[rush929]

Hi All,
I have just registered with this forum after having found it through google. I am a "forty something" from Johannesburg, South Africa and must be going through a mid-life crisis as I just upgraded from my old Yamaha FZ750 commuter to a '01 CBR929RR - man, what a rush. I've only just realised what I've been missing out on all these years.
This forum is packed with good sense and a wealth of knowlege and information. Bike awareness is sorely lacking the world over and an organisation in South Africa is trying to rectify this; check out their website at THINK BIKE!
Currently, I am in Saudi on business for a few weeks, will be returning to SA at the end of Feb for 3 weeks and then I'll be back here in Saudi for 6 months; thus very little time to enjoy the new toy. Driving a car here in Saudi is a nightmare, so there is no way I'll be doing any riding here soon.
Cheers.

[low-rider]

at least in SA and saudi you have plenty of warm weather for riding

[rush929]

That we do! SA has been very wet this last summer; quite a bit of rain and hail, but the temperature is still around the mid 20's (degrees C) to mid 30's. Saudi, on the other hand is hot and dry - lots of dust. I am told that the summers here get very hot, as high as the low 50's. Apparently rides out into the dessert are amazing, but riding in town amongst all these "cowboy camel jockeys" (not being discriminatory in any way) is like an accident waiting to happen.

[low-rider]

i always wanted to visit africa. i love everything about that continent.

here during the winter it's about (2 to 10 degrees of celzius) and during the summer it can be from 30 to even 40 degrees of celzius.my father is from macedonia and there during the summer it can be from 39 to 46 degrees of celzius. but i don't like having cold falls and winters here. i would like to have spring and summer all year round.

what is like to live in SA?

[Bigtoe]

[rush929]

Low-rider, I have a friend from Croatia and lives in SA. He has lived in SA for 15 years and went "back home" in December. He loves Croatia, but also loves the way of life in SA. Yes, we have crime, but there is crime anywhere in the world; you need to be aware and don't allow yourself to become a "victim". Weather in SA is pleaseant the whole year round; summers can get very warm, but not too hot. Winters are cold and the day can start out at very close to freezing, but by mid-day the temp can be in the high teens or low twenties. The temp drops very quickly as the sun goes down. Winters are dry and windy around August and the rainfall is in summer.
The outdoor lifestyle is great and there is generally a good community spirit. South Africa is a cosmopolotan as any European country. We have a well developed infrastructure, good roads and services and high-rise buildings. We have had issue with electricity over the past few months, but nothing too serious; the national supplier is working on upgrading the infrastructure in order to supply the increased capacity.
All in all, a great place to live, despite the issues every so often.

[ldavis]

welcome to the site, hope you enjoy your new girl..

[rush929]

Thanks. I know I will

[rush929]

Hi Bigtoe thanks for the welcome. I have a friend who stays in Warden, Illinois; is that anywhere close?

[low-rider]

rush, sounds nice. maybe i'll have my chance to visit SA some day. i think Charlize Teron is from SA. Right? oh man, she is beautiful.

if you will be visiting that croatian friend of yours let me know so we can meet and have a coffie.

[GitGoFast]

Welcom aboard!