Announcements

**Newbie** · #1 23 Apr 2011

I’ve been in Morocco for about six weeks now, travelling by myself on my KLR. It’s carried me for 42,000kms through Africa, parts of the Middle East, Mediterranean coast and now Morocco

. I’m not really a motorcyclist and bought the bike just to do this trip. I was planning on selling it in Europe and then fly back to South Africa, but I like travelling around on my bike and discover/experience different places, people and cultures. I also liked the motorcycle camaraderie that I encountered right through from South Africa to Spain……until I hit Morocco
In Africa, your fellow motorcyclists will not only greet you, they will stop, chat for a long time, and probably invite you for a drink or to join them for dinner to share experiences and stories. On the open road in Europe you will get a raised hand, extended arm, helmet nod, or a leg being kicked out……all acknowledgement of that camaraderie, and you know that if you really find yourself in a tight spot, these guys and gals will not hesitate to help

.
Not in Morocco

. I must have passed a few hundred motorcycles by now, mostly riding in groups. In the beginning, when I saw that familiar sight of headlight, helmeted rider, and protruding panniers, I got excited, and I would give an extended arm greeting to often just receive a stare (if I’m lucky!) or just be totally ignored. It took me by surprise a few times but apart from wondering how big the stick up that guys’ ass was I ignored it. Then it happened again and again and again and again until I finally decided to stop greeting. That’s when I noticed that very few riders would actually initiate a greeting. I gave much thought to this and couldn’t believe that the same guys who would greet you in the rest of Africa and Europe are now so ‘self-important’
I had just pulled off the side of a quiet road a few days ago when a group of five bikes appeared out of nowhere. I was simply going to ignore them as just another group of wannabe adventurers thinking Morocco qualifies you as a serious biker dude when the front rider slowed down, opened his visor and gestured an is-everything-ok. I was taken by surprise but managed to signal a yes. Every guy in that group greeted me…..I couldn’t believe it and decided to give chase to find out where they came from….France!
That group made me reconsider my own attitude, so now I greet again, fully expecting to be ignored though, and taking count……I only started recently but the count now is: Good Guys 21 (70%), Bad Guys 9 (30%) and I cannot help but think how miserable it must be to travel in a group where some of the guys are so sour that you feel like puking when you have to face them first thing in the morning

, and I count my blessings for the friendly waves I get from the locals and even some of the campervans……perhaps I’m using the wrong transportation in Morocco

**uknomad** · #2 9 May 2011

I tried to greet everyone in my landy, 2 or 4 wheels, couldn't be happier driving around Morocco.

**Maximus** · #3 9 May 2011

Don't bother about it. If they don't aknowledge you just utter 'miserable sod' under your helmet.

Don't let it stop you aknowledging others tho. Otherwise the tradition will be lost.....and most people appreciate it.

I had a solo trip to Morocco in my 4x4. Had four 'well tricked' 4x4s fly past (in the same direction) without a nod......Grrrrrr.

I later found the group (one of them with the bonnet up) in the Cedar Forest. I'll bet I was carrying more spares than their group put together....did I stop? -NO.

Would I, if I had received a wave when they passed earlier?....Obviously

Keep waving

**henryuk** · #4 9 May 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximus

Don't let it stop you aknowledging others tho. Otherwise the tradition will be lost.....and most people appreciate it.

+1 I have the same problem riding a 50cc delivering Pizza, I got annoyed by the number of bikers that refused to acknowledge a wave or nod, decided to just keep on trying.

The strange lopsided nod seems to be a British thing, everywhere else puts a hand or fingers out, or a foot. I reckon this is a side of the road thing, you can't take your right hand off easily!

Maybe the number of people that are having their first taste of sand in Morocco is a contributing factor - focusing too hard/too worried about crashing to take a hand off or notice other vehicles??

**TurboCharger** · #5 9 May 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryuk

+1 I have the same problem riding a 50cc delivering Pizza, I got annoyed by the number of bikers that refused to acknowledge a wave or nod, decided to just keep on trying.

