We were so hooked on our first Scram Africa experience that we really wanted to master this experience as a team. But since Barbara, as a trained pillion passenger, cannot be on the back for 8 days off-road, another option had to be found: a Ural sidecar combination. Perfect for such tours and terrain - in theory. But more on that later. In any case, the Ural from the 70s with a converted BMW R60 engine made us very excited. Driving a trailer is something completely different: you combine the worst characteristics of a car with those of a motorcycle. But it's great fun!
Fuel Motorcycle's 8th Scram Africa started this time in Marrakech. Our Ural was transported to Barcelona to then be shipped to Morocco by truck together with other machines. We used the time and visited the city of colors, creative people and artists for the first time. Of course, we didn't miss the tanners' quarter, where all kinds of leather are still tanned in the open air using very old natural chemical processes (e.g. chicken dung). In the middle of Marrakech.
Then it was time for our "Life changing adventure". The day of departure towards the Atlas Mountains. Since we weren't among the fastest in the group with around 380 kg and the small 600 ccm engine, we always tried to drive ahead. Then the clutch cable broke for the first time...
Delighted arrival at the Bedouin camp. Unfortunately already with significant problems in the left cylinder. But we are still full of euphoria and look forward to the next day .
After the first sandy passages, the Ural was only running on one cylinder. The lack of power makes the terrain almost impassable. So, to be on the safe side, we looked for the next asphalt route. Shortly thereafter, the total failure of the BMW engine. The Ural had to be loaded into the service truck and we had to continue the scram in the support vehicle.
But at least we were driven personally by Karles Vives, the founder of Fuel Motorcycles and initiator of Scram Africa. And we absorbed the role of feeding and motivating the rest of the team along the way.
(c) photos of Gus Galvani and Riki Rocket.
