XT600 Moto Maintenance for Meanderings to Morocco

[Dakota]

I'm one of those people who likes to listen to music but doesn't know who the artist is, drives a car but can't change a wheel and rides bikes but doesn't know much about the mechanics of it all. I can check the oil level and tyre pressures, grease the chain (and on my Tricker check the spark plug), but the limitations of my knowledge end there. The nice mechanic at the garage takes care of the rest.

In Spain, breakdown cover is compulsory but as I'm planning a trip to Morocco next year, I'm guessing they won't cover that area if anything goes wrong!! We (the hubby and me) have got 2003 and 2004 XT600E's, but since he works away a lot, there's never enough time to work on the bikes ourselves.

I need to know about the mechanics and servicing of these bikes. Pictures help, I like pictures. Over the next 6 months, I need to know how to service the bikes myself, change tyres, fix the problems I can fix, bodge the ones I can't and have a list of tools I need to take with me to do all this stuff. I've got the workshop manual on disc and an exploded parts catalogue. My bike will need servicing before the end of the year, so that would be a good place to start.

I'm also currently redeveloping a website which will eventually include all preparation for the trip (both selves and bikes) plus proposed route with waypoints (the usual stuff), so if anybody has any interesting places to visit, let me know.

We've 'shortlisted' Volubilis, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, Tizi n Test pass, Erg Chebbi, Djebel Kissan, Todra & Dades gorges and the Valley of the Roses, Himmelstreppe, the Goldene Spirale and the Stadt des Orion, Zagora, Ouazazate etc. Tan Tan is on the list, but realistically, there's too much to cover in 2 weeks. Does anybody have waypoints for The Ouzoud Waterfalls on the El Abid river gorge or Gouffre du Friouato-Friouato Caves near Taza?

I'm already plotting waypoints from Sahara Overland and Voyages 4x4 to include a couple of pistes along the way and am trying to get to grips with GPS TrackMaker.

But first things first, I need 'guidance' with the bikes so all help is appreciated