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SOUTH AMERICA Topics specific to South America only.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



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  #1  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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Unhappy to stress or not to stress, this is the question

My girlfriend and I are currently half way across the states on our Harley tourer, and were intending to hit Cali then head south through mexico, central and south america, finishing somewhere in Argentina, but were keep getting told but almost everyone we meet (mainly paranoid americans, but the odd wisened biker too) that we will surely get our bike nicked in Mexico....we are now really having second thoughts,a s we can't get theft insurance for the bike (can we?)...any advice here would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers
Dan and Jacquie
Road Glide, currently in New Orleans...er now thats Austin, Texas....

Last edited by harleydan; 10 Dec 2008 at 07:06.
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  #2  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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Originally Posted by harleydan View Post
[...] but were keep getting told but almost everyone we meet (mainly paranoid americans, but the odd wisened biker too) that we will surely get our bike nicked in Mexico....
99% of the comments in this regard are just bullshit or blabber from people who don't have any real clue about things.

When I tell people about my next trip (a loop through the balkans, including romania, albania and kosovo) it usually takes about 10 seconds for somebody to tell me I should not go because I get either my bike stolen, kidnapped, beaten, eaten alive or sodomized by an albanian trucker.

What people essentially tell you is their prejudices and that they are afraid of the unknown. Don't worry, keep your eyes open and follow the plentyfull advice of this board and from people with more knowledge then fear and everything should be fine.
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  #3  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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bla bla bla

if i listened to every tosser in america that told me not to go to mexico or beyond i would be at home hiding in the cupboard ,bike stolen, well i am sure that happens in the good ole usa (a lot) ,dont stay in a guest house unless they let you park it inside, at touristy places park it next to the office ,and enjoy the best time of your life
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  #4  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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Thumbs up Head South and enjoy

Hi
Go to Mexico you will love it, there is some great riding , you can have a bike stolen from any country in the world ( as Mike on this HU site will tell you, he has just had his bike stolen in Scotland) Just remember to lock in a public place and take it inside the hotel you are staying in at night, most let you with no problem. I spent best part of 5 years in the Americas and only ever had a problerm when i traveled in the US. Head south and enjoy Skip
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  #5  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harleydan View Post
My girlfriend and I are currently half way across the states on our Harley tourer, and were intending to hit Cali then head south through mexico, central and south america, finishing somewhere in Argentina, but were keep getting told but almost everyone we meet (mainly paranoid americans, but the odd wisened biker too) that we will surely get our bike nicked in Mexico....we are now really having second thoughts,a s we can't get theft insurance for the bike (can we?)...any advice here would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers
Dan and Jacquie
Road Glide, currently in New Orleans
Hi you both
As told by skip(pete)just follow some safety protocols and you will be fine.Let on the bike some dust and enjoy the travel.
Remember if you manage(of course you two will) to hit BA the first asado is on me!
CU
Karl
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America is a nice continent,not a country.All people who lives in this continent are americans.Discover it in peace!
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  #6  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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Hi Dan

My wife and I are also on our way to Mexico (Two up on a GS), and do not worry about the hundreds of 'advise' the avarage American told us about Mexico. We've been trough Africa and the middle East without worries. My Golden rule is not to leave the bike where I cannot see it, or where I know it will be looked after. Another thing I do when in doubt, I cover the bike with a tarp. I would recomend you get youself a cover to cover the bike at night at hotels that does not have 'secure' parking. It also help to keep little children's hand off your bike when you are not around. Makes me sleep better at night.

We are heading to the Beg Bend Park in Texas for Tuesday next week and the Copper Canyon the next week, mabe we see each other on the road. An Ameican couple is joining us for 10 days into Mexico, also on their Harleys.

Johan
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  #7  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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Remember most of these helpful comments are made by Americans that have never been outside America.
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  #8  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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Out of sight, out of mind.

I have had stuff on my dash nicked but learned not to leave stuff on there.
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 20:30.
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  #9  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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wizened or wise?

there's a difference.
if you never, ever go, you'll never, ever know. start her up!
cheers,
andy.
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  #10  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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Ride on

Dan
My wife (08 Softtail DLX) and I (05 SE2 Electra Glide) rode 1500 miles in to Mexico last winter. Had a great time and never once felt threatened. Would recommend that you cross in the morning and get at least 100 miles from border before stopping for the night. Only problem was the topa's (speed bumps) as my SE2 would drag over some of them. The people were friendly and really like motos. Got lost once and the police gave us an escort for 30 min. right to our hotel. Had the best New Years Party you could think up, (you know it is going to be good when you get to the town square and there are 7 ambulances and 4 fire trucks lined up ready to go)
your bigest risk in Mexico is you can drive as fast as you want and no one will care, If I stayed in Mexico I surely would have ended up killing myself.
You can traval any country you want on your Harley but may be limited from heading into the back country. Atleast that was my line of thinking as I bought an 08 Buell Uly which is on a boat to Chile right now. It should be high enough with a long suspension to take the topas when I ride it back up thourgh Central America and Mexico.
Road Hog (aka Bob, Roberto)
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  #11  
Old 8 Dec 2008
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No way

Good to Mexico and have a great time.

Your bike will not get "nicked". If anyone is going to get a bike stolen it is going to be someone riding a Honda 250 - a bike that that someone can pick up and put in the back of truck, roll down the street or hotwire.

Your HD is more likelt to be stolen inthe US than in Mexico.
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  #12  
Old 9 Dec 2008
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Buy Theft Insurance.

Juanuary to April 2005 my wife and I travelled through Mexico and Central America on our Brand New 2005 HD Ultra Classic. From November 2006 to April 2007 we travelled on the same bike from Tierra del Fuego Argentina, back to Canada. And again this year we will be spending Jan, Feb, and March in Mexico with our Harley.

I do not worry about my bike being stolen. But that is not too difficult as I always have Theft and Collision Insurance. Theft and collision insurance for Mexico is available and is very reasonable compared to Manitoba Canada prices. Theft and collision insurance for all of Central and South America is also available from a US company, but is more expensive.

The choice whether to purchase collision and theft insurance is up to you. But it is available.
You need to decide how much a little more peace of mind is worth.

Send me a email if you are interested in links to pursue this.
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  #13  
Old 10 Dec 2008
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Talking stressin bout Mexico

Guys
thank you all so much for your words of advice and encouragement.Soon as the weather perks up a bit ( we have sleet/snow at the moment here in Texas), we are heading west, then due south!
Muchos gracias a todo
dan & Jacquie
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  #14  
Old 10 Dec 2008
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Go!!

I will second all the good information you have recieved already. I made the trip from Key West to Ushuaia and back in 2006. I found everyone I met along the way to be honest, friendly, helpful, and interested in helping me, in any way they could. I always had secure parking and nobody ever touched the bike.

Have a wonderful adventure.
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  #15  
Old 13 Dec 2008
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Sounds good and all the above advice made me look forward to Mexico even more. We will be entering in 3 days time. . . . The American Couple that is traveling with us has managed to arranged full insurance cover for their 2007 Harley. I'll just get my 3rd party insurance on the border.

Cheers
johan
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