Two years ago a crazy couple went all the way down to Morocco, with a just obtained motorcycle license and without any experience. In only four days I'll be eating cous-cous and drinking mint tea again. This time on my own.
There were months of preparation (and for sure there will be things to do the day of departure): tools, camping gear, paperwork, bike prep...
Almost all the stuff I will carry:
But what defines this trip are my obsessions, each day I have a new one. Let's go by parts.
New Shoes
In my previous trip to Morocco, the bike had a set of Michelin T63, a good 50/50 tyre, they did it quite well both on and off road. Once the Michelin were worn out I found a good deal for a set of Avon Distanzia, I hadn't planned a new trip to Morocco (but to Switzerland instead), so the Avon looked like a good choice...
And the tyres were one of my obsessions. My first thought was to do the trip with the Avon, practically new (only 1500 Km), they are not a 50/50 but a trail tyre anyway... why not?
Finally my wife convince me: if I'm going to Morocco would be stupid not to enjoy at maximum because the tyres are not the best for the trip. It was decided, I'll change them for knobby tyres... but what tyres?
I spent hours and hours diving in internet forums, I need something good for dirt tracks, a little bit of sand, maybe mud... I couldn't decide, everyone has their opinion. Finally I opted for the following combination: Michelin Desert Race front and Mitas C02 rear. I'll tell you my opinion when I'm back
Before and after, I hadn't ever seen a tyre like the Mitas C02, looks extreme:
So happy with her new shoes...
Flat tyres
This is my main obsession, what if I find myself in the middle of nowhere with a simple flat tyre. What a waste of time to solve the situation if I don't carry the right tools to fix it! One of the things I was looking to choose the tyres was that they were hard enough to prevent easy punctures. And almost all the tools and spares I'm carrying are to fix a flat tyre: spare 21" tube, C02 bottle, air pump, etc.
Camping
Is it worth to camping in Morocco? There are plenty of hotels and they are inexpensive. But if I am in the middle of nowhere and the sun is hidding? (what if I have a puncture? eh? eh?)
But camping gear add means more weigh and less space. Light tents and sleeping bags are expensive, and cheap gear is heavier and larger...
I was determined to risk and go without tent, but finally I found an Arpenaz 2 in the Decathlon, 2 and a half Kg, 57x16cm and 22€. It's half a cm larger and a little bit heavier than I'd like, but you can't have any better for that price.
Stuff I'll leave at home and things I'd like to have
I'm not carrying a lot of tools that I don't know how to use, clothes probably I won't wear and that mosquito repellent that I didn't use in the previous trip.
What I like to have? A better camera for better pictures and an action camera to film while riding, but I don't have the money for them (I accept sponsors BTW
![Razz](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
). And of course a lot of improvement for my bike, the only things I did were the tyres and change the rear brake pads.
Let's see how it goes