I am looking to do a trip across the Sahara next year, (prob on a BMW 650GS or VStrom DL 650, undecided as yet) starting from Spain, through Morocco and on to Dakar.

I want to avoid the tarmac coastal road as sounds dull and not what crossing the Sahara is about (IMHO) but am struggling to find any information as to good alternative routes.

Anyone done this or got any advice - would be appreciated.

Hi Duncan, one piece of info and two quick comments.

For the route, see Budapest-Bamako - The Great African Run it's a great little site, and if they could do it, you can too! Incidentally, they recommend the coastal road, and for a good reason, it's the only route where if you break down you have half a slim chance to have some ind of assistance.

As for the bike, I strongly recommend you verify the bike of choice v. the route. I am not aware of anybody doing the PaDak in a BMW 650F, or much less a Suzuki VStrom. I would recommend a 2nd-hand R1000 GS, or even an R80 GS, THAT bike can do it, the 650F...? I wouldn't bet on it.

I believe I know the VStrom, it is a bike for city folk who want to feel like Indiana Jones while tackling London traffic.
Suzuki make (made) the excellent DR750/800, go for those. Or go for the ever-present Yamaha XT650.

But whichever bike you choose, remember:
1) If you can't pick it up when it falls fully laden off the sidestand, it's too heavy bike;
2) If you can't learn how to fix the most basic things by yourself, it's too complicated;
3) If you don't like top-heavy bikes, don't go for big singles/twins, go for a flat twin.
4) What ain't there can't get broke - go aircooled, shaft drive.

Am I saying "R80GS"?

Regards,
Maurizio from Rome, Italy

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Maurizio

Hi Duncan.
I'm not sure you've got much choice of routes if you want to go through Morocco and end up in Dakar. There are loads of detours you can take at both ends of the trip but most of them involve remote off roading (maybe not great for the vstrom).
For the central section through Western Sahara (roughly Tan Tan to Nouhadibou) its either the coastal route or take your chances with the local military. I presume you've been looking at the 741 Michelin and wondered about the Bir Mogrein - Zouerat route. Unless you can pull some political strings (ie you're Michael Palin) I don't think you'd get far along it without being stopped.
I'm heading down that way this Xmas on a CCM600 for the third time and even on the tarmac it's not something to be undertaken lightly solo on a bike. The "please god don't let me break down" factor certainly comes to mind when there is nothing but scrub and sand for hundreds of miles and you haven't seen another car / person for hours.

and not what crossing the Sahara is about

Tell me about it! but BoB has got the gist of it, in Western Sahara at least (although I would not say the road is that quiet these days).
From the Mk-Mori border near NDB you do have a choice to the new tarmac road via NKT and Dakar. You can take the old beach route which was the main route a few years ago - no clear piste, some small dunes inland and then a tide-dependant beach run from Nouamghar village to NKT. Ask around for GPS.
Or you can head east, inland from the border, paralleling the railway until just before Choum, then hook southeast for the piste to Atar (from where tarmac runs down to NKT).
There's an update of this route (in my Sahara book) here:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/count...-07-update.jpg

Both are around 500kms and unsupported, could be too much for the Strom which is not really a dirt bike and will be no picnic on the BM either (all depending on your dirt riding ability of course. Remember you'll be carrying a pax's weight in provisions).
On the rail route I'd play safe and ride between the rails to avoid the worst of the 3 distinct dune cordons to the east. No sleepers, just thick gravel. And the occasional train.
Doing that alone as a first timer will give you all the adventure you want, and once in Atar there are some nice shorter routes to expore inland (see my book).
Then when you get to Dakar you will have something to smile about!

Chris S

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Adventure Motorcycling Handbook 8 • Morocco Overland 3 • Overlanders Handbook 2 • Twit

All good advice, thanks. Will follow up on the route tips and appreciate any crossing will be an adventure.

I kinda ended up shortlisting those two bikes as will be using the bike 24/7 next year as my only means of transport and wanted something I could do plenty of commuting on as well as the occasional push into Europe for a few days with gf in tow.

Will have a look at the other recommendations but would appreciate any further ones.

Out of interest, as this is a route you have all taken, what bikes did you do them on?

Me, I did it in a Hilux a year ago but know about desert biking. Anything's rideable but a 21 front knobbly goes a long way in the sand. BM would be a good comfy do-it-all machine. SV would be OK for gravel tracks with decent tyres, or sat on the highway all the way to Dakar.

Ch

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Adventure Motorcycling Handbook 8 • Morocco Overland 3 • Overlanders Handbook 2 • Twit

Here's some folk who ride F650GSs on that route, quite regularly I would imagine:-

Kudu Expeditions

I have no connection with the firm at all; just met the owner once at a bike show and I remembered the advertisement, which is sponsoring this website (or vice versa, however it works!?)

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Dave

Yeah had seen Kudu expeditions, which was one of the reasons I had veered towards the GS. It looks like a good all rounder although a little expensive, and perhaps a bit underpowered for the European side of my travels hence the V-strom.

I have read a thousand threads on 'which bike' and inevitably end up more confused than before, and had more or less come to the conclusion you can take anything anywhere, its more a matter of taste and ability. I think both the DL and the GS would be fine 90% of the time but appreciate the desert stretches south of Morocco would represent a challenge

Maurizio - I have looked at the R80 and maybe its my inexperience but the bike is heavier, and looks like it has no more ground clearance as the GS so cant see why it would be better in the desert. Is it down to simplicity of design and ease of repairs?

Anyway, any final thoughts on the bike would be appreciated, but otherwise thanks for all the sound info on the route (which was where this started )

Ignore all that bike stuff and stick with your original question - lots of posts elsewhere about the bikes, as you well know!



ps Checked the blogs for Africa yet?

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Dave