.: XT660.com - The #1 XT660 Resource :. - Morocco 2013.....EDC.....

Just a few wee tips to think about when we get to Maroc...some obvious and some not..

1.Make sure you're riding with a neck buff as the sun lies low and your neck can get sun burnt really easy.

2.Bring lip balm as the air is without moisture;that along with riding means your lips will dry out quickly and chaff.

3. A camel back water bladder is essential so you can drink whilst on the move.

4. Remember to keep taking salt on your food to avoid cramps.

5. Leave space in your luggage for the wet weather liners,water and a small amount of food.

6. Spare set of keys(I have mine permanently around my neck)

7. Passport and all driving documents along with Medical Insurance(it doesn't matter if your driving license doesn't have the same address as on your registration document)

8. If you bring a small packet of make up remover wipes instead of baby wipes,these will still work for the toilet and will wipe off oil from your hands if having to work on the moto...baby wipes don't degrease

9. ATM cards will work and most large towns have an ATM...if you call your bank to tell them you'll be in Maroc then they'll not block your card once it flags up as being used in Maroc and possibly stolen.

10.Your mobile phone will work and there's good network coverage all over Maroc but for the more isolated areas

11. I wash my clothes whilst having a shower so quick dry wicking T shirts etc are a good idea.If you don't want to do that you can bring a sink plug if need be..(I use a sock) and a tube of that camping detergent for washing clothes if you want as this product is a stronger soap than shampoo

12. Wear cycle shorts to prevent monkey butt

13. Get to the dentist before you go as if you've any problems over there it'll be a hammer and chisel job.

14. Obvious,but the give the moto a full service to include air filter....the feche-feche is very fine dust that moves about like smoke when you pass through it. It is the same as cement;it will run into air boxes like water and suchlike if you drop the moto in same. There'll be a short stretch of feche-feche from Merzouga to Zagora,just outside Ramlia...after that,there could be more here and there,where we're going.

15. Medication for a runny tummy

16. If you're bringing chargers for your electrical gadgets try and get one that will trip out when faced with power surges(Moroccan generators can do just that) or charge from your moto.

17. When on round-a-bouts,it's normal to stop and give way to traffic joining the round-a-bout(ie from your RHSide)....welcome to Moroccan logic.....and round-a-bouts work anti clockwise for any Brits..

18. Most large towns have wifi.

19. When off road ride with road pressures or a little above... it's easier to have the odd bounce than two or three punctures thus keeping loss of time to a minimum. e.g. When riding albeit with Honda 450 CRF's...standard UK enduro tyre pressures 10-12psi front 12-14psi rear...for riding in Maroc 25psi front and rear with the same moto. (As an aside the fork seals never needed changing at these pressures)

20.You'll know your own moto and what tools to bring along with the camping stuff....bring puncture repair pruk.

21.First aid kit

22. You'll not need as many clothes as you think you'll need.

23.Those with spoked rims...give them a tighten up as you see fit.

24.Michelin map 742 refers to Maroc

25. Reise Map refers to Maroc..... Reise Know How Landkarte Marokko Enter ISBN 978-3-8317-7167-7 into amazon for example. As an aside there are pistes shown on one map but not the other...I usually bring both to cross reference.

26. If riding with a GPS (I'll have a Garmin Montana) download for free,as an option,Open Street Maps as they show more pistes where the Garmin maps usually do not. Nice to have them both to cross reference.

27.Zip ty zip tys to each fork tube close to the headstock

28. Clip 2x split links onto a cable(and spray with air filter oil to keep it from rusting...also paint the circlip with tippex so if it pings off there's more of a chance of finding it)

29. Stash a tie down that will do for a towing....footpeg to footpeg
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30. Puncture stuff is stashed in a tobacco tin under the seat

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31. Stashed in at the rear of the battery is a couple of old socks with a tube of instant gasket.

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32. I have a few hose clips tightened up on the handlebar.

