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KLR parts and tyres in southern Costa Rica KLR parts and tyres in southern Costa Rica
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Photo by Ellen Delis,
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Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 24 Apr 2010
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KLR parts and tyres in southern Costa Rica
While buying a coconut in a small town called San Vito, I discovered there's a guy with two KLRs he's selling in parts. I was able to pick up a couple of rubber pieces for the tank (that the Kawasaki dealer in Managua somehow lost without telling me) and a replacement rear rack. All for $20. Score. :-)

The place is called Chimena, the fella's name is Lalo. Their telephone number is +506 8371 8995 and their email is gruaschimena@yahoo.com.

Incidentally, this is the first place in central America that I've found 17x5.10 tyres. The only tyres I could find in Nicaragua or San Jose were 17x4.60. Goldenboy 244 17x5.10 are fairly readily available here in San Vito. I bought one from the rack in the Yamaha dealer in town. Apparently there's more bigger bikes in this part of Costa Rica so these tyres are more readily available.

Posting this for anyone searching for info in the future.
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Old 24 Apr 2010
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Thanks for the post. I rode through Costa Rica on one of those fast-wearing 4.60 tires (bought in Nicaragua), but would've waited if I'd had this information. I also did some searching for a few parts in southern Costa Rica, but kept hearing "we can order them from San Jose if you'll be around for a few days...."

Maybe on the way north.

Mark

(from a small town with a small internet connection somewhere north of Brasilia)
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Old 25 Apr 2010
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I just rode through San Vito this morning after crossing at Rio Sereno from Panama. I also spent the night there on the way down to Yaviza. I highly recommend this crossing to anyone who's reading. Not one single helper and wonderfully friendly and helpful immigration and customs folks. But there's no customs on the Costa Rica side and you cannot bring your bike in that way unless you've kept your import papers from the entry point with Nicaragua.

Just curious. Where are you now, and where are you headed? I headed back north towards Canada and I'm now in Playa Hermosa, just south of Jaco, Costa Rica.


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Old 25 Apr 2010
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Hi Scrabblebiker,

I was through Rio Sereno a few miles past Sabalito, Costa Rica last month and there was a Costa Rica immigration building right near the border. He stamped my passport out and left my bike papers open while I went down to Yaviza since my Costa Rica insurance and TVIP was good for 90 days. I explained to him that I was only going to be in Panama for a short visit.

They had mandatory insurance (seguros obligatorio) for sale on the Panama side. And it was muy tranquillo. They charged 1.00 to spray the bike on Panama side. No other charge. I returned through the same border. It closes at 5:00PM so I spent the night in Rio Sereno at the Posada Andes. Nice old place with creaky teak floors. And it was just as easy coming back through Rio Sereno.

They don't have Costa Rica mandatory insurance for sale at the border, so it is a problem for people traveling north. If you already have the insurance from your trip south through Costa Rica like I did, then it is cake.

Best,
John Downs
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Old 25 Apr 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Downs View Post
Hi Scrabblebiker,

I was through Rio Sereno a few miles past Sabalito, Costa Rica last month and there was a Costa Rica immigration building right near the border. He stamped my passport out and left my bike papers open while I went down to Yaviza since my Costa Rica insurance and TVIP was good for 90 days. I explained to him that I was only going to be in Panama for a short visit.

They had mandatory insurance (seguros obligatorio) for sale on the Panama side. And it was muy tranquillo. They charged 1.00 to spray the bike on Panama side. No other charge. I returned through the same border. It closes at 5:00PM so I spent the night in Rio Sereno at the Posada Andes. Nice old place with creaky teak floors. And it was just as easy coming back through Rio Sereno.

They don't have Costa Rica mandatory insurance for sale at the border, so it is a problem for people traveling north. If you already have the insurance from your trip south through Costa Rica like I did, then it is cake.

Best,
John Downs
That's precisely how it went for me as well. The customs guy made sure to explain that it was OK to return this way since I already had all my Costa Rica import and insurance papers. I was also fortunate to have the same immigration person present when I reentered Costa Rica. He remembered me and took the time to suggest a nice paved coastal route through Costa Rica, aside from the main highway. All in all, the best border crossing so far.

I absolutely loved the Panama highlands and spent the night near Cerro Punta last night. I felt like being back home in BC with a creek lulling me to sleep at night.
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Old 25 Apr 2010
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Yes, that nice man at the Costa Rica Immigration was a gem. And the road from Rio Sereno to Volcan was a hoot. Nothing but curves.

Alas, the border crossing from Costa Rica to Nicaragua at Painintheass Blancas was only slightly less time consuming heading north. I was tempted to try entering Nicaragua at Los Chiles, since there is a tiny border crossing there up in the mountains near Lago Nicaragua. I already had my Nicaraguan insurance, so it should be possible heading north, but in the end I didn't. It looks like there are roads around the east side of the lake.

I hope someone crosses there and reports back.

Best,
John Downs
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