Morocco - like I said, it won't be easy

[Dahoum]

"Go stick your finger up a Arab dogs arse"

 

[Timolgra]

I should add in case anyone should jump to the wrong conclusions.

IMHO Jinxy was a star, his bike was running rough with what I believe to be a faulty TPS after just a few days in Morocco. He completed two of the pistes but had to bypass the remainder on tarmac. Despite that, he always had a smile on his face and it was a pleasure to be in his company.
I ordered a part via from UK which was promised in 3/4days fast delivery but hadn't arrived after the 5th day and then it was weekend anyway.

Captain Dangerous is an ace rider. He was keeping up with me on the first piste, so when we stopped I said go on ahead, which he did, jeez did he go! when we stopped next I could see a big smile inside his helmet.
Whilst we were cowering out of the midday sun in Tata for lunch, Steve was sunning himself totally unfazed by it all. And again great company

Tim

 

[DavidHale]

Why do some of these hero's think a few weeks 'greening' on an unladen GS is going to prepare them for several hundred clicks of piste riding in the searing heat miles away from from the nearest town?

So what does prepare someone for several hundred clicks of piste riding then, smarty pants?

Before I carry on I should say that I haven't met any of the people that were on this trip so I have no axe to grind or opinions about them.

So, what does prepare you? Apart from riding several hundred clicks on piste ? I would love to do what Tim has done, but my off-road experiance is virtually nil. And where in the UK can you replicate those conditions that they encountered? Surely that is the whole point of doing these sort of trips - to learn and enjoy. If part of the riding is above a particular riders skill level then surely that rider is wisest to bail out at that point - and to be supported, not derided in his decision.

I know from the write-up (which was fantastic!) that if I had gone on the trip with Tim I would have died. My skill levels are no where near what would have been required for that trip. That's not to say my skill levels couldn't be brought up to that level with enough practise, but where? If I go on one of the 'softer' group-led hand-holding trips (eg, BMW world) then I have to put up with being looked down on as not having had a 'proper' adventure... Or if I join a similar expedition to Tim's I suffer again due to being out of my depth.


There have been a few trips recently that ALL seem to have been fantastic trips in their own way, that are then tainted with various sneering, back-biting comments. Can't we all just enjoy the fact that these people have gone off and done something a bit different, and hopefully had a good time doing it? We are, after all, supposed to be having fun...

 

[Tim Cullis]

My first trips to Morocco in the early 70s were on a TriBSA café racer and I certainly didn't go anywhere near a track--I was too busy enjoying the smooth blacktops. Morocco is a brilliant place to go for an all-tarmac adventure--and after all, nobody gets derided for taking a all-tarmac trip to the Alps.

My first tentative venturing offroad was 18 months ago when I bought the GS. The World of BMW courses are certainly good for getting you started with basic techniques. Then it's a matter of gently pushing the envelope. It helps to have others with you who are a little bit more experienced, watching how they tackle something, and telling yourself, "If he can do it, then so can I."

Riding locally with Shrek2 and Defor was good. And last year's trip to Stelvio with the group from the AdvRiders forum was a breakthrough for me, especially with Ella riding an 1150GS, and Loz two-up on an 1150GSA.

Pistes in Morocco vary from the incredibly easy gravel tracks that are smoother than your local pub's car park, to giant switchbacks with massive steps and loose rocks the size of dinner plates. Not to mention sand.

However, whilst there is a certain sense of achievement from completing a head-bangingly difficult piste, personally I normally prefer something easier--after all, the adventure is really the places you visit, the scenary you see and the people you meet.

It's also important to know when to turn back, and when to not even start! It's not just the piste but keeping an eye on the weather.

Tim

 

[Timolgra]

However, whilst there is a certain sense of achievement from completing a head-bangingly difficult piste, personally I normally prefer something easier--after all, the adventure is really the places you visit, the scenary you see and the people you meet.

It's also important to know when to turn back, and when to not even start! It's not just the piste but keeping an eye on the weather.

Tim

I do agree, but when the six of us reached the top of this climb towards Igherm from Tata, realising exactly where we were, looked at each other and all laughed out loud. I remember saying ..."Take that"!

I did already say that it's horses for courses and yes there are the most fantastic tarmac roads to ride as you and many others know

Keeping a weather eye open is of course common sense, we were out all day, ok it was cloudy at times but it never once rained, then we came across flood water

 

[Doug]

I do agree, but when the six of us reached the top of this climb towards Igherm from Tata, realising exactly where we were, looked at each other and all laughed out loud. I remember saying ..."Take that"!

Firstly Timo may I say I've really enjoyed reading about the Moroccan adventure but I can't imagine ever feeling that euphoric that I'd call out for a shite boy band

 

[Timolgra]

I do agree, but when the six of us reached the top of this climb towards Igherm from Tata, realising exactly where we were, looked at each other and all laughed out loud. I remember saying ..."Take that"!

