Local motorcycle enthusiast Hein Jonker will be the exhibition rider for Harley Davidson South Africa at Africa Bike Week in Margate from 1 to 4 May.
Known for his motorbike magazine Bike Talk, academy and events, Hein was asked by Harley SA to do demonstrations on the new Harley Davidson touring motorcycle Project Rushmore. At the bike week, he will also train customers to handle these huge machines.
“I feel very honoured to be demonstrating the bikes from the Mount Rushmore project at the biggest bike event in Africa,” said Hein.
Out of the four Mount Rushmore project bikes – the electra glide, street glide, road king and trike – he will demo all but the trike. His favourite however is the 1548cc, 430kg electra glide, which Harely has put at his disposal to practise on. “Unfortunately I don’t get to keep it, but it will be available for me to use in upcoming shows all around the country.”
Hein, who moved to Toti from Johannesburg 15 years ago, started riding at age 14. “I started riding without my dad knowing. However, it was while I was stationed in Kimberley, Bloemfontein and the border in the army that the bug bite me,” he said.
He started training other riders eight years ago and has since trained bike enthusiasts from as far afield as the UK, Dubai, Brazil, Russia, Germany and Australia. “I teach six different levels of riding, from beginners to precision.”
Besides managing the Bike Talk magazine since 2006, Hein also writes safety articles for Arrive Alive.
Catch him in action in front of the Margate Hotel on Friday and Saturday, 2 and 3 May from 1pm to 2pm and on the Shelley Centre roof on Sunday, 4 May from 8am to 10am.
“It’s quite an experience – thousands of people and motorbikes,” said Hein of the Bike Week. “In the beginning I was quite nervous, but hopefully I will honour my sponsors and put on a good show for the public.”
