Moroccan Pistes

[Timolgra]

Just having a look through Chris Scott's Sahara overland book in preparation for our jaunt.
I'm keen to have a go at the long piste known as M5 from Tagounite to Merzouga. Whilst the description of the route is excellent, has anyone out there done this route (or any of the others) on a loaded GS 1100/1150 with road tyres. I'm asking really as I'm unsure of the bikes, and my limits in any areas of soft sand we may encounter.

Thanks Tim

 

[Simon Eassom]

Tim:

It's been many years since I was in that area so don't take my word as gospel. I rode the Zagora-Tagounite section and parts of the Merzouga piste on a fully loaded mountain bike and my memories are of rocky terrain and hard-pan rather than soft sand. The whole section, from memory, is about 100-120 miles and I had difficulties in only a few spots. But, the whole area is very susceptible to flash floods and lard sections of piste can be washed away.
I'll have to dig out my old guidebooks and maps to refresh myself as to exactly where I went and how it relates to Chris Scott's M5, but in the absence of anybody else chipping in I thought this might be helpful.

Simon E.

PS Took me 6 days on my pushbike. I reckon 2 days on the GS.

 

[Timolgra]

Thanks Simon. One of our party who feels sure he has done this route with Moto Aventures on an XR 400 also remembers areas washed out through floods and they had a hard time on those bikes. I think we will play that one by ear after gauging the bike's and our parties abilities on some shorter routes first, it's a long way from home to get it wrong.
Youth is wasted on the young.
Cheers Tim