Looking to buy a bike for a trip across South America
 

Hello everybody!

In a couple of weeks I'll be heading to either Medellín or Bogota (haven't decided yet) to buy a bike for my roadtrip to either Chile or Argentina. I'm planning roughly to take 3-4 months for this road trip.

I don't have much experience with motos, so I'm thinking about getting something in the range lf 200-300CC. And from what I've read, roads aren't the. est here anyways, so there's no much need for a lot of power. Also, I'm in no rush anyways.

For any of you who have some experience with motos in South America, what's my best option here? It would be perfect if I could fit into 2000-3000USD budget. I know it's not much, but I'm hoping it's possible to get something in that price range?

I'm not looking for anything fancy or super fast. One thing to mention is that I'm fairly big guy (196cm / 6'5", 100kg / 220lbs), so I suppose I'd need a bigger bike. From what I found online, it seems that my best bet is either AKT 250 Adventure or Royal Enfield Himalaya (but that one is a tiny bit out of the price range). Any other recommendations? Any tips, tricks and suggestions are more than welcome!!

Also, is having basic Spanish converational skills enough to deal with all of the paperwork? At worst I always have google translate

Honda Xr or Xre might be some decent options. At least its fuel injected - something thats good at the altitudes you will get into. Used ones are easily in your budget.

Only XR 150CC is in my budget here in Colombia, others are way out of the budget. But then I wonder if it isn't better to go with AKT 250?

Sorry I forgot to write Honda XR/Xre 190 cc in my previous post.

AKT - hm I would take a Honda or a Suzuki 365 days pr year instead of anything chinese…but maybe thats only me.

I'm as big as you (though not exactly as tall), and I thoroughly enjoyed my XR150 in Vietnam. It maxed out at 90kph on a good empty road, but was perfect for the mountains. If you can get an XR190, that should be good.

Another option would be a used XRE300. See if you can get these guys to help you find and prepare one: https://www.colombiamotoadventures.c...le-in-colombia

Bike for South America
 

You need to know how and for what you want to use the bike.
Before saying what bike is better than another.
And what is most important for you.
Most bikes are good for some reason/usage.

Will you ride only on mainly tarmac roads? And good gravel roads?
=> Street bike OK ? (A lot of 160 cc "street bikes" are used by locals in hard environment)

How much luggage do you plan to carry? Camping equipment ?


In general
Colombia has import taxes based on cc. Everything over 200 cc is much more expensive. But... Royal Enfield is assembled in Colombia, and is not affect of this => Good value for the money. But still over your budget.

What bike ?

Street bike is cheapest. I thrust TVS (Indian) more than AKT. And AKT is Colombia specific. (From China) More problems to get parts outside of Colombia.

Do you need a luggage rack with cases ? => For camping equipment?
Or are soft bags, rack less OK. Type Mosko Moto ? (Not cheap)
Or a big bag on the seat, tank bag and.... ?

Everything can be solved if you have equipment and time. I have seen many home made racks on Honda XR models. But if you want something from the store ?

In the end I had Honda XR 190L and RE Himalyan as contenders.

My choice was RE. Because I could buy that one with hard panniers and top case. And that was important for me.
With no need to bring camping equipment. I would have chosen Honda XR 190L. Or maybe even a XR 150L. To get a simple and reliable bike. Produced by Honda in Brasil. So no stranger in SA.
Honda has a bike named CG 160 Cargo. With a rack over the pillion seat. Useful
https://www.honda.com.br/motos/street/city/cg-160-cargo
But I have not seen that imported to Colombia.

Two Colombian friends use Honda XRE 300. Best travel bike for SA according to them. But it is expensive. And have a rather high seat (for me)

Kirk Wilson was touring SA. 20 000 miles. 5 month. On a TVS 160 cc street bike.

XR 150L might be a good compromise.
That fits in your budget.
But you are the one going to use the bike. So buy what fits you.

But. Your cost will not be the price you buy it for. But the difference between what you pay for the bike and what you can sell it for......

I have attached a picture with bike information

=

When it comes to Spanish and buying...
Here is my view on this:

If you buy a bike from a dealer. He should be able to speak English and help you with RUNT. And the transfer of ownership....
If it is new. No issue. But if it used. He should do the checks of the bike

You would need to be rather good in Spanish language and also in Colombian rules to buy a used bike from a private person.
The history of the bike has to be checked. All kinds of fines follows the bike, not the rider. Mechanical inspection should have been done. SOAT payed...
Synch of money transfer with owner transfer......

