Difficulty of roads, tracks on Maroc (Olaf) maps

**men8ifr** · #1 6 Dec 2007

On Olaf's website he says
"Major highways" (blue in Mapsource) should be four laned roads or broader
"Other Highway roads" (red in Mapsource) should be asphalted
"Arterial roads" (thick black lines) are probably asphalted, otherwise more or less easy to travel
"Collector roads" (thin black lines) are rather difficult tracks
"Unpaved roads" (dashed lines) are off-road connectors

Can anyone comment further on these track markings - I did not see any dashed black tracks on the map and what are off road connectors (off piste riding?) how difficult will the thin black lines be for BMW 1200's , an aprillia Pegsao and moderate skilled riders?

Cheers

**Frank Warner** · #2 6 Dec 2007

How long is a piece of string?

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Road and track conditions change ... particularly dirt roads .. what was a good road two weeks ago can be very difficult (or impassable) now .. due to traffic and/or weather .. so what people say they experienced may not be what you experience.

Secondly - what one person decribes as "the worst road" may be correct for them .. but they don't have the same experience and knowledge as you. Nor do they have the same vehicle and load.

You are the best judge of what you can and cannot do - I'd just give them a try and see what it is like for me at the time. The desciption 'off-road' ... well I'd say it is probably more 'track' ... ie less used, and 'rougher' ... but still a defined path?

If you have not been there before then go and experiment ... with caution.

**Eric DN** · #3 6 Dec 2007

During our trip we was told four or five time the road is broken you could not pass, each time we went and saw, each time we succed to cross.
In the dunes field because of a sand storm we decided to give up and get round the erg.
Go a head, have a look and decide.

Eric
Deux 400XR au MAROC
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201472
Picasa Albums Web - Eric

**Tim Cullis** · #4 6 Dec 2007

You need to really zoom in to see some of the track types.

What Frank and Eric wrote +1.

It's supposed to be adventure motorcycling. Most of my travels have been solo. With two of you travelling together you can help each other get out of sand traps, cross river beds more easily, and so on. Don't be afraid to make your own tracks alongside the piste, make changes to the landscape with on and off ramps if necessary. And if you find you are really outside your comfort factor, turn back.

Most of the traffic on the Moroccan pistes is early morning or late evening, so if you are stuck, hang on in there and hopefully someone will come to your rescue.

Tim