Sandraiders Morocco 2023

[JamesinEdinburgh]

I will speak for the lot of us and say we are all very jealous and wish you the best of luck.

[DakarXT600]

James that 140 is tight does it clear the chain as well and did you have to pull it back much from the swingarm on adjustment but I am sure you will be smiling when running across the sand against my 120!

Got a couple of filters one original from my local dealer and a twin air one which I will take as a spare. My gear lever splines are shot as well so welding a new block on from Yambits.

Packing twice as one of my mates has gone back to Kenya for work so go his bike to collect. His shop decided they didn't like the look of fitting mousses so bit of a rush around on the day of my brother in laws funeral who was originally coming with us on Sandraiders.

Tank and tyres not going to be back until Tuesday so going to be a busy week this week!!

[JamesinEdinburgh]

James that 140 is tight does it clear the chain as well and did you have to pull it back much from the swingarm on adjustment but I am sure you will be smiling when running across the sand against my 120!

Got a couple of filters one original from my local dealer and a twin air one which I will take as a spare. My gear lever splines are shot as well so welding a new block on from Yambits.

Packing twice as one of my mates has gone back to Kenya for work so go his bike to collect. His shop decided they didn't like the look of fitting mousses so bit of a rush around on the day of my brother in laws funeral who was originally coming with us on Sandraiders.

Tank and tyres not going to be back until Tuesday so going to be a busy week this week!!

The 140/80 rear tyre operated like a dream today Mike.

It was as far back as the new chain would allow, 3 on the chain adjuster. Had no problems clearing the chain.

[DakarXT600]

What’s it like at speed any wobbles?

[JamesinEdinburgh]

The tyres were quite noisy at 60mph but didn't have any wobbles.

Main surprise was after breaking hard on the front, whilst going round a roundabout. The M14 Michelin Enduro Mousses are softer than I expected and distort a little I think. A few seconds later, than all is back to normal.

I'm looking forward to fitting the MotoZ Enduro's on my T7 for the Kielder 500 next weekend.

[donnybach]

Good luck bud. Sounds fantastic. Get lots of pics.
Let us know how the suspension fares. I need to upgrade the 1vj.
Don’t forget an emergency compass.

[JamesinEdinburgh]

Good luck bud. Sounds fantastic. Get lots of pics.
Let us know how the suspension fares. I need to upgrade the 1vj.
Don’t forget an emergency compass.

Thanks Donnybach

Compass is a great suggestion; I was just reading up on MS8 (Tata to Mhamid via Lake Iriki & Erg Chegaga) in Chris Scott's book - Morocco Overland and saw this picture of a Land-rover crossing Lake Iriki in a sandstorm!

Credits: Chloe Cargill

[JamesinEdinburgh]

Finally, my 1989 Yamaha XT600Z 3AJ Tenere is ready for Sandraiders, and my box is packed!





My bike is far, far better of having prepped for this Rally (shame I couldn't ride it at the Kielder 500 on Saturday).

1 - Upgraded suspension
2 - Proper exhaust
3 - New Motoz Enduro tyres
4 - Michelin Mousse front & rear
5 - New chain & sprocket
6 - Barkbusters
7 - F2R Roadbook & XT Zumo wired in

All I'm missing is an exhaust shield.

After all of these improvements, my 3AJ was almost as enjoyable to ride off-road last weekend as my T7 and I'm really looking forward to riding it in the Sahara.



All though, Chris Scott warned me yesterday that MS8 will be hard work...

[JamesinEdinburgh]

Yeay! My 3AJ has been delivered to WMB Logistics by Dale Booker, who I found on Shiply.





Manifest shows that 4 out of 16 bikes have so far been delivered at 9:45am today, which is the deadline. Presumably they will be crated up and start their journey to Marrakesh sometime this week.

Some of the other bikes being shipped from the UK to take part in Sandraiders include:

3 x 3AJ's
1 x TT600R
2 x XR650L's
1 x XR400
1 x KLR650
2 x NX650 Dominators

Hopefully, there will not be any problems with EU or Morrocan customs. I did have to complete a detailed list, value and country of origin for everything that was in my box...

[JamesinEdinburgh]

I tested out the Motoz Tractionator Enduro's at the RallyMoto Kielder 500 over the weekend.

I'm glad to say they performed amazingly and gripped well apart from the deepest mud, so I didn't fall off and jeopardise my fitness for Sandraiders in almost 30 days time. It was freezing cold though - can't wait to ride in the warm Sahara.





(Credit: Tony Whitehead)



After talking to some experienced Maroc pilots at the RallyMoto event, I'm concerned my Michelin Mousses might degrade prematurely. I somehow managed to order the softer enduro mousses, that run to an equivalent 16psi.

Olly Bassi, a Rally veteran in Edinburgh assured me that these mousses would be good for the sand but not so much amongst the rocks, so I should pack a front inner tube & levers. Think I will pack a rear as well just to be on the safe side.

I did apply 2 x as much lube as suggested so maybe they'll last 1,500K