Guatemalan motorcycle purchase options
 

Hi all, just crossed the threshold from creeper to participant.

I'm currently in Antigua, Guatemala and am looking to purchase a cheap bike on which to cruise around Central America. I have until May to travel, at which point I might resell it down here, or ride back home to Colorado if I'm feeling particularly ambitious. I'm hoping to get some input on some options I'm considering, as I'm not very familiar with any of the options.

For about the same price ($1,300 give or take a couple hundred) I could get:

-New Honda CGL 125
-New Honda CB1 125 (might be known as the tuf?)
-New Avatar FR200 GY (Chinese enduro)
-New AHM RX 150 (Chinese enduro)
-Used 2005 Suzuki 200 DR (20,000 miles, bought from a motorcycle guide)
OR, for about $600 I could get a used Chinese 125 with 15k miles.

So, it's basically a choice between a tiny new Honda that's not great for rougher terrain, a new Chinese enduro, or a heavily used but well-maintained and proven enduro. Or a throw-away bike. I know some people will say 125cc is just too small, but the small engine wouldn't be a problem for me. I'll only be packing a backpack, and sticking to backroads when possible. I got all around Korea on a 50cc scooter and went from AZ to AK on an old Ninja 250, so going on an undersized bike is almost a hobby of mine.

Anyone have experience going long-distance on any of these little guys? Or with Guatemalan paperwork? Any input is greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Steve

don't even think about a chinese bike, you are playing with your life.
the dr 200 from David is a pretty good deal.
or i have a ctx 200 here , only 2 moths old for Q28.000, its 38.000 new, so come and have a look.
also have a suzuki AX 100, very cheap, they are very reliable.

Taz

I have experience with that.
I travel on a XR125 all over the place. 125 is more than enough for going places. For your aplication, AND BUDGET, I can tell you that what I encounter often in good running shape is the Jialing 135 enduro. Tough little bikes and you will find parts for them all over Central America, from what I was told talking to riders.

The CGL TP as well as the YBR125 G are CONVERTED delivery bikes to D/P they are also in my opinion good bang for the buck. If you want to know more about people doing long trips on them look up www.desafioybr.com.ar (ybr), www.talesfromthe saddle.com (xr125) and Hondavstheworld. (CGL125). Not sure about the .com part etc, but the name are correct and you could google them.

The CTX that Motomundo sells is also a VERY good option. Being 200cc.
The Avatar is a NEW bike in the market and people that have bought them are relatively happy with them, but I dont know anyone traveling long distances on them.

Frenchie's DR200 is a good option if you end up riding back to the US, as you can find all kinds of parts and options for it in the states, where the 125cc's will just be novelties w/o service or parts available.

Anything you buy, for the kind of traveling you are doing will do perfectly fine. After all, 125 is the main mode of transport around this part of the world.

Thank you both for the input. I'd probably already have gone for a new Honda 125, but the 3 week wait to get the plates is a long time to wait...
I don't suppose there's anyway to grease that process with a few hundred Q's? :mchappy:

In one word NO. You could have negotiated it before paying...but now it's too late. Keep bugging your sales person...as they Honda process a bunch of plates at a time and yours may come back sooner, but sits at their office. It is not HONDA its SAT that takes its time.

you are wrong rich, its honda. Sat can be done in 1,5 hour, honda is the slow one.know people waiting for 2-3 months on their plates. No excuse, other companies take a month do do the new bikes, honda takes 2-3 months. they are by far the worse.

Taz

Sorry, but no. SAT takes a few hours for processing a used bike. Brand new bikes that have not been registered take longer, much longer. BTW, I got my plates from HONDA in three weeks. They quoted me 2 to 4. But all new bikes take that much.

Steve

My guess is that you may not be able to import and registar the Guatemalan bike back in Colorado, just thinking out loud here.

actually, you can take guatemalan bikes to the USA and register them, no problem. As long as you have the original title in your name.
Cheers

Taz

Wrong !
If they don't comply with US environmental regulations , you will not be able to import them permanently .

well, as long as they are not chinese then.

Not even if they are European, made for the European (or Latin American) market

it depends on the state. In Texas you can license just about anything, if it has the equipment to pass state inspection, lights, horn, etc. There are a lot of two stroke dirt bikes here with plates on them.

In Wisconsin, they run your VIN through a database, if your model is not on the approved list, you don't get a plate. Can't speak for other states.

Wondering if Steve ever did buy a bike...? I´m on the méxican guatemalan border in Chiapas right now trying to choose a bike for travel as well. As of now I´´m looking at the 125cc´s...the Honda XR 125 L, CG 125 tool, CG 150 cargo. Not sure which bike....and maybe it´d be best for me to actually cross over to guatemala and buy a bike, because there´s other options there (look at the mexican and guatemalan honda pages to see what I mean). Not sure what the prices are there as they don´t list them on the internet though...but I imagine some are cheaper being as the XR 125 L is cheaper in just about every other country I´ve seen thus far.

Anyways, any recomendations in regards to a 125cc for central-south america?

Pasting my reply to another thread here:

I did some looking at new bikes when I was recently in Guatemala, and here is what I found.

The Honda dealer in Antigua has the CTX 200 for Q38,000 and the 125 Bros for Q20,000. For some reason they couldn't give me a price on a 250 Tornado, nor did they have one in stock.

I think the best value is the Bajaj (Indian) Pulsar, which is available in a 135, 180, and 220. A dealer in Guate is advertising the 220 for Q18,500. Those bikes are everywhere in Mexico, and Guatemala, can't speak for further south. The people I've talked to with them are happy. Not a dual sport type bike, though.

UM, a chinese brand I am not familiar with, has a 200cc dual sport that looks very good for Q12,500 at several dealers. This would be going out on a limb a little more, as I don't have any info on servicability or reliability.