I´m from México and just began planning my first big trip. The idea is shipping by sea or air my bike (hopefully a 1150 gs), begin the trip in Portugal, from there to Israel going south europe, skipping balcans. From Israel up to San Petersburg by Lebanon, Syria (if I can go trough, If not, by Cyprus), Turkey and Georgia. Then back to Spain. I haven´t done this in two weels, and I´ve about 100 days to make it all arrownd. The idea began with the pilgrimage of Santiago in north Spain but I could find an old rout from Poland so the trip are really two. Portugal-Jerusalem and then Poland-Santiago Compostela. I know in HU I will get tons of info and help. If someone can give some advice, I want to sleep in tent, not hotels so I think Trailer Parks are good and safe options. The trip begins in March-April of 2009 waiting defrosting to cross through Pirynees, Alps and Carpathians.
Any help will be really thankful...

Greetings

I am in Mex City: I may be able to help you a little with preparation. My number is 5005-2064 (work 2pm-10pm)

Garry:

Thanks a lot, I´ll appreciate a lot your help. For now I jointed a group called Touaregs, they´re cool guys, we do Double Purpose and some are real adventurers, we meet in a small restaurant at la Condesa, dont know when is the next meeting, actually is not a meeting since we are not a Club, just talking of trips, bikes and projects. Will be nice if you could go to the next meeting, always on friday night. Will call you when i get the date to see if you can asist.

Thanks

Francisco,I have emailed you.

Simon

Since I´m a rookie with bikes, can´t make a desition on wich one. I know this issue is quite controvertial. For now I´m ridding a Cagiva Canyon 500, have been driving it a bit more than 2,000 miles and with a lot of problems so this is definetly not the bike I will take to the trip.
The rout will be like 80% tarmack and probably 20% gravel roads (East Turkey, Georgia and Southwest Rusia). Will go fully loaded and no passenger. Estimate cruisse speed 50-60 mph. My weight is arround 190 pounds (86 kg) and I´m like 6 ft (1.84 mts) tall.
I´d like to buy the bike in México and shipp by air or sea. This is cause I want to know my ride as good as I can and get some spare before I leave.
The options will have to be used, not new:
Kawasaki KLR 650
Suzuki V-Strom 650
BMW 650 gs
BMW 100-1100-1150 gs (no budget for 1200)
Triumph Tiger 895-955
Honda Africa Twin

What I´ll love to find:
Reliability
Simplicity or easy fixing
Spare availability
Good consumption (mpg)

I know I´m asking for everything but I know you all have a lot of experience and knowledge.

By the way, sorry if my english is not quite good but I´m a little rusty.

Again thanks and will be following this thread

I had a BMW R1100GS and it had lots of probems. People will swear they are fantastic and I must admit I loved they way it rode but it spent a fortune fixing it. The final drive is a very weak link. Spare parts are expensive and the final drive is difficult to work on.
I think your best choice is either a Suzuki V-Strom 650 (very reliable) or a KLR650 (cheap in the States) I have a V-Strom 1000 and so far it has been very reliable. I have a little ver 17,000 miles on it and it has taken me on some very goos trips including Guatemala and Belize.
The problem you will have is finding a good V-Strom or KLR. I wanted a used V_strom 1000 but ended up getting a new one as I couldn't find any in Mexico.
I am not a mechanical expert but can check out any bikes you find to see if they are ok.
Buying now is probably better than waiting as we are in the middle of the rainy season aand prices tend to go down.
Good luck

If you plan to start your trip in Europe, then buy the bike there, not Mexico.
Perhaps a used DL650 Vstrom bought in Spain or Portugal would suit? Spain and Portugal have FANTASTIC bike shops so you could outfit it perfectly there and quickly. They have everything .... and more.

Should be much cheaper in the EU to buy a bike compared to Mexico, no? No point paying big money to ship your bike.

The Suzuki is clearly the top bike. Strong, reliable easy to work on. Parts
available. 2nd choice would be Kawasaki Versys.

!Buen viaje!

Patricio

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Thanks with the help, I´ve been reading more about bikes and it all points to V-Strom, the only one that for now is making me doubt is Triumph 995, never saw bad comments on it.

There are two posible reassons why I want to take the bike from here:
-Don´t want to get stuck with a broken bike in the middle of the Alps or Piryneis. Since the bike will be used and not new, want some time to know each other...
-I think the border crossing paperwork is easier if I arrange it with embassies in México..

Another one that is a bit unknown is that bikes are cheaper in Mexico than in Europe, including used ones, I know will have to pay the shipping but at the end the difference is compensated with more trust in my machine.

Again thanks and please feed free on this coments...

Have been readding some posts and got to the final match, the Wee (650 v-strom) vs kawasaki KLR, both looks like good bikes, and the price is almost the same, think the wee is more comfortable, but the klr seems like an indestructible bike.

Also have been making some numbers and is cheapper to buy a bike in Europe than in México and shipping it, have been looking out for some used bikes shop in Spain but without luck.

My original budget is going down so this will have to be almost a homeless tripp, but anyway, who needs to stay at 5 stars hotel for any adventure, will be better to stay in a great tent with a cossy sleeping bag...

I don´t know if each country within shengen threaty have the same motorcycle specifications: lights, eruo3 specs, etc...

Help will be great

Thanks

Hi there

To walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostella is the supreme experience.

Buen viaje!

Caminando:

The original idea was to make el Camino de Santiago but always something takes you to other thing and at the end the rout has a lots of extra miles. Thanks a lot, I´ve never been as far and for so long but I think is the way to do it, and part of any pilgrimage, religious or not. For now things are getting shapped, will end studies in december and will have still 3-4 months for setting all up.

I´m thinking maybe to walk el Camino and not ride it, is a different experience and yet haven´t make up my mind... still following the path from Poland will be el Camino all the way...

Thanks for wishing luck and take care, keep posting

Hola Pachovilla (yo miss the N )

The Camino in Motorbike, at foot or in Cow is always greeting.

I´m at 60 kms from Santiago

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There was once a time when you had time to waste time.
See you on the road