West (US) to East (Africa) seeking info. - Horizons Unlimited

**Poa** · #1 28 Jan 2003

I need to be in Tanzania for my biology teaching job in August. So I have 4-5 months to get there by sea, air, land, with my motorbike. Here are the questions:
1. Would I be better off flying to Europe or SAfrica to buy a KTM 640 and go from there? OR buy the bike here (Oregon) and ship/airfreight it out?
2. Does anyone suggest one route over anothe? (I'd like to get some adventuring in before reaching my childhood home, Tanzania)
At this stage I'm just collecting info so any comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks,
Pete

**Grant Johnson** · #2 28 Jan 2003

One important question: Are you planning on returning with this bike to the US? If so, buy it in the US and ship it - getting a non-US spec bike into the US is NOT worth the hassle unless it is something extraordinarily special.

If not, buy in Europe, like maybe Austria, and ride down. You can get everything you could ever want in bits and pieces in Europe easily.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**Poa** · #3 28 Jan 2003

Thanks for the advice,
No I'm not returning with the bike. I'll be in Tanzania for a year then riding on . . . to the next teaching job, not sure where yet but I'll surely ride out of Tanzania after 1 year. Could be tricky having a bike in-country so long.
As for buying in Austria... Can you get a deal for buying directly from the factory (ktm)?
Pete

[This message has been edited by Poa (edited 28 January 2003).]

**Grant Johnson** · #4 28 Jan 2003

Unlikely they (KTM Honda BMW etc) will even talk to you.

Buy from a good local dealer. Search the site on buying in Europe - there are some countries that have lower prices than others.

Re long time in country - you may have to ride out and back in again. OTOH if you are teaching you can probably work something out - your employers / locals will know someone to talk to in order to solve "the problem".

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com