Three Hundred Kibo motorbike riders yesterday took part in a challenging 90-kilometre, six-hour challenge from Nairobi to Naivasha in what was biggest corporate ride in Kenya aimed at providing riders with an unforgettable, challenging but ultimately rewarding experience.
The event dubbed “Ride Like a Champ” – and whose theme this year was “The Challenge is On”, was Kibo’s third since its inception in 2021, which took riders through a mainly off-course route, providing them with a testing yet exciting experience.
Featuring Kibo bikes in the 150 cc, 160 cc and 250 cc categories, the event was flagged off at the Carnivore Grounds in Lang’ata, Nairobi and culminated at the Sawela Lodge in Naivasha, having gone through varied terrains, which gave riders a chance to test the limits of their bikes whilst testing their riding skills and knowledge of road safety protocols.
This year’s edition attracted the participation of over double the number of participants who took part in the event last year, pointing to the event’s growing popularity amongst Kibo bike owners.
As part of the challenge, Kibo offers a range of training programs aimed at novice and experienced riders, designed and led by industry experts focusing on developing crucial riding skills, road awareness, and defensive riding techniques.
Additionally, Kibo showcased a range of advanced safety features that have been integrated into their 2nd and 3rd Generation range of motorcycles. These features include state-of-the-art braking systems, LED displays and lighting and more efficient engines.
Speaking at the finish line in Naivasha, KIBO Africa CEO Huib van de Grijspaarde said:
“We are thrilled to have had such a great turnout for this year’s event, which points to the growing interest amongst riders to be part of this challenge. Through the initiative, we have consistently proven that riding is a thrilling, fun and safe engagement, and we look forward to the event growing into a larger event that draws more participants in subsequent editions.
Currently, Kibo Africa has an annual capacity of 10,000 bikes, with a plan to increase this capacity to 50,000 bikes per year in the next three years. Besides, the company has successfully transferred technology locally to manufacture 38 components of its bike in Kenya, aiming to achieve 30% localization of elements within the same period.
To achieve these, Kibo plans to partner with local manufacturers to transfer the manufacturing of critical components such as mufflers and exhaust by the first quarter of 2024.