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20 Sep 2012
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Scandinavia, the alps, the riviera, Morocco and back
Hi Guys! 
As i'm taking my license soon i'm thinking about a longer trip, though it's only on the planing staduim i'm pretty sure it's going to be reality
My experience of motorcycle travelling lies only in Scandinavia so it's quite limited.
But on the brightside, i can handle 3 diffrent langues Swedish, English and Spanish, which i think will be enough.
The trip (as for now) is estimated to be around 14,000 km and be about 23-30(EDIT: 40-45 days) days on a budget of 2,400-3,500 euros(=20,000-30,000 Swedish crones)
The thought was that i was going to blast down from "Sundsvall, Sweden" to Münich and there take a two days rest at a nicer hostel of some sort.
Take my time through the alps and follow them down to the French-riviera, going down to spain and Gibraltar were i will take to ferry over to Morocco.
I'm still not quite sure how long i will stay in Morocco if i feel safe i want to stay longer of course.
After discovering the Shara i will go back through Spain/Portugal to France, Normandie and continue through The Netherlands, Beligen, Denmark and then Blast home
How safe is it really in Morocco? :confused1:
What is the fuelprices in those various countries i've accounted for here?
I've been thinking of bringing a tent but seems like waste of space when some hostels seems just as wallet-sucking as a camping?
Do you guys think the budget is going to be enough for food, fuel and places to sleep for 28 days more or less?
The trip is going to be preformed on a Yamaha XT 660 with a little touratech candy  (its fuel consumption is about 0,4-0,5 litres/10km
By the way i'm going to be 18 year old when i'm out, is that going to a problem security vice?
Would it be better to bring a "companion" with me?
Last edited by waga95; 23 Sep 2012 at 11:08.
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21 Sep 2012
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Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
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That's a lot of miles/kilometers in a short time. If you like staying on main roads you can do it; if you like back roads, especially in Morocco, you're in trouble (and won't be taking your time through the Alps or enjoying many rest days along the way). If you're hoping to take in the sights, meet the locals, hang out in the evenings....no way.
Your budget is fine if you camp through the more expensive countries in Europe, or if you plan around a lot of hostel stays. In Morocco camping won't save much, but wherever you go it's nice to have the option (IMHO).
You don't say what time of year, but if during fall or winter it would be wise to include some bad weather days and to be flexible around major mountain ranges--Alps, Pyrennés, High Atlas, etc. Remember that days will be short as well, meaning you'll spend most of every day riding. During summer, days are longer but much of Morocco gets ridiculously hot.
I no longer remember what it's like to be 18, but it's not difficult to meet other riders to travel with during the normal riding seasons. In my experience most of them vanish throughout Europe when the weather gets chilly and the days short. There are good reasons for this.
Hope that's helpful.
Mark
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21 Sep 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf
That's a lot of miles/kilometers in a short time. If you like staying on main roads you can do it; if you like back roads, especially in Morocco, you're in trouble (and won't be taking your time through the Alps or enjoying many rest days along the way). If you're hoping to take in the sights, meet the locals, hang out in the evenings....no way.
Your budget is fine if you camp through the more expensive countries in Europe, or if you plan around a lot of hostel stays. In Morocco camping won't save much, but wherever you go it's nice to have the option (IMHO).
You don't say what time of year, but if during fall or winter it would be wise to include some bad weather days and to be flexible around major mountain ranges--Alps, Pyrennés, High Atlas, etc. Remember that days will be short as well, meaning you'll spend most of every day riding. During summer, days are longer but much of Morocco gets ridiculously hot.
I no longer remember what it's like to be 18, but it's not difficult to meet other riders to travel with during the normal riding seasons. In my experience most of them vanish throughout Europe when the weather gets chilly and the days short. There are good reasons for this.
Hope that's helpful.
Mark
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I was thinking of July-August, yeah it's surely the hottest time of the year but i'll get att real "Shara" experience 
The first 3 days of the trip is only motorway/autobahn and also when i come back to Sweden will it be just plain boring motorway 
It would be wonderful to do maybe 300-400 kilometres a day(excluded rest days), that i would do 470+ kilometres was a miscalculation.
Is it wise to bring 2 locks or is it enough with one?
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21 Sep 2012
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Join Date: Jul 2012
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Does anyone have any roadtips?
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21 Sep 2012
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waga95
Hi Guys! 
