If you’ve ever flipped up a kickstand in South Africa, you know it’s one of the absolute best destinations for adventure motorcycling. The diversity of landscapes and scenery, the wildlife, the melting pot of cultures, and especially the riding community make this incredible country at the bottom of the world a must-do on your moto bucket list.
Whether you’re looking for an introduction to riding South Africa or if you’re an old hand but are looking to twist a throttle with an amazing group of people, look no further than the Bubble Run.
The Bubble Run is South Africa’s only traditional motorcycle run, and it’s scheduled for May 24-28, 2023. Open to riders of all abilities and experience and bikes of all shapes and sizes, it traverses tarmac and gravel in some of the country’s most epic terrain: the Drakensberg Mountains.
The Bubble Run’s organizer, Joe Fleming from Bonafide Moto Co, says, “A traditional motorcycle run in its simplest form is where you take everything you need for a long weekend on your bike. You don’t trailer your bike or throw a bunch of stuff into a vehicle. You pack the essentials, and that’s it.”
The venue is a beautiful 5-hour ride north of Johannesburg on some of South Africa’s best tar. The woodland campsites serve as the jumping-off point for many, many kilometers of both on- and off-piste exploring. You won’t be roughing it in the middle of nowhere, however. Included in the Run is a whole slate of events, skills classes, eating, and fun and games throughout the long weekend. There are chalets and tent sites available for accommodations as well as a communal chow hall and bar for enjoying the experience with the moto community. Live music, and the fiercely contested Motul Moto Games (which feature a keg push, spoon-on-the-egg race, hill climb, slow race, and an obstacle course). The winner of the event takes home a floating trophy and all the bragging rights—until next year, that is.
If we’ve piqued your interest, check out these two videos for a sneak peek at past events and a teaser for this year’s event.
Coming from overseas and don’t have a motorcycle? No sweat – reach out to Joe Fleming at Bonafide Moto Co (joe@bonafidestudio.com), and he can hook you up with a rental bike. Triumph will also be sponsoring demo rides the whole weekend.
Spots are filling up fast, register now and don’t miss this popular event.
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