After watching the amazing 'Sandriders 2022' video on Harry's Garage YouTube Channel, I decided to enter Sandraiders 2023 on my 1989 3AJ.

Check out his video here
https://youtu.be/yh7c7Hg_dwY

This will be a 1,500k 'Rally' over seven days April/May 2023 between the Morocca Atlas and Sahara, so I thought I would document preparing my 3AJ and how I actually get on during the rally here.

Anybody else done this or planning to?

I would appreciate any advice or comments...





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SPOILER

Two weeks after SandRaiders 2023 finished, as at 22 May 2023, SandRaiders 2024 already has 60 signups which is about 50%!

If you want to take part in this amazing, world class experience, pay the £400 deposit to secure your place ASAP.

https://sandraiders.com/en/sandraiders-information/



I have learned that there is a direct link between how fit you are, how well developed your off-road riding skills are, how well you have field-tested your bike and how much you will enjoy the 2024 SandRaiders Rally.

Read on to discover why...

Or watch Harry's three videos https://youtu.be/0Oi2pxT0QWU

After the Covid-19 lockdowns, I have been making up for lost time and have ridden the piste's of Morocco three times in thirteen months:

Oct 2021 - Rode my T7 Rally from Edinburgh to Zagora and back

Apr 2022 - Hired a KTM890 in Marrakesh and rode down to Smara in Western Sahara and back

Nov 2022 - Hired a KTM890 for Chris Scott's tour
https://youtu.be/KtrrtOEhc6Q

The Sandraiders 2023 aims to traverse Chris Scott's MS8 across Lac Iriki and Erg Chegga which is one of the remotest parts of Morocco

To ensure my 3AJ is able to cope with the 1,500K rally, I'm going to be undertaking a number of upgrade and maintenance tasks.

Off the top of my head, these are:

1 - Replace the rusty and naff Leo Vince 2-into-2 exhaust.
2 - Upgrade the rear suspension with a Wilburs.
3 - Pre-load the front forks for my weight.
4 - Fit handlebar risers to suit my 6'5" height
5 - Fit Barkbuster lever guards.
6 - Replace the chain and sprockets.
7 - Fit a kickstart.
8 - Change the oil & filter.
9 - Remove unessecary weight (such as rear footpegs).
10 - Fit a front mousse (required for Sandraiders) and new tyres.

The Leo Vince exhaust has been annoying me for quite a while. It's loud and the bike feels very underpowered. So it was one of the first things I decided to tackle.

After snapping the first exhaust stud off, I decided to delegate the removal of the exhaust to Mark 1 Motorcycles in Edinburgh.

In anticipation of this, I took advantage of the Black Friday Sales and got a nice discount on an Arrow exhaust, a Wilburs rear shock and a few other bits and pieces.






Despite trying to maintain the battery over the past few months, it was dead this morning so I had to use my Noco Battery Booster in order to start it and get it to the mechanic on time.



Luckily, I managed to ride it there without stalling in the rush hour traffic.

Mark managed to remove the snapped stud and replaced all of the others with the stainless steel studs & nuts I had supplied.

The Arrow sounded MUCH better and the bike had almost twice as much power on the ride home; although I did have to use the Noco Booster to start it again as the battery was definitely deid.

The new Wilburs shock lifted the rear end up and prevented my knees from hitting the handle bars when I sat on it so I was well chuffed.

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

Awesome video and event! No idea that it existed!

Are there any other Rallies similiar to this that capture the old Paris-Dakar vibe? I've only heard of Budapest-Bamako so far

Was in Morocco multiple times on rented Honda bikes, last time in October, next time would be in February. I know these offroads, but cant imagine to ride heavy bikes in some locations. The sand is like powder somewhere and to lift the motorcycle is not easy stuff.

My favorite trip is from El Hamid over the desert to Foum Zguid or from Merzouga to Zagora over the desert.

I appreciate your warnings Jenik.

I had a failed attempt at Merzouga to Zagora in October 21 because my riding buddy had too much luggage on his T7, and Foum Zquid to El Hamid in April 22 because the KTM890 Adventure's traction control couldn't get me out of the Fesh Fesh :-(

The clutch failed a day later enroute to TanTan and I had to be rescued by some friendly Arabs. The rental company, Loc2rue out of Marrakesh delivered a KTM890 Rally at 8am the next day :-)

I'm hoping the roadbook route Sandraiders give us will avoid the worst sand...

Who do you hire the Honda's from please, Jenik?