We rode this route from Midelt to Imilchil a few weeks ago on 1100 and 1200GS's both with road tyres laden like Moroccan donkey's. It was our first piste and I'll remember it well.

Coming down from the stoney first big pass with my companion nowhere to be seen I lost the plot traversing a gravelly camber and experienced my first solo lift (tank pointing downhill). Only 20 minutes later and virtually at the floor of the valley I took a respectable track that lead to a horrible traverse passing a steep gulley and ended up on a descending 'track' of DEEP loose stones that petered out above the river. This was not the right way! Instantly I was surrounded by kids wanting to help. I didn't see my mate waving his arms from the other side of the valley. This was my lowest moment and it took both of us 45 minutes to sort out this mess and extricate the bike.

What I learnt from this experience is:

1) if you have Chris Scott's book READ about this particular section BEFORE you ride it. He mentions the 'trap prepared by the kids'. (book was pinched following day so quote could be inaccurate) Could this have been it?

Edited comment: Just received a new copy of Chris's book. No it wasn't. It does indeed mention the need to avoid taking the old line (which we unfortunately took) as it's now washed out.

2) If it looks a bit dubious, park up and review the options.

We were green to riding Moroccan pistes and in hindsight we shouldn't have been carrying so much. I also reckon my tyre choice was not the best (Bridgestone Battlewings) but then more than 90% of the trip was on tarmac so a set of Conti's seemed a bit over the top for just 600km of piste. My mates Anakee 2's seemed to fare better but maybe he was just a better rider?

So would I do it again on a 1200GS with road tyres? Yes...it was stunning and one of the best routes.