I've had my eyes on an overland trip for a little while now, post-poned by Covid. But I just got back from a mini exploration of the south of Spain and I am hooked. I got down to Tarifa and could see Morocco on the other side of the sea and just had this overwhelming desire to go there. So, I am planning a little overland trip around Morocco, specifically the Riff Mountains, maybe the Atlas Mountains, and some of the Sahara. Would love to replicate a bit of the Dakar feeling.

My question is, do I take a motorbike or a 4x4? I can drive both, but currently have neither (at least not an off-road capable motorbike). My budget is fairly limited so I suppose that is the major concern. I would be looking at something relatively old like a DRZ-400 for a bike, or a 1990s Toyota 4 Runner for a 4 x 4.

While the basic premise (driving round looking at stuff) is the same, I imagine the experience is completely different depending on what mode of transport you take. I don't think I would feel comfortable sleeping in a tent, so if I took a motorbike I would be reliant on some form of hotel/hostel/whatever for the whole trip, whereas with a large 4x4 I would feel comfortable to sleep inside it. This would let me do things like camp overnight in some places if I wished for one or two nights at a time and might give me more "Freedom". Equally, I reckon I would feel more or less safe just leaving the car parked up wherever, but might worry more about the bike? On the other hand, driving through a city (and parking) a 4x4 sounds stressful, but if I can drive a motorbike through Madrid rush hour I feel pretty confident I can ride anywhere.

I have no idea how fuel range would differ between the two? The bike would have better economy, but a smaller tank. The truck would guzzle petrol but I could carry more. I don't know which has more range, but I imagine it would change the type of trip one could do? I imagine if the motorbike broke down it would be significantly cheaper to fix than the 4x4. Not a deal breaker, but perhaps something I should consider.

What else? There must be a million things I haven't even thought of! But please, help me make up my mind whether I should take a truck or a bike on my first little (solo) overland trip abroad. I suppose it would be more helpful if I could tell you exactly what I wanted to do, but sadly I can't, I don't have an itennery yet, just the desire for adventure and to watch the sun set in the Sahara.

A bike is uncomfortsble and impracticle in every way - you cannot apply logic behind choosing one. The sane ones go for four wheels, the nutties for two. And everyone knows the crazies have more fun. So, are you sane or insane?

Riding a bike is less about destinations and mobility than it is an unspoiled journey that brings strong and pure sensations to every cell in your body - good and bad. It is rough, tough and yet oh so sweet. It is punishing and rewarding all at the same time. There is nothing like it, yet not for everyone. Sometimes the wind and temp is just perfect, and soothes the soul. Most of the time however you are fighting the elements, longing for better conditions.

A car or truck polishes off all the rough edges of travel - the beautiful and the ugly, all alike. Whereas a bike experience is intoxicating, verile and unruly, the car is sobering, impotent and well mannered.

Go with your brain, choose the truck. Go with your heart, choose the bike.

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That's it in a nutshell.

..............shu

And just in case you haven't figured it out yet, motorcycle parts and service are very often more expensive than comparable car/truck maintenance. Of course it all depends, but I sure pay a lot more for motorcycle tires which last 15,000 miles or so than I do for car tires which go at least 40,000 (and come with a warranty). Plus both the leakiest car I've ever owned (1968 Pontiac Tempest convertible) and the coldest (air cooled VW squareback) were far and away more comfy than any motorbike, anywhere. My neighbors even get better gas mileage than I do on my bikes...and they get to carry on conversations and listen to soothing music while doing so.

Which doesn't help explain why I like motorcycle travel so much, does it? Don't try to squeeze everything to suit linear, logical thinking.

I would wager you will smile more and have more interaction with the locals if you chose the 'bike over the pick up.

Then I suppose my only option is to do both! Perhaps I set off in the truck, and join a bike trip for a few days in the middle, see which I prefer!

I guess you can do a lot more on a bike thinking about it? If you get totally lost you can take a bike down a single trail track that even the toughest truck would struggle with?

It will change your trip indead - it allows you to stay more remotely over days (if you feel comfortable beeing lonely extended). And you can pickup hitch hikers for accompany (what is more common in argentina/chile) as in europe at 2021.

