Sandraiders Morocco 2023

[scottieh]

I think the KTM 520 was the 1998 bike the 500 didn't come out until 2012?

Mike

Something like that. I had the 450 in 2002 and a friend had the 500 or maybe it was a 525, I can't really remember the exact year or cc...

Anyway, I'm sure there is a KTM RFS out there that would be eligible, and they're great bikes, but personally I'd be happy taking my 43F - it's a first kick starter, not too heavy, small enough to throw around and generally very manageable and user friendly. And cheap.
Sadly, the Andreani fork upgrade I'm considering isn't cheap.

Was anyone using the YSS rear shock and how did it perform? Interesting that the only part that broke on your bike was the Wilburs?

If you upgrade the rear, upgrade the front. YSS has been a good spring for me since 2017.

[DakarXT600]

I think the KTM 520 was the 1998 bike the 500 didn't come out until 2012?

Mike

Something like that. I had the 450 in 2002 and a friend had the 500 or maybe it was a 525, I can't really remember the exact year or cc...

Anyway, I'm sure there is a KTM RFS out there that would be eligible, and they're great bikes, but personally I'd be happy taking my 43F - it's a first kick starter, not too heavy, small enough to throw around and generally very manageable and user friendly. And cheap.
Sadly, the Andreani fork upgrade I'm considering isn't cheap.

Was anyone using the YSS rear shock and how did it perform? Interesting that the only part that broke on your bike was the Wilburs?

Hi the break on the rear Willbers was not the shocks fault but the chap altering the rear shock knocked the reservoir pipe loose and the chain ate through it. Willbers otherwise are a great shock. One of the team riders at Sandraiders had his shocks done by Hagon in the UK

[JamesinEdinburgh]

SandRaiders Stage 5 M'hamid to Zagora via Auberge Dinosaur Kem Kem

https://www.wikiloc.com/trail-bike-trai ... -132657365



As we were getting ready to leave the Bab Rimal hotel near M'hamid at 8:30am, Jeremy (who was riding a Dominator 650), asked to join Cedric (XL500) and myself as he had problems with his nav device. He wasn't using a SandRaiders Trippy and my Garmin Xumo XT had been faultless throughout.

I had long wished to ride the Kem Kem Desert section between Mhamid and Sidi Ali so I was keen to get on the piste, but we all had to cue for 30 minutes at Service-Station Ziz north of Tagounite to fuel up as 40 of the other pilots had to do the same thing.



I had refuelled my Tenere the night before but wasn't keeping track of my fuel consumption through the stages and wanted to err on the side of caution. Having 23 litres petrol (750g/Litre) in the tank weighs about 17kg though.

The first 15k of the piste led us north east through the Iqa Nabozharev Valley and had loads of kids in the middle of nowhere trying to flag us down for some money. The initial piste was unpleasant and tiring due to very frequent whoops over the shallow oueds coming down off the escarpment. I tried picking a different line many times for a smoother ride but they were all the same and even had corrugation to endure.

There were some SandRaiders jeeps waiting at the top of the first steep technical ascent at around 53 km, which should have been a clue as it was a technical ascent and there were hidden rocks on the summit. I almost fell off again. Jeremy coming up behind me, lost his mojo and dropped the Dommie right in front of me.



There was no sign of life at the Maroc Military Checkpoint at 77 km and so after a short rest break, we entered the Kem Kem Desert which stretches down to the Algerian border. Our riding was easy over the hard, flat piste and visibility was good, so we had a chance to appreciate the amazing scenery. We had an occasional sandy oued to blast through to keep us alert. The temperature was rising over 40c and the fresh breeze from the south east blew the dust from the pilots in front to the side so we could see the terrain in front, and also be spared from breathing it in.



Unfortunately, we soon rode past a serious accident. A young rider had crashed his bike in the whoops and was lying on the ground under an emergency foil blanket. He was being tended to by the medics; he had a drip into his arm, and probably had morphine as we later found out that he had broken his pelvis. We had been warned by Joan, one of the organisers during a morning briefing earlier, not to ride too fast because the whoops can be hard to see.



Cedric was struggling with his Honda XL500 as his engine mounting nut had fallen off. He had to keep pushing the bolt back in with his foot. Eventually at 117km, he lost the bolt completely and had to give up riding any further that day. He pressed the breakdown button on his gps tracker so he could be rescued by the truck.



The next 30km was easy going, with only a few sandy oued crossings. The 3AJ took the sand in it's stride and I was becoming more confidant riding through them at speed; sitting as far back as I could. The Michelin enduro mousses I had fitted due to the size of the MotoZ tyre are slightly softer than regular mousses and seemed to cope quite well with the sand. I often ended up at the back of our posse, as I was careful to keep my speed to 80 kph as I didn't want to melt them in the 40+ degree heat.



