Best countries in South America to buy a bike and start a trip
 

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I hope this thread can help others as well. This is about my optimistic trip through South America.

I have done some research on different countries, but it's incomplete and as I need to buy a plane ticket to my start location, any help or opinions are very very welcome :)
I want to start my trip this year and my route is very flexible but weatherwise it seems best to go north to south (for example Colombia > Argentina/Uruguay/Brazil)



Most challenging is the following:

1) Buying, registering and insuring a bike as a foreigner after obtaining proof or residence
This seems to be possible as long as I can obtain RUT (for example in Chile) or RUNT (Colombia). I hear it's often enough to use the address of the hotel you're staying in?
Or is it easier buying from another traveller and bring back the bike to the country where it's registered using Power of attorney / poder?

2) Leaving that country with the registered bike
I've read here that exiting Argentina is a no-go, and that people generally agree that from Colombia or Chile this is easiest (although in Chile you have to return the bike after max. 6 months?).. Other countries with good chances?

3) Where and how to sell the bike
- Importing and selling a foreign bike somewhere would be great but does not seem possible in SA? I read in another thread that this is possible in Paraguay?
- Alternative is selling to another traveller using Power of attorney / poder.. what are the risks for me as the original owner?
- Worst case I would sell it 'sin papeles'/for parts, but I would like to know from which countries I could easily exit without the bike (fines will stay open on my name?) and there will be problems with customs/insurance in Colombia (if I registered the bike there)
- If necessary I would also consider starting in for example Bolivia or Chile, make sort of a circle and sell it in the same country if that makes things much easier..

Colombia
 

Colombia is the easiest country to buy a bike.
No requirement to be a resident.
A passport is enough.
Paper work takes around one week.
Than you are free to ride anywhere.

https://www.colombiamotoadventures.c...le-in-colombia


But...
you have to return to Colombia to sell the bike,

No problem. Make a loop covering for ex
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia. And even Venezuela. (Argentina)
South America is huge. You don't have to ride same way twice.

=
125 cc or a little more:
I should look at Honda XR 150L and XR 190L
=

I'm thinking of buying a bike in South America as well and do the continent bit by bit. Is that realistic in terms of leaving a "local" bike in a different country for a while? Ideally, I'd start in Colombia and leave the bike in some country further south for an extended time until I can afford to come back to continue the trip.

South America
 

In Colombia Getting a license is a problem if you do not have a drivers License. Proof of residence is not enough You need a Visa , Temporary Residence or Permanent.
To get a temporary residence a work visa is normally required or retirement visa there are many types of visas.
Then you can apply for a Cedula ID. , you won't get a drivers license without a Cedula

Leave the bike "for a while"
 

It depends on what you mean with "a while"

Normal time that the bike can be in one country is 90 days.

Chile: You can apply for 90 xtra days. With a good motivation why.
Example; https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...tdf-feb-104951


Argentina: 90 days was normal. But 8 months was possible. But current situation is unclear. Maybe that 90 day rule is not fully implemented.
They also had a special process due to Covid 19. Where you out the bike "out of use". Seams still to be possible.
Follow :
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...-change-104662

Uruguay has been 12 month. I do not know current status.

Thanks a lot Erik for your reply.

The process in the link looks doable and it is possible to return to Colombia but it's a looong way back.
It looks like in all SA countries I would have to return to the same country to sell the bike legally..

Do you also know more about the process of buying in Bolivia? I would consider starting/ending there and make a nice loop.

That is good to know, thanks.
This is exactly what I would like to avoid realising once already arrived ;)

Anyone that has experience applying for a work visa in Colombia without actually needing it for a job?
Also for this reason my start country is still flexible..