As i'm taking my license soon i'm thinking about a longer trip, though it's only on the planing staduim i'm pretty sure it's going to be reality
My experience of motorcycle travelling lies only in Scandinavia so it's quite limited.
But on the brightside, i can handle 3 diffrent langues Swedish, English and Spanish, which i think will be enough.
The trip (as for now) is estimated to be around 14,000 km and be about 23-30 days on a budget of 2,400-3,500 euros(=20,000-30,000 Swedish crones)
The thought was that i was going to blast down from "Sundsvall, Sweden" to Münich and there take a two days rest at a nicer hostel of some sort.
Take my time through the alps and follow them down to the French-riviera, going down to spain and Gibraltar were i will take to ferry over to Morocco.
I'm still not quite sure how long i will stay in Morocco if i feel safe i want to stay longer of course.
After discovering the Shara i will go back through Spain/Portugal to France, Normandie and continue through The Netherlands, Beligen, Denmark and then Blast home
How safe is it really in Morocco? :confused1:
What is the fuelprices in those various countries i've accounted for here?
I've been thinking of bringing a tent but seems like waste of space when some hostels seems just as wallet-sucking as a camping?
Do you guys think the budget is going to be enough for food, fuel and places to sleep for 28 days more or less?
The trip is going to be preformed on a Yamaha XT 660 with a little touratech candy  (its fuel consumption is about 0,4-0,5 litres/10km
By the way i'm going to be 18 year old when i'm out, is that going to a problem security vice?
Would it be better to bring a "companion" with me?
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Mark is right, take your time and get done what you really want to do, even if you don't achieve everything in the first trip (after all you are young!) - nowadays I don't like the "pressure" of staying with a self-imposed schedule, but especially if it is not realistic and if it becomes an episode of "Iron Butt".
Put another way, turn around and go home when the budget is about to expire - keep enough in the bank for the home run.
If you do take your time in the Alps, you should do the same in the Pyrenees 
I've just finished about 4500Km in 11 days, mainly in France with a bit of the Spanish Pyrenees, and I was riding most days, all day i.e at least 8 hours in the saddle.
There is a subject specific forum in here for Maroc and it is covered pretty well in there.
Fuel prices in western Europe don't vary significantly, which might lead you to think that the prices are fixed!!
By the way, you only have to add Chinese to your languages and you can tackle the world.
__________________
Dave
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21 Sep 2012
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland
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Sounds great!
I've always managed with just English, so I think you'll be fine!
Morocco is pretty safe. More so than many parts of Europe IMHO. Especially once you get over the Atlas and away from the more heavily touristed ares.
You'll have no problem meeting up with folks if you are staying in hostels. The bike will be a great conversation starter with bikers and non-bikers alike.
The tent is a very personal choice. You'll no doubt save money by camping (and potentially extend your trip) but adding a tent, sleeping bag, mat, stove and all the other camping nonsense adds a lot of weight which you will feel on the pistes of morocco. On the other hand it gives you the option of camping in the dunes. On balance I would probably take it if I were you.
I agree with what others have said about not pushing to hard. Ride as little or as much as you feel like in any given day. Don't set yourself a destination to reach. I'd just cruise on south and see how far you get. If that's Morocco, great. If not, you can always go another time. I think, by the time you've ridden all the way through Europe, you'll feel a lot more confident about Morocco. Its just a half hour ride on a ferry and fairly easy dash through customs.
Have fun!
Matt
__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com
http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/
*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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21 Sep 2012
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Contributing Member
New on the HUBB
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Motala
Posts: 17
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When I went to Nordkapp, i average 720km/day, and it was not
to bad.
XTZ 660 Motala to Nordkapp and back!
/Lasse
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21 Sep 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LasseA
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Yeah if i go alone i would surely do a longer distance a day but since i think 1 or 2 friends will follow it seems dumb.
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21 Sep 2012
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
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Easy enough to do long distances in northern Europe. Not so easy if you're taking back roads through the Pyrenées or Dolomites. Dangerous, and maybe impossible, in Morocco during summertime. Always more difficult if traveling with others unless you happen to be very good matches (and no one breaks down). Always more difficult on a budget, too.
It's your trip, not mine....but you'll want to think about the fact that almost all responses suggest you're over-reaching.
Hope that's helpful.
Mark
PS: have a look at today's thread about Morocco temps. This would not be a good time to be riding south of the Atlas. Over-confidence about such things can get you sick, injured or dead.
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