I have purchased two KLR650's in Chile. Need to get a Chilean "ID" that will enable you to pay sales tax. Have contact there who will get it for you. Its free. Bikes are a little higher than US prices as our dollar is weak and thiers is not. Friend of Oz shipped his and did well. Contact me at my email if desire more specifics.

Arlen,
Thanks for all the great info. Would you think that buying in Argentina would be any cheaper than in Chile? At present, isn't Argentina cheaper over all if one is travelling with US dollars?

Not sure if a foriegner can "officially" buy a bike in Argentina or not.

Thanks again, any help appreciated.

Argentina is "cheaper" in some ways.... The old standard of determining the value of a dollar is by buying a liter of beer. Not exactly sure of the "exchange" but its about 75centsUS a liter of beer in Arg. Chile substantially higher. I strayed away from buyig a motorcycle in Argentina as I heard (heard only no personal experience) that it was not easy to buy as a foriegner. Learned that doing so in Chile was pretty simple once you learned the rules. Not a complicated process at all. Can help if you need help. Have fun!!!

You can buy any bike you want in Chile and the main distributors are Honda, Yamaha, BMW and Harley. Susuki and Kawasaki have not many spares at hand. New bikes are expensive but you can find used at very convenient prices. Be careful and get it inspected by a mechanic certified by the Distributor. Depending on the time frame I can lend my other Yamaha Super Tenere XTZ750 in exchange for the fuel and lodging expenses of myself traveling as your buddy. Have a lot of time available since I am retired. Best regards and safe trip,
Roberto Thomson

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Ride with nature

Hi Roberto,

That sounds like a very tempting offer you are putting on the table...

I'm working on taking December off to go to TdF and might be interested in taking you up on your offer...If I'm not jumping the queue...

Alternatively, I am looking to buy a couple of bikes, one for December and a second one for my next trip from May to July (that would be me and a friend on that trip, so, two bikes. I like Airheads and wonder if there are any R80GS or R100GS available around Santiago?

What are the rules about Road Tax and Insurance in Chile? And Peru, Bolivia, Argentinia for that matter...

Any info would be hugely welcome.

Cheers for now, and I must admit that I definetly envy you for being in a position to make offers like that.

Jens

In Brazil you need to establish a residence and obtain their CPF which is their tax registration number. To do this you need to have several items mailed to yourself at a Brazil addr. Once that is collected you need a Portuguese speaker to attend the Recita Federal Office with you and help through the application. That may take a full day. Once you have the number go shopping for a bike with either cash or credit card. I think purchase in Brazil is better than Argentina as I have heard that a bike registered to a foreigner in Argentina cannot leave the country. If anyone wishes to pursue this you can e mail me at wandering_richard @yahoo.ca I have Brazil residency as well as Canadian.

Youcan find any motorcycle using this link
http://automoviles.elmercurio.com/Cl...SoloAvisos.asp
If it does not work try http://elmercurio.com and check the Clasificados in Motos.
All used bikes normally have their road taxes paid and third party insurance up to date. In any case check with some distributor to verify papers and mechanical condition. Don't know in Argentina but they require insurance to get thru their frontier.
Glad to help if I can.
Cheers,
Roberto

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Ride with nature

Thanks for that info!

Sounds like it is way easier to get bikes bought, taxed, and insured in Chile than anywhere else in SAm.

Looking forward to my holidays now...

Jens

If you need a contact to get the RUT (goverment document you need to pay sales tax etc) let me know and I can line you up with a friend who can help. Its pretty simple but easier if you have someone helping.

Hey Arlen Aas.
I'm Jan Willems 24 years old from belgium.
Next year I'm graduated and very willing to look adventure straight in the eye. First I want to explore India & Nepal and south-east asia. Then I will head to New sealand. and after that I want to travel through South america like Ché Guevara did.

From your previous messages on this forum i learned that chile is the place to be to buy a motorbike.

My plan is to start this trip in August. What should i prepare before departing to be able to buy a decent motorbike? What is the price of an old but reliable bike?
Is this trip from argentina to venezuala still possible?

I hope you can help me. Kind regards from a fellow adventurer

Thanks for the kind offer Arlen. If - or should I say 'When'? Positve thinking and all that...- I get the green light from the boss (answer should come next week, he's run away!) I shall certainly be interested in any contacts that can help smoothen out the road -as long as they leave the dirt http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif.

I'll be in touch at the time.

Happy travels

Jens

Juannean:
Used bike in Chile will run $2000 US to $5000US. New KLR650 is about $8000US. I prefer the lighter(cheaper) dual sports in 650 size for South Am travel.
My bikes are now in southern Chile (Punta Arenas). Will be riding to far north Chile(Arica??) in Feb 06. Then in March of '07 ride round trip to Equador/Columbia. I can give you a report on columbia at that time but you are going sooner I think.

hello Arlen Aas.

No no, my plan is depart my trip to india in august 2006 so I will arrive in south america around Februari 2007.

What I like to know what extra cost beside gasoline and the bike you will have during a trip like that?
Where do you sleep? is it safe to sleep in a tent, ect...

Hello Juanneman

First, welcome to the HUBB! You will probably find a lot of answers for your questions in older threads. To find specific information about a subject, please use the search function on top of the HUBB-Page.

If you can't find the information you need, try to figure out, which forum suits best for your question. Try to be specific with your questions, for example, put a list of questions where one can answer each question separately.

Some threads:

- Travel cost:
- http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000486.html
- http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000556.html

Security in South America:
- http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000262.html


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Marco
http://www.schnueriger.net

I have carried a tent etc but never used it, however it is absolutely safe to camp. There are few established tent areas except for the more "turisty" areas in southern chile, but putting up a tent most anywhere is acceptable. I have always stayed in cheap motels. Chile motels cost more ($25US) for a two bed. Argentina is very inexpensive. Food is fairly inexpensive in restuarants and there are lots and lots of Supermarcado (super markets) with wide assortments of everything always including fresh breads. Wine of course is widely availabel and inexpensive even for prime wines. You can buy a liter of very good Argentina wine for less than a liter of Coke. Beers are fantastic with different beers in different regions. A liter of beer is about $.75US in Argentina. The sidewalk scenery is absolutely fantastic escpecially in Argentina. Don't miss the opportunity to site in the central square in Salta Argentina. All countries I have traveled in SA (Bolivia,Brazil,Chile,Arg,Peru) have been absolutely safe. Minor police corruption in Peru but nothing violent or serious....only happened once and it was minor.