Don't do it!!

Hi Wright, are you renting this Tenere for a month or buying it? It sounds like you've already had some early bad luck so don't compound it until you are back on your feet. Until you have some experience in making such deals in Africa there is a good chance you will get financially shafted again, otherwise we'd all nip out to East Africa, buy a bike and ride around. This is hard enough to do in any western country let alone Africa - although some successfully do - see p.39 of the book.
If you really want a bike out there, I'd go for one of those XLs bought from a bike shop - if they're common all over the country then that must be a good sign - a (probably) ex-overlanders Tenere bought privately is asking for trouble. Why arent they all riding XT600s - probably because the insurance/tax/whatever on an over 250 is massive and a 250 does the job.

Work out the whole new ownership details well beforehand and if you want to go ahead then stick to a price which you are prepared to pay for a bike (but which you are unlikely to get) that you want to 'last a month'

Being a novice traveller is tough - I should know! Me, I'm unusually paranoid abroad until I get a feel for a place - it saves a whole lot of grief.

Chris S

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Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail