Hello All

I've been going to Morocco by jeep so far, but during my last trip I was always thinking that I should be a lot of fun to do it in a motorcycle.

Now I've never riden a motorcycle off road, my current bike is a Yamaha XJ6 Diversion, a road bike .

My plan is to put the bike on a trailer, do the boring bits in max confort and then park it on a nice, safe place and go from there on the motorbike.

So no need to be a bike capable of highway speeds or handling. What is needs is to be light, reliable, the plan is to stay in aubergs, hotels,etc so will only take light luggage.

My conclusion is that somehing with a 250 cc engine would do fine. I know that Yamaha makes a WR250R that is not so radical like the "F" but is not available in Portugal.

electric start is a must, electric + kick ideal, kick only, no way.

what you guys think about the WR250F ? my initial idea is that it would need an increase in fuel capacity, either a bigger tank, or an extra can, or "bag" to be with a safe margin of autonomy. some mods for the saddle might be in order to.

One concern I have is how the high compression engine will cope with the petrol available in Morocco.

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Tito

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http://clubman1.blogspot.pt

Indeed, why not a full-on enduro bike?

It wouldn't be my cup of tea but I like to take my time and enjoy the ambience.

You might like to read CS's views about riding in Maroc.
e.g.
so | Adventure Motorcycling Handbook I have no need for an enduro machine.

Whoops, that wasn't really the link I meant to add - yet it does say something on the lines of "I have no need for an enduro bike".

Recently, CS posted in this thread http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...on-rtw-70822-7

about his latest bike for Maroc
Rally Raid CB500X – the first 2000 miles | Adventure Motorcycling Handbook

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Dave

Mostly, it depends of what kind of trip you want to make !
- full "pistes" with very few roads ? a light trail bike or more enduro one ( but in this case no way to ride from Europe with it : trailer )
- 50/50 and "easy" trails ( those which you found gps points everywhere ; can tell you by mp) : any trail even heavier like a GS ( if you have a lot of money ) , a transalp or an old 600'
- a 250 will do the job , in a light mood : no camping, not too much extra fuel- 200/250 km is a minimum - , few parts and so on.

ON MY personal point of view , I will not do it with a bike less than 400 like my drz . I mean with the stuff for camping ( in fact a tarp) , fuel ( 15 L) , oil, water, tools , tube, and so on .
BUT some others have done it .

BUT in any cases, especially with no experience
1) train fully equipped to find your limits
2) get fitted enough ( any way is good)
3) dont ride alone

Like I said my idea is to take the bike on a trailer let's say up to Midelt, from there on ride the pistes around the Atlas. I'm fully aware that the biggest limitation is myself, I've seen what experience riders can do with a fully loaded GS and that's something I'm not prepared to do.

My main concern about the WR250f is if is reliable, if will run well with the fuel available in Morocco, etc.

Any alternatives are welcomed, the lighter the better.

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I use a Yam XT225 carried in the back of a van; it does for me what you describe.
I can get 160 Km to the standard tank and that is not draining it.

I would prefer the WR250R that you mentioned earlier; they are expensive and, again as you say, not sold everywhere but you might be able to get one and import it.

Anyway, it's a Yam so of course it will do the job, but only you know if you want/need a full on enduro rather than a trial bike with a lower state of engine tune.
See the Morocco datebase of knowledge (of some title like that) for detailed info about the country and it's fuel supplies.

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Dave

Fuel quality is same as Europe. You can buy fuel in cans in remote areas and the quality of that has been good in my experience. The Yamaha sounds fine, no need for more than 80 kph on tarmac.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

I confirm for the gas in stations : at LEAST as good as in Europe . My bike ran perfectly here .
And for little tours, a 250 will be nice enough.
But for those trails around Midelt or even oueds, plenty of rocks af all sizes so an enduro geometry and absorbers is better .
Both tested two weeks agos

Good bike. Easy riding. You'll like it I'm sure.

Beware however: I've read here :

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-imports-74533 that new regulation on temporary imports prevent temporary imports of a car and a bike on trailer by a single individual. It would now need to be 2 people at least, assuming that the minimum same 2 people would take the vehicles out as well. Can anyone confirm this from experience please, thank you?

YES .
The car was put on my wife's passeport and the bike on mine
YOU have to be the same at the exit point .
Do not know if there is another solution ! Might be , because soms tours travelled with several biles on a trailer ( porfessionnals )

Yes I'm aware of that, but there must be some ways around it, 3 weeks ago , while waiting for my return ferry there was 4 trucks loaded with Ferraris, Aston Martins and similar sports car that took part in a rally, somehow they got in, and I assume they got out since they were already waiting to get inside the ferry.

Thank you all for your input, the Honda CRF250L is also a possibility but more difficult to find in my price bracket, I want to buy something cheap,since I believe I'm going to drop it a few times

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There is this CRF250L in Sevilla:

vendo honda CRF250L marzo 2014. 8533 kms. garantia hasta marzo/2017. 3.000 euros

Less than 9000Km for 3000€.

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thanks for the info choutos, but this Honda was/is sold in Portugal, importing a car to Portugal atracts a lot of taxes and work, I believe a bike will be the same, so I'll try to avoid importing if I can.

Still a really good deal by the looks of it.

Surprising this bike new here cost about € 4650, while the more off road version ( CRF 250 R ) goes for € 8000 . Looking at the pictures they look so similar , I guess there must a lot of diferences between them.

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BIG difference between CRF250R and CRF250L. The R is a full RACE bike, the L is a mild dual sport bike, much more reliable on a longer trip.

Also, same sort of difference between the Yam 250R and F. The F is a race bike, the R a mild dual sport bike. The R is preferable for travel on mild Pistes and such. A great bike but EXPENSIVE.

Either Honda or Yam road versions would be good. But if you're new to dirt bikes you need to find a riding partner. Don't go there alone. You WILL fall as a new rider. Most times you will be unhurt ... but if you have bad luck you could get into trouble, especially in bad weather. Buddy System is best or join a tour.

A tour will take you places you could never find on your own ... but you must PAY for that privilege.

Perhaps buy in EU where CRF250L is sold, buy a nice USED one?
Must be a way to register bike in your name and avoid import tax? Buy in France, keep in French plate/paper?

I think it's a good idea to put bike on trailer. We do similar thing sometimes when riding Baja, Mexico. We drive and trailer bikes to Mexico. Then leave truck, go riding on full dirt bike (not legal to ride in USA roads).

We carry small luggage, stay only in Hotels, eat in restaurants. A real vacation.

(sometimes even a "chase" truck to carry luggage and other luxuries )