33. JB weld is in a pocket along with my chain breaker tool pouch

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34. A mini compressor is handy (not essential as I'll ...erm....have mine)
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35. I have cheap leatherman copy tool that has fine nose pliers and obviously a knife,that lives in my handlebar bag for everyday stuff(so no big deal if it gets stolen) Also here I have visor cleaner with rag,a notebook,pens and earplugs along with a place to keep loose change and notes for toll booths. You'll need pens to fill in a compulsory form at hotels every night.

36.Bring a head torch or key ring maglite (although not as handy as the head torch..it's there close to hand at all times..you put it in your mouth if working on something)

37.12v charger socket is handy to have...I have a double one mounted in the inside of my fairing.

38. Where spokes cross over it's not a bad idea to zip ty them so if one breaks it'll not fling about and get caught in discs or sprocket

39. I ride with 500mls of chain saw oil for my chain oiler and a can of air filter oil as I have a foam filter.

40.Zip Ty spare clutch and accelerator cables to existing ones

41.Bring a spare gear lever (if you want)

42. As we ride we'll buy water so bring a couple of short bungees to attach water bottles with,ie, on rear mudguard area.

43. If you want,pack a lighter pair of gloves/motocross gloves,to ride with beyond Merzouga.

44. Leave helmet off the ground when you have it off to avoid creepy crawlies wanting to live in same.

45. Don't brush teeth with tap water...use bottled.

46. Make sure breakfast orange juice is from a carton..you'll get sick if the hotel waters it down with tap water.

47.When you buy bottled water check that the seal is not broken and filled with tap water...having said that I've only ever come across this one time before,but worth checking just the same.

48 When kids stand in village streets and put their hand out to high five you...try to avoid doing so if you're riding briskly as it'll hurt your hand when you hit theirs.

49. Make sure anything that is attached to your moto is well secured...once we hit corrugations anything that can vibrate off after 5 minutes will.

50. When riding on open going space well out so to avoid the dust both in your face & air filter....there's nothing wrong with being 100m behind the next moto as we'll be stopping frequently to allow for stragglers and to re-group

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Tool tips relative to my moto....in a bum bag for easy access. If we weren't camping I'd stash these in a pannier,but I need the space now for food and stove etc. It's divided into two parts and with two small belt pouches....best �19 I ever spent.

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First compartment.

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Full set of of wheel bearings,32mm socket for front sprocket in case of a flyoff jammed chain...regulator and superglue. Short hollow tube with duct tape wrapped around it. Superglues lives in here so as not to get punctured whilst riding.A split water hose dried,glued and taped will let you limp on....also 17mm 13mm 12mm 8mm socket. Plumbers pliers. Normal pliers work OK but if you've to bend something it's nice to have the leverage of a longer pair.

[IMG] http://i40.tinypic.com/jijgd4.jpg[/IMG]

Second compartment

Flap has a few clean rags in it.

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Pre load spanner which is also the spoke key along with handle extension to use same
Hack saw blade
Spark plug spanner
Front wheel axle allen socket
Punch (also the same diameter as the brake pad pins which do not screw out...they need to be tapped out)
Allen keys....long ones as they're needed to poke into hidden places on the XT(ie fuel tank support bolts)
Slot head and star head screwdriver
Breaker bar for sprocket nut (it'll be tight)
Small extension bar
Tyre pressure gauge
Short length of wire
Spanners 13mm 12mm 11mm 10mm 8mm 6mm(some hose clip heads are this size and needed where there's no angle to get the screwdriver onto)
3x tyre levers
Clutch and brake levers

Belt pouch

[IMG] http://i42.tinypic.com/29dcv6.jpg[/IMG]

Spark plug
19mm socket
10mm long socket
Valve key with spare valve cores and valve nut
Various o rings and fuses

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Other belt pouch

Assorted fasteners

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With the high rear of the seat the bum bag can either rest on it or be secured to the rear grab rails.

Two new tyres (Mitas EO 7's..I got 11,500kms out of last years pair)...fitted and ready to go along with a 2 man tent and on the other pannier a tarp. It's nice to have space to stash wet boots etc.

The tarp always goes with me as they can be handy e.g. to work on the moto either in the rain or under sunshine...or to act as a cover in case of dropping parts. They're only €25 from Decathlon so if it gets ruined by e.g. oil it's no big deal.

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:)

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