TOTO

We are all crazy in our own way…

Having done the TT2000 with Gremlin in 2010 I was definitely hooked to long distance rallies and also ended up doing the Rusty Nuts’ Grand Challenge. There as no question I was going to go down to the TT2000 in 2011 as well.

Some people go through extraordinary lengths of preparation for the TT. This sometimes includes obtaining a whole new motorcycle, with extended fuel range, accessories setup, and clocking thousands and thousands of kms in a super short period of time to get ready for the challenge. Others do almost no preparation as they see it as just a normal ride except with just a few more km/s added – and I even saw a person turn up with no gloves, just a pair of jeans and a short leather jacket and a t-shirt under that. That either super hardcore or super stupid. I stand somewhere in the middle of those two extremes (or so I taught). My preparation for the TT included regular riding after work, maybe 3-4 times a week and on average clocking up about 2000 – 2500kms a week. Had my beloved Honda Hornet 900 checked from head to toe a few weeks before the TT, put some new shoes on, scrubbed said shoes and was counting the days till our leaving time. But it was not to be…

Three days before our departure from the city of snails to the mainland, my bike developed a small electrical problem which sometimes did not allow the bike to start. I really do not hold it against the bike. After all this bike has done 115 000 faultless kms in the past 2 years and something minor like this is entirely normal over such a distance travelled. The problem was that it was 3 bloody days before we leave. Inconvenient to say the least. As it turned out there was no way I can have the bike looked at let alone fixed due to every motorcycle mechanic I trust was fully booked. I was kindly offered a BMW GS or a SUZUKI V-strom from the rental fleet at work in order to be able to complete the TT, but I had already lined up something even more adventurous – The other bike I own – 1986 SUZUKI GN250.

Oh well, I taught, I’m not going to be fast, but its going to be an adventure for sure, plus I get to set up the record for the smallest and most underpowered bike to complete the TT yet. A few e-mails with the TT2000 organizer and It was official, I was going down to the TT on my GN. The idea was both admired and laughed at from my friends but most of them were keen to see if I will have the balls to do it. I on the other hand wanted to see if I have the ass to do it