Apart from the fact, i don´t really have a plan any more ( i started out with good bike riding intentions but got distracted by the good times and fiestas on the way, and can´t face going home to a english winter!), so planning is proving difficult, they don´t make the big size tyres down here. 140 is teh biggest duel sport tyre they make in brasil. the 150´s are road tyres, but are cheap $60 or $70 so will do if no other choice. all radials are imported. Also there are no BMW dealers in bolivia or Peru anymore. The one in Santiago is extremely unhelpful, and expensive. The one in Quito never replied to my emails (but my spanish is poor so that may explain that) And the one in Bogota i have heard very good things about but is just a little too far at teh moment.

Of course i could get it shipped but the last quote i got to do that was almost a months budget down here, once you include taxes etc, so that to my mind is a good excuse to take it easy and rely on local sources. and you do meet some interesting people and fellow travellers when searching bike and tyre shops!

Quite how i´ve twisted a north american thread in to south america i don´t know, but maybe i´m attempting to justify my lack of a plan as a perverse type of a plan. take it as it comes, it has worked so far!

cheers
mike