At Zunckel Farms near Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal, efficiency is part of daily life. Egon Zunckel, a fourth-generation farmer, together with his sons, Tyson and Carl, has built a successful operation around long-term thinking, soil health and practical decision-making.
That same approach applies to the equipment they use, including the motorbikes on the farm.
“Motorbikes are a vital part of our farming operation, and they’ve been for a long time,” says Zunckel.
Over the years, the Zunckels have tried several brands. They are currently using Husqvarna FE 350s, and for Zunckel the decision came down to a balance between weight and power.
“We found the 350 Husky is as light as the 250cc of the previous brand, but it has the power of that brand’s 450cc,” he explains. “The Huskies are a good mid-range choice that works well on the farm, and we all use them.”
Built for farm work
On a working farm, that balance makes a difference. The 350cc four-stroke engine is compact and positioned in the frame to centralise mass, improving handling. In practical terms, that means the bike feels stable and manageable when riding between lands, along fences or across uneven terrain.
“We like the way the 350 handles,” says Zunckel. “It’s light, but it has enough power when you need it.”
Before some of the farm’s pivots were automated, the bikes played an even bigger role. “We used them a lot more back then,” he says.
“Not all the pivots are automated yet, so we still ride down to the pumps to start some of them.”
Today, the bikes are mainly used for crop and field scouting, checking livestock, inspecting camps and fences, and moving quickly between different parts of the farm.
For Zunckel, practicality is key. He has been practising no-till and minimum-tillage farming for 36 years.
Together with his sons, he introduced cover crops nine years ago as part of a broader focus on soil health and sustainability.
Since moving away from conventional tillage, they have seen steady improvements. Within 10 years, the organic carbon content of their soil doubled. The farm’s mission statement ‘Farming to glorify God’ reflects a commitment to faith, stewardship and long-term responsibility.
In that context, a motorbike is simply another tool that needs to perform reliably. It must be easy to handle, tough enough for farm conditions and dependable over time.
Practical advantages
The FE 350’s enduro design, responsive engine and balanced chassis translate well into everyday farm use.
The advantages are straightforward: lower fuel consumption than a bakkie, easier access to tight areas, and the ability to cover ground quickly.
For scouting crops or checking livestock, a bike often makes more sense than a larger vehicle.
At Zunckel Farms, the motorbikes are not recreational extras, they are working machines. As Zunckel’s approach to farming shows, success often comes down to choosing the right tools, maintaining them, and using them correctly. On this farm, the motorbike has earned its place alongside tractors, harvesters and planters — not for speed or show, but for the simple fact that it gets the job done.
