Ushuaia on BMW K75s?

[markhh]

Hi dear All!

I am thinking about a trip with my BMW K75s from Valparaiso to Ushuaia in March 2013 and

wonder if it is realistic with a road bike to do this on my own?

How much gravel is still left in what condition and can the new Battlax BT45 tyres cope or would e.g. Gripsters be lots better?

I am not a born mechanic, are there enough people travelling in March to get some help if needed?

Where best to leave the bike afterwards? I heard Argentina 6 months, Uruguay 12 months? Any country where I could actually sell the bike?

Many Thanks in advance,

Cheers Mark

[Manolito]

Mark, of course you can do it! It used to be 140km of gravel, but now they are paving the Onaisin road.
You are not going to find spare parts for your bike (in Argentina), but you can order them from USA

[brclarke]

If Simon Gandolfi can do it on a Honda CG125 pizza bike I'm sure a K75 can handle it. :-)

[Genghis9021]

Sure !

Why not. Did the Dempster in the Yukon/NWT in '93 on a K75s.

Serious pucker factor for alot of it but that's 750km of calcium chloride littered clay mud that's slicker than snot when wet.

Didn't fall down once. Didn't set any speed records.

And the K75s . . . uber-reliable. I've joked with BMW mechanics that a K75 head gasket is a weld bead. @ Bob's BMW in the US they told me that they'd NEVER had the head off of one except for performance modifications. Paul Mahalke (sp?) put over 500,000 miles on his before they retired it as a demo.

The rear shocks, back in the day, COULD blow and I did have a tank slapper due to that on the Dempster. The non-Showa forked bikes are well-known for leaking seals . . . but you probably already know that. So take an extra set of seals ! Otherwise, the boxxer i rode up with (and who gave me guff for my 'new-fangled BMW') was nowhere near as trouble free. At the end of 22,000km the boxxer rider proclaimed for all who would listen - best bike I've ever ridden WITH.

Do it.

[markhh]

Hi Guys

Many Thanks for your posts and reassurance:-) Hope my plans work out.

I reckon Carretera Austral is more gravel, but also rideable, right?

Any suggestions where best to get over to hook on the Ruta 40?

Cheers Mark

[Manolito]

Yeps, Carretera Austral is mostly gravel but as you said, its rideable and with awesome landscape

I live in the beggining of the "Ruta 40" and the place that I like most is called "Lago Posadas / Hipolito Yrigoyen"

[markhh]

Thanks Manolito!

Sounds like I should have a look and see how it goes.
Reckon it depends pretty much on the weather with street tyres in March...

How is the Andes transfer to Argentina, do you have any suggestions where best to cross over?

And do you have an idea where I could leave the bike afterwards for 6 months?

Cheers Mark

[Manolito]

Mark, to be honest with you, I don't know where is the best spot to cross over. It also depends on on your trip and what places you want to see.

[AnjinSan]

Hi guys, interesting thread! I was wondering also how would the weather conditions would be in March to Ushuaia. Of course the summer would be over but would the weather be still OK for riding so far South? And also crossing the Andes would be OK?

[Manolito]

Going in March is OK. It's going to be cold, that's for sure
You have to know that in Patagoina, everything can happen... why I tell you this??


This is Ushuaia right now! it snowed during the night

[AnjinSan]

Wow Manolito! That is an encoureging picture Hopefully than in March you will have a nice Indian Summer

Once I get closer to the you, I will kindly try to pick your brain about other things like the route to go and other "technical" details.

For now, let's just hope the weather will improve fast for the guys how are riding now towards Ushuaia