To Salar or not to Salar...

[tmotten]

I'm in 2 minds whether or not to drive the Bolivian salt planes. Reason is that I'm actually planning to keep our bikes (07 Dakar's) untill they die and always thought of the salt planes as a death warrant.
Is this justified? Smellybiker ended up having to replace his complete wiring harnass due to salt corrosion.

[quastdog]

I'm not sure how the salinity of standing rain water dissolving the surface of the salar compares to plain seawater, but I'm figuring the effects are similar. Riding beaches on a chrome-covered Harley is not advised - unless the alcohol made you do it.

BTW: The next 6 months is considered rain season.

[tmotten]

I certainly wouldn't do it when wet. I'm planning this trip starting in BA November 2008 btw. I take them out on say a Fraser Island trip but hose the crap out of them when I get back emphasize on things like brake callipers, etc. Thing is when the salt is dry I imagine your bike gets sprayed like when riding on sand. You find the stuff everywhere even when you stay clear of the soft stuff. But with salt when it gets wet it starts it evil doings from the crannies of the bike.

[SalCar]

last year when i got there it was wet and i had a relatively new Dakar that i want to keep... so i just went in far enough to take a few cool pictures. Now i got some rust but I´m not sure if it was bc of the Salar or not.

[greynomads]

Do it and then hose the bike down afterwards! It's one of the highlights of coming to South America and Bolivia in particular and an experience you'll never forget, just riding for miles without having to worry about other traffic. It's also the best riding surface in Bolivia!