or answers to the questions raised.  This, then leads to "mud slinging" and an overflow of thoughtless attacks on various people or entities.  This exact subject has often led to discussions on how democratic should a forum be?

Many "users" have argued that forums should be totally independent and that "good" and "bad" should be allowed in order to give the public a full story.  This obviously is boiling down to the "freedom of speech or press" thing.  Either a forum needs to be totally open or needs to be very strict on what is allowable and what is not.  I think what it comes down to is that a certain level of consistency is maintained.  These guidelines will sustain the credibility of the forum and it's administrators.  However what has become apparent on certain forums is when the guidelines hinder freedom of expression and one is no longer allowed to discuss contentious issues freely,  these posts are often deleted to prevent unhappiness amongst users and to protect advertisers or entities who usually perform a service to the users.

In-evitably people like to have their say and depending on how it is done will determine the effectiveness of the discussion and the credibility of the discussion forum.   There is plenty of useful information but depending on how old the forum is there will be plenty of sifting to do to get past all the useless banter and smiley posts.   However I believe forums have brought people closer together to share and enjoy their particular sport or interest.  It is an effective communication tool to spread worthwhile messages and information to all corners of the planet to ensure that the sport or interest is given a positive perception in the public eye. 

If you would like to see some links with regards to discussions forums then click here