trip antwerp /Accra F650 ST BMW
 

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

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

tmbouktou travel
 

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.