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

Hello Alison

Being also non technical, I would have the bike serviced before the trip, then take off and enjoy yourselves!

Mechanics and other workers in Morocco have a real 'can do' attitude to fixing things, so your only worry is getting to the nearest town. I've done more than 2000 miles offroad in Morocco, mainly on 1200GS and 1200GSA and the only time I had a problem with a flat tyre was on my XR400, so I'd suggest you stick heavy duty tubes in your tyres.

Goufre Friouato: N34 06.102 W4 04.252
Cascades d'Ouzoud: N32 00.847 W6 43.143

Tim

__________________
"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)

Thanks for the info Tim. I will be picking your brains quite a lot over the coming months not only about routes etc but I think we're going to have to bite the bullet and get a Garmin. I've had a look at yours and Olaf's site and others - plenty of stuff for the Garmins but nothing for the Tom Tom.

Our plan is to leave straight after the HU meeting next year which has been tentatively booked for the third weekend in September. Hans, Bodo, Leo, Andy and I were talking about doing the trip together and I hope that will still happen. I hope Mike will also be able to join us. And the colourful Ted Magnum has said he'd like to tag along. Our plan is to travel during the day with our usual partners then meet up again along the route in the evenings. I know you recommended avoiding Ramadam, but it looks like this will be the only time we're able to go next year.

Btw, if you have any photos of Moto Andalucia, can you send them to me please. Many thanks. And you never did get round to telling me what happened to you in May???

Very true.

If you want to learn about the bike I suggest a Heyns manual or similar with step by step instructions. Parts diagrams will tell you nothing if you are not mechanically minded.

Hi Alison,
The Moroccan trip in 2008 sounds a great caper that we're keen to join you on, the only problem we may have is that Sue currently works at a school and they are really inflexible with her when it comes to taking holidays during term time, but one or both of us are definitely up for at least part of the trip so we'll see how it pans out closer to the time. I'm booked on an evening course in motorcycle mechanics at Reading tech in january, OK Readings at bit far for you to come but anything in Malaga? Also when I was looking into a course like this I found that a couple of my local bike dealers ran a similar thing - I've always found that being shown is easier than learning from a book.
Cheers Mike PS I've just calculated that the least expensive hotel that we stayed at was £1.82 each per night ( nr Tizi-n-Test pass ) The tent can definitely stay at home next year !!!

Hi Mike

Good to hear from you and thanks for the email with all the photos, you look like you had a fantastic time in Morocco. I hope you can both join us next year - will it be the GS or XT next time?? Andy insists on taking the tents with us because he wants to sleep under the stars, but those cheap hotels sound tempting.

If my Spanish was better I would try and find a course in Malaga. At least I know what a maneta de embrague/maneta izquierada (clutch lever/left lever) is after dropping the Tricker last week! My next option is to ask my mechanic (or rather his boss) if I can watch/help them service my bike next time. I'm still trying to figure out how to access the spark plug on the XT without taking the petrol tank off (I'm sure you can with the right tools).

If you join us and Ted comes along too, I won't need to learn anything - we'll have 2 mechanics with us !!

As long as my XT makes it back from South America in one piece, ill be joining you for your meeting next year.

Bit of a wait I know, but id happily instruct and show you how to work on your XT.

The ONLY way to learn to maintain your bike is actually doing it under a watchful eye.

The basics are very easy with just a little patience and common sense.

Our XT's are very easy to work on. I think I could have you adjusing your own valves within a couple of hours.

By the way, Morroco sounds wonderful... I would love to do that after the meeting.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hiya, I have posted this before, and I will post it again.
its wonderfull stuff.
Ultraseal Tire Sealant

I am in no way affiliated to it apart from being a user.....oooooooer!

well, it is possible, if you have the right tool i suppose, but the tank and the side scoops come so low over the engine, that with practice it doesnt take long to get the seat, scoops, tank, panels n stuff off.
I can get the carburettors off my XT in less ten minutes and that includes removing seat, scoops, panels, tank, battery and battery box and the rubber inlets from the airbox to carbs. then again I have done this about 20 times in the last few weeks sorting out rough running and rebuilding the carbs.

the easiest way to learn dakota is to do.

study a haynes manual or a clymer or the manual on your website.
start by doing easy stuff, remove all the panels and tank and remove say the coil, clean it, put it back on, check the connections, start the bike........ she runs? good!
now put the rest of the panels back on......... its the easiest way to learn.

even better find a competent home mechanic who is also a biker and works on their own bike and ask them to watch over you as you do say an oil change on your bike.

best wishes for the spanner wielding!

and one more thing..really important! make sure you use the correct size allen key/screwdriver or spanner, im not being funny....honestly, a screwdriver that is too small or a pozidriv in a phillips will knacker the screw head. you can use a phillips in a pozidrive but not the other way round ( mind you there arent usually pozi screws on a bike but use a pozi driver on a phillips headed screw and your asking for grief) same with allen keys, make sure they are nice n snug fit. when choosing sockets 6 sided are better than 12 sided, thay dont slip and avoid cheap spanners. try to use ring rather than open ended or use combination ( ring and open ended on same spanner, both say 13mm or 10mm etc) the ring end to crack it open or tighten and the open end to quickly undo it.

Martyn

and dont forget the ultraseal for the tyres............ its so much better than repairing punctures in a tubed tyre!

Hey Ted - Only you could get stopped by the rozzers on your first day riding through BA!!

Martyn - thanks for that. Can you get the Ultraseal in Spain? Know what you mean about the screw heads. I dropped my other bike last week which pushed the mirror mount up the handlebar. Since I didn't have an impact screwdriver, a persuader (hammer) and pozidrive did the trick. I've got my scoops off atm (trying to stop the vibration noise) and tried to access the plug but I don't think it's possible without taking the tank off.

I'm going to ask my mechanic if he'll show me how to service the bike, tho I don't think his boss will be open to the idea. Maybe there's a market for doing motorcycle maintenance courses in Spain - come and spend a week at my villa and swim in my pool and learn how to repair your bike at the same time. Wish I had a villa with a pool . Wish I could repair my bikes!

There is a guy in Alicante who comes out as far as Sax to doctor tyres with Ultraseal, cost is 40 euros the pair. I think for that money you could buy it and have it shipped surface mail.... its worth its weight in gold, believe me!
Especially good for areas where there are Cactus spines and thorn bushes ( IE SPAIN!) when the front tyre was removed from my bike there were 7 thorns stuck through the canvas into the tube and a panel pin..... but the tube still held air and I would never have known if I had not been changing the tyre.
(there are 4 grades and the highest will self seal after a 7.62mm bullet has gone through a tyre!!!!!!! now THAT is impressive...)

I am sure that someone on this forum will come over for a weekend or so and teach you to spanner in return for bed n board Dakota.....

just back from 3 week trip from England to Morroco on 3 XTs 02/03 plates.

No problems.
Total maintainance 2x Oil to chains (no adjustment required)
1x Air Filter Change. A little oil to engine.

That's it!

fantastic bikes - would put up with 80-85mph fully loaded on the tarmac all day for 300-500 mile days, coped with bumpy pistes and dusty trails.

5000 miles trouble free - oh and Ramadan didn't seem to be a problem either