Travelling by 4x4 means more than just changing the vehicle. More than just a sleeping bed. You can carry a fridge, kitchen gear. You get a cold and a steak at evening at the campfire. You can camp stealth in citys or staying wild in the nature - always with a warm and dry sleep option.

You will not pay for hostel or hotel. Also you dont will visit restaurants often.

Parking is not a pain. Where it is really necessary there are payed parking slots with security.

Dont look at the prices for fuel and maintenance. For a worldtrip also shipping costs counts - and airfright isnt really a option by 4x4.

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

Either choice sounds like a great trip in the planning.



I have 4x4's and (have had) bikes (will get another, a DRZ400 at some stage) So can see the agony between the two.


As a side note... Tarifa is a lovely place. I used to go there regularly about 15 or so years back. I miss the place!

Thanks for the encouragement!

It was a totally unplanned trip for work - I was in Malaga, took a detour to Cadiz for a few days and I was on the bus back to Malaga, I saw Tarifa listed as a stop, I googled imaged it and thought "wow I have to visit" so I told the bus driver I was getting off early and I walked to the nearest hostel I could find. Turned out to be a really nice place. You guys and gals have the life sorted! I just wish I had had my own vehicle for the trip so I could have done MORE spontaneous things...

But lovely as Tarifa was, I couldn't get rid of the itch of wanting to be across that little bit of sea. Oh to hop on a ferry and see what I find on the other side...

This is true for the little things. Maybe I worry too much. New tyres at the end of a trip, whatever, no biggie. An axle breaking in the desert? A lot of cash to get (somehow) recovered from there and a new axle put in. Whereas a bike... At least the recovery would be cheap and easy!

Well, whatever, bikes can be expensive to fix too, but I feel like I could do near as damn it most tihngs on a bike. A truck I need to pay for labour too. Maybe I worry too much. Both could have expensive things go wrong. Neither probably will have anything go wrong. Might as well just go and enjoy myself, its only money at teh end of the day

I am a firm believer in the old saying that four wheels move the body, while two wheels move the soul.

I've had some good car trips, but the bike trips were always better.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

There is a good way to start to dig a bit deeper! What did you like most on your trips? What did you not like? About what do you remember later?

Try to do a list for each extended trip.

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

The chap that started all this ‘main stream’ motorcycle over landing was Ted Simon and his book Jupiter’s Travels.
He was a writer/journalist and had the idea to travel round the world and write down his thoughts about where he visited and send it back for regular publication in (if I recall correctly) The Sunday Times - which he did.

The mode of travel he chose was by motorcycle, even though he’d never ridden one before. His thoughts were such - again if I remember correctly:

> Aeroplane travel was out - he wanted to travel through countries, seeing/meeting/interacting with ordinary people and reporting on their lives, good or bad.
> Public transport was too restrictive, better the freedom of one’s own transport.
> A bicycle is too slow and too hard - the cycle ride then becomes the focus of the journey.
> A covered vehicle, such as a car or 4x4 separates the traveller from those outside the vehicle. In many parts of the world it may elevate the traveller in status and possibly close off or limit interaction.

For me I like being outside and I like travelling - on a motorcycle I’m doing both. As for camping, I believe that anyone can get used to anything and if you want to sit in the Sahara and watch the sun go down and stare at the stars then camping is the way to go.

Sounds like you’re at the beginning of your journey - so to speak.
The trouble with the Internet, I find anyway, is that people seem to want everything to be perfect - they ask loads of questions, pontificate and angst about what to do. I count myself as one of these - before the Internet (which is most of my life) I would just load up and go with a mixed bag of results but always a good story. Sadly I seem to pontificate more and more these days.

There are no mistakes to be made, just experiences to be had. Do what you feel you want to do, don’t take the trip or yourself seriously and have fun. Next time if you want to do it differently then do.

But………….. go on a motorcycle and take a tent hahaha only joking……. NOT.

Certainly I don’t travel by motorcycle for practical reasons (I don’t have a car) but it was the nature of Ted’s work that made his decision and it was one he has stuck with throughout his life as, I believe, he still rides a 2 or 3 wheeler on occasion and he’s 90 years old - another added bonus, motorcycling keeps you young