/Obsession

What is this unexplainable obsession with Morocco I have? Before Covid I made big plans for Morocco rally, then Covid happened. Cancelled plans, sold the bike. 3 years ago doctors began, kept cancelling plans. Suddenly brain surgery – cancel everything again. Recovery, neurocognitive therapy, muscle loss, unexplainable weight loss…

Yet after all that, it’s still eating me slowly from inside; the idea is not dead, just pushed back; can I finish TMT perhaps? In my current state? – I am losing weight constantly, kilo by kilo, week by week. Down to 76kg. At what point does it stop? Will it ever stop? – guess we will know soon enough.

Desert mesmerizes me for some reason, calls on me, constantly; unexplainable. I have no proper offroad experience, yet I can’t stop thinking about doing it; could it be the danger; could I just be an adrenaline junkie; no way, it’s something else, until I actually leave for the Sahara I will not find the answer.

/Culmination

Bought the bike yesterday. What a beast it is – KTM 890 Adventure R. You either love or hate the brand, but hats off on the vision. Offroad performance before everything else.

Yes, I know I risk a lot with this engine, all the horror stories I read about, yet I decided to take a chance and risk it. Stupid, but as long as it doesn’t die on me in the middle of Sahara I’m happy.

It’s 2024 model from unsold KTM stock, 5k EUR cheaper compared to 2026 model. Enough difference to upgrade it for the trip and still keep some change.

Given my obsession I already ordered few parts for it:

• Factory racing footpegs set
• Handguard kit (proper offroad version)
• Rear brake reservoir protection kit
• Rally screen from Rade Garage
• Higher seat (because apparently I want more problems reaching ground)
• Radiator and Engine protection grille
• Display protection kit
• Air filter kit with sand protection
• Ignition and Clutch cover protection
• Crash bung kit
• Rottweiler performance Arrow Mirror kit
• Garmin Zumo XT3
• Kriega US-20 and US-10 Drypack kit + tool roll
• Perun Moto Billet rack
• SW Motech Pro tank ring
• SC Project Rally Raid Titanium exhaust

Not much to modify out of the box, mainly it boils down to adding protection, bit of luggage and navigation. Almost forgot – activated tech pack as well.
And I should fix wind buffeting, or try to fix it, while offroad riding often doesn’t see high speeds, I must still reach Morocco first, so unless I will travel for weeks I must fix buffeting. I have high hopes for Rade Garage screen, if that doesn’t help I can always explore rally tower options from companies like Aurora Rally or Rade Garage.

Noticed many adventure riders opt for side carriers and side bags, many even going for metal cases. Those decisions elude me, I wonder how you can handle offroad situations with additional 50+kg hanging of the bike? How nimble can a bike be? Must be something I’m missing there, or everyone is Mr. Birch. Since I don’t plan on camping, perhaps that helps my decision some more; we will see.

– how people decide to travel like this eludes me. This makes bike as wide as a car. Some even go for central case with this setup. 😳

Anyhow, their decision, I personally want/must travel as light as possible. Every couple of days I’ll wash all my clothes and continue from there, if I need anything I will source it locally.

So – travel light, move like a wind.

– if you ask me – this is life, credit card + essentials, but what do I know. 🙈

/When to start packing?

I guess this is actually the hardest decision.

On one end I would prefer to leave in June, however temperatures are already at 40 degrees Celsius. What I would want and what is realistic are 2 different things. Risking death due to heat stroke or exhaustion would be stupid.

However, given how I am loosing 1kg per week and getting weaker as time goes by, I must stay realistic. Will September be doable? – based on current progression? 15kg less then today? –61kg– standing tall at 186cm?

You tell me, but I might have to rethink everything as life forces my hand, who knows anymore.

Until next time.