Sulawesi Dec 2010

[kieran kearins]

I am going to Suluwesi on Dec 21, hope to hire a bike in Makassar and travel North to Manado via Toraja and was wondering if anybody has been there recently and have any advice to offer on hiring a motorbike, road conditions, political stability, places to visit.

Thanks in advance Kieran

[somemustard]

We recently spent 5 months riding through Indonesia, and were completely fed up with it by the time we left. However, if there was one island we'd return to it would be Sulawesi, where we spent 3 fantastic weeks in Tana Toraja.

It's impossible to generalise about Indonesian roads. Some are great, others are diabolical, with an infinite variety in between. But if you're heading out to the more remote villages, don't be surprised if you round a bend and the road has been washed away by a landslide. Only to be replaced by a narrow goat track hugging the side of the hill.

Can't offer advice on motorbike hire, but in 5 months we never saw anything bigger than a 250. Which is an ideal size really. Our 650 BMs were great unwieldy monsters in comparison.

Political instability? Just don't read the news and you'll be ok.

One sour note, we did have a crash helmet stolen. That sort of thing can happen anywhere though.

Cheers

[artnet]

Originally Posted by kieran kearins

I am going to Suluwesi on Dec 21, hope to hire a bike in Makassar and travel North to Manado via Toraja and was wondering if anybody has been there recently and have any advice to offer on hiring a motorbike, road conditions, political stability, places to visit.

Thanks in advance Kieran

Hi there kieran....

in indonesia our local motorcycle was a small cc thumpers below 200cc.... are you going back south to makassar after travel north to manado ? because if you are not planning going back you better find local rent bike (you may ask hotel recepcionist, maybe they would help you) ... but if you are going back to makasar maybe i can help you find small cc thumper...

cheers,