VOL. 53 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 P99
ZEBRA AT A LION PARTY
In amongst a sea of ubiquitous
450cc dirt bikes, most people
who saw the Africa Twin stan-
dard six-speed manual gearbox
(not the DCT, or "automatic
transmission," version) in the
metal, resplendent in her stock-
standard graphics and #308 on
the side panels, thought us four
riders were mad. After all, the
only modifications we did to it
were to the engine guard, a new
seat, some heavier fork springs
and some off-road Michelin
knobby rubber for the 'Twin's 18-
and 21-inch rims. It even still had
the standard exhaust!
"Whhoooiiee, thatsalotta bike
for this race, man!" "Are you
guys sure you're not part of the
pace team?" "Why the hell you
got one a those things here?"
Those were just a few of the
verbal barbs dropped our way as
Imai-san geared up to take the
day-one start at about 6:45 a.m.
The Africa Twin is brand new
to the U.S. And when I say brand
new, I mean it. The original
globetrotter that ran from 1989
to 2003 never made it to the
'States, so for Johnny Campbell,
(Above) Our only mechanical
issue—a broken fork seal, which
is clear to see. (Left) Scaysbrook
makes it to the end of his first
desert race leg. His face says it
all! (Below) Campbell rides onto
the podium at the end of day one.
"That wasn't long enough!"
