Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.               Discover the extraordinary with Compass Expeditions.

Go Back   The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Which Bike?

Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!
AMERICA’S PREMIER MANUFACTURER OF MOTORCYCLE SUSPENSION

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 4 Oct 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Spain / South Africa
Posts: 3
Would you tour Morocco West Sahara on DRZ400E?

Hi all.
A wee bit of advice needed if you don't mind.....

I'm keen to do some touring in Morocco / Western Sahara on a motorbike, and had been lookin at possibly buying one of the normally recommended bikes for this purpose....KTM, BMW etc.

It's only the past couple of days that i've been having a re-think, and was wondering what would you guys think of the idea of doing it on a smaller bike.
I do a bit of offroad riding down here in Southern Spain and own a '04 DRZ400E.
Is it possible to mod this bike to make it suitable for a trip like this, and would the trip be majorly compromised as compared to using other bikes built for this purpose?.
I guess a long range tank would be a must, but what about fitting luggage racks etc, etc.
I enjoy heading off into the bush and roughing it in an old 4x4 while down in S.A. so wild camping would be my preference, therefore i would also need facility to carry a small tent


I haven't previously done any touring of this sort on a motorbike, and would love to hear some tips/advice from people who have been there and done it.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

All the best Dave.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 4 Oct 2010
MikeS's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back in Auld Reekie
Posts: 1,111
[url=http://www.touringted.com/drz400s-overland-prep]Touring Ted
__________________
Mike


www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
www.argentina-alaska.blogspot.com
My little Vid: India/Pakistan

BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...

Last edited by MikeS; 4 Oct 2010 at 18:14.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 4 Oct 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Moscow, Russia
Posts: 715
Lots of info on ADVRider about "adventurizing" DRZ400s.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 4 Oct 2010
Selous's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: England
Posts: 371
I looked for the same bike but would be going from UK over to Morocco so would like something a bit bigger.
As for you would say no problem look up touring Ted [url=http://www.touringted.com/drz400s-overland-prep] & enjoy the ride, may be look up Tim Cummings (on here too) on the GS Forum has a whole sub-section in http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=818831 hope of use

Good luck & enjoy
__________________
We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5 Oct 2010
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Merseyside, England.
Posts: 3,414
Very easy to prep a DRZ... Loads of kit available.

For the desert it will be way more fun than a heavier bike and a lot easier... It's not the best bike for the highway but it's doable. Just use 15/40 or 15/41 gearing for the road and have a 45 or whatever you like to put on when you get to the desert.

Mines been 100% reliable so far with 15,000 miles on it.

You've got the E model which is essentially the same apart from the cam, carb and thicker base gasket. Can't see it being an issue though. If you look after it and change the oil like you should, check the valves etc it should do you just fine.

Feel free to PM or mail me for any other info... Ted
__________________
www.touringted.com
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 5 Oct 2010
Steve Pickford's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 998
The DRZ400E also has a shorter subframe that's not so good for mounting luggage racks to, some E owners retro-fit an S subframe to the E model to allow luggage & occassional pillion usage.

Here's a link to a very lengthy DRZ only thread on Advrider
Drz400 Thread - ADVrider

Here's a link to the DRZ400S that I prepped a few months ago for my girlfriends South America trip (she's just Reached Arica, Chile):
Pumpernickel on Tour
__________________
My photos: www.possu.smugmug.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 6 Oct 2010
Big Yellow Tractor's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: England
Posts: 497
E Model Headlight is pants.

Because of the carb, cam and gasket difference mentioned by Ted, you'll find the E less tollerant of poor quality fuel and changes in altitude. Also, fuel consumption is better on the S.

I think the S is a better option for a tour or maybe even the SM with the right tyres.

I would use the E though. That's because I've already got one.
__________________

Last edited by Big Yellow Tractor; 6 Oct 2010 at 07:07. Reason: missedabit
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 1 Nov 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Spain / South Africa
Posts: 3
Sorry for the late response to all your replies.....
i've been stuck in the Niger delta for past couple of weeks.

I really appreciate the advice you have all given, and have now decided to go ahead and kit out the drz for trips into Morocco etc. This will work out much cheaper than buying another bike for that purpose, and also save some space in the garage....


All the best and happy travels.

Dave
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Crossing the sahara east to west??? persedel Sahara Travel Forum 26 29 Dec 2008 15:09
Sahara West to East? butchdiamond Sahara Travel Forum 6 4 Oct 2008 15:09
Sahara - East West Crossing coolkarim Sahara Travel Forum 6 1 Aug 2005 16:58
Sikkim, West Bengal and Bhutan tour Douglas Hackney Southern Asia 1 29 Jul 2004 15:58
tour in the sahara with ZIGZAG OLIVE07 Sahara Travel Forum 1 29 May 2004 14:56


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 19:57.