Morocco 2008: a F800GS test ride

Hold on !
I found someone !

Christian stopped for.... une tortue, una tartaruga, a turtle !?!


okay, the guy took too much sun over the head I guess

At last, le Col.
Christian arrived first at the top.


Anton and I on our way up


at the top


after the climb. okay, but hot.
this time, no fear. and you know what ? I looooooove my ohlins !!!

okay, fine, but now starts the interesting tricky technical part.
so let's go down.

Anton did it first.
then Christian




piece of cake for him... but I must say that the cliff on the right side is a bit disturbing when u're going down

my turn... I'm afraid, less class. but I wished to do it on my own. no help, gents, if you please.

Kinda desolate and deserty....

Sweet F800! I really like the grey color, much better than the yellow black one.

Thanks for the R/R...

After this little episode, time for a little break and water (at least, for me )

and then :

Jurgen's gang !
3 german doing Morocco. 2 little bikes and a big lc8.
those guy were serious !
a little chat and they're gone - I'm a bit slow off road for real bikers

At some point we had a quick lunch somewhere and....

it was hot durring the afternoon...

so the pause was welcome.


and yes, I'm quite often opening the way.... not because I'm too fast. the opposite


Did I tell u it was hot around there ?
this jacket is no-good for morocco.

And here they come.



this part was really fun. beautiful landscapes. easy tracks.
good for a warm up. good for beginners. good for me.
real biz is for later

Time for some quality time in Erfoud.

Congratulation, with the pics we cannot really realize how the downhill is heavy and how some steps are huge.
After the col and the small oasis you didn't cross an oued ?

Eric

Great riding and pics, looks an awesome place to ride

great pix and report, thanks for sharing!
Will you let us know the impressions on F800GS, please? :)

Great ride pics, well done guys!!

I like the wide open spaces, and seeing the 800 GS getting dirty.
Good pics and write up.

the oued going to boudnib, more or less. yes, indeed.

yes. but allow me finish the report and I'll be back to it.

So this day was the first part of our sandy track....
the slightly difficult part. From Erfoud to Remlia through Merzouga.
We talked during the evening with Anton about the sand.
So just in front of the hotel was a little dune.
he couldn't resist so he tried it in the morning.
result : he got stuck. really.


So we went to Merzouga. looked at the dunes.

Christian wished to try with the 800GS. Anton thought his little morning adventure was enough for now. me..... let's say I have to do what I have to do...


the beginning of the track is quite easy. dust, rocks, some bands of sand, little hills like this one. something to wake you up, that's for sure. but still ok.


Then the sand will reclaim his share, more and more.

just a quick note as you probably noticed that Christian added 2 TT "bidons" on the left of the 800GS.
As the bike was new to him, he didn't know (yet) the mileage of the little beast.
Anton, with the AT, was the one with the smallest. Anyway, to be sure, Christian add the 4 liters on the bike.
guess what ?
yes, he used it !
but not in Morocco !
in Barcelona as he didnt want to refill the tank before taking the boat. but as some point, in a middle of a roundabout in Bcn, he stopped.
So we pushed him on the sidewalk and he refilled from one of the little can.
we're still teasing him about it

So Anton, how is it ?

ok.... guy's all business !


there is still some klicks to do !!


ok. and he's gone !

At some point, I stopped.
Why ?
Coz we were ridding a bit in the sand.
all my concentration was needed. last year, I'm was afraid. really. quite unpleasant.
this year, fearless. but it's still difficult to ride on sand.
so I decides to stop and take some shots to have a little "souvenir" of the location





you get the feeling, dont you ?

The mandatory pause at Ouzina for some refreshing beverage.
Zaid was not here this time. In town. Only his brother.
Very nice fellows.

just in front of the Erg Ouzina.



there are even place to stay for a night.

before Remlia, the long and wide dry lake.
perfect to check your max speed
At the end, the track is continuing a bit uphill. ok.
but it's a sand track. a dune with stones.
interesting....
last year, I was unable to pass it.
this year.... I did it !!!