And a brief word on the bike which uncomplainingly lugged us around Senegal and Guinea Bissau:
R1150GS twin spark 2003 model (the so called dreaded servo brake model)
Now got about 78,000 miles on the clock, of which 70,000 ridden by me (I bought it as a 1 year old German import from the unlamented SPC motorcycles, based where Bahnstormer now are in Hants.
Over the years I have
-decatted it (after a first trip to Western Sahara 10 years ago killed the cat with only leaded petrol available)
-had brilliant auxiliary lights fitted
-tobinators of course, and recently little wings on fairing which were brilliant in the long cold ride to Iran in 2016
-muffs were an early addition and stayed on all the way to Jordan in 2008, and across the Sahara this time. Finally removed them in Banjul.
I am sure there is other stuff that has been forgotten (oh the loud Stiebel form which is great!) But it has served me faithfully for nearly 14 years and it will be a wrench if I have to leave it on this trip .
Throughout this period it has been serviced by Steptoe so credit to him that (apart from a failed clutch seal) it has been pretty problem free .
I will see if I can get my lady pillion to add her perspective, in case any readers' wives () are thinking of doing something similar in a hot climate
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