Accident in Sucre, urgent Help/advice needed

[bruceontheloose]

Hello everyone
I had the pleasure, yesterday, of crashing my motorcycle - Suzuki DL650. No one else involved. Had a momentary of lack of concentration, looking at scenery or cars going the other way and ended up riding off the road (a tad embarrassing really) right into a rock fall on the edge. Going too quick to veer back on the road. Stayed on for a while til I hit this rather large rock at the end... I am a bit sore but no broken bones and a bit of rest and I should be fine... I think.

But the bike is not.
I have destroyed a pannier (least of my worries at the mo)
The right footpeg has sheared off.
And the wheel is badly dented and possibly buckled.. (bad shape)
cut up the front tyre.
The whole right side is pretty roughed up but mainly cosmetic.
The forks seem to work alright.

I did a pretty good job..

I really don´t know if the front wheel of the bike is salvagable. This will be my first try and main priority.
Does anybody know of any mechanics or a mr fix it everything person (sorry brain is a bit slow) who might be able to help me or point me in the right dirrection here in SUCRE??

Would I be better off trucking the bike to LaPaz???

If I need to (and I think I will) how do I go about buying and sending a new wheel over here?

And help or advice appreciated

Thanks
BRuce.

[Dan 23]

Sorry to hear about your spill, Bruce.

Get down to the Joyride Cafe (off the main square, by the cathedral) and try to get hold of a number for Nicky, a very good Sucre mechanic and dirt rider. He should be able to sort you out.

I'll email Gert and see if he has a number...

Suerte, Dan

[balam]

Your best bet is to look for Nicki Stumboll. He is an extraordinary mechanic and great person. One of the best people I met on a three year lon trip in Southamerica.

I do not have his phone number, but if you go to the Joyride bar downtown and ask for his wheabouts you'll get the info you need. At the Joyride, look for Gert.

Good luck

Balam

[balam]

Another thing... DO NOT GO TO LA PAZ to have this fixed. Stay in Sucre until you get a hold of Nicky, he is the best guy in the whole country. Here's the number I've got for him: 76110034
maybe it still works...

Balam

[petefromberkeley]

Now this is what HU is all about! Good luck with the bike.

[quastdog]

And Santa Cruz - Bolivia's biggest city - is where you want to head, if anywhere - not La Paz. Its also closer to Sucre than La Paz.

Not to mention its tropical weather there - much nicer than freezing your butt off in La Paz.

BTW - Phil says hi - hopes you're not mad at him for recommending Sucre.

[bruceontheloose]

Thanks fellas for the quick replies.
I have followed the lead you gave me and got hold of Nicky. I have given him the front wheel and he seemed quite confident he can get it repaired. Must be a bit of a miracle worker...
The rest of the bike is still at the Military School just out of Sucre - who have also been really helpful.
Since tomorrow is a holiday here I return to Nicky on Friday afternoon. He reckons he can help me source a new tire too..
I´ll keep you posted on the outcome.

Not too sore any more, just hurts a bit when I cough and try picking up heavy things..

Phil, I loved the road from Potosí to Sucre. That is why I was doing it again..
But did you know that the Salar was wet in the north (not the tourist areas)? And guess who got bogged in a salt bank for a couple hours? I think my bike is getting a real hammering...

Cheers
Bruce

[Dan 23]

Glad you found Nicky. If you want to get your aches and pains looked at by a decent flesh and bone mechanic, try the Hospital Cristo de las Americas on avenida Japon. And if you're laid up for a while, have a look at the Hostal Cruz de Popayan, corner of calle Colon and calle Loa.

Suerte, Dan

[mollydog]

With the footpeg a lot of guys just transfer a rear one up front.

[bruceontheloose]

Yep! All is good and rosy in the world (of Bruce). With the help of Nicky I got the front wheel looking quite round and all the bent bits looking straighter, got the foot peg welded up. The pannier stuck together with superglue and duct tape.. The forks and bars were fine. Just looks like its been around a bit.. a bit of character.

I am now in LaPaz after finding a great Thermal Springs retreat 70kms out, I think it is called Urmiri or something close to that. The road there was awesome. But, thinking I was onto something new, I meet two other mcyclists on my way out - they found out about this place on the HUBB!! So it gets my thumbs up too.

About the bike, there is a bit of a wobble still in the front wheel. (but it goes away above 70kmh. .-) A bit disconcerting but I can live with it - but could this cause other problems later? (I will probably replace the wheel when it becomes more economically viable=
Also I´m riding with 3 quarters a front brake lever which is still a bit bent (best we could do). Anybody know of a different lever to fit the Vstrom at a pinch? When will I be able to get a new one? Equador? It is ok but emergency braking will require quite a handfull..

[mollydog]

The wobble may wear tires a bit faster but no real worries.