Bugs in his teeth don't stop him

Not even being hit in the face by bugs or colliding with birds can deter motorbike enthusiast Neville Govender from the thrill of his obsession.

Govender, a Pinetown motor mechanic, gladly faces the downsides of riding a motorbike in exchange for the feeling of doing 200km/h on an open road.

The Chatsworth Revolution Motorcycle Club member owns a black-and-silver Suzuki 1800 Boulevard Cruiser.

The motorcycle looks like a Harley-Davidson with its sleek lines and sells for close to R200000.

Govender, 39, who has been riding for 15 years, bought the bike seven months ago and has so far added in custom pipes and a K&N performance filter, which allows the engine to breathe better.

He said mechanics had always fascinated him and he enjoyed big-engine bikes and cars with muscle.

"Words can't explain what it's like to ride.The bug bites you because on the bike you are free as a bird. You get to enjoy everything around you.

"With a Cruiser you can imagine the attention you get. You have to appreciate a fine machine."

He said he loved his Cruiser, which is often referred to as a "naked" bike because it does not have the usual accessories.

"It wasn't built for high speed but for 240km/h top speed, plus you're riding with an open-faced helmet," he said.

Govender said this meant he often had insects fly into his face.

"But it doesn't put me off. I went to a rally in Greytown last year and had an incident involving a hawk. I hit the bird at high speed as it was coming down for a road kill. I was coming from the opposite direction, doing 290km/h on my other bike, a Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 GSXR. We clashed and the bird was in pieces.

"It cost me R30000 in damages to my bike."

Some of Govender's memorable journeys include riding 2000km from KZN to Worcester in the Western Cape for a biking rally. He said he especially enjoyed the Garden Route and the Karoo roads, as there were many bends, which he calls "twisties".

Govender said motorcycles were "wonderful" machines. However, if abused, they had the potential to kill.

"A word of advice for anyone who wants to start a biking career is that they should start with a small-engine bike. It's like walking before running."

He said biking was an expensive sport, adding, "at one stage it was a poor man's mode of transport but now it's a rich man's toy".

Another member of the club, Steven Pillay, who owns a yellow 2007 Suzuki GSX 1000R, said nothing could beat the feeling of riding a bike on the open road.

He often takes his wife, Sharon, out on day-trips.

Even though Pillay knows the sport is dangerous and he doesn't want his children taking it up, he said that "the adrenalin you get when you sit on a bike" was addictive.

Club members will next week ride to a rally in Port Elizabeth, where about 10000 bikers from around the country will meet.

The weekend includes nonstop partying, music and showing off their machines.

President of the club Clive Pillay said it was amazing to see "South Africa on a bike".

He said the club was also involved in several charity drives.

"Bikes bring people together and we do a lot of work, especially among children.

"As a club we want to get more riders. Bikes are great for cutting your carbon footprint," said Pillay.

He added the club was planning to start a programme to help women and the youth learn to ride.