For future people interested: It is not a problem for a foreigner to buy a motorbike in Indonesia.

I am riding Sulawesi right now, have been stopped by police in several routinary controls and all is good.

There is the government registration, and the motorbike papers. This and your international driving license is all you need to have the police happy. That, and taking pictures with them. Everybody loves selfies in Sulawesi.

No bureaucracy is needed. The seller gives you the bike and the papers, you pay, and the motorbike is yours.

I don't know about the insurance. Did not try that.


PS: the bike is for sale. If anybody is interested, check the ad in the HUBB and PM me.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...266#post531782

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"Cosas que escapan a los que sueñan solo de noche..."

Glad to hear that you enjoy riding in Sulawesi Vander. Such a wild and beautiful island and such friendly and helpful locals.

The north-south or south-north road between Poso and Wotu in the central moutainious area of the island are just georgous and totally wild. A must do when on Sulawesi. I think you can bypass the town of Poso if you dont want to go into that town.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Hi Snakeboy!

I am really enjoying it

Still not sure whatt to do: to Palu and then te looong stretch to Marisa near Gorontalo in one day, or bypass by taking a ship to the Togians.

On one side, crossing the equator just has a great appeal to me. On the other hand is a day of simply watching the kms go and go and go.

I will go to the Togians anyway, but the question is if I will ride from Palu to north, then park the bike in Gorontalo and hopp-on to the Togians, or take a boat from Ampana to Togoans, then another to Gorontalo.


If I'm not selling in Manado I'll just take the ferry Bitung-BaoBao and from there to Makassar again.

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"Cosas que escapan a los que sueñan solo de noche..."

If going to Palu I might avoid Poso by getting to Lore Lindu NP from Tentena. It's shorter in km, but I don't know how the road will be like between gintu and Gimpu. I seem to remember there could be a muddy piste in pretty bad shape.

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"Cosas que escapan a los que sueñan solo de noche..."

I think I wasnt quite right about that long stretch from Palu to Marisa. I do think there are accomodation in a town called Moutong which is approx 100 kms before Marisa. I just did a google search for "accomodation Moutong" and got several hits - so there are most probably accomodation there. Cheaper accomodation in Indonesia are often called "Wisma" or "Losmen" so you can looknfor such signs. But remember that from Palu to Moutong its still approx 350 kms and that is a long stretch and that the roads are not very good up there, very narrow and lots of road construction and repair. So I still recommend to start early from Palu.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Hi Snake boy.

Made it to Manado.

I finally choosed to go to Ampana, then take the ferry for the Togean Islands. Really worth it. Had a great time there with good people and the total eclipse was something unique. Very happy to have chosen this route.

Rantepao-Palopo-Tentena-Poso-Ampana-(ferry to Togeans)-(ferry to Gorontalo)-Gorontalo-Manado.


For people seing this in the future: From Ampana to Togeans you have the KM Puspita Sari. It carries bikes also (everything basically), but getting a heavy bike on it would not be easy task. There is also a ferry, the KMS Tuona Tomini that connects Ampana with Gorontalo, making a stop in Wakai (Togeans). This is a normal ferry, so OK to everything on wheels.

This boats are also a great place to take hundreds of pictures. They are slow, but very interesting.
You can buy fresh fruits in Ampana. I recommend to eat as much fruit and anything except fish there, because fish is 50% of what you will eat in the Togeans (the other 50% being rice).

The Togeans are a great place to relax. Park your bike and go snorkeling. It's no place for bikes.

Gorontalo to Manado: the road is a rollercoaster. Great fun, just be aware that the private vans there drive completelly mental. Those guys should spend the rest of their lives in jail. Some od them will have a very short life anyway...

Have fun!

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"Cosas que escapan a los que sueñan solo de noche..."

Great to hear that you made it to Manado.
The southern route between Gorontalo and Manado is definetively a rollercoaster. The northern one are much better.
Most drivers in Indonesia should have their balls spanked with rusty dirty barbed wire - and then put to jail. In the end one just have to laugh of them anyway.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....