Arnsa; I agree, buy something Japanese like Honda. I owned a 250cc Honda Tornado in SA for multiple trips, and on one trip rode with my wife who rode a rented Chinese moto. Many problems with the Chinese moto. A Honda 190 will do fine, vs a Chinese moto, especially if you like getting off the PanAm and riding the more adventurous routes. Travel light, soft luggage for one.

Clarification
 

To be general. Do not plan for buying a bike in one country. Ans sell it in another.
To get it registred in the new country means import. Not worth the money.

The only legal and practical alternative is to sell the bike in the same country as you buy it.
Some will not agree or like this.
But the thruth hurts.

A colombian bike can only change owner if the new owner visit an office in person.
Sign paper and leave fingerprint.This can not be done remote.

I define sell as change official owner. Not to give someone permission to use your bike.

I am myself owner of a Colombian bike. I have made two long trips. That bith has started and finished in Colombia. First time to avoid TIP. Second time to sell it.

I'm following this thread with a similar plan in mind. Is it possible to buy a motorcycle in Bogota/Cali and ride it down to Ushuaia and ship it back to Colombia to sell it?

Ps: I'm a regular working guy and won't be having time to ride it up back to Colombia.

moto Colombia
 

I have been a owner of a Colombian bike since 2017 It is not tied to my passport It is on my Colombian temporary residence A cedula
It depends on what bike you buy - Cheap, dont expect to get much of a return on your purchase and it is not worth sending it back to Colombia. Have a Bonfire in Tiera del Fueugo problem solved ! expensive well are ready to lose half the price of 10 thousand dollars. a good used moto will cost you ten Grande in Colombia and maybe it would be worth driving down to Argentina and back. You could do this in no time. a cheap 200 cc will take you twice as long to get it back to Colombia

My friend and I bought motos in Chile last year so it may not be valid is some ways. But the process to buy and sell seems the same.

Bike:
I just wanted to throw in the fact that my friend is close to your weight and height and bought a Honda Falcon 400. Which was replaced by the XRE. Some still believe that Falcon is a better bike. And it was in many respects. There was no lack of power when needed and it did all the rough stuff with no fuss. Its light and powerful and has a carb, if that matters to you. We went to the Altiplano and the Atacama and through rivers and rocks and it was perfect. It did sometimes seem to drink some oil but not more than a second gen KLR- probably less than that. Like every bike, it also has its oddities but it did the job pretty well. So, if you find one, that would be my suggestion.

They are made in Brazil but in Chile/Argentina, they are considered "big" bikes, so parts arent easiest to find. to find a part, find a good mechanic.


I am 5'11, 165lbs and I got a Chinese bike (gasp!)- a Voge Rally 300. They are made by Loncin, who make BMW engines. And that was my biggest concern that they make the BMW stuff that was notorious about failing- like the 650 fuel pumps. Not sure if they made that part but it was suspicion by association. Anyway, that bike performed great and at elevations of 16000 ft, it did not lose as much steam as the carbed Falcon did. It was great and way more well balanced than a CRF300 Rally for example.


I also trust the Indian-made bikes and there are too many stories of people going around the world on small bikes even if they were big themselves. We met a guy on a Chinese 250 street bike doing the worst parts of Ruta 40 with us- river crossings and everything. In his sweatpants and sneakers. It's the rider and its the attitude.

Paperwork:
We did the northern part last year and I am back in Chile now and heading to Patagonia soon. On the same Voge. I just updated the paperwork- which is interesting. They made me pay for the registration for last year (it had lapsed while I was away as they expire every year at the end of March!) and this year! I was given a bit of a runaround to get all that sorted out but the whle process was barely 45 minutes or so. So, make sure you work with someone who knows the rules or can help you with translation. We worked with Suzi Santiago who helped us with paperwork for buying the bikes and for crossing borders.

Language:
We barely know Spanish except for basic needs and we did mor ethan fine. Many people speak English and Google translate is great- locals sometimes bring it up on their phones even before we start chatting lol. People travel around the world and dont know every language and still make it work. I know that even Spanish speakers find the Chilean accent hard to understand so dont be discouraged.

Good luck with your travels!

Chile-Argentina ?
 

Hi Arnsa.

It is now 3,5 months since you wrote :
=
In a couple of weeks I'll be heading to either Medellín or Bogota (haven't decided yet) to buy a bike for my roadtrip to either Chile or Argentina. I'm planning roughly to take 3-4 months for this road trip.
=

It is interesting to know what you decided.
And how everything went.

Bith with buying a bike and the travel.
Please Update