cafe racer round South America?

**ratandgoose** · #1 21 Jan 2006

Hello all!

I wonder if you can help me with my decision...
I ride a Suzuki Goose 350, a little cafe racer and would love to take it travelling with me to South America.

I went touring in France on him a couple of years ago and he survived well, (although not my derriere -the least padding you've ever seen on a machine)

Obviously it's no trailie, but do you think such a bike could cope with going Buenos Aires- Tierra del Fuego - Paraguay - Ecuador - French Guyane (brief trip summary)?

Racing is not planned, but stopping off at plenty of cafes is.

I'm 5"2 (156 cm) tall so I don't want a huge bike. I've contemplated a GS500 for the comfier seat and cheapness. But then, should I give in and do the sensible thing -get a Serow?

**Caminando** · #2 1 Jun 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratandgoose

Hello all!

I wonder if you can help me with my decision...
I ride a Suzuki Goose 350, a little cafe racer and would love to take it travelling with me to South America.

I went touring in France on him a couple of years ago and he survived well, (although not my derriere -the least padding you've ever seen on a machine)

Obviously it's no trailie, but do you think such a bike could cope with going Buenos Aires- Tierra del Fuego - Paraguay - Ecuador - French Guyane (brief trip summary)?

Racing is not planned, but stopping off at plenty of cafes is.

I'm 5"2 (156 cm) tall so I don't want a huge bike. I've contemplated a GS500 for the comfier seat and cheapness. But then, should I give in and do the sensible thing -get a Serow?

Run what you brung - use it, go for it.

**shandydrinker** · #3 1 Jun 2006

As above.

If your'e happy with your bike, why not?

Getting a seat sorted is no problem!

Phil

**seanh** · #4 2 Jun 2006

How are the bars though? Don't you get sore wrists leaning on them for long distances?
Sean

**javkap** · #5 2 Jun 2006

Hi Retandgoose
As a local here, maybe I can help you. Also I love the Cafe Racers, I’m making one with my old Gilera 200c.c. and use to take it to travel a lot (many years a go). But….
From BA to TdF most of the way is tarmac, only few dozens of miles are “Ripio”.
“Ripio” it’s a kind of gravel but in a shape than you never saw. From TdF to the North ( the famous R40) is most ripio and mix with wind but also very strong winds….
I will pay to see you riding on 17” wheels and clip-on handle bars on the Ripio…
Also you can find a lot of common gravel, mud and potholes if you leave the principals roads.
Stopping off at plenty of cafes …. Yes, but if you find where after many hundreds kilometres.
Any way, is your decision many travellers do it on a bikes than you will never imagine. Some do it on CT200 Farm bikes, R1, C-50, Monkey bikes, Harleys, Jawas, CG125, and a lot more. My wife ride a SR250 Special fitted whit trail tires and take a lot of gravels and ripio roads. Also Jeffrey from Cusco- Peru (Norton Rats Tavern) made TdF on a Norton Commando contact him by his website to ask http://www.nortonrats.com/
In your shoes I will go for a trail even a Serow, but anyway you and your Goose are welcome here.
Hope to meet you.
Javier…
www.dakarmotos.com

**brclarke** · #6 2 Jun 2006

I remember reading a review years ago about the Goose 350 and thinking it sounded like a cool bike. Of course, in North America you never see anything under 500/600 ccs, so I've never seen one in real life.