My relationship with motorcycles started out on a Honda NC750X in 2019. Granted, I had had an on / off relationship with motorbikes since 2015 when I first straddled a motorized bike, but it would take the better part of 4 years for me to finally commit to learning how to ride.
Gone are the days when bikers were predominantly male and an increasing number of women have steadily entered this space. Vuyi shares why she too has pulled on a helmet an how her two-wheeled journey begun.
I must have been about 9 years old when I first got close enough to a motorcycle to be able to touch it. My uncle Mo had rolled up the driveway on an incredibly loud piece of machinery with a grin on his face only rivalled by the one he had whenever there was a beer in his hand. With great aplomb he had dismounted his iron horse and handed me his helmet. Fascinated but nervous, I remember slowly approaching the motorbike and studying it from headlamp to glistening tailpipe, before making a solemn promise to myself that I would one day command such a beast. Fast-forward a decade or two (or three – who’s counting?!) and I have finally realised my childhood promise.
For women from a conservative up-bringing the idea of taking up on two-wheels is most often interpreted as a form of rebellion. Women are not quite expected to do that sort of thing. Instead, we are moulded into soft-spoken care-givers whose lives are dedicated to the tireless service of others, not straddling a hulk of metal, wearing tight leathers!
Some readers may argue that times have changed and indeed they have; however, culture and attitudes – not so much. In my view, this is one of the biggest reasons why many women may wish to, but dare not actualize learning how to ride. Incidentally, the same highly raised eyebrows remain decisively in place when a woman rides pillion. Perhaps holding onto a man for dear life, with one’s bosom pressed firmly against his back is what some understand as what’s meant by the saying “behind every man is a woman”.
My 8-valve, 2-cylinder, 40.2kW, 6-speed motorcycle has a large colour LED screen to display vital info and 22l of storage space. At just over 800mm from the ground its perfect for my 1.57cm (barefoot) self and being an auto means I won’t have to worry about accidentally shifting into the wrong gear but instead allow me to focus on perfecting basic riding skills such as stopping without wobbling and accelerating from intersections without stalling the engine!
Most importantly, it will allow me to concentrate on safely navigating amidst motorists who unexpectedly change lanes or drive distracted. For forecast for 2020 includes many adventures and happy memories but in order to live long enough to share those with you I urge all motorists to watch out for bikers. We are people too and our loved ones expect us to get back home just as yours do.
Vuyi regularly shares her biking experiences on @bikinginheels
In celebration of Father’s Month we caught up with adventure biker – Mojaki Rammoneng and talked about his passion for motorcycles and what biking means to him.
Vuyi mpofu – editor
Fantastic Father: Mojaki Rammoneng (39)
Married to: Tumi (37)
Full time job: Husband and Fantastic Father of two gorgeous girls Kabelo (12) and Tshegofatso (2)
Between 8 & 5: Works as a Quality Assessor
Brrrps around on a: Honda Africa Twin Adventure CRF 1000 D (2018 model)
When I arrived home on a super bike my wife didn’t speak with me for 3 full weeks!
– Mojaki Rammoneng
MR: I did a bit of off-road driving and enjoyed the adrenalin rush. When I stopped due to financial reasons, I realized that a cheaper way of getting the same adrenalin rush would be on 2-wheels; so I decided to explore biking.
MR: Surprisingly, I am self-taught. I simply dived into it! First, I bought a 250cc scrambler and headed for the bush. A couple of falls later, I started to get the hang of it. Next, I bought a road legal 250cc Motomia and hit the road. 6 months after that I took a deep breath and went for a Suzuki GSR600. Since 2018 I have been in the saddle of a Honda AfricaTwin Adventure and have made many happy memories.
MR: To be honest, I stumbled into the Adventure Bike category by sheer luck. I was a super bike rider at heart but decided to enter an off-road biking competition in 2018, the Honda Quest. To my delight and I emerged as the first placed winner! In fact, I won the bike I currently ride. Immediately I got home I sold the super bike because I had fallen in love with adventure riding.
