Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

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-   -   Can a cheap road bike make it to costa? (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/south-america/can-cheap-road-bike-make-38445)

joshsnave 17 Oct 2008 11:10

Can a cheap road bike make it to costa?
 
I'm leaving San Diego around 10th December, really don't have the most impressive budget especially since the Australian dollar has been demolished against the US.I was thinking of buying a possibly cosmetically poor but healthy older bike to ride to Panama (rather than the orginal dual purpose plan). If I stick to the main roads i figure it should be ok!! PLease someone tell me if this is crazy talk. Thanks..

DaveSmith 17 Oct 2008 11:30

The Oz dollar will probably improve after the US election, but your plan sounds great.

Sjoerd Bakker 17 Oct 2008 12:58

Not a problem, if you have a bike that runs and is reliable enough to run around on you can get to Costa Rica, and Panama .Roads are good all the way down

Bill Ryder 17 Oct 2008 18:28

Cheap bike for trip
 
My favorite would be a rusted faded dented japanese bike with a shaft drive. No worn out chain and sprokets to worry about.

Dodger 17 Oct 2008 20:26

Not crazy at all . But if you don't have good mechanical knowledge ,it might be unwise .
If you know your bikes you will be fine .

albert crutcher 17 Oct 2008 21:55

K
 
Get an old Klr650 and you,ll be able to keep going!!!
Al theturtleshead

keyskruiser 20 Oct 2008 22:50

If you stick to the Pan-American Hwy, it is all paved. Also, the mechanics I encountered in even the small towns of C.A. and S.A. are not one brand specific. They seem to be able to work on anything and many of them are capable of creating parts that are not available. By all means, GO and have a great time.

JogiCR 21 Oct 2008 05:34

crazy
 
Hi joshsnave,

congratulations, nice idea, this is the real adventure and you will blend in better then any fancy dual sport bike. :thumbup1:

For less trouble on the trip and to enjoy the ride, just have the bike checked with a good mechanic and take a few important parts with you.
Keep us posted what bike you bought and updates of your trip if possible.

Saludos Jogi

farqhuar 22 Oct 2008 03:09

Josh, in '84 I bought a 6 year old "fully dressed" CX500 in LA and rode it two-up down to Tierra del Fuego.

Eminently doable, and a very easy ride compared to some of the offroading I have done else where in the world.

Garry from Oz.

thecanoeguy 23 Oct 2008 02:02

bikes are cheap
 
grab a big trailie for $1500 USD no problems in california or oregon ,they are way cheaper than in oz ,my klr was $1700 in alaska and it got me to colombia so far and its still running sweet ,it was only 6 years old, check out fleabay and craigs list also the classified on here and ADVrider ,you can put out a call for what you want

DaveSmith 23 Oct 2008 05:58

Check out jaxed. It's a neat site that checks out all the US and Canada craigslists and eBay. Craigslist is pretty big in a lot of US areas. The overseas CL isn't always great.

for sale : : combined classified and auction listings

AussieNat 23 Oct 2008 15:18

I havent actually ridden through CA but I imagine its similar, perhaps better than SA conditions. Not bad at all down there.
If you stick to the main roads you can go as far as your hearts desire.

I think anything is capable of such a trip but as mentioned above give the bike a check-up servce before you leave.

Just go and do it.

stickfigure 23 Oct 2008 18:06

You can do it on any bike (hell, plenty of people do it on push-bikes).

Unless you really love long stretches of straight highway, you'll have more fun if you take a dualsport. It will open up many alternate routes, especially through Mexico. The cuotas are immaculately paved but boring boring boring.

An old KLR would be perfect. A DR650 would do just as well. Depending on how much stuff you want to bring and what route you take, a 250cc dualsport like a KLX or one of those Honda Bros might even be more fun and would certainly be the cheapest way given the current price of gas...

Jeff

JonStobbs 24 Oct 2008 08:44

Honda CX500/650,Kwak GT750,earlyish BM...among others these should be cheap as chips and able to get you there ok.I would!

gingergringo 1 Nov 2008 21:19

Just do it!!!
 
Go for it,
I bought a beat up 14 year old KLR last year in Argentina and rode it all the way to Columbia. It was burning oil when i bought it and it was still burning it when i got to Columbia.(Sorry greenies)
I am not telling a word of a lie when i say i didn't have to do a single thing to it apart from routine maintenance. I did my best to bust the beast, (that includes wiping out at 100kms/h) and it just kept going and going!!
Absolutely amazing machine and because they haven't changed it in 20 years you'll have no problems finding parts.
Before this i had no respect for the KLR as a machine, now i just can't say enough good things about them.
KLRs ROCK:thumbup1:,

Good luck with your trip and if you do take a kwacker, give it some taste of dirt. They love it,
Arthur


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