We reached Auberge Dinosaur Kem Kem around 12:30pm and we had a welcome lunch break in the shade. I was able to buy ice cold water to fill up my 3L Kriega water bladder and add electrolytes, which were working really well to keep me functioning and avoiding agonising cramp. We saw two independent riders at the auberge; the guy was riding a AJP PR7 and the girl an Africa Twin with large panniers, both headed for the fesh fesh at Ramlia…



The second part of the stage was northwest to Zagora. Jamie from Kenya and James from California joined our riding party. James seemed to be in good spirits, wheeling his WR450 away from the auberge.

[JamesinEdinburgh]

Unfortunately Jamie had carb flooding problems with his Honda and only made it two miles before the bike conked out and he had to press the rescue button.

In the end, our posse was reduced to just Jeremy, James and myself and the piste to Zagora was quite uneventful as we rode past melon plantations. We saw quite a few other vehicles on the piste which were kicking up dust, even lorries.

As we entered Zagora, we were of course met by a young lad on a scooter who invited us to get our bikes checked over at his garage. He was even wearing a SandRaiders baseball cap.



We continued on for some photos at the Zagora sign, but when we got there, realised we had lost James (I need to fit some rally mirrors!). His WR had run out of petrol at the first roundabout, so he had to stop and use his emergency litre.





Soon we finished the stage at the Hotel Le Tinsouline in Zagora which had cold beer in the bar and a nice big pool! We had a great time trying to drink it dry, welcoming our fellow pilots as they came in.







Although, some came in much later as they resorted to playing Wordle in the desert waiting for the rescue trucks.



You can check out Jeremy's video of the stage on YouTube here https://youtu.be/y7AuD95zjpo

[Jenik]

I know that trip pretty well, in Zagora always booking Hôtel la palmeraie de zagora. One of the other my favorite is from Ramlia.

BTW. In Zagora you can visit the local pub with bier , but of course its not public, thus you to know where it is

[JamesinEdinburgh]

I know that trip pretty well, in Zagora always booking Hôtel la palmeraie de zagora. One of the other my favorite is from Ramlia.

BTW. In Zagora you can visit the local pub with bier , but of course its not public, thus you to know where it is

Ooo! Jenik. That 'local pub' in Zagora sounds intriguing.

Are you going to tell us where it is, or show me one day?

[Jenik]

Well, as street view on Google maps not working, difficult to identify the right house. For sure, its on BD Mohamed 5, around of hotel Des Amis +- 100meters, 100% sure on this side of street. Sorry bro, without street view difficult to find it.
The Pub is invisible from street. Bier is cold, but small sized.

You can ask the guys from Garage Sahara Zagora, theyre very friendly or ask the guy on the reception.

Another option on the trip is alcohol shop with quite good bear in Ouarzazate over the street of hotel Royal

[JamesinEdinburgh]

Well, as street view on Google maps not working, difficult to identify the right house. For sure, its on BD Mohamed 5, around of hotel Des Amis +- 100meters, 100% sure on this side of street. Sorry bro, without street view difficult to find it.
The Pub is invisible from street. Bier is cold, but small sized.

You can ask the guys from Garage Sahara Zagora, theyre very friendly or ask the guy on the reception.

Another option on the trip is alcohol shop with quite good bear in Ouarzazate over the street of hotel Royal

Awesome Jenik, thanks for bringing 'a mystery to be solved' in Zagora. Hopefully, I'll be back there soon

[Bushy]

Hello,

I have been following this thread for some time and wanted to introduce myself. My name is Steve, 55 years old, live in East Yorkshire, lived in Africa most of my younger days. Have entered Sandraiders 2024 and have a TT600r year 2000 (kick start ).

Watched all of Harry’s videos, watched Jeremy’s videos (I think I have that correct). I have ridden loads in my younger days in Zim and then SA but nothing official and haven’t ridden much in the last 20 years.

I’m overweight although my wife’s super fit and my son is a pro tennis player. So I’m hoping to find some inspiration from them to get fit for SR2024.

Hope you don’t mind me joining the party here but I’m buzzing for next year’s ride. I’ve been to see David Lambeth with my bike and it goes into him to give it some reliability mods in September.

Oh and I’m an accountant by qualification and not too mechanical so I’m reading and listening a lot;)

[Missinglink]

Hi Steve, I'm booked too and also swapped to a 1999 TT600r, A smart choice i think... I've not long had it and haven't stopped riding it.

So light an agile its fantastic, The big Tenere sadly will be staying home....