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Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
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  #1  
Old 21 Nov 2019
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Rent bikes in Malaga and take into Morocco?

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone has rented motorcycles in Spain and taken them into Morocco? If so, how was the experience? What paperwork did you need? Any issues you had?

I know that I will need insurance and some form of written authorization that proves I am not on some sort of stolen motorcycle but I cannot find anything specific to using a rental motorcycle.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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  #2  
Old 21 Nov 2019
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First line of inquiry is with the rental company. If they allow it (doubtful), they'll know how it works. If they don't allow it, no need to inquire further.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #3  
Old 22 Nov 2019
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I've been entertaining the same thoughts: renting in Spain and crossing to Morocco. Not serious yet but I've done a little checking.

Here are 3 companies in Spain I've found that mention Morocco, and one more that refers to 'cross-border' rental.

https://www.motoadventours.com/motorcycle-rental/

https://www.motorcycle-rental-europe.com/mobile/

Motorcycle rentals in Spain, Motorcycle rentals in Barcelona, Motorcycle Rentals in Morocco, Motorcycle Tours in Morocco

Now that I've got you started, I'll expect you to check back in with anything you might find out!

..............shu
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  #4  
Old 22 Nov 2019
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Why bother hiring in Spain? You've then got to import the bike. Not difficult but another layer of complication. Also, I'd be concerned if the bike developed a serious fault and getting things resolved if you've hired it from Spain.

Much easier to fly in and hire locally. You'll find details of several local hirers on here - a lot less hassle.

Happy trails,

Peter
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  #5  
Old 23 Nov 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Girling View Post
Why bother hiring in Spain? You've then got to import the bike. Not difficult but another layer of complication. Also, I'd be concerned if the bike developed a serious fault and getting things resolved if you've hired it from Spain.

Much easier to fly in and hire locally. You'll find details of several local hirers on here - a lot less hassle.

Happy trails,

Peter
Can't speak for Elspeth, the OP, but for me: I'd like to ride in Spain some first. I'd like to take the ferry and the border crossing stuff doesn't bother me too much.

As far as the bike breaking down, that is a concern, for sure.

.............shu
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  #6  
Old 25 Nov 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
First line of inquiry is with the rental company. If they allow it (doubtful), they'll know how it works. If they don't allow it, no need to inquire further.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
Thanks for the advice, Mark. I did contact the rental company and they said it would be fine and they would provide all the necessary paperwork (sounded like they have done this before).
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  #7  
Old 25 Nov 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shu... View Post
I've been entertaining the same thoughts: renting in Spain and crossing to Morocco. Not serious yet but I've done a little checking.

Here are 3 companies in Spain I've found that mention Morocco, and one more that refers to 'cross-border' rental.

https://www.motoadventours.com/motorcycle-rental/

https://www.motorcycle-rental-europe.com/mobile/

Motorcycle rentals in Spain, Motorcycle rentals in Barcelona, Motorcycle Rentals in Morocco, Motorcycle Tours in Morocco

Now that I've got you started, I'll expect you to check back in with anything you might find out!

..............shu
Thanks for the info! So I was looking at guided tours but decided I wanted to plan my own trip so I just decided to rent a bike through BikesBooking.com (similar to expedia but for motorcycles). I technically rented a bike from Travelbike Tours - Malaga, which offered me a BMW 700gs for 12 days for under a thousand euro. I told them about my plans to tour Morocco and they said they will provide me with all the required paperwork. They said it was going to be a 4k euro deposit on the bike but insurance was all included in my price.

Just to be safe, I also purchased separate travel insurance and am bringing tools to fix any minor repairs.

Best wishes and I will definitely write an update post about my trip.

-E
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  #8  
Old 25 Nov 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shu... View Post
Can't speak for Elspeth, the OP, but for me: I'd like to ride in Spain some first. I'd like to take the ferry and the border crossing stuff doesn't bother me too much.

As far as the bike breaking down, that is a concern, for sure.

.............shu
Exactly. I wanted to ride through some of Southern Spain. Also, there is also something about riding a bike across continents that seemed cool to me.

As for the breaking down concern - I used to be a motorcycle mechanic and am making sure to bring tools for any minor repair I might need to do on the road.

-E
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  #9  
Old 25 Nov 2019
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Deposit is high but 1000 euros for 12 days is pretty good.
About the same as Marrakech, if not less.
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  #10  
Old 26 Nov 2019
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Bike Rent Malaga

Elspeth

I’ve hired bikes several times from a local company in Malaga
https://lariosrental.com/en/motorbike-hire-malaga
They will collect you from airport, arrange paper work for Morocco
Provide panniers etc and store your luggage
I took the ferry directly to Melilla can recommend the Paradore
Crossed border next day no problem
Good route to Midelt and merzouga, hotel in Missour
Often bike rallies use this route
Can also take ferry to Nador
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  #11  
Old 2 Dec 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xtractif View Post
Elspeth

I’ve hired bikes several times from a local company in Malaga
https://lariosrental.com/en/motorbike-hire-malaga
They will collect you from airport, arrange paper work for Morocco
Provide panniers etc and store your luggage
I took the ferry directly to Melilla can recommend the Paradore
Crossed border next day no problem
Good route to Midelt and merzouga, hotel in Missour
Often bike rallies use this route
Can also take ferry to Nador
Thanks for the info!
I will definitely check it out. I want to hit Chefchaouen so I am planning on going to take the ferry to either Ceuta or Tangier.

