Feedback on my Sahara overland adventure
 

Hi all,

I just got my motorcycle license and am now planning for my Sahara overland adventure! I've bought a Suzuki 200cc dual sport bike and have ridden over 280 miles so far as preparation. It's still very early in the planning process so I wanted to run my plans through you and get some feedback on the whole idea. Here's the scoop:

I'll fly into either Morocco or Tunisia and buy a 450-650cc motorcycle there. I'll sell or dump it once I've crossed Sahara.

I'll either go by myself or with a friend. She's terrified of motorcycles, has never been on one, but likes the idea so she'd either go as a passenger on my bike or in a sidecar.

Doesn't matter where I'll fly out from. Could be Senegal or Mali. I plan to do this in July when I have time off work. According to my calculations, I'll cross the desert in 4 days, but have allocated 2 full weeks to allow for sightseeing, border/visa issues and unexpected delays.

No tent, we'll bring light sleeping bags and sleep under the stars. That's how we roll.

My friend wants to do a safari too to see some animal, cool if we could fit that in, but I'm unsure where we'd do that.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome! Everyone hearing this plan, except my friend, seems to think that I will die during this trip. Please note that the post is serious. I'm an experienced traveler and used to traveling in extreme conditions. I know what I am getting myself into, and am ready to deal with it.

Max

Your post is admirably crammed with hubris and ignorance--basically, you're at the place where we all begin our journeys--even those who sound tough and experienced. It would be silly to start critiquing and quibbling with each piece of your plans. Probably the most important advice at this point would be to try to nurture a bit of humility as you move forward. It sounds like you'll need it.

I'm concerned mostly about your stated intent to take with you a friend who's "terrified" of motorcycles. It's well enough that you're on the steep initial learning curve; this is not the time to ruin a serviceable friendship (much less romance) by overextending. Try to work her into the picture gradually.

Good luck and safe journeys.

Mark

Mark

Good luck with the trip Max. I think you've just got enough time to change your surname from Power to Payne.

mmmmmm I guess you know that it's Monsoon time there then ...:excl:
You have a pm!

Harsh, but I thought the same. We all start somewhere though.

Sidecars BTW are not bikes. They handle completely differently and will kill the unwary by filiiping over on the first off camber turn towards the chair at speed, sandy rut with rocks etc. You'll take a while to buy an overland ready rig in Europe, they are non-existant in Africa for the simple fact a 4x4 is less fun but way easier to deal with day to day.

I'd get a bike or outfit closer to home and get another thirty thousand miles in until you know what it'll do and how it'll break.

There are no short cuts to getting the experience required for this sort of trip and while you seem prepared to accept the risks I fear for your friend.

Maybe your enthusiasm just doesn't translate well into the screen?

Good Luck and have fun,

Andy

Quote: I'll either go by myself or with a friend. She's terrified of motorcycles, has never been on one, but likes the idea so she'd either go as a passenger on my bike or in a sidecar. Unquote.

I would suggest that your friend goes pillion on a motorcycle at home, to see just how terrified she really is of them, before jumping on the back of a novice rider's bike and essaying across the Sahara desert with you.

I've got a mate here with me at work, he's a novice rider also, he's been riding on the road for a couple of months now, and in fact has progressed from his Learner plate to a Provisional plate...he would like to say this to you:

"Why would a novice rider, with little experience, take a pillion passenger on an off road journey that is likely to be difficult, if not hazardous?
It beggers belief that you think so little of your friend that you are prepared to risk her life in this way. And that's what your doing, risking her life.
In many countries of the world it is illegal for a new rider (a Learner plate) to carry a pillion for up to 12 months or 2 years. There is a reason for this. Think on that.
As a new rider it is extremely unlikely that you will have the skill-set to deal with unexpected/emergency riding situations...and that's on the road, much less off it on dirt/sandy tracks.
Do your friend a favour...have her hire a 4x4 and carry all your gear and equipment for you.
Or let her take the bus." Jason. (4000 kms on the road so far...and still learning a lot each ride.)

:mchappy:"Watch out for the tree!" :eek3::palm::oops2:

Pretty much sums it up for me as well.

Just curious; Is Long Way Round or Long Way Down screening on TV in San Fran at the moment?

Cheers: Jaq.

