Buy bike in South America? No Problem.
 

I'm from USA.(Minnesota) Bought a KLR650($4700US for a 2000) from dealer in Santiago Chile via email. Registered in my name and keeping it there for multiple return trips. Dealer there has good supply of all makes and helpful to foreigners.(His dealership is across the street from US Embassy!!) Registration is easy as long as you have a RUT (thier social security number) which is free and easy to get. Crossed into Argentina, Bolivia, Peru etc with Chilean title and no problems. Drop me an email if you'd like some contacts there that will help you get RUT (just need passport) and get bike registered. Many people will tell you that you can't buy a bike there. Its not true.

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arlen, do they sell africa twins there? can you sell a bike in chile at trips end?

Yes they sell Africa Twins. Quite popular there. I have not made arrangements to sell by bike back to dealer, but I am quite sure that it can be done. Its possible that you'd have to waite for the funds until he sold it or take a hit by taking less than its worth but thats part of the adventure. Need more info let me know.

I have a question for you - are big bikes fairly common there ( Chile / S AM in general) ?

Or are they are " I saw one a week " kind of thing ? I am thinking will it be difficult to get tyres and stuff when I go in Jan .

Cheers,
Chris

Bikes of all kinds are quite common in Chile. Not a lot of big street bikes, primairily dual sports. I didn't see any Harley's but several BMW's and lots of Honda, Kawasaki Suzuki etc. Argentina has lots of bikes, primarily dual sport. I have some contacts of dealers in Peru Bolivia and Santaigo Chile if you want emails. I think you's find common sized tires fairly easily.

I am trying to sell a BMW 1100GS that I rode down from USA. Do you have any information about the possibility of doing this or any dealers that might be interested?

Where are you?

It is possible in some countries, but we need to know which one you wish to sell in. Assuming you are in South America, Bolivia and Brazil are probably the best.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Comment: Outside of valpo and Santiago (Chile) there are not a "lot" of larger bikes. I believe that Arlen stopped at a dealer in Temuco and found that they had one KLR650 there. There are some KLR650 parts made in Argentina and I have found KLR oil filters at places like Bariloche. But while you may see larger bikes on the highway, one must not assume that parts and service are to be found in many places. There is just one BMW dealer that I have found, in Las Condes, a comuna of Santiago. On the plus side, the internal transport system is good and you might be able to order parts from even foreign sources and have them air-expressed. Out in the provinces, so to speak, meaning away from the central-metropolitan area, the quality of tires and tubes is iffy, and the number of larger bikes diminishes. Don't even think about looking for parts in southern Patagonia, except maybe-maybe-sometimes in Punta Arenas.

Now, Mr. Kiwi Penguino, I am sure by now that you know that the Chilean word is Pinguino...? or is that a play on the "pen" part?

Thanks for the information . I have now travelled through Chile and see what you mean regarding big bikes and their parts i.e. unless you`re lucky , you`re gonna be unlucky .

I have also visited many of my fellow feathered friends and yes , I know I spell it wrong . But , it has been my handle , here and elsewhere , for too long to change it now !

Cheers,
Chris

hi,

do they sell the DR 650 (recent models) in chile or argentina?
rachel

I did not see any DR650's for sale. I did see a few DR800's on the streets, but not for sale. I have seen primarily Honda 650's and Yamaha XT600's(?) and a Tengai or two. I have a dealer email address if you'd like to contact. He's in Temuco where I bought my two KLR650's. New KLR650 is about $6000 new. Dealer will help with papers to get registered in CHile. He speaks little English. He's a great guy and very trustworthy. Email me off line at aaas@hutchtel.net if you want it.

Now in Chile only KTM, BMW, Honda and Yamaha have dealers. Suzuki is out of bussiness.

The store in front of the US embassy is closed.

To have the Chilean RUT I think in a Chilean embassy you can get it.

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Curico, Chile

The RUT (Chilean Social Securty Number) can be obtained from a local goverment agency. Its free. I don't remember the name of the agency, however I a friend who will take you there to get one. You need a local mailing address(you can use his...). You get a temporary RUT card and are sent a permanant one in 40 days. The temporary one is considered as offial as the permanant one as it has stamps and signatures etc on it. The RUT will allow you to purchase a vehicle etc as it is an avenue for you to be able to pay sales tax.
There is a Kawasaki dealer in Temuco (500 miles south of Santiago-cheap bus ride from the airport) who sells new Kawasaki, Honda etc and has pretty good supply of used. I bought a new 2002 KLR650 there in July 2002. Two Italians purchased new ones there too and have them stored there after a visit to Ushuahia. Let me know if you want RUT contact informtaion or Kawasaki dealer phone etc etc. Visiting Chile and Argentina is easy and very rewarding....

The agency is Servicio de Impuestos Internos, SII, have offices in all the country.

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Curico, Chile

Hi there Grant,
Am in the middle of trying to plan a trip to Sth America to head off in the next month or two. Trying to work out whether it would be better to ship a bike from home(Australia) or buy over there. Just wondering if you might be able to let me know which countries would allow me to buy a bike and where would be a good place to start.
Many thanks.
Luke.