trip antwerp /Accra F650 ST BMW

[dunni]

Hello,First i'll introduce myself,i'am a 53 year old who wants to ride to Timbouktou then on through the dogon on towards the Gorom-Gorom in burkino faso and then just south to Accra.I presume carrying a twenty liter jerrycan with me +the 17 liter in the main tank would be sufficient between stops down from Mauritania.Is the best way to nouakchout still via Choum.Can i get fuel overthere?I'll be riding through Kiffa towards Bamako.
For Timbouktou i probably best stick to the south of the Niger and take the ferry.I dont know what the road to Djibo is like but as i'am leaving around early october i should be ok weatherwise.(i hope)I believe its about 9000 km all up and should posible be done in about seven weeks.I looked at a bigger GS PD 1100,but as i'am pretty short i think this would be a real bastard to get back on his tracks when it bowls over.Visawise i'll get everything in Brussels,i dont know much about the neccesity of a carnet the passage down in africa.My BMW has about 17000 miles on the clock(97) and i plan to change my roadtyre's in Marrakech.I've got an an 18 inch front wheel which i know is not perfect for the trip but it turns around and that should be sufficient.I don't think i have more than a couple of thousand kilometers on dirt.If any of you people can help me with some info i'll be very happy.I have not done big miles for maybe twenty years but i guess i'll learn on the trip. Thanks Luc

[Chris Scott]

Hello Luc,

It is tarmac all the way thru Mori to Kiffa if not Bamako, no need to go via Choum or change your tyres in Mk or a 20L jerri - maybe a 5L.
There may be some sand tracks near Tim where a GSPD will be a tank; I would keep the 650.
Depending on where you go in Dogon it will be much less dirt kms than you think (if you want).

Chris

[dunni]

Thanks for the info Chris,I used to do a lot of this trips but thats at least twenty five years ago .I did not see myself riding through bulldust for five hours a day cause its very tiring and you need to be pretty fit.Most people seem to forget this.