I guess I’m a little unclear on the time allotted…two weeks? Or two weeks and four days to buy a bike in Morocco or Tunisia, ride to Senegal or Mali (Dakar or Bamako I presume for return flight), and sell or “dump”: the bike? And book a flight home? Visas? Carnet?

That would be, um, interesting! :eek3:

You don’t say whether you’re planning offroad riding or not. You could stay on pavement virtually the whole way from Morocco to Senegal or Mali, but still … not enough time to enjoy yourself and experience the cultures.

Regardless of on or off road, you would have to negotiate very hazardous urban African traffic in i.e. Casablanca or Rabat or Dakar or Bamako.

Frankly, you’ll need a LOT more than 280 miles of prep riding to confidently maneuver a motorcycle thru reckless urban African traffic! With a passenger? And luggage? Not a good idea IMHO.

IMHO – take the time to ride Baja or somewhere else in Mexico instead.

Good luck.

Mark

Read Chris Scott's "Sahara Overland". For starters, the trip down Baja is an excellent idea as one member suggested above.

just do it....
 

just do it man, see what happens. it will be an adventure whatever happens. take lots of pics and have a great time! :thumbup1:

Yeah, that was my initial reaction, although your friend's apparent faith is quite touching. I don't know anything about the Sahara, but wouldn't it be rather, uh, warm, in the Sahara in July?

In any event, I personally think that for a brand-new rider, crossing the Sahara, in summer, with a pillion, on some unknown bike you just picked up in Morocco, is a really bad idea.

Best of luck if that is how you roll.

July?
 

Hi,
I've got to say, my biggest concern would be the time of year.
Anyone can run into problems in the desert (especially on an unknown bike), but the summer is when those problems can become life threatening very quickly. How much water could you hope to carry for 2 people on a bike?
It would be a whole lot more enjoyable in the cooler months as well i reckon.

Good luck
Sam

Hi,

I've done less silly things before and learnt to rather research, plan and ride in such a way so that I survive to ride again another day. Despite the ever-increasing amount of tar/blacktop/asphalt Earth is probably still too large a planet for the average working-guy's lifespan, so why limit what you can experience by not surviving your first trip?

PS. You're kidding, right?

Mmmmmm?
 

Hi there.
Not that i wish to put you off, but i can't help thinking of a little chat i had, while in southern morocco. I was talking to a guy and his wife who were in a 4x4. He had been to this same area in June, with his son. They had a puncture which needed the tyre changing. Having all the equipment they needed, they changed the tyre themselves. You know, Practice makes perfect, and all that sort of stuff. The father nearly fainted due to the high workload in the heat. The lad burnt his hand, "ON THE PAINTWORK OF THE BONNET". They recorded nearly 60 degrees, outside the car at one point. I dread to think what it would have been like inside the car?
Be carefull, and do your homework!
Have a great time, and come back and tell us your story please?
Nick.

60 degreees C (140 F).

The highest tempreature ever recorded on Earth was 57.7 (136 F)

The biggest scorcher ever recorded was on September 13, 1922, in El Azizia (also known as Al 'Aziziyah), Libya, when the mercury hit 136 degrees Fahrenheit. El Azizia is near the Sahara desert.

However: The above temperature is seriously doubted in climatic circles for a number of reasons, one being that it's the wrong time of year to be that hot, and also that the type and exposure of the measuring instruments is suspect. This is the case with Australian records where the long-standing record of 53 degrees C has been downgraded to 51C, the latter on known reliable equipment.

:smartass:

High temps
 

Hi there.
I was lead to believe the tale from the chap i met, as he had no reason to lie. But the truth could be in the word "tale"!
The reason behind this posting is to serve as a reminder to the chap, who wants to do the above trip.
My message is, Take it easy, we all have to start somewhere. But, maybe June isn't the best month to go north Africa?
Nick.

Official temperature records are always shade temps, and are taken a certain distance from the ground and from distorting influences. If it's an official 120 degrees (F) you can easily record 160 in the sun, close to the ground, next to a large radiant object like a car. And it's that 160 degree reading which most accurately describes the effects on the tender human changer-of-flat-tires.

