Sleeping beside the bike in a Moroccan river bed

[Kritou]

Great story and photographs - thank you

I'm taking my Quest down there in April - what mapping would you recommend and any tips re GPS useage in Morocco?

 

[Number 6]

Kev became separated from Andy and Loz when he couldn't keep up on the motorway bends in Spain. I dropped back to keep Kev company and we didn't see the others again for 900 miles.

I met up again with them in Ouarzazate but they left the next day. At that stage I decided not to go to Dakar but to stay in Morocco touring solo.
Tim

We split again in Maurutania, Kev and Loz stayed in Nouakchott whilst me and Andrew headed into Senegal. Kev and Loz split up later, as did me and Andrew The inital group of 5 all eventually went their seperate ways.
Andy.

(great trip report Tim, some of those trails around Azrou look familiar?)

 

[BAKERMAN]

We split again in Maurutania, Kev and Loz stayed in Nouakchott whilst me and Andrew headed into Senegal. Kev and Loz split up later, as did me and Andrew The inital group of 5 all eventually went their seperate ways.
Andy.

(great trip report Tim, some of those trails around Azrou look familiar?)

looks like you all got on well then

4 more reports needed

 

[walti]

I think the flower is an iris.

 

[Tim Cullis]

what mapping would you recommend and any tips re GPS useage in Morocco?

Check out the Knowledgebase: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89396

Tim

 

[Eric DN]

Great report.
I recognize some place where we have been last october, also the hotel des cedres at Azrou where we spent a nigth heigth years ago
Eric
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201472

 

[Timolgra]

Great to see the Middle Atlas area around Azrou being explored, it's all too easy to ride on past in the rush to get south.

This time we intend to ride from Azrou via Ain-Leuh or Ajabo rejoining the road at Ait-Oufella.
Then Midelt to Imilchil, to Agoudal and the Dades, Valley of Roses and to Tinerhir...and more...

 

[sniper]

Good stuff Tim

 

[Deleted Member I]

Total milage for the trip: 7500 miles.
Offroad milage: in excess of 1200 miles.


Tim

That's more mileage then I do in one year!!

Great pictures and write up

 

[Decster]

Great report and pics

Tim,

How did you find the 1200Adv throughout the trip not just off road? I mean on the whole.

What were the positives and negatives of the bike?

And anything else you might like to mention. I am not planning on getting one soon, but lots of blokes have or have them on order. Also curiousity is a major factor in asking.

Again excellent report and pics.

D

 

[Tim Cullis]

The bike is a tad heavy for offroad use, but then if I was serious about excess weight I should remove some from myself first!

For road use it's perfect. But so was my previous 12GS. On both bikes I upgraded the horn and added auxiliary lights.

Having done similar trips on the 12GS, the major difference is the seat height. On the GS I would often need to stretch my legs, but the extra height of the 12GS means I don't need to do that. Given the tracks I was planning it would have made sense to fit my extra low seat, but I opted for comfort instead. On my next trip I might experiment with creating a woopie cushion for the low seat for touring.

Not impressed with the 'strength' of the GSA panniers. They don't seem as hardy as the plastic vario GS ones.

Tim

 

[kevhdr3]

Tim not only slowed down to keep me company he also gave me some good tips & pionters on my cornering as in 25 years ridding chops & HDs i had never been told about counter steering . The advice & tips had my cornering speed up about 20mph & feeling more safe . Thanks Tim . Thanks must also go out to Loz for his off road tips on the trip & on sailsbury plane ( my 1st time off road on the gs ) I only did 8500miles on the trip & didnt end up going to Dakar but did ride with the Dakar early one morning in East Senegal on the road with Loz. But thats another story .

 

[Decster]

The bike is a tad heavy for offroad use, but then if I was serious about excess weight I should remove some from myself first!

For road use it's perfect. But so was my previous 12GS. On both bikes I upgraded the horn and added auxiliary lights.

Having done similar trips on the 12GS, the major difference is the seat height. On the GS I would often need to stretch my legs, but the extra height of the 12GS means I don't need to do that. Given the tracks I was planning it would have made sense to fit my extra low seat, but I opted for comfort instead. On my next trip I might experiment with creating a woopie cushion for the low seat for touring.

Not impressed with the 'strength' of the GSA panniers. They don't seem as hardy as the plastic vario GS ones.

Tim

Thanks for the info Tim.

D.

 

[Dahoum]

Enjoyed the report a lot Tim - thanks for taking the time to put it up

Interesting remarks re the vario panniers. I've not had problems with mine and feel that I'd happily do a similar trip with them.

Can i ask if you had any specific packing list for such a long trip?

 

[orca the porker]

ORCA

 

[Tim Cullis]

Can i ask if you had any specific packing list for such a long trip?

When travelling with friends you can split the load. I obviously didn't, but even then I took FAR too much.

Did I really need motocross boots plus trekking boots plus trainers plus flip flops? It's also time I tempered my reliance on red bull for long days. And what's with the catapult and ammunition?

Tim

 

[Sir James]

Looking forward to going in April

Some of those passes look similar to the Cedar forest ,or does everything that size look alike

Anyway , great report and fantastic photo's

 

[Bert]

Mmmmm....

looks like you all got on well then

Reading this.....reinforces the 'He who travels alone........ ' and the best laid plans..are those laid to rest behind you before you go!!
And all that Red Bull Tim......6 litres? FFS! very worrying.......could this stuff account for some strange decision making
Nice photos though Glad you're back in 1 piece

 

[Packer]

Looks like you had a great time Tim.

You obvioulsy didn't read any of those informed bike mag road tests that say the GS is really a road bike and has little or no off-road capability!