Motorcycle trip Jan 2007 London - Dakar - London (±2months)
 

I'm planning a motorcycle trip on a KTM 950 Adventure S from London down through France, Spain across to Morocco then down to Western Sahara, Mauretania and Dakar - Senegal. I'm hoping to coincide with the Dakar Rally as i'm sure this will be a real sight to see. My budget for the trip is based on bed and breakfast in Europe and camping in Africa) depending on what sponsorship and any charitable links I can get, I estimate the trip at around around 2-3 months duration. At this stage I'm reseaching and reading a lot. Any one interested? And any coments/advice welcome.

Cheers Paul

Hi Paul,

I'm intrested, I'm on a 640 Adventurer, have funds and the time. I spent 2 years in Algeria a while back and would like to go to Daker. Are you going to the Horizons meeting next month in Derby?

Ian

Hi Ian, thanks for your reply and interest, unfortunately I can't make the meeting up in Derby 2005 but I'll keep you posted as things progress, I'm still at early stages of planning and as this is my first trip into africa it sounds great that you know the region keep fingers crossed we can get a whole group of us perhaps even people who would like to tag along in 4wd - support.

Chat to you later! Cheers, Paul

I'm toying with the idea of doing a 4 month trip anti-clockwise through West Africa.
Ie. your trip, then coming up through Algeria.
Of course, the biggest hurdle to overcome - expense wise- is now getting the escort through Algeria.

Although I'm not keen on travelling in a big group for the whole of my journey, it would be nice to know how many others would be considering getting through Algy in- say January 2007 in order to see about the possibilities of organising a convoy

Hi Guy's
Yep I'm up for the trip Paul. I've spent quite a lot of time in North Africa and have travelled a lot although this will be my first big trip by bike. I,ve camped everywhere form South America to Nepal so that's no problem at all. I have all the time in the world and am happy to plod along and not decide to much in advance. So keep in touch and we can get together later in the year, I'm in Scotland but would be happy to ride south for a meet. I'm 34 but retired]
so am free to shoot off at will.
Regards,
Ian.

Hiya

We're off same trip in 2006...but later. Check our site http://kiriol.free.fr/rallye for details of our next Mauritania trip which will lead to Dakar the following year!

Dan

Hi - From Paul

This all sounds great, I'll keep a log of all contacts and details and as the pieces of this trip come together I'll keep you posted.

Cheers Paul

Hi Geoff
That name sounds South African, I lived in Cape Town for twenty years - been back in the UK for 10 years now - can't wait to get back on to the african continent. Whereabouts in the UK would you be coming from? Quite a few guys have shown interest so far - the next thing is to try and arange a meeting once I've read up a bit more and traed my KTM Duke II in for something a little more enduro.

Algiers sounds good but I have heard a bit tricky... I'll keep you posted

Cheers
Paul

That sounds great Ian, I'm not to fussed about sorting out every last detail either.

Quite a few guys have shown interest so far - the next thing is to try and arange a meeting once I've read up a bit more and traded my KTM Duke II in for something a little more enduro.

Cheers
Paul

Booked Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting in Ripley, Derby 24th - 26th June

See you there!

Black Duke II REG: GN03XDZ

details at http://www.HorizonsUnlimited.com/meetings/

Might be interested in that trip myself, plenty of time to save for it! We arent all retired in our 30s!, lucky bugger!!
Have a Transalp at the moment but who knows by then. Is a carnet needed?

------------------
John C. Rymer
Belfast, N. Ireland.
Honda XL600V Transalp.

Hi John,

I've been looking into it and it would seem that we don't need a Carnet for the areas we intend to travel. I'll be speaking to Paul tonight so I'll touch base regarding any visa requirement etc.

Ian.

Hi All,

Yeh, I was wrong we seem to require a Carnet for Senegal. More to come !!!!

Ian.

Great talking to you earlier Ian - its early days but trip is really falling into place very nicely - great chat.

Well, I think I've got the bike sorted KTM 950 2004 model silver 700miles - showroom condition. A trade in some cash, bit of paperwork and with any luck thats me sorted with some wheels for the trip - that leaves from now to Jan 2007 to get some radar and boxes and a few crash bars.

Hi John, nice to hear you might be up for it. Yep plenty of time to save or leave enough money in the bank to pay for the mortgage and feed the wife and kids while you're away, thats the main condition for me, anyway!

As per forum at this stage just doing a lot of reading and web surfing to find out as much as we can.

My email is available on forum details if required so as to leave phone number etc. so we can telephone each other.

We are attending meeting in Derby (horizonsunlimited 2005 june 24-26) if your're able to make it - let us know its under www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings

Cheers
Paul

(pixelart-design)

Hi Dan

Good talking to you the other day - sorry for not getting back to you sooner, thanks for all your advice and tips of the trade, I'll keep in touch via forum and email and hopefully we can all meet up are you going to horizons unlimited meeting? If not we'll contact you and pay you a visit in Wales. You can show us some of those offroad tricks.

Cheers
Paul

(pixelart-design)

Hi Geoff

Thanks for emails Re: which bike... I've decided against the BMW GS1150 as it'll be to much for me to handle if venture off into sandy terrain, I have kind of settled on a KTM 950 its tall but feels so much more flickable and nimble. I just have to come up with a plan of how to carry some extra fuel I have seen some guys have small jerry cans fixed to panniers - I was thinking a couple to five litres each side should work. That'll give me around 32 litres.

Anyway thanks for advice - very much appreciated - we will see you at HU meeting in june, I'll let you know bike reg once I get it, you've got mobile - give us a ring on the day.

Cheers
paul

(pixelart-design)

Well no wife kids or morgage for me, yet! I have booked to go to the meeting, hopefully I can make it, all depends on work at the time.

Hi

See you all at the HU meeting 24th-26th June... Safe journey

Cheers Paul