The strange lopsided nod seems to be a British thing, everywhere else puts a hand or fingers out, or a foot. I reckon this is a side of the road thing, you can't take your right hand off easily!

Maybe the number of people that are having their first taste of sand in Morocco is a contributing factor - focusing too hard/too worried about crashing to take a hand off or notice other vehicles??

On the type of signals or waves there is a thread on ADVRider

**Threewheelbonnie** · #6 9 May 2011

I'll get this one going; Would you say those large groups of motorcylists by any chance had links with a certain Bavarian company and their accessory supplier whose logo looks like a mountain range?

As it probably now says in their user manual: They all do that Sir

I wave or nod to pretty much anything on less than four wheels. Having done this for years on everything from a rather flash, all the bells and whistles BMW outfit to an MZ, the ratio of waves back to getting ignored is directly related to the percieved value of your gear compared to theirs. Hence, battered MZ's and XT's still wearing half the desert get ignored by Harleys, Goldwings and GS's with those plastic silver boxes.

I honestly don't care, I've always rather thought that anyone who dishes out their acknowledgement of fellow riders on some sort of scale of worthiness probably isn't worth the effort. When one of the GS's etc. does wave back you think to yourself how great it is that proper riders buy them too.

If we meet on the road, I'll wave

Andy

**macfisto** · #7 23 May 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbie

I’ve been in Morocco for about six weeks now, travelling by myself on my KLR. It’s carried me for 42,000kms through Africa, parts of the Middle East, Mediterranean coast and now Morocco

. I’m not really a motorcyclist and bought the bike just to do this trip. I was planning on selling it in Europe and then fly back to South Africa, but I like travelling around on my bike and discover/experience different places, people and cultures. I also liked the motorcycle camaraderie that I encountered right through from South Africa to Spain……until I hit Morocco
In Africa, your fellow motorcyclists will not only greet you, they will stop, chat for a long time, and probably invite you for a drink or to join them for dinner to share experiences and stories. On the open road in Europe you will get a raised hand, extended arm, helmet nod, or a leg being kicked out……all acknowledgement of that camaraderie, and you know that if you really find yourself in a tight spot, these guys and gals will not hesitate to help

.
Not in Morocco

. I must have passed a few hundred motorcycles by now, mostly riding in groups. In the beginning, when I saw that familiar sight of headlight, helmeted rider, and protruding panniers, I got excited, and I would give an extended arm greeting to often just receive a stare (if I’m lucky!) or just be totally ignored. It took me by surprise a few times but apart from wondering how big the stick up that guys’ ass was I ignored it. Then it happened again and again and again and again until I finally decided to stop greeting. That’s when I noticed that very few riders would actually initiate a greeting. I gave much thought to this and couldn’t believe that the same guys who would greet you in the rest of Africa and Europe are now so ‘self-important’
I had just pulled off the side of a quiet road a few days ago when a group of five bikes appeared out of nowhere. I was simply going to ignore them as just another group of wannabe adventurers thinking Morocco qualifies you as a serious biker dude when the front rider slowed down, opened his visor and gestured an is-everything-ok. I was taken by surprise but managed to signal a yes. Every guy in that group greeted me…..I couldn’t believe it and decided to give chase to find out where they came from….France!
That group made me reconsider my own attitude, so now I greet again, fully expecting to be ignored though, and taking count……I only started recently but the count now is: Good Guys 21 (70%), Bad Guys 9 (30%) and I cannot help but think how miserable it must be to travel in a group where some of the guys are so sour that you feel like puking when you have to face them first thing in the morning

, and I count my blessings for the friendly waves I get from the locals and even some of the campervans……perhaps I’m using the wrong transportation in Morocco

Very nice!! Please give us a bit more info regarding your route up Africa, if you don't mind, or do you have a site/blog we can visit

**Tim Cullis** · #8 1 Jun 2011

Yesterday I waved down Olly and Robin from this parish on the way to the Upper Dades piste. They were returning from Senegal and we had a long chinwag.