A motorcycling mutt who has clocked up over 17000km crisscrossing the country with his Grahamstown owner is such an unusual sight traffic officers regularly stop them – to take selfies.“Everywhere I go traffic officers pull me over,” said Chris Schutte.
“They ask me for my licence and then walk around the bike six or seven times before sheepishly asking if they can sit in the sidecar with Silvo to take a selfie.
“They don’t ever hassle me, they just want to meet the motorcycling dog,” the 65-year-old chuckled.
After the first police stop, Schutte says he has to change to another route or risk getting pulled over every few kilometres.
“They normally call their friends along the way and they stop me to look at the sidecar and take more pictures with Silvo.”
A veteran biker, who has been in the saddle since the 1960s, Schutte got a schnauzer puppy soon after he dropped his massive BMW motorbike and damaged his knee ligaments trying to pick it up.
“Silvo has been coming with me on the bike from the first day I got him, when he was eight weeks old.
“As soon as I start putting on my biker boots, he hears the noise from the buckles and goes crazy.”
Although Silvo used to ride on the motorbike with Schutte in a specially designed tank bag, he upgraded to his own sidecar after Schutte dropped the bike again.
“When I dropped the bike again and could not pick it up I realised I had to make another plan if I wanted to keep riding. I was at a crossroads,” he admitted.
Schutte kept his biker dream alive when family suggested he attach a sidecar.
“I was depressed when I realised I may not be able to ride my bike anymore; the sidecar was a great idea.”
Since then Schutte and Silvo have clocked up more than 17000km riding along the highways and dirt byways around the country – often camping in a tent along the way.
“He does not wear a helmet but he does have his own pair of doggy goggles that he wears on long trips.
“Silvo is my best friend – if he is not welcome at one place we ride to the next.
“I am his chauffeur.”
Next on the shopping list for the biker pooch is his own crash helmet.
The retired military officer has such a rapport with his dog, that he even knows when to make a pitstop during a long haul.
“Whenever we ride he faces forward; as soon as he turns backwards I know we need to make a pitstop.
“When he starts to spin around I know I better make it fast.”
Although Silvo is his wingman and Schutte can’t go anywhere without his canine companion, the dashing duo often ride with the grizzled biker’s seven-year- old grandson, Seb Lottering.
“I ride a lot with my grandpa and Silvo and people always wave and hoot at us wherever we go,” Seb explained.
“When my grandpa fetches me at school the other children go crazy when they see Silvo. When we leave they chase us down the road.” — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Biker pooch Silvo is king of the road
“Everywhere I go traffic officers pull me over,” said Chris Schutte.
“They ask me for my licence and then walk around the bike six or seven times before sheepishly asking if they can sit in the sidecar with Silvo to take a selfie.
“They don’t ever hassle me, they just want to meet the motorcycling dog,” the 65-year-old chuckled.
After the first police stop, Schutte says he has to change to another route or risk getting pulled over every few kilometres.
“They normally call their friends along the way and they stop me to look at the sidecar and take more pictures with Silvo.”
A veteran biker, who has been in the saddle since the 1960s, Schutte got a schnauzer puppy soon after he dropped his massive BMW motorbike and damaged his knee ligaments trying to pick it up.
“Silvo has been coming with me on the bike from the first day I got him, when he was eight weeks old.
“As soon as I start putting on my biker boots, he hears the noise from the buckles and goes crazy.”
Although Silvo used to ride on the motorbike with Schutte in a specially designed tank bag, he upgraded to his own sidecar after Schutte dropped the bike again.
“When I dropped the bike again and could not pick it up I realised I had to make another plan if I wanted to keep riding. I was at a crossroads,” he admitted.
Schutte kept his biker dream alive when family suggested he attach a sidecar.
“I was depressed when I realised I may not be able to ride my bike anymore; the sidecar was a great idea.”
Since then Schutte and Silvo have clocked up more than 17000km riding along the highways and dirt byways around the country – often camping in a tent along the way.
“He does not wear a helmet but he does have his own pair of doggy goggles that he wears on long trips.
“Silvo is my best friend – if he is not welcome at one place we ride to the next.
“I am his chauffeur.”
Next on the shopping list for the biker pooch is his own crash helmet.
The retired military officer has such a rapport with his dog, that he even knows when to make a pitstop during a long haul.
“Whenever we ride he faces forward; as soon as he turns backwards I know we need to make a pitstop.
“When he starts to spin around I know I better make it fast.”
Although Silvo is his wingman and Schutte can’t go anywhere without his canine companion, the dashing duo often ride with the grizzled biker’s seven-year- old grandson, Seb Lottering.
“I ride a lot with my grandpa and Silvo and people always wave and hoot at us wherever we go,” Seb explained.
“When my grandpa fetches me at school the other children go crazy when they see Silvo. When we leave they chase us down the road.” — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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