I plan to travel from the UK quickly through France/Spain either on bike or in a van to southern Spain then hop across to Morocco and look for some nice (off road) tracks and hopefully see some of the Dakar probably following it for a bit (not the race route though an easier route the support trucks use).

I would be doing this on an Aprillia Pegaso with some semi off road tyres (block pattern) so thay are good on the road as well.

I ride quite a lot off road in the UK (enduro) and would like to take the bike wherever I can go (some sand riding would be nice) but safely as well!

If you are interested let me know also email me at my username here @yahoo.com to make up the email address.

Good riding

Ian

I have sort of looked at doing simailer but i will be in 4x4 if i get it sorted but my thoughts are along the business side of things with customers.

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Ian
Sent you an email a week ago. did you receive it? Leave a post here, PM me, or send me a mail via my website.
ChrisB

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We'll be watching the Dakar '08 in Spain, but still waiting for the final route.

I suspect they will do the same as last year and have the trucks go through Algeciras and the cars and bikes via Malaga. Malaga is a great place to get up close and personal with the competitors.

If your down that way for the Dakar, drop me a PM.

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No I didn't - I will try to PM you after this message

Me & 2 friends go from derby on the 28th december & return 12 jan, doing same as you
Travel with car & trailer till it gets warm (spain) find somwhere to dump the car/trailer then ride

Ian: How is your planning for the trip going? Have you fixed dates yet and are you riding all the way down through France?

I did a similar trip in April on my KTM950 and had a great time out there (bumped into Chris on his DRZ in Merzouga as it happened).
I've been toying with the idea of doing another run down there in the near future to have another crack at some of the off-road routes.
If you're still looking for somebody to join you then let me know your planned dates and the routes you plan to do when you get there and we'll see if we can sort something out...

Mark.

Hi Ian and others,
All the PM said was that me and a mate are vanning 2 DRZs to Moroc. We'll be in the Merzouga/Zagora area checking out old haunts and exploring new pistes around 15th to 27th December.

You can't miss us: Both bikes virtually identical: white/yellow with big 27litre fuel tanks. When in Merzouga will probably stay at the "Tuareg" which is close(ish) to the arch in town/the paved road running south out of town.

Ride safely,
Chris

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We will miss you we wont get over to Morocco until the 28th ish Dec.

Hi dates are pretty fixed at going out 26 Dec returning back to the UK 19th Jan.

We have 3 going, I'm happy to have 4 in the group though at the moment the cheapest option is to take my car over and the 3 bikes on a trailer though at the moment this is just an idea - and I dont have a trailer (yet!) - And I dont know if we could fit 3 bikes on including a 1200GS.

We're looking at something similar now as it will save a lot of money each in the travelling - Have you done this before? Do you know if you have to pay caravan toll road rates through France and Spain?

Incidentally I wouked costs out as:
Option D = Take my Peogeot 405 with 3 bikes on a trailer and leave the car and trailer in southern or mid spain . It may be nice to drop it off say 5 hrs before the ferry point to Morocco (Tarifa) and get out and ride a bit since we would be well fed up of being stuck in a car by then. I have contacted the HU community in southern spain near the post in the hope some nice individual would let us park the car and trailer at their house or somewhere safe. Note also I do not have a trailer yet - I may be able to borrow one though if we do this we should bung the guy a tenner each towards new tyres!
Tolls are based on a car with caravan - hopefully a trailer would be cheaper.
Tolls through France and Spain = £78 x 2 = 156
1425 miles ( calais to Gibraltar ) / 40mpg = 35 gallons x 2 ways = 70 gallons x 3.65 £/gallon = £255 Fuel Total (note this slightly more expensive fuel cost/gallon is probably more realistic)
Ferry = 180 return (expensive because of the trailer)
Total = 591 / 3 people = 197 each

Is this what you have costed out or have you not worked it out?

Ian

[quote=men8ifr;156264]We're looking at something similar now as it will save a lot of money each in the travelling - Have you done this before? Do you know if you have to pay caravan toll road rates through France and Spain?

we had not realy worked out the tolls but yes it's a first for us (can,t wait) Hope to park up in spain & ride like you say could do with a friendly place to park @ least the costs will be devided by 3 taking 3 gs's

Be careful that the weight of the three bikes along with the basic weight of the trailer doesn't will take you over the 750kg limit for a non-braked trailer, otherwise you'll need one with brakes (a 1200GS is about 210kg wet weight). You also need to consider the nose weight on the tow bar, plus insurance for the bikes whilst on the trailer.

Tim

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Bikes will be empty of fuel & all the luggage in the pickup so should be ok but can get a braked trailer (like a horsebox) if required

Hi Bikers,

i followed the Dakar 2007 2 Days. Er-Rachiidia to Tan Tan.

This year i will be following the Dakar from Lisboa to Dakar. I have a website with the description of the Project. Xtreme-project.com: Inspiration (sorry is in german).

I am still searching rider they will join me. If we are enough bikes and we share costs we can afford a Jeep they can carry some stuff.

You are interessted or you will only see the Dakar few days?