Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
The Dakar is the lightweight model choice out of those two..
Mostly because it sheds weight as it falls apart... 
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Ted, you hit it right where it hurts!
As an owner of two Honda XR650Ls and two KLR650s, living in and riding them in South America....
I have had MANY BMW riders stopping by our place in central Peru, and even with new bikes, it is amazing the problems they have had. We tried to find a spark plug and a rear tire for an F800GS in a large city with 80,000 motorcycles.. Not a chance. The owner had to travel a day and back to Lima just to pay $21 for a simple NGK plug!
Honda XR650L or a DR650 are your best choices. The Transalp may be a Honda but it is almost unheard of in SA. Get yourself one of the above with 18" and 21" wheels and parts that are interchangeable with smaller models that are common throughout SA and is repairable on the side of the road with a screwdriver and a hammer!
The XRL is a gas hog, but it will run on the same jet from sea level to more than 14,000 ft. Don't think the DR can do that!
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