That's all good advice from Razmataz - especially about the airbox/filter. Even if you are not riding/following others, you'll be surprised how much sand and dust can get in there... one trick my service crew showed me on the rally was to wipe a film of grease all over the inside of the airbox, as it helps the dust swirling about in there to stick to the sides rather than clog the filter - it's a mess to clean out eventually, but will help while you are on the trip.

(as for a modest thread hijack - I was on the red and black XR650R with the AQ fairing/acerbis tank (no.77) this year Razmataz...)

xxx

Thanks Raz, JMo
I'm not sure I'm going to need the two tubes option for my style of riding - I'm pretty new to this (as you can probably tell!) so really the KTM is probably overkill and will stand up to anything I intend to do! - Likewise the tires etc are way too rally orientated. But hey, I've got them now...

Mollydog: re. muddy conditions and brake pads... The reports from morocco are that most of it washed away this sept/oct so thats the logic behind the pads - might just take the old ones as spares (they have 50% left...)

I'm beginning to have second thoughts about taking my alloy boxes... They cost me nothing to make (I work in a factory that makes sheet metal stuff!) So 2mm ali sheet, formed then tig welded, then powder coated cost me just a few coffees for the guys in the maintenance dept who are expert welders...
If anyone has some nearly new zega-flex panniers they would like to swap...!? I'll post some photos later today...

Finally getting to the end of my list of things to do - just the oil/clutch change change then ready for the off!

cheers for everyones help!

:D

Don't worry, it's better to over prepared than under - the KTM is going to be huge fun once you get off the tarmac, and hey it's also a pretty fruity on-road machine too - you're going to have a blast!

As for the Michelin Deserts, they are an excellent hard-wearing knobblie - and I found them perfectly acceptable on the tarmac too - they will be more than fine, and you'll appriciate their strength and grip in off-road situations certainly. All I (and others) were suggesting is that the TKC is great all-round tyre, that would last the distance without having to change over half way though the trip, that's all...

xxx

It might pay to have a look at the jet needle in the carb as I've known these to wear very thin where they vibrate in the piston.
Enjoy the trip.

What I had...
Rubber tipped float needle, head gasket, clutch lever, set of cables esp. clutch and throttle, spare fork seals, spare regular tubes(one each), 2 part epoxy, water pump rotor and seals, consider bearings and a shaft, consider Honda bond to reseal valve gear box, rear brake pads if not new, correct extra master links(they are chain specic now as are links), grease the steering head bearings, swing arm and pivot, spare oil filters, plenty of fuses. Nuts and bolts in a bag, carry where handy, beef up your tools.

I am not an Africa guy but I did S. Ameica and Russia, Mongolia(rode the Gobi) and never needed HD tubes, I like Pirelli Rallycross tires, easy to change and long lasting, very good off road. For the air filter, it only gets dirty on the top, turn it upside down, then wash and reoil, I threw away the filter skins, fell off. I washed the filter every 5k miles. Take the spoke advice seriously, mine were zip tied at the cross. I ran KTM folding mirrors and needed them.

I blew a head gasket in the desert...tighten the external head bolts, lock tight them.

Just my ideas, do what you want, have fun. Wish it was me.
b.

Hi Kipp
Seems like you've a lot of good reliable info from all the posts!!
I have to agree with Jmo, use TKC80's with h/d Michelin tubes; they're good on the tarmac and adequate for any offroading in Maroc. I left Milton Keynes in March '07 on my adventure; had a new TKC on the front and carried a new TKC rear on the back which I fitted in Zagora and ditched the road tyre rear (left with Peter at Bikershome).
Strap an assortment of cable ties to one fork leg and some rope to the other fork (you might need to drag the bike out of a ditch).
I'm not sure if the earlier Adv's have the same very vunerable fuel tap as on my '06 model, it wont take much of a knock to rip it out....try to build some protection around it if you can!
Most importantly...relax and have a great time
Kev

Only things I can think of are people who race the weston beach race, run the chain dry to stop the sand sticking to the lube.

If you're running an alloy rear sprocket, that may wear - however, I race a KTM through all kinds of gunk and it would last 3 weeks no problem. Though I have known people wear pads down pretty quick at sandy (but wet) events.

I reckon you're OK - isn't half the fun being stuck somwhere trying to get it sorted anyway???

RTS

A steel rear sprocket is available, don't have the number handly, can anyone help?
My chain and sprockets went 20k miles, I use a Pro-oiler.
Pro-Oiler, the ultimate automatic chain oiler, microprocessor-controlled, pumped, economical, hassle-free, fit and forget, the future of chain maintenance.
b

Thanks people!
 

Got back from Morocco about a week or so ago - I had an AWESOME time!
:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

Unfortunately I didn't do half of the tracks I had originally planned to do due to the snow and the problems of landslips and river crossings related to the bad weather in the autumn, and had a number of accidents - but I still loved it!

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice - every bit of it was valid.

I've put some photos and report on
Morocco by motorbike (no www in front of it)

The title pretty much says it all - it was a pretty steep learning curve as I only learnt to ride last June.
Sink and swim and all that?! :thumbup1:

Pete

Great ride Pete! Nice job mate!:thumbup1: