Hi,

I plan to start this trip down the Andes from Colombia to Patagonia and have a lot of questions concerning the bike.
I would like advices concerning the best bike to get and where to get it.

I will look for a light bike as I am a lightweight myself (60kg). To go 50/50 on road/offroad a 600cc should be way enough. My priority is not speed or power. I want a used bike, reliable, for which spares are common in Latin America. And think a twin would be more reliable than a single cylinder.
Honda Transalp? Honda Africa Twin? Chinese brand?

My budget would be 4500 USD max, but I wouldn't mind cutting it in half! I first thought about buying in Bogota (or anywhere in Colombia) but prices seem to be high over there.
As I am currently in Guatemala I can as well buy in Costa Rica, Nicaragua or Panama and get in a ferry then (I didn't check about the ferry prices and availability yet).

Any advices are welcome!

>I would like advices concerning the best bike to get and where to get it.

Your question gets posted fairly frequently in this forum. You might as well ask what is the world's best football team. I like your specification. Light is the way to go. You'll enjoy the byways more with a light bike, but your ass is gonna wear out on those narrow dirt bike seats. Oh well.

Finding the right bike is always a challenge. My general advice, when you see it, buy it. Because who knows how far down the road you have to go to find something like it. The advice applies to tires too. Start looking now and keep you eyes open until you find your ride.

Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, you'll see all of these brands in SA and Chinese brands too, if you dare challenge the parts gods. Hey, you never know what is out there in terms of generic parts, but your question is pointing toward a need for certainty.

Now for the punch line, you can't count on parts being available, ever, even for internationally known brands. A rider in Bolivia is currently in search of a replacement shock. None of the dealers in the country have one. I couldn't find an oil filter at the brand dealer in Venezuela. Ok, those are two tough examples, but the theme echoes many times in the adventure rider posts found on the HUBB. Bake flexibility, improvisation, substitution and a can do spirit into your travel plan. Be ready to source grey market, after market, generic, used and adapted hand crafted parts. You may have no choice when that particular part wears out. Get the stuff you're gonna need before you need it. Pick up and carry an extra oil filter and brake pads when you see them. Your mileage may differ.

Dealers everywhere charge more for brake pads, chains and sprockets, and you feel the bite more in SA. The branded imported part are charged steeper importation fees. Ask me how I know. These are items you can probably get for less at a generic "repuesto" (spanish for parts) stores. Learn that word.

I would love to see, but haven't seen real facts posted on the HUBB on number of dealers for international brand motorcycle in SA. The comments are usually opinions based on personal experience. Frankly its hard or impossible to find all encompassing service statistic for motorcycles in SA or anywhere else in the world.

I'm not itching for a fight, but I'll note that BMW has a dealer in every country in SA (except Paraguay, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana...) Yeah, and like I said, the dealer in Caracas didn't have an oil filter for my late model bike...but I was only looking to pick up a spare. I'm guessing BMW (a.k.a. Break My Wallet) is not in you budget. Somes bikes are cheaper and end up costing more in repairs. Its all up to the travel gods. May they smile down on you.

If you buy a bike in CA, you have two choice to get it to SA: air and water. Air lift prices are notably higher and save on time. There are a handful of water options. If are adventurous, look for an open cargo boat in Panama. A rider or two has gone down the coast from port to port, switch from one boat to another. It a hard way to go, but he had fun. Figure on $1000 (roughly to cross on the Stalhratte or the Independence. Maybe Fritz is getting bike across for a little more. Or find someone filling a container and squeeze your bike in...but something like that will take too long.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Hi Peter,

Thank you very much for your answer. I am aware that my question is very large and doesn't have a unique answer. But the elements you gave me are a start for me and tell me what to expect!

The prices I have seen online on tumoto.com seem pretty high for a Honda Transalp (compared to Europe). I assume a Chinese brand would be cheaper, and maybe as well common?

Concerning the engine power, I don't mind riding a 250cc as long as it gets me to my final destination. I'm just a bit worried it wouldn't survive the trip!

I keep reading this forum to know more!

Do check this forum and the CA list for bikes for sale. Offers are posted every now and then. I looked at tumoto.com and found bikes to consider, but they are all less than 600cc. The vast majority of offers ar in Bogota.

