Part 4 - The Streets of Truth
Back in Havana we are greeted by two motorcycles, freshly cleared by Cuban customs. Next is a couple of hours well spent at tech inspection. It‘s an amazing experience for someone aquainted with German TÜV to watch those ingeniously maintained vehicles being presented with full confidence. No matter how seemingly haphazard they look, they usually get a thumbs up.
After another hour or two at the registration office our bikes get their Cuban plates. Thus equipped we mingle with Havana traffic. Quickly we find out that we are on a test ride after all. A sudden tropical downpour fills the ubiquitous potholes and renders them almost invisible. KEERRUMMMPP!
The Knuckle slams its I-beam springer into a one-and-a-half foot sinkhole and jumps skyward. The rider gets airborne too, but lands back in the saddle and rides on, shaken, the Knuckle unstirred. The forks get their „check passed“ mark in the logbook.