Sick Beemer in Cusco

[brennan]

I'm having tranny problems. I am in Cusco, Peru, and looking into "Chamorro Motors" on Av. Huainacapac.

The bike is rideable, but not for long. I don't want to hoof it back to Lima and risk a major breakdown.

Does anyone have any experience with service in these parts?

[Smellybiker]

No experience of workshops in Cusco but dont hope for too much from BMW in Lima !

Last time I tried them for parts they didnt have anything, not even brake pads.

Best bet would be to find a workshop that 'looks' professional (ie: lots of tools, customers & stuff) and if you need parts get them shipped to you from the US.

You *will* get hammered for import duties (around 40% if memory serves). Customs intercept everything that comes via courier & look up the prices using part numbers so there's almost no escape from that.

How bad is it ??? If its not too bad, might be worth trying for Mendoza - thats possible on paved roads to ease the load.

[Mick O'Malley]

Hi Brennan

Why not contact the Cusco community (link to communities in LH column)? I'm sure that they'll know the best place to go.

Regards, Mick

[brennan]

Thanks for the help guys. By the looks of it right now, it is two small problems that look like one huge problem. Thank god. I appreciate the input.

Happy Hacker. Any luck with a boat to Panama? Have you tried my alcoholic German friend? Ask him about the Steel Rat.

[IanC]

Hi Brennan

Sorry to hear you have problems, afraid I haven´t any suugestions, although the Cusco community sounds a good idea. Have you asked Jeff in the Norton Rats Tavern? I think he may also actually be the HU community guy, he´d be the best person to ask.

I´m in Potosi (Bolivia) tonight, off to Uyuni tomorrow hopefully.

Good luck mate,

Ian

[Smellybiker]

Not yet...am still chilling out in Medellin & working on the maps.

We're off to Cartagena in a couple of days, looking for a hammock with wifi access on the beach next to a fridge of cold . ;-)

Originally Posted by brennan

Thanks for the help guys. By the looks of it right now, it is two small problems that look like one huge problem. Thank god. I appreciate the input.

Happy Hacker. Any luck with a boat to Panama? Have you tried my alcoholic German friend? Ask him about the Steel Rat.

[Fritz]

Have you tried Jeff at Norton Rats Tavern? if there is a place for either repair in Cuzco he'll likely know ;-)

[brennan]

Cool tavern. A great resource for bikers. Jeff had a ton of info and a ton of rum for me last night. My head hurts.

Ian I saw you in the Big Biker Book. How is Bolivia so far?

Chamorro Honda is where I have been stationed for the last few days. We are not altogether finished yet, but, I´m really happy with these guys. I would recommend them for sure. Wait a second, let me take a look at the bill first.

This is a great city to be held up on for awhile.

A hammock with WiFi and cold . Please, Smelly Biker, let me know where you find that little shining jewel!

[IanC]

Hi Brennan

In Uyuni now hoping for a tour of the Salar tomorrow. Going to then head SW to San Pedro de Atacama which is supposedly a roughish trip. Bolivia´s good, although I was a bit knackered yesterday after spending a day down the Potosi mines. A tight squeeze for guys of our size! Well worth the visit though if you´re coming this way.

Hope you get sorted soon.

[brennan]

I´m sorted. A drain plug on my starboard cylinder puked engine oil on my tranny. At the same time some air managed to get into the clutch line.

Now I´m checking out Cusco and trying to get my website all caught up. I have to get my travel logs up to date.

I´m headed in that direction myself. I can´t wait. Some people who worry too much, are talking about some political unrest in Bolivia right now. Did you run into any roadblocks around the Lima area?

Take care Ian, I might catch you one of these days! I was so close! I have no reason to hurry now though. Have fun dude!

[MikeS]

Hey Ian!

Glad you took our ´advice´ and got to Potosi (aren´t the mines fun!) and Uyuni. Hope the roads were ok for you and the 1200GS?

We´re in Puno now, off to the islands tomorrow.

Cheers

Originally Posted by IanC

Hi Brennan

In Uyuni now hoping for a tour of the Salar tomorrow. Going to then head SW to San Pedro de Atacama which is supposedly a roughish trip. Bolivia´s good, although I was a bit knackered yesterday after spending a day down the Potosi mines. A tight squeeze for guys of our size! Well worth the visit though if you´re coming this way.

Hope you get sorted soon.

[IanC]

Mike, just got back from the Salar (salt-crusted feet!), beautiful blue sky to my surprise! I´m not unfamiliar with a hard day´s work (unlike surveyors!!), but it just about finished me off crawling down to Level 4 and back, never mind shovelling 25 tonnes of stuff while I was down there. Make sure you visit the Yavari while you´re in Puno, it´s an amazing story and made an Englishman/Brit feel very proud! Not sure if it will have the same effect on a Scot!!

I had a great ride over from Potosi yesterday, went pretty quick and was here having breakfast at 11.00am! I left Potosi at 7.00am and they didn´t serve breakfast until 7.15am. I wanted to get about 20 miles south of Uyuni for a photo at 12.27 which I had calculated (maybe slightly incorrectly) that the sun would be EXACTLY overhead both regarding latitude and time of day - from now on the sun will be to my north. I took a couple of photos of bike on centrestand and indeed the shadow did look to be pretty much straight underneath, but about 10 mins. later for some reason.

Brennan, very glad your problems weren´t so bad after all. I wouldn´t worry about any problems in Bolivia, they´re mainly east (Cochamaba). I got caught in a small one between La Paz and Potosi, and thought "oh here we go", but it was open in 10 mins, in fact the instant I´d taken my gear off and resigned myself to some refreshment! All very peaceful, maybe nothing to do with the rest.

Off in the direction of San Pedro early tomorrow, will see how far I get.

[IanC]

Mike,

Made it to Lago Colorada yesterday by 4.00pm, and nearly pushed on to San Pedro, but wasn't sure how long it would take and what time Aduana closed, so stayed in extremely basic hostel about 6 miles south of there for 25 Bolivianos. I'm not sure which was harder, all that gravel or the Potosi mines! Dropped the bike once, first time since Copper Canyon. Temp -3 C when I left Colorada this morning and 32 C this afternoon!

Now in Calama after brunch in San Pedro.

I think I'd have taken a few wrong turns without the benefit of your tracklogs though, Gracias.

[MikeS]

Glad you made it though Bolivia! Well done for only dropping the bike once too.

We are in Cusco now, about to do Machu and take some long required spanish lessons! Any info you need on ´stuff further south´just email me.

Cheers