Its hard to accept, but you don't need that big of a bike. If you are traveling slow and not trying to keep up with the GS1200 crew, you'll be fine. I have a bigger bike, a 800cc, and there were times I wish it was half the size and weight. Mostly when I dropped it or nearly dropped it. The bigger bikes are a bear to lift.

Sharing this clip it because it shows the joys of riding dirt bikes. Wish I had one. The downside of of smaller bikes is they don't enable pack rats like myself that take way too much crap.

WHY WE RIDE: mid-life crisis philosophy & motorbike riding
http://youtu.be/LRQyEBY5YjQ

Curious about your trip. You are already traveling and are currently in GU, right? Sounds like you have ridden a bit. I am guess you don't have a helmet (required in many countries ahead), protective riding gear (pants, jacket, gloves), panniers, basic tools, boots... Assume you have a backpack, but I am mostly taking guesses. Some of these items are hard to source in Latin America, or so I have read hereon the HUBB. A rider was posting recently about difficult finding panniers. You may have to improvise of needed. Think milk crates, if that what it takes.

I travel with the whole "circus" of crap. Much I don't need from day to day. But some things came in handy just when I thought I would never need them, like a spare inner tube on the last riding day in Mexico. Truth be told I could have patched the one with a hole, but choose to use the spare. Just goes to show you can travel with less and improvise or buy local.

How far are you planning to travel? Riding a bike with a lot of vibration may not be fun. Can you tell I never owned a Harley? As mentioned I never owned a dirt bike and now I am wondering if they usually vibrate a lot, the handle bars and seat...

You mentioned riding 50/50 road/off road. Wanted to share a thought here. I mostly ride alone and like it that way. It has a number of downsides, but most people get on my nerves after a while. I likely get on peoples nerves too, but I digress. The thing is, I would like to ride more off road, but am concerned that I would hang myself up far far from no where or anyone. I ride long stretches of (typically packed) dirt in Guyana, Brazil and Bolivia solo. Down roads where I didn't see any traffic for hours. Its a bit alarming how little traffic there is between cities in some countries. Anyway, there are brave or foolish riders out there that go off the main dirt roads and drink deep of the goat path type roads. I salute them. Of course they are nuts, but I envy their confidence. With more off road experience and the right bike, I too may wander into the true off road, alone.

Forget about camping and all gear that comes with it. If you are into it, get a hammock, a blanket and call it a day. Nah, skip that too. Hostels are cheap. Demand a fresh towel, its one less thing to pack.

Hope you find something useful in my ramblings.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Hey Cleland,

Isn't it hard to get a used bike out of Argentina? Seems I have been reading a lot of posts to that point. Is there a way to do it?

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Hi,

To tell you more about my trip (seems like I haven't filled the dedicated part in my profile...) :

I am currently backpacking in Central America, and doing great with a 13kg backpack. I will probably need to add some basic tools and bike gear once I get a bike.
I don't have any protecting equipment yet (except for hiking closed shoes...), so I will follow your advice and get it as soon as I see it.
I've been riding a Ducati Mostro back in France. I believe the experience will be quite different this time!

My goal is to reach Patagonia, starting from Colombia (or Central America, if the right bike appears to me) going down the Andes. I won't try to get it in Argentina as it would be cutting at least half of the trip. I don't know how much time it will take. I am free of any job/rent/family duties but plan to be away no more than a year if I want to go back to a job in my sector.

I don't think going in crazy wild tracks but I want to be able to enjoy some dirt and I have seen the roads in Central America and know it's not European highways . Then I will probably go for a dirt bike (thanks for the video, it gave me smile for the day ), 250cc to 400cc. I still want to be able to go up those sloping mountain roads!

Hi,
Does anyone have feedback on KTM for this kind of ride?
EXL
EXC
SX

They appear to be more for short duration rides... Would it be suitable for long trips?

Thanks you?

If wanting a KTM, at least a 690 for longer service intervals.

All the above are more hard core offroad, stick with your want for a lighter bike.

We run a KTM 950 Super Enduro but we are two up

Cheers Andi

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere