Chinese 250ccm bike for a couple for SA 20K.. are we sane???

[planpacktravelrepeat]

Hi everyone
We are a couple traveling/blogging through SA currently and wanting to buy a cheap bike in Peru. We have a 6 -9 months trip in mind, on a tight budget. Any recommendations for bikes? We don't have illusions about speed or convenience but need a bike which will last or cheap to repair, we would go for a new, ideally.
Also on other post someone mentioned a crazy 75% sales tax for vehicles bought in Peru. Is this a sensible number?
Thanks
planpacktravelrepeat

[NewbRider]

Umm yeah you're completely sane, there's plenty of people who've done it, 2 up, on smaller than 250. It's not the easiest ride in the world, especially with two on a smallish bike. Do you have much riding experience?

If you're looking to buy in Peru you should speak to charapashanperu

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

He'll be able to give you the complete picture for Peru, and what kind of bikes at what prices are available.

Also work out a route and when you'll be going. For instance I arrived in Santiago in winter and headed north. Stupid. I should have started in Colombia with the warm weather and headed down to Ushuaia during summer, now I need to fly back down after selling my bike in Colombia and get another for going south when the weather warms up. So try and consider which places you want to visit, and work the route out. Starting in Lima if you want to visit barranquilla AND Ushuaia for instance wouldn't work out.

Bike wise, I think you should keep an eye on the for sale section on here, might give you an idea of what else is available where. Ie there are some good foreign bikes being sold all over sur America on here, and usually people advertise months ahead of the sale date. Personally (this is only my opinion) I think buying a foreign plated bike is easier and all round a better option. Ie an American bike (most common). If necessary, transfering the plates to your name is very easy (google overland Title services) or alternatively many people just ride on a "Poder". Some don't agree with me and like I said it's only my opinion.

Another option might be to do a loop from Peru and back to Peru (or Santiago for that matter) and have the place you bought the bike from "buyback" the bike. Not uncommon. And as to the actual brand of bike, take your pick if it's Chinese there's hundreds all similar, zongshen have a decent reputation but not so cheap.

Well, that's plenty for now I think. Good luck, Dan

[Snakeboy]

If you dont want a chinese bike have a look into the Honda XR150. It seems like a great little bike. Met a couple in Patagonia that bought one in Colombia and rode it to Patagonia two up without any problems.

[bareback111]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

If you dont want a chinese bike have a look into the Honda XR150. It seems like a great little bike. Met a couple in Patagonia that bought one in Colombia and rode it to Patagonia two up without any problems.

Are those commonly found in Colombia? Dont mind something in the smaller range of 150

[planpacktravelrepeat]

Thanks for the input, assuring to know that it is feasible to ride a 250 for two, it seems most folks opt for a bigger bike.I have not been on a bike for a long time but I had a CBR 1000F so I am pretty optimistic that handling a 250ccm will not be an issue. I already talked to Tobi, and for now trying to get my drivers license issue sorted before I can move ahead with the rest.

[planpacktravelrepeat]

NewbRider, do you know of any good page for planning a trip for SA. As of now it looks we will start in October in Peru, the rest is fluid. Anyone please chime in I would appreciate any help where to start the planning from. Looking at a 6-9 months plan, throughout SA including Guyana and Suriname

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by NewbRider

Also work out a route and when you'll be going. For instance I arrived in Santiago in winter and headed north. Stupid. I should have started in Colombia with the warm weather and headed down to Ushuaia during summer, now I need to fly back down after selling my bike in Colombia and get another for going south when the weather warms up. So try and consider which places you want to visit, and work the route out. Starting in Lima if you want to visit barranquilla AND Ushuaia for instance wouldn't work out.

Timing is important. You won't be riding South to Ushuaia May to Sept. Too cold. Think about weather, altitude and seasons. On a bike ... it's vital.

Originally Posted by NewbRider

Bike wise, I think you should keep an eye on the for sale section on here, might give you an idea of what else is available where. Ie there are some good foreign bikes being sold all over sur America on here, and usually people advertise months ahead of the sale date. Personally (this is only my opinion) I think buying a foreign plated bike is easier and all round a better option. Ie an American bike (most common). If necessary, transfering the plates to your name is very easy (google overland Title services) or alternatively many people just ride on a "Poder". Some don't agree with me and like I said it's only my opinion.

I would agree, getting another travelers bike would #1. save money #2 Most for sale are KLR650's or Suzuki DR650's ... both FAR better than trying to squeeze two onto a 250cc Chinese bike. Ain't gonna happen, at least not for long. And what about luggage?

Getting that bike into your name and getting the TIP squared away ... could present some hurdles. See Toby.

I assume you think you will mostly be camping, yes? Rather than Hotels?
Uh huh. Well, if you camp, you need more gear. On a 250 a smallish back pack each and a tail bag is about all you'll fit. You need a lot more.