Riding with Kabelo has provided us with invaluable bonding sessions
– mojaki rammoneng
MR: I have a lot more likes than dislikes, hence I haven’t sold it yet. The things I like most are:
The only think I dislike about my bike is that it is now what I would consider an older model. It lacks the latest rider-aids and technologies such as heated grips and cruise control.
I’ve learnt to enjoy my own company and often have the most enlightening conversations with myself!
– Mojaki Rammoneng
MR: She didn’t take it well at all! She was ok with the 250cc scrambler. No disrespect but a 250cc isn’t very intimidating so maybe she didn’t quite consider it as a real motorbike. That all changed though, the day I came home on a super bike. The best way I can describe it is to say it became World War 3! She didn’t speak to me for full 3 weeks but I didn’t back down.
MR: My 12 year old daughter Kabelo loves it to bits, she insists on riding with me every chance she gets. As you can imagine it was nerve wrecking the first few times, but having her as a pillion has enhanced my safety consciousness. I find that riding with Kabelo makes me even more careful on the road. I am extremely grateful to my wife for supporting Kabelo to ride with me given her personal misgivings. It is a true testament of her trust in me and support of Kabelo’s obvious passion. My riding times with Kabelo have proved to be invaluable bonding sessions. Soon she will be teenager and it is vitally important to me that she sees me as both a parent and confidant. At age 2, Tsego doesn’t have an opinion as yet!
My tumble highlighted just how fragile and short life is.
– Mojaki rammoneng
MR: First thought? Absolutely! Second thought? What will Tumi say? Third thought? I’m dead! Assuming Tumi agrees I would definitely teach Kabelo to learn how to ride. Attending riding courses will be mandatory of course. I cannot overemphasize the importance of defensive riding skills. Biking will expand her horizons, give her something to focus on and hopefully keep her out of mischief! On a serious note though, I look forward to the first breakfast ride – with Kabelo commanding her own bike. That will truly be special.
MR: Without a doubt winning the Honda Quest in 2018 and riding off on an incredible machine is top of my list! I’ve also had the wonderful opportunity to ride with industry legends. Movers and shakers such as Mat Durrans (Presenter, The Bike Show) and Donavan Fourie , (Editor, Bike SA Magazine). I have watched these reputable bikers for the longest time and riding with them was quite surreal. Through biking, I have travelled to amazing places. I have ventured to stand out destinations such as Tankwa Karoo, Namaqua National Park, Vioolsdrif Richtersveld. Lesotho is one of my favorite destinations. Its breath-taking mountain passes and fantastic off-road routes make my heart sing!
Every now and then I feel the need for speed. I think the best tool for that job will be the R1 2011 Big-Bang
– Mojaki Rammoneng
MR: Having an accident on my super bike easily comes to mind. Thank goodness it wasn’t fatal. The silver lining of that incident however, is that it changed my attitude towards these amazing machines. Motorcycles are not toys. They should be treated with respect at all times. My tumble highlighted just how fragile and short life is.
MR: Being on a motorbike has reminded me to live and enjoy life to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised. Of course that can be said about any aspect of life. The reality is that long life is not guaranteed. We need to appreciate every day that we are blessed with. Furthermore, biking has taught me to be ‘alive’ and to be ‘present’ in all my waking moments. Biking has also taught me to be more comfortable in my own skin. I’ve learnt to appreciate my own company; so much so that I regularly have the most enlightened conversations with myself while riding – all in my helmet of course!
MR: I ride to work at least 3 days a week and dedicate every second weekend of the month for dirt/gravel riding. I sometimes ride with friends but I usually ride alone because that’s my ‘me time’. Time alone is a critical part of my emotional and mental health. It allows me to regain balance in my life and I re-emerge as a much better man, father and husband.
Also read – https://heelsandhorsepowermag.com/dads-on-motorbikes-mnoneleli-ntshauzana/
MR: That would be a very big ask. I would turn into an extremely miserable father and husband. I sincerely hope I am never asked to do that!
MR: There’d probably be 3 bikes on that trailer.
