23 replies to this topic

[stevierst]

Well as the title says, I've just done Blackpool to Morocco and back on my TDM 900. A trip that took me to Portsmouth, through Spain, a loop round Morocco encompassing the Sahara, tizi n tess, ticha n tess, dudes gorge, and back again in 19 days. 3770 miles, an I couldn't have picked a better bike to do it on in my eyes.
There was a variety of new bikes, then my 13 year old 'scruff'. 2 x BMW RT1200's, 2 x new Africa Twins, BMW k1300s, BMW k1200gt (DNF), 1200 explorer, GS1200, tiger800(DNF) Yam Diversion 600 new one, and a Kwak Z1000sx.
Gotta admit, the 9er operated flawlessly, only ever leaving me wanting once in the Spanish mountains where her older tech engine was getting a bit asthmatic at the altitude. Everywhere else she was just about perfect!

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[dablik]

Get in pics and info when your ready Steve, well done, sounds like a lot of fun......was meant to do that with lazy arse for his 50th..

[CrashTestDuffy]

Nice one Steve. Very envious

[stevierst]

Been trying to put more pictures on, got to reduce them slightly first🙄

[Studley Ramrod]

Sounds like a great tour Stevie.  Look forward to hearing more.

 

Gonna put yer photo up for consideration in the Carpe calendar.

[steves100uk]

Sounds great. Can't wait to see the pics.

[drewpy]

brill, had the same issue in mountains with my 850, scared me at first  thinking it was breaking down.

[stevierst]

Heres Dades Gorge we blasted up dodging badly built trucks, camels, donkeys, and crazy Italian off roaders!

 

This is just before the mother of all hailstorms which triggered massive landslides blocking one direction, and destroying the road in the direction we had to go in!

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[stevierst]

When the heavens decided it was time to stop raining, and the landslides covered the roads, we took a trip either end to take a look at the damage!

This is the upper part of the road.

 

We ended up riding through that in the dark as the bulldozers couldn't clear it all. The word "challenging" springs to mind!

And this is the portion that washd away completely! the road ended up as a massive pile of gravel 200 foot below in the river!.

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[Studley Ramrod]

Cool !   Proper adventure ride. Hailstone in Morocco eh, who'd a thunk it.  Have to say, on my euro tour the 9'er and the mk2a 850 both performed well in the Pyrenees, Picos and Alps.  Down on power at high altitude but not so much as to be worried about.

[stevierst]

And this is the result of a nights riding in Morocco across landslides, flooded roads which were flowing at 30+mph and a foot deep, massive rocks in the roads, and frightened wild animals straying into our paths.

 

We were strongly advised not to travel at night in Morocco, ESPECIALLY on Motorbikes! And the Tiger is the reason why. This is one of the DNF's as the rider clipped the rear of the front bike, swerved off and into the flooded river which swept her away and over the edge into the flood water. We dragged her and the bike out safely, but the bike was trashed! This was at night with a massive electric storm lighting the sky behind us, and locals everywhere panicking. Quite dramatic stuff for a holiday!!!

Heres the Tizi n test pass. Apparently one of the worlds most dangerous roads. All I can say it was absolutely awesome!!!!

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[Studley Ramrod]

Crikey, not cool.   Glad to hear the rider was ok, lucky escape going off the state of the Tiger.

[stevierst]

The rider was really lucky, at 65 years old she could have drowned in that flood. 3 of us were waist deep in the water getting her out, and the bike took 8 of us to lift it as it was under the water! 😬

For the rest of the trip I had a blast. I was at the back playing catch up all the time, and some of those roads are incredible. The Spanish national parks are bikers heaven, and no chicken strip was harmed in the making of this trip! 😂

[stevierst]

And who said you can't have fun with luggage on? This was a brand new PR3 when I set off. 130+ litres of luggage fitted, and she cornered brilliantly on the twisties!

I showed all the riders of new and expensive bikes that it's not what you've got, it's how you ride it! Even the chap on the k1300s (bit of a young rev head) couldn't get away from me on the bends 😈

Be gone chicken strips!! 😂

Oh, and the wheels are actually black, not sand coloured 😂

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Edited by stevierst, 17 October 2017 - 12:38 pm.

[Kelpie]

Wow! What an achievement. Sounds very hairy!

[stevierst]

This is the route and itinerary of where we stopped during the trip.
Blackpool- start
Shelton in emet- meeting point.
Portsmouth- 24 hour ferry
Salamanca-first night
Seville
Tetouan
Fez
Arfoud
Ouarzazarte
Marrakesh -absolutely nuts!!
Agadir
Essauria - tree climbing goats!
Casablanca- London is traffic free compared to here!!!😱
Tangier
Guazalema
Toledo
Valladolid
Santander
Blackpool
A total of 3770 miles with a Yorkshire based company called 'mototours'. Less then 1/2 the price of the BMW motorad tour (£2100), and you go to better hotels, and see more places.
I know they're taking bookings for this time next year, and it's highly recommended. A tour I'll never forget in my lifetime!!!

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[dablik]

Blimey sounds like a film in the making Steve, hairy is the word, good to hear the old girl was okay, how did she go on from that point !!

 

TDM...................Tough Durable Machine

[Favs]

Nice trip - glad everyone survived and you had some fun too. Gotta be some great after dinner stories (and friends), from a trip like that.

[Matlock]

Wow, never mind a few pictures, you need to start pitching the movie to Hollywood    Great trip, well done on completing it and proving that the TDM can mix it with the best of them.

[masterbrewer]