Riding a 650 (like KLR or DR650) you can load up full sized panniers and top bag with everything you might need and more. And you can fit a passenger ... not luxurious comfort ... but can be done. (get a better seat!)

Also, keep in mind much of the Andean countries are at very high altitude. You'd barely make it up solo with no luggage on a Chinese 250 at 5,000 meters. Two up? You won't go higher than 2500 meters. NO POWER.

Since you rode a CBR1000, you surly know this?

If you wan't to go with 250's, get one each. NOT two up. Sure, for cruising two up round some Spanish beach resort or Thai beach town ... two up on a 250 is fine. Print shirt, shorts, flip flops ... hey! You're all set! Riding S. America is a bit different.

Low on funds? Maybe time to wire home for more?

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by bareback111

Are those commonly found in Colombia? Dont mind something in the smaller range of 150

I belive those XL 150s are quite common in all of south-America. So parts and service shouldnt be a problem.

[AnTyx]

Personally I'd look hard at an XR190L. Basically same bike (had an XR150 in Vietnam, agree that it's great for those kinds of areas), but with fuel injection, so a bit better for mountains.

[LD Hack]

Originally Posted by mollydog

Also, keep in mind much of the Andean countries are at very high altitude. You'd barely make it up solo with no luggage on a Chinese 250 at 5,000 meters. Two up? You won't go higher than 2500 meters. NO POWER.

A bit of an exaggeration IMO if the carburation has been set up for altitude. That's an important if. My wife rode a Zongchen on the second leg of a trip in Peru, and it was decent. It handled altitude with no problems, including 15,000 feet plus. I own a 250cc Honda Tornado in Peru, and it handles altitude with no issues.

If you can ride solo, consider https://2w.honda.com.pe/modelos/xr190ct/ Available in South America, manufactured in Brazil, fuel injection, 21 inch front wheel, fairly low seat height, much lighter than the Zongchen, and it's a Honda. We plan to buy one for my wife for next extended SA trip. At a Honda dealer quoted 11,000 Peru Soles for one.

Two up, you become heavy and have all the weight issues, including needing a bigger moto. More weight and one tends to stay on the blacktop, missing all the local villages and even must see sights. Get your SO to learn to ride a small moto and travel with 2 motos. IMO, that's the best choice if you want to see the back country where tourists are less likely to visit. 250cc moto is best solo, especially with camping gear. That said, international travelers have traveled all over SA two up on a 250cc moto, but it depends on the couple. I've also seen locals traveling far in SA on small cc motos.

[EM25]

I live in SA and suggest you can get two used Honda XR250 tornados, they are everywhere, easy to re-sell, tons of spare parts, bullet proof engine and with decent power for long trips, I've done 6000+Km of ruta 40 to TdF on one. No issues.

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by LD Hack

A bit of an exaggeration IMO if the carburation has been set up for altitude. That's an important if. My wife rode a Zongchen on the second leg of a trip in Peru, and it was decent. It handled altitude with no problems, including 15,000 feet plus. I own a 250cc Honda Tornado in Peru, and it handles altitude with no issues.

If you can ride solo, consider https://2w.honda.com.pe/modelos/xr190ct/ Available in South America, manufactured in Brazil, fuel injection, 21 inch front wheel, fairly low seat height, much lighter than the Zongchen, and it's a Honda. We plan to buy one for my wife for next extended SA trip. At a Honda dealer quoted 11,000 Peru Soles for one.

Two up, you become heavy and have all the weight issues, including needing a bigger moto. More weight and one tends to stay on the blacktop, missing all the local villages and even must see sights. Get your SO to learn to ride a small moto and travel with 2 motos. IMO, that's the best choice if you want to see the back country where tourists are less likely to visit. 250cc moto is best solo, especially with camping gear. That said, international travelers have traveled all over SA two up on a 250cc moto, but it depends on the couple. I've also seen locals traveling far in SA on small cc motos.

Some great info there. 100% agree that the SO should get her own bike.
Some really cool bike options you've mentioned!

No doubt a properly jetted bike would do better. Opening up air box can also help but at high altitude the limited power of a 250 really drops off, even with proper jetting. If you get on rough, beat up rocky steep up hill tracks loss of power is last thing you want to deal with.

Brazil also make the sister to the 250 Tornado, it's a 400cc bike. Forgot it's name. (similar to XR400R) But that might be better, but in the end riding each on your own bike, I think would be ideal.

[JfNS]

The Honda XRE300 has been recommended to me as acceptable for 2 up.

Fuel injected, looks like a nice bike. I have spoken with a couple who used one 2 up and they said they were happy with it, even carrying a camping set up.

[LD Hack]

Originally Posted by mollydog

Brazil also make the sister to the 250 Tornado, it's a 400cc bike.

Honda Falcon NX4