You can follow Mojaki’s adventures on @mojakirammoneng (Instagram)
Our Editor, Vuyi Mpofu shares her reasons for learning how to ride a motorcycle, courtesy of Honda Motorcycles South Africa.
After years of driving motorcars, I decided to earnestly peruse my curiosity about riding motorcycles. I had attended a couple of beginner’s motorbike riding lessons in the past but had never actually followed through with biking on my own. All that changed in 2019 when I wrote a list of the things I had, in previous years, promised myself I would do but had let fall by the wayside.
Women on the other hand are generally raised to be demure and delicate – characteristics which obviously don’t quite play out well in relation to straddling a motorcycle.
– Vuyi Mpofu, Editor – heels & horsepower magazine
I went about obtaining my learner’s license, but didn’t tell anyone, least of all my 75-year-old mother for obvious reasons; the culture of motorcycling doesn’t harmonize well with the traditional expectations of who I am preordained to be and what I am predestined to do with my life as a Black Woman.
Sadly motorbiking is still considered as the domain of tough, fearless and in some instances, rebellious men – which is not necessarily who male bikers are. Women on the other hand are generally raised to be demure and delicate, characteristics which obviously don’t quite play out well in relation to straddling a motorcycle.
My venturing into motorcycles had more to do with silencing a loud voice within me that demanded to know why I was trying to fit into a societal cage. By allowing myself to explore the world of 2-wheelers I not only fulfilled an life-long dream but also discovered many reasons to remain in the saddle. Here are a few:
I ride a Honda NC750x DCT which I’ve christened “The Blue Wildebeest” because it is short, stocky, powerful and well – blue!
– vuyi mpofu, editor – heels & horsepower magazine
REASON #1: FREEDOM
BENEFIT: I discovered that the ‘she-must-be-rebellious’ hype about being a female motor biker worked to my advantage. Rather than explain myself to those people who were determined to misunderstand my rational, I proudly plastered the proverbial ‘rebel’ sticker on my forehead and used it as an excuse to push self-imposed cultural & societal limitations about who I am (or not) as a Black Woman on a motorcycle. Thanks to the world viewing me differently I have embraced the courage to become more of the woman I have always been inside, but have never been encouraged to express.
REASON #2: ADVENTURE
BENEFIT: I ride a Honda NC750x DCT which I’ve christened “Blue Wildebeest” because it is short, stocky, powerful and well – blue! It is the vehicular equivalent of a soft off-road SUV and allows me to go off the beaten track to explore places I would otherwise need a bakkie to get to. Being light on fuel, (approx. 350km out of its 14litre tank) allows me to go on adventures without the burden of hefty fuel prices. Plus, it has a handy luggage compartment which can store up to about 5kg of clothes, cosmetics and gadgets for my trips.
When I ride, I can feel the wind all around me as Blue Wildebeest whistles along the road.
– vuyi mpofu, editor – heels & horsepower magazine
REASON #3: INDEPENDENCE
BENEFIT: Face it ladies, there are times you would like to just leave everyone and everything behind and be completely on your own. Nothing gives you more cost-effective independence than being able to strap on your helmet, crank up the engine and ride away to collect your thoughts. When I ride, I can feel the wind all around me as Blue Wildebeest whistles along the road. I am more in touch with nature than when I am in a car. When you ride (even when riding in a group) you are completely in the moment, without distractions from a phones, radio or talkative passengers.
REASON #4: COMMUNITY
BENEFIT: Speaking of group rides, being on a motorcycle has opened my world to people of all walks of life and I have formed friendships with folk I may not ordinarily have met had I not on a motorbike. I have developed a network of ‘biker-gals’ across the continent and it has been interesting to share and learn from more experienced riders who relate to my ‘newbie’ biker experiences. For instance, helmet hair is a real problem (that’s when your hair just flattens against your head or spikes up in all different directions when you take you helmet off) as is finding protective gear that comfortably fits my build.
The saying “there is nothing to fear except fear itself” is absolutely true.