So far my route is
Day 1: Malaga to Chefchaouen (probably entering Tangier)
Day 2: Chefchaouen to Fes
Day 3: Explore Fes
Day 4: Fez to Errachidia
Day 5: Errichidia to Merzouga
Day 6: Overnight Camel Trek through Erg Chebbi
Day 7: Merzouga to Ait Ben Haddou (through Dades Gorges)
Day 8: Ait Ben Haddou to Taroudant (through Tizi n'Test Pass)
Day 9: Taroudant to Marrakesh
Day 10: Marrakesh to Rabat (Going to Essouria first then up to Rabat)
Day 11: Rabat to Gibraltar
Day 12: Gibraltar to Malaga

A total of 1,850 miles
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  #12  
Old 3 Dec 2019
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Quote:
... take the ferry to either Ceuta or Tangier
I'd sooner make it easy on myself and use to the modern, efficient and easily left Tan Med port just 100km from Chef.

Quote:
Day 7
I take you know Dades is a there-and-back on to the N19 (unless you get stuck into the MH1 piste). I'd sooner skip the Dades circus and, from the N12 west, take the 'Alnif Pass', then back south into Jebel Sarhro just after Tinerhir for Iknioun and over the top and down to to Nekob – a spectacular crossing (especially southbound) as anyone here will tell you.
Recently sealed I'm told, but won't be any less epic for it.
Then follow the 'old N12' via Agdz to OZT (a great road over the ranges) for AbH. I'd consider overnighting in Fint (for example), much more of an mini-adventure than AbH where you'll met the same tour buses you saw in Dades.

Quote:
Day 8
Presume you missed to mention Tichka which makes it a long day. Assuming that's the plan, another great road (fewer trucks) gets you there via Telouet if you carry on north from AbH. And another fun, truck-dodging diversion here.

Quote:
Day 10
This will be another long day backtracking over the Test (presumably).
Why not head direct for Essaouira from Taroudant and enjoy half a day there instead of skimming past on the way to Rabat.
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  #13  
Old 3 Dec 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott View Post
I'd sooner make it easy on myself and use to the modern, efficient and easily left Tan Med port just 100km from Chef.


I take you know Dades is a there-and-back on to the N19 (unless you get stuck into the MH1 piste). I'd sooner skip the Dades circus and, from the N12 west, take the 'Alnif Pass', then back south into Jebel Sarhro just after Tinerhir for Iknioun and over the top and down to to Nekob – a spectacular crossing (especially southbound) as anyone here will tell you.
Recently sealed I'm told, but won't be any less epic for it.
Then follow the 'old N12' via Agdz to OZT (a great road over the ranges) for AbH. I'd consider overnighting in Fint (for example), much more of an mini-adventure than AbH where you'll met the same tour buses you saw in Dades.


Presume you missed to mention Tichka which makes it a long day. Assuming that's the plan, another great road (fewer trucks) gets you there via Telouet if you carry on north from AbH. And another fun, truck-dodging diversion here.


This will be another long day backtracking over the Test (presumably).
Why not head direct for Essaouira from Taroudant and enjoy half a day there instead of skimming past on the way to Rabat.
Thanks for the advice, especially on Day 8. Below is the route I gathered from that description.

https://imgur.com/a/1kFqKTe
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  #14  
Old 3 Dec 2019
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Yep, that's it. A great day's ride with a bit of gravel and a shallow ford just below Fint. Nothing a 700GS can't manage.
Don't forget (or ask for) a tyre plug kit and a pump. Probably the only tools you'll need.
I found a 700 can run flat OK to a village tyre shop, but good to be autonomous.
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  #15  
Old 3 Dec 2019
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Thanks for the info and advice, everyone!

Here is the itinerary. I cut Tiz n Test pass and Taroudant out to give myself an extra day to explore Gibraltar (and just to have a buffer day if needed).

Full itinerary:
https://imgur.com/hCvj2cL

Day 1: Arrive
Day 2: https://goo.gl/maps/h9YbW4nu3L8ecEbWA
Day 3: https://goo.gl/maps/vChjDo43Bq8ohFKP6
Day 4: Fes
Day 5: https://goo.gl/maps/7DyUWMddJq4j5L3U9
Day 6: https://goo.gl/maps/mHrVw8ZGWhLCEQRf7
Day 7: https://goo.gl/maps/NaTQFsTvLGFjRsd79
Day 8: https://goo.gl/maps/GycJ9m2ob8KgGD416
Day 9: https://goo.gl/maps/8aYekhmoc8wL2xav5
Day 10: https://goo.gl/maps/B2pqNBMoKERhtJFw6
Day 11: https://goo.gl/maps/vPvm8qr9JJQGMDJM9


I also threw in the tool kit I am bringing as well. Hopefully the tire-plug kit will be enough for a puncture but, if I shred a sidewall or something, I will be able to take the back wheel off and use an inner tube to limp to the nearest shop.

Motorcycle Tool Kit
Wrenches (8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm)
8" adjustable wrench
3/8" ratchet
3" ratchet extension (3/8)
Sockets (8mm, 10mm, 13mm, 24mm e8 Torx)
6-in-1 screwdriver with bits
hex adapter
locking pliers
electrical tape
Zip ties (4)
Leatherman
Compass
tire pressure gauge
Bunjee net
Spark plug socket
stop-n-go tire plug kit
tire pump
Two spark plugs
Map
extendible magnet
tire bead breaker
breaker bar extension
socket adapter
19" inner tube
Allen wrench set (metric)
Torx T40
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