Well, I've made it to Buenos Aires
 

I've had bad luck in Argentina so far with my bike. On the 27th I got a flat tire doing 70mph (I was on those 'rivited' roads, it just ate my tire away). On the 29th I busted an oil line (or something, not sure) 60 miles from Buenos Aires. I'm having Dakar Motos take a look at it today. Hope it's not too expensive! :oops2: It's not really an oil leak, more like a waterfall. And it won't change out of neurtral. And it starts smoking every time I start her up (after adding more oil of course). Doesn't sound good.

I went to the real BMW dealers here but I was highly unimpressed with them. At one the manager kept walking away to help other customers while I tried explaining the situation. And the other said he only worked on bikes that were 'Guaranteed' or something. I asked what that was and he said it was for bikes that are under 2 years old. Mine's an '03.

Anyways, I'll be doing a homestay here for 2 months to learn spanish. If any body else is here let's meet up and have a beer. :thumbup: After that I'm headed down to Ushuaia in Sept.

Mike
GiveMeADay.com

Mike,

Sorry about your problems, but CONGRATULATIONS on making it to your destination. It is quite a feeling, no?

You are probably better off a Dakar Motos anyways. They will give you a more practical solution than the dealership... :scooter:

Congratulations from one of your English colonial cousins...

Well done and stay SAFE. :scooter:

Hi Mike,
Congrats on getting to BA. The City (and the Portenos)

Spewing oil? Hmmm, no idea

Bike is clean(or much cleaner now)
 

Was at Dakar today and watched the working process on your bike! The other day couldn´t recognize the brand!(only the logo at the steering)so much oil was everywhere!!!!!!
Javier told me he fixed the "oilfall" but found a snaped off bolt from your subframe.....ouuuch.
But looking much better now.
Now to BMW here.....you ended up to the correct adress.
CU
KH

beware!
 

Hola, amigos at 3179!

Mike: Dakar Motos, eh! Run!!!!!!!!!

It's a feed lot, actually. Pizza, empanadas, assado, helado! Oh, and the wine has no calories either. Excluding Daniel, people don't lose weight there.

Is the Hobbitt still hang'in?

Actually, everything now in my life is compared to Dakar Motos; they're a benchmark!

Hey, what about dinner?

Ciao from Windhoek, Namibia (like Dakar Motos - full of Germans!)

Beunos Aries
 

Sounds like you did OK at Dakar. Last Dec I rented a Honda transalp from Mariano at MOTOCARE, right in BA. Great guy and a great shop if you need anything more. His Transalp took me from BA to Santiago to Bariloche and back to BA. Chile was the best riding!

Well... statement from Dakar, department benchmarks

I was the only one in here when Mike came in. Because I was ill and "out of order" I called for assistance, but Daniel was late!

So Mike got out of here for the first. Because I leave again on monday, it's on Daniel to introduce Mike in Lesson 1 - "Survival in Buenos Aires under influence of 500grs Meet and 1,5 ltr. Wine"

By the way... soon we will get the fresh printed wallpaper to pimp up the empty bed you have left here. Negrita is still missing you!!!

Regards
The Hobbit
---------------
Member of departments for benchmarking, photography, chimmichurri and small green herbs

Sorry guys, didn't realize people actually replied.

I accidently left the bike at Dakar for 10 days without calling or showing up, got caught up in the party scene here and became nocturnal. I'd wake up at the hostel around 9pm and people would ask if I was going out that night. Addicting but depressing life.

Checked in today at Dakar and I had 3 choices with what to do:
1. Get rid of the bike
2. Forget about riding in 1st because it doesn't work. I'd have to begin in 2nd.
3. Open up the engine and fix the prob.

Dakar is 95% sure he knows what's wrong, so I'll let him open her up and I'll get the parts once he's 100% sure.

Argentina is great
 

Great food ,great girls ,great mechanics.....
This might be a signal........
Find a job , stay there..
Don´t even think marrie an Argentinan: She will get fat and ugly a couple of weeks later.

Sounds like you speak from experience? :cool4: Nah, I'd never get married. Too many fish in the sea, only to have one for so long seems a shame.

I've been here too long. Starting to get tired of the nightlife actually. Ready to have my bike fixed and move on...

Ymaha is the best
 

Although advised by BMW, KTM and Ducati riders that I was riding the proper bike and would fail, I have just completed a tour of Canada, 36 US states, 70% of Mexico, Central america, Colmbia , all the way south, back up to BsAs, Uruguay and Brazil.
I am now riding my 1999 Yamaha v-Star 1100 cc through the Canadian Rockies, and have just rolled up 90,000 kms. without any problems what so ever!!

In October, I am taking her to Aussie and NZ for another 100K.

Prior to this , I had a 1985 Virago 1000cc and logged 190,000 kms. in NA and Europe.

The Yamaha service is provided extyensively and very consistent.

The only way to go!!

I've got a 650cc and I've mostly kept it around 85-100mph on highway all through North,Central,South America. All that happend is I melted a small $2 plastic part that feeds the oil to the engine. Because of that the engine screwed up and now I cannot shift into 1st. I don't think it has anything to do with the quality or reliability, it has to do with how we ride the bikes.

Good luck in Australia, I'll be there in December.

shit happens
 

I totally agree...
I had a 2005 Dakar with no problems at all for 50,000 kms .
Anyway and no matter what bike, shit happens.....
Good luck