The OP will have many issues to deal with, including his terrified friend, his lack of relevant experience (of which he seems totally unaware) and his own tendency to puffery. But that doesn't mean he won't make it: after all, he's presumably taking the rather straightforward coast route, and most people do make it no matter how clueless (I speak from personal experience!). It's the few who fall off the edge of the known universe in inhospitable deserts, avalanche terrain, traffic accidents or [insert your preferred hazard here] who teach us where the limits and probabilities lie.

Please remit: $0.02

Mark

What they both should do is get on Interstate 80 and go East about 250 miles to Fernley Navada. Get a room at the Silverado Motel.
Within a mile of there is the Frenley motocross track.
That is sand. Practice on that. Lot of other roads around also.
Don't go on a weekend, they will be racing.

Actually I was being pedantic, the poster who mentions shaded readings is correct, and to be honest there's little differnce between 51 C and 53 C when you're out in it.
I was riding around in Nevada in the summer of 2005. Not a million miles from Death Valley. I felt a bit 'odd' and pulled over on the side of the road...where I promptly passed out for a few seconds. Wasn't drinking enough water (didn't have a hydro-pak back then). Dehydrated. I was very fortunate I pulled over when I did, as there was other traffic on the road.
My friend Valorie was totally unaffected by the heat.
We heard people in Las vegas saying it was 108 F to 110, which is only 42 to 43 C.
My current lady and I will be in Morocco on a BMW GS 100 with another couple on a Transalp at the end of May.
We fully expect it to be extremely hot and have prepared for that with hydro-paks, light coloured helmets, desert issue cotton clothing and fully vented (but still armoured) summer riding jackets.
If it gets too hot to function normally we'll ride early in the mornings and later in the afternoons.
We will not be doing any major desert crossings, just staying on the larger pistes and roads and visiting the main cities and places like Quarzatte and Tombuctu.

Cheers: Jaq.

I heard these are quite common in the southern Sahara in July..:D

Thanks for all your replies, and the PM bert (i don't have enough posts to PM you back). I think I will now seriously have to reconsider my adventure. I've bought the Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook. I'll study those, keep practicing on my bike, and postpone the trip until I have a better idea of how/where/when I can go.

Good call! But I don't think you need years and years of experience either...get the bike you will take with you, get in a few thousand miles miles on it, including off road, practice with your adventure-seeking pillion, bring lots and lots of water, and go do it!

Good plan, happy riding and reading!
It'll be a great trip when the time is right :thumbup1:

Sam

Hey mate

When you've got a bit more experience...

A viable alternative might be this company below.
You can either do a tour with them or hire one of their bikes and follow thier advice and maps.
Much better proposition for you I'm thinking.

Your friend who's scared of bikes...she should do a bike riding course herself...then she won't have to be worried about being a pillion, she can ride her own machine.

Anyway: There's a motorcycle hire shop run by a French couple in Marrakesh.

They have Honda 125/250/650 trail bikes.

loc2roues location motos scooters quads marrakech maroc

Cheers: Jaq.

Hi guys. It's me again. I just returned from spending a few days riding in Baja, Mexico. I had an awesome time and wanted to thank the poster who suggested going to Baja. Thanks also to Jaq; renting a bike sounds like a smart alternative.

I wanted to ask you if you think it's a big difference crossing the desert in northern Baja and crossing Sahara (or part of it)? Are the roads/trails similar to the ones found in Baja? You can see my Baja blog and photos here in case you're interested:

[gone]

I realize I'm still a beginner rider, but after this trip I gained a lot of confidence!

Hey congrats on the Baja ride! Looks like you had yourself a time ... :)

Perhaps the biggest difference to bear in mind between Baja / Sahara is population density and the distance between things. Spot-on planning on fuel, water, gear and various contingencies becomes much more important in the Sahara vs. Baja. (Not to say it's not important in Baja). Bike maintenance and tire changing, too, for example.

The stakes are higher, because chances are usually fair that someone will come along if you run into problems in Baja -- not necessarily the case in the Sahara, depending on where you are.

For route conditions, your copy of "Sahara Overland" has it all, no? BTW, what route do you have in mind -- run around Morocco, then the paved coastal road to Mauritania, and some more piste runs there? Good luck.

BTW for rental bike / tour options in Morocco, might check out these recent reports from Americans who hooked up with Biker's Home in Ouarzazate. C2K 2009