– vuyi mpofu, editor- heels & horsepower magazine
REASON #5: CONQUERING MY FEARS
BENEFIT: The saying “there is nothing to fear except fear itself” is absolutely true. I have discovered that what I had perceived as reasons not to ride (e.g., traffic, the weather, speed etc.) are what makes biking exhilarating. Unfortunately, motorists tend to drive as if bikers are invisible beings, however the sun, wind and rain all make for memorable experiences. As for speed, well, I ride as fast or as slowly as I feel comfortable and keep a strong sense of self-preservation high on my list of priorities.
Motorcycling has become a large part of my self-love process and I wouldn’t hang up my riding boots for anything in the world. I would strongly encourage women to give biking a try, bearing in mind that you can’t write something off until you’ve determined what it is about. Who knows, the biking bug might bite you and open you up to a life you never knew existed.
There is a straight-forward way to get from Johannesburg to the iconic natural wonder which is Hole-In-The-Wall in the Wild Coast; a route that follows the N3 to Howick, proceeds to Mthatha along the R612 before culminating in Coffee Bay.
That, however, was not the route my friends and I took when we set out on our annual Ubuntu Adventure / Pride of Africa Ride. Instead, driving my sponsored Christmas wheels from Isuzu SA and riding sponsored bikes from Honda SA we travelled the long way round; first to Ladybrand (near Maseru), then to East London before finally heading for Coffee Bay. With some of our party travelling in the comfy 7-seater mu-X and the others on Honda’s iconic Africa Twin 1000cc adventure motorcycles our trip was peppered with loads of humour, challenging weather conditions and numerous rest stops.
Day 1: Farewell Jozi!
Taking command of the impressive Isuzu mu-X, I had fairly heavy-duty expectations of Isuzu’s first-ever SUV. The vehicle would have to prove itself on several fronts, namely fuel efficiency over our 2600km trip. It would also be required to effortlessly transverse roads of varying degrees of maintenance ranging from the smooth surfaces of national highways to hair-raising strips of tar dominated by pot-holes, each the size of an average two-bedroom apartment; lug my brand new (sponsored) 230kg Honda NC750X motorcycle; have enough space to comfortably seat 3 adults; securely tow luggage for 4 women and a man, (whose ‘tog bag’ could never really count as luggage) as well as the mandatory ‘above-average’ size, cooler-box.
My familiarity with the interior properties and storage capabilities of the mu-X was not in question thanks to the partnership between Isuzu South Africa and the Gals Garage Driving Experiences; so it was easy to tick off its ability to cater for our luggage, but had to fold the 3rd-row of seats down in order to do so.
I had never towed anything as heavy as a motorcycle before hence my concerns relating to the weight of the bike, fuel efficacy, and vehicle performance were a the fore of my mind. Fortunately, these were quickly muted. For a start, the weight of the bike (a.k.a “Blue Wildebeest”) might as well have been a feather thanks to the mu-X’s 3-tonne towing capability and the Isuzu’s trusted 3.0-litre, 130kW, turbodiesel engine.
I had driven from Johannesburg to East London countless times before and was surprised that the fuel consumption on this trip averaged what it usually was, with only a need to replenish the 65-litre fuel tank twice.
Stopping every 2-hours to stretch our legs and replenish ourselves and the machines, our rest stops included Bethlehem for a hearty breakfast in Bethlehem, Ladybrand for a comical photoshoot, and Queenstown for ice-cream before overnighting at our family home in East London.
Day 2: eMdansane (East London) to Coffee Bay
After breakfast and a lengthy farewell ceremony which included prayers travelling mercies, we made our way to Drifters Raceway Theme Park, an outdoor adventure and amusement park in Cambridge Hall. Our intention had been to have fun testing our quad-biking skills along the narrow, twisty inclines of the track; but what was meant to be an hour’s stop over culminated in lunch on the wooden deck over-looking the plush greenery of the Park’s surroundings.
Hunger pangs subdued, we began the 4-hour journey to Coffee Bay, which proved to be more eventful than anyone could have anticipated. At this point I had unleashed the Blue Wildebeest from the shackles of the trailer and handed the mu-X key’s to one of our party.
