RIDING THROUGH GOLDEN GATE PARK ON OUR WAY TO SANI PASS

SOME MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS LIVE FOR THE CAMARADERIE AND FRIENDSHIPS; OTHERS PREFER THE SOLITUDE OF GOING IT ALONE

For years I’ve been going on adventures where someone else other than myself has provided the route that the group will be using.

For the past six years, South African motorcyclists have been making the annual pilgrimage from Johannesburg to the small town of Sabie for the Sabie Bubble Run.

2020 was one of our most challenging years we’ve had yet as a business, but it also ended up being our most rewarding. We had a certain set of goals and plans that were laid out in the beginning of 2020 like any business, and well that went to shit pretty quickly.

Through that, new plans were created and we did our best to adapt quickly and to change our focus.

There’s just under a month left until our biggest Sabie Bubble Run ever!

Some of you know the drill as it’s not your first time at the event but we thought this newsletter would be a helpful way to make sure everyone will be ready to go come December 12th.

If this is your first Sabie Bubble Run, let me tell you something, you’re in for a treat! This is always our favorite event of the year as it’s a great way to unwind from a long year, and after the year we’ve all had this one is going to be quite special.

We are used to connecting with our audience outdoors on motorcycle adventures, monthly Taco Tuesday rides and weekly coffee hangs. Things have changed and we've done our best to evolve with the times to find new ways of connecting with you. That's why we are committed to the Bonafide Moto Show and to entertain you as long as possible.

Touring on motorcycles is one of those things in the world which can’t be described or explained. To know what it is, what it feels like to travel around the world, see uncharted territories, meet like-minded people, and perhaps, make life-long friends; doing all that on a motorbike, you need to do it yourself.

Planning a moto adventure in the middle of winter to one of Southern Africa’s most iconic mountain passes doesn’t always come recommended. The weather and road conditions on Sani Pass can rapidly turn and you can become instantly humbled with the circumstances you find yourself in. We’ve had it both ways before, but this year – we lucked out all round!

The Sabie Bubble Run began in 2014 by Joe Fleming, Leroy “Black” Tulip and Marnitz Venter. It was inspired by a few different traditional runs from the United States (The Gypsy Run and El Diablo Run), but was given a South African flavour.

Treasure doesn’t always have to come in the form of the cold hard metal known as gold. For this group of motorcyclists, a trip to Swaziland was in search of an abundance of very different riches.

The 5th annual Sabie Bubble Run is brought to you by Bonafide Moto Co in partnership with Triumph Motorcycles South Africa, The House Of Machines, Bell Powersports, Rev’it, delicious beer from Devil’s Peak and whiskey by Bulleit.

In my opinion, Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most beautiful places to travel on a motorcycle, mainly because of the vastness and variation of landscapes, vegetation as well as the people you meet along the way. Whilst all locations can be reached via highways and main roads, the majority of the hidden gems are usually found through gravel roads.

When we planned this recent adventure we had these crazy ideas and high hopes to summit Sani Pass in the middle of winter with snow all around us. Thankfully that was not the case and somehow we managed to pick the perfect weekend that gave us a nice mix of slightly warm weather in the low lying areas and some very cold moments up at the top of the pass.

Our trip to Swaziland wasn’t in search of real gold, but the metaphorical gold of adventure.

Over the past few years we’ve explored a substantial amount of South Africa. The wonders of Mpumulanga, deserts of the Klein Karoo, coastlines of the scenic Garden Route, the concrete jungle of Johannesburg, and of course, the beautiful scenic drives of our mother city, Cape Town.