Mapsource gpx Google Earth kml files
 

The zip file of the tracks to and from Timbuktu is over 1.3Mb compressed. They contain a lot of information. You will have to get them by email.
Cheers

Timbuktu photo album link
 

http://picasaweb.google.com/TimFairless/Timbuktu2008

pics that I have managed to retrieve from the dust detroyed camera.
Cheers

Some fantastic pics you got there Techno, who's the other bloke on the other XTR anyone from here?

Cheers

excellent,
glad to hear you made it back ok ,

Well done fella!!! Now for...
:needpics[1]:

Thanks for the files.

You weren't hanging around fella. :thumbsup:

"You weren't hanging around fella."

The corrugations shake you to pieces. I found 90kph was comfortable, but obstacles come up a bit quick. Have you found the track detail on the return leg from TBT where it goes something like 103kph, (elevation rises by 2m as XT is airborne) 0kph, 1kph, 2kph? A big sand hole took the front wheel and stopped it dead. My natural enthusiasm got the better of me and I didn't see it! It was the only time in 440km of piste.

Have a look at Thorsten's travelblog on this site for an alternative description of this road. He is taking it carefully as he is travelling unsupported. Took him a 12 hours each way. In contrast, the quickest rider in our group (an Aussie riding an XT600E) did the return 220km in 150 minutes - unfortunately this left his bike with a square back wheel and collapsed rear suspension. Took me about 230 minutes, but that included the fall and helping to lift a broken R1200GS into the back of a wagon. The XT660R would definitely have been one of the quickest machines in the hands of a decent rider.
The suspension was used fully and it coped well. Have a look at the travel on the front forks in one of the pictures posted on Picasa http://picasaweb.google.com/TimFairless/Timbuktu2008
The forks were compressed fully by a couple of sand hole impacts, but had 2 inches of travel to spare over most of the terrain. I'd upgrade the rear unit if I was carrying a heavy load over rough terrain for any length of time - or one could just slow down.....

The other XT rider is Ralph Purvis. He said he had seen this site, but I don't know if he is a regular. His XTR snapped the OEM chain after about 6000 miles (an F650 Dakar pushed him 40 miles through the desert and into Laayoune through the police checkpoints to get the XT home that night!), but otherwise finished the trip without a hitch. Good to have another XTR on the trip. We helped each other with maintenance; changing tyres etc, which made life a lot easier.

Where did you get the extra fuel cans from? i cant find any like that anywhere.

I can help you there:


http://www.kolpinpowersports.com/sto.../3/products/49