ADVENTURE RIDERS

I am a one-man adventure tour operator. I love the outdoors. I do guided adventure bike trails and guided canoe trails (www.canoetrails.co.za).
I operate from East London and do trips to Transkei, Lesotho and the Eastern Cape. Each trip is individually designed.
So, if you have a passion for riding, and want to go on a guided bike or canoe trail with me, give me a call on 082 783 1288 or email me at: xt500@mweb.co.za

~ADVERT~
XT500/SR500/XT550
AND XT600 ENTHUSIASTS

Do you have a XT/SR 500 550 that needs work or modification. Contact me, Simon Portlock, in Cape Town.
I love these bikes and love working on them. I sell parts, and repair / restore / rebuild / build XT's and SR's.
I race a restored 1977 SR500 in the Classic Races at Killarney (see pic above). Call me on no: 084 367 1004 or email me at: xtremethumpers@yahoo.com

MOTORBIKE
TOUR PICTURES

> Lesotho Sept 2008

> Post Retief Tour

> XT500 Pictures

.../other motorbike pics

COOL WEBSITES

> XT - SR 500 Passion

> Thunderbikes.co.za

> Canoetrails.co.za

.../other great motorbike sites

XT500 Motorbike Nostalgia

My love affair with motorbikes really started off with my first Yamaha XT500 which I bought new in 1976, when I was just 22 years old.

I thought that I was unbreakable, would live forever, and my long thick hair was just a nuisance ..... How things have changed!

My Greatest Motorbike Tour

One of my best trips ever was a tour I did down the coast from East London to Cape Town in 1979 on my XT - I had 3 month's leave, so I turned left or right as I went along, I had the luxury of time to go anywhere I wanted with my motor bike. I had a tent, some money, I was young ..... What a great time I had!

I think we have different stages in our lives; being a helpless baby ..... learning to walk and talk ..... learning to ride a bicycle ..... starting school ..... thinking it is fun at school ..... falling in love with your teacher ..... thinking that you will be in school for ever ..... learning to surf ..... looking forward to starting work ..... doing final school exams ..... waiting for results ..... getting a job ..... learning to play the guitar ..... exploring the world and learning about life...

...GETTING YOUR FIRST MOTORCYCLE...

...life REALLY starting to be fun ..... riding your motor bike all over the place and buying another bike ..... then thinking that you will work for ever ... riding your motor bike all over the place and buying yet another bike ..... getting married ..... having kids ..... buying your first home ..... watching your kids grow up ..... then finally ..... looking forward to retirement so that you can carry on riding your motor bike all over the place and buying another bike ..... rebuilding old motor bikes ..... having a few friends who also want to ride ..... falling off the bike ..... the cycle seems to be starting all over again, wish I could get my hair to grow again!

Motorbikes and Music

I grew up in the 60's and 70's, Led Zepplin, Creedence, The Cream, Jimmy Hendricks, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Neil Young, Crosby Stills and Nash, Bob Dylan, The Doors, Vietnam, The Rolling Stones, Evil Kenevil, David Bailey, Malcolm Smith, Janis Joplin, Ian Smith, John Lennon, so many good memories.

I survived without cell phones, TV, computers, ABS, heated grips, full face helmets, GPSs' Microsoft or therapy.

I don't know how many motor bikes I've had up till now, but my XT500 is still the one that I would keep if I could only have 1. I think that I'm enjoying my life even more now than when I was young.

Motorbike Tours, Trips & Trails...

I've now got a son who is the perfect riding partner, I am always looking for new places to ride to and new people to do off road motorbike tours with.

Who remembers the care-free seventies? When freedom was a way of life and everyone was having fun? When Led Zeppelin and the Beach Boys made music that fed the soul? And where have all the hippies gone? This is a nostalgia trip about a few old guys and gals riding old bikes to even older places, gotta get a folding guitar! Our lives are but leaves blowing in the wind ...

xt500@mweb.co.za

Join us
on our next ride!
Watch this space
for details!