Sold my 'summer' car because of my bike...

[HYPERR]

Remember, SOUTH Africa moves well away from the equator. It's more akin to Northern US than Southern.

Look at a globe & it makes sense. Or an Aussie map of the world (AU is center).

I cannot imagine South African winter being akin to Northern US. I would think that a temp of 0C is on the cold side for a South African winter, while that would be a warm day in a Northern US winter.

[CamSA]

I know Its hard to believe but yes we get snow and ice, In the Cape, Free State and the Highveld, temps drop well below zero in many places , granted its not as cold as the UK and Europe, At least we dont get rain in winter only in the summer.

I have seen it minus 16 at night and the mornings in the Freestate. No Kidding a lot of people think we just get sun and more sun I Wish, this year it was cold and we only seen schattered snow on the mountains, in 1983 myself and 2 pals took a road trip we followed the coast of SA from the east to the west and then went inland to South West Africa , Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozimbique it was a great trip except the one in the Cape going up to South West there we woke one morning to find everything covered in Snow. We have great riding conditions and wide open spaces going throught the desert is HOT at day but night its COLD

[HYPERR]

I know Its hard to believe but yes we get snow and ice, In the Cape, Free State and the Highveld, temps drop well below zero in many places , granted its not as cold as the UK and Europe, At least we dont get rain in winter only in the summer.

I have seen it minus 16 at night and the mornings in the Freestate. No Kidding a lot of people think we just get sun and more sun I Wish, this year it was cold and we only seen schattered snow on the mountains, in 1983 myself and 2 pals took a road trip we followed the coast of SA from the east to the west and then went inland to South West Africa , Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozimbique it was a great trip except the one in the Cape going up to South West there we woke one morning to find everything covered in Snow. We have great riding conditions and wide open spaces going throught the desert is HOT at day but night its COLD

I wasn't questioning that. I was just stating that the climate in South Africa is not akin to climate in Northern US as another poster stated. Minus 16C may be an extreme for South Africa but in the Northern US, that is hit with regularity every winter.

[High_Side]

Thanks for the lesson, boys, but my remark was made tongue in cheek. Winter to a Canadian means lots of snow and cold, cold weather... winter in South Africa can't possibly mean skiiing and frost bite, yes?

My brother in law was actually a ski instructor in South Africa back in the 90's. Who knew?
http://www.countryroads.co.za/content/tiffendale.html

[Gummiente]

That's what I love about TMW, you learn all kinds of stuff here.

[jaskc78]

Johannesburg saw flurries Wednesday for the first time in at least eight years

can't be that cold there if it only snows once every 8 years.

[CamSA]

To True , you learn something new everyday, please dont get it wrong I never took it as an offence, I saw the tounge in cheek remark . Last year I was in Jersey Island of the coast of France. We woke one morning to a fountain frozen over and 98 mile gale force winds. I hibernated in my hotel room for three days. One of my dreams one day is to ride from Southern America all the way up to Alaska , hopefully in 5 years time when I retire at 50.

I have travelled for the last 17 years all over Europe, UK, Pan Pacfic and Africa - never once in the States

[Gummiente]

I have travelled for the last 17 years all over Europe, UK, Pan Pacfic and Africa - never once in the States

Well, if you ever do make it to the USA, make sure you pop over the border into Ontario, Canada, and I'll make sure to give you a guided tour of some of the best roads in my province.

[blues2cruise]

It seems that my bike took a lot of the fun out of my summer car, 91 Toyota MR2... So much so, that I just sold it today- and now I'm in search for a more practical daily driver/bad weather car (thinking of a VW GTI), for when I'm not or cannot be on the bike. Am I alone? Or did some of you find a way to keep both (car & bike) just as fun?

I have a 1994 Ford that stays parked while the bike is insured. Once the bad weather starts (frost and ice) the bike comes off the road, and I insure my car.

[CamSA]

Thats a Deal , your on and the same invitations stands if your every in my part of the woods. Thats what I mean about learning something new ( Car insured or not) Over here insurance is not an issue, you can have a vehicle on the road without insurance and its not against the law. Just a major pain when someone un-insured hits you as you never get your money back and end up sitting years in court.