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The 2 bikes left Cape Town on Wednesday, 22 October 2008. A total of 3 drivers rotated and made turns riding the bikes, while the bikes stayed in constant motion all the way to Gauteng. A support vehicle with back-up spares also went along.
The purpose of the endurance trip was to put the bikes under severe pressure to see what type of issues would arise, and then use the feedback in order to strengthen the bikes before putting them on the market. It’s the method that Balanco use to do constant research and development.
The bikes went from Cape Town, passing through, Laingsburg, Beaufort-West, Three Sisters, Colesburg, Bloemfontein, Kroonstad, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and then the final destination was Nylstroom in Limpopo province. |
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The 400cc road bike proved to be very well suited for the long distance driving, and made it all the way there problem free. In Johannesburg one of the drivers, Mr. Tony Balanco himself, fell with the bike, but was luckily not injured. The bike also only had minor injuries due to the fall and continued the journey all the way back to Cape Town. On the way back from Gauteng to Cape Town, we had a few issues arising, namely, replacing the radiator, replacing the chain, and the front fender coming loose. We suspect that those items were damaged due to the bike falling in Johannesburg. However overall, the 400cc road bike proved to be a very solid and reliable motor, being put under severe pressure on the road, and still getting to Gauteng and back in one piece! |
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The 400cc scrambler also did not do too badly for a scrambler. At Colesburg however it was the end of the road for the scrambler, who then spent the rest of the trip to Gauteng and back on the back of the trailer, while the road bike continued the journey there and back on its own. But the 3 guys were pretty relieved when the scrambler got loaded onto the trailer, because by then their gluts muscles were pretty sore from the scramblers hard saddle!
Both bikes did very well under the circumstances, but overall the 400cc road bike proved to be a better ride for the long road and by far more comfortable on the driver’s gluts muscles. |
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