Firstly Timo may I say I've really enjoyed reading about the Moroccan adventure but I can't imagine ever feeling that euphoric that I'd call out for a shite boy band

Had I shouted out "Monkees"! it would have given my age way

 

[John Armstrong]

Had I shouted out "Monkees"! it would have given my age way

Weren't they a "boy" band, but of an earlier age

Or, because they were around so long ago, and had a TV series, they don't count as a "boy" band anymore

Still looks like you had an interesting time. BTW, AFAIK, there's a Chinese curse - "May you live in interesting times".

 

[dirtydog]

So what does prepare someone for several hundred clicks of piste riding then, smarty pants?

I do quite a bit of riding in disused quarries, apart from the heat, the terrain can be very similar. Unfortunately most of the off roading in the UK tends to be quite damp. Riding on very dry loose shale, steps etc is very different, quarry riding can emulate this to a degree?

Don't be put off, if you can afford it I would suggest you buy an enduro bike and get the feel for 'off roading' then progress to using the GS.

Also improve your cardio vascular fitness and take up a little weight training, unless your naturally strong off course. Picking up a 300kg bike on gravel ain't easy!

So, get some practise in and get out there!

Yours,

'Smartie Pants'

Sorry about the compression, they were large files!

Might be your bedside manner

lol, well spotted......patience

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[DavidHale]

Ta!

 

[Loz]

i enjoyed all 4 trip reports but i just can't understand all the bitching going on

i liked the steppers thing,tim had his own adv on the side like he does,timolgra trip looked great with all the offroad and snoopy had a great old time until he got home and posted

if anybody is going to moroc buy a set of tkc 80's and go out on every offroad rideout that is posted for starters,there are allways better riders there who will point you in the right direction and help you pick it up when you drop it which you will,post up looking for more experenced rider's to show you the ropes,enter the cambrain rally etc where you will get at least 6hrs in the saddle on forest tracks etc,also the bm offroad course is gonna be helpfull,and most of all don't let the fuggin KILLJOY'S around here put you off...........loz


ps maybe some of the EXPERT'S on the subject will run a few training day's for us???

 

[dirtydog]

ps maybe some of the EXPERT'S on the subject will run a few training day's for us???

Experts? I would gladly help out other riders, you sort out the location and I'll turn up (distance negotiable)

 

[Mutley]

Experts? I would gladly help out other riders, you sort out the location and I'll turn up (distance negotiable)

Experts? X is the unknown factor and a spurt is a drip under pressure!

 

[John Armstrong]

Ex as in has been
Spurt as in a drip under pressure.

 

[Steptoe]

ps maybe some of the EXPERT'S on the subject will run a few training day's for us???

Why not you Loz - they don't come much better

 

[Timolgra]

Why not you Loz - they don't come much better

He means for riding the bike, not that

 

[Steptoe]

Tim - Did the guys read the health & safety risk assessment before setting off on your tour

 

[Loz]

i'm far from being an expert but i'm willing (with help from other far from's)to have a bash,the ridgeway is my local lane and i think it would a good place to start


as a newbe offroader you tell me wot you want and me and the other far from's will try to sort it out,i'm thinking instead of just doing an offroad rideout, find some tricky technical stuff and practice it sort of like a long distance trail,climb's,rut's,obstacle's,picking the thing up,fording(ideas wanted here)etc.as well i'm thinking of someone demostrating?things like plugging a tyre(i've never done it) maybe tyre changeing on the pisste, wot about that re-set thing when you twist the throttle(dunno wot that's all about)i'm getting into this now,come on all expert's tell us wot we need to know when we are out of the way,ie bush mechanic stuff ect

possu(steve)showed me how to do my valves the other day,this weekend i'm going to practice on my mate's 1100 and he ain't even got to pay me,


there's a lot of experience out there,let's share it!!!!!!!!! loz

oh yeh,let's throw this open to all

 

[Steptoe]

Feck me Lol, you must be out of breath. thats the longest post you've ever done. Are you keen

 

[BAKERMAN]

i'm far from being an expert but i'm willing (with help from other far from's)to have a bash,the ridgeway is my local lane and i think it would a good place to start


as a newbe offroader you tell me wot you want and me and the other far from's will try to sort it out,i'm thinking instead of just doing an offroad rideout, find some tricky technical stuff and practice it sort of like a long distance trail,climb's,rut's,obstacle's,picking the thing up,fording(ideas wanted here)etc.as well i'm thinking of someone demostrating?things like plugging a tyre(i've never done it) maybe tyre changeing on the pisste, wot about that re-set thing when you twist the throttle(dunno wot that's all about)i'm getting into this now,come on all expert's tell us wot we need to know when we are out of the way,ie bush mechanic stuff ect

possu(steve)showed me how to do my valves the other day,this weekend i'm going to practice on my mate's 1100 and he ain't even got to pay me,


there's a lot of experience out there,let's share it!!!!!!!!! loz

oh yeh,let's throw this open to all

can i help