Commanding my bike, I did my best to keep up with my more experienced friends on their Africa Twin motorcycles and the only reason we rode on par was because the road conditions compelled them to stay at my pace. The three of us dodged, bobbed and negotiated our way around potholes, speeding motorists, crazy bus drivers, oblivious pedestrians and unperturbed livestock leisurely sauntering across the roads. At one point I caught a glimpse of the mu-X dancing its way through the same obstacles and imagined that its entire braking system – ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) and EBA (Emergency Brake Assist) – had been rudely awakened to active duty.
Bringing my focus back to my immediate need for self-preservation, I quickly re-acquainted myself with the Honda’s traction control settings and responsive front and rear brakes. Perched 1.35 metres above the tar and moving at 120km/hr whenever conditions permitted, the ever-changing nature of the road provided me with an opportunity to practise everything Morag Campbell had taught me during our biking lessons. At times, the fact that the world sharply fell away beyond the metal incentivised me to slow down and re-position myself within the lane, and at other times, the twists, long curves and hair-pin bends reminded me to distribute my weight appropriately.
I can best describe the road directly to Coffee Bay as uncompromisingly hostile for drivers and as an extreme sport for bikers. It was along this stretch of road that the agility of the mu-X and Honda bikes were severely tested. Screaming gusts of wind howled around mu-X, and threatened to tear us off the bikes seats, whilst on ground level, all bikers and the mu-X driver discovered pothole avoidance skills of MBA-level! As daylight kissed us farewell, the Bi-LED projector headlights of the mu-X came to our aid, to illuminate the bits of tar between the potholes.
6-hours after leaving East London, battered, tired and without a trace of humour, we arrived at Eagle’s Nest Backpackers Lodge. We each claimed the first bed we saw and awoke the following morning to witness the sun shimmering over the Indian ocean. The Lodge’s wooden patio provided a worthy setting for our scrumptious breakfast. Our bottoms befittingly numb and perhaps because the weather was a little sour not one of us gave the motorcycles a sideward glance as we set off for a spot of sight-seeing, fresh air and local ‘jewellery shopping’ from the hard-negotiating mamas at the beach.
Day 3 & 4: Hole-in-the-Wall, Eagle’s Nest Accommodation
Still smarting from the ride, neither the Isuzu mu-X nor the motorcycles received any attention from any of us until the late afternoon when we made our way to Hole-in-the-Wall, a mere 10km drive away. Unfortunately we arrived as the tide was coming in and only had enough time to pop a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the milestones of 2019. The walk from the parking area to the actual sight is magnificent and dogs are permitted, however it is marred by local boys insistent on being guides.
Day 5: Jozi Bound
We arose in the hopes of making up time along the hazardous road we had to use to get back onto the N2. This time though, taxi drivers presented more threat to life than the enormous potholes and we had to pull over twice to give way to fast moving traffic which seemed to glide over the gaping potholes.
Re-fuelling in Mthatha allowed for a collective drop in heart-rates, before embarking on the 5-hour ride and drive towards Howick Falls in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Rest stops included scenic views, garages and food stalls at which we bought the freshest breads, fruit juices, and creative ornaments almost as proof of our having been there. The actual Falls were impressive albeit affected by the drought and I could hardly believe I had never been there in spite of my countless drives to Durban.
If I could have conjured up a helicopter to transport me back home from that point I would have been the happiest little novice biker on the planet, but in lieu of a magic wand I opted to fasten the Honda onto the trailer and snooze in the comfort of the passenger’s seat back to the City of Gold. With fellow adventurer Songo Didiza confidently at the wheel, my last thoughts before drifting of into lala-land was that the more experienced bikers were barely aware of the mu-X’s existence and we next caught up to them in Harrismith.
Our epic, annual Ubuntu Adventure end over coffee in the lounge right where it had begun a few days earlier. It had been long and challenging but most rewarding. The Isuzu mu-X proved that it is the best long-haul partner to travel providing superior safety, unparalleled comfort, adequate space, and value-for-fuel-money. Similarly, my Honda NC750XD upheld it’s premium position as being one of the best motorcycles for learner bikers thanks to its features and rider-ease.
