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Stuck in Uyuni Bolivia
Hi all
Just arrived in Uyuni and left the oil contents of the rear shock from our R1200GSA on the pavement. Anyone have any constructive ideas? Regards Martin |
There's a BMW dealer in Salta, Argentina, perhaps call them, see if they can have it repaired then mail there and back?
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Me too a year ago
Sorry to hear of your fate. Same thing happened to me on my KLR a year ago.
My experience proved to me that there was no good bike mechanic in Uyuni. The one guy everyone said was so good, worked out in his backyard on the ground amidst all sorts of old torn up bikes and parts. Not impressive. I gave him my shock and rebuild kit I had brought with me, but he butchered it up. I attempted to improve the repair and rode as gently as possible (is that possible in Bolivia?) over to Chile and down to Mendoza to pick up a new shock the manufacturer Fed Exed to me. What's the matter, you don't like pogo sticks? Unreal how bad the bike handles with no oil in the shock isn't it? I was told to zip tie a sock around the new shock tp prevent rocks from hitting and nicking the shaft, which is the cause for many shocks to leak. I followed Ken Duvals advice and never had another problem. Never rode through Bolivia again either! I know none of my story helps you at all. If there is in fact a dealer in Salta, that's probably your best bet. I was stuck in Uyuni for 5 days trying to resolve my repair. Hey, at least it's cheap to stay and eat there. There is an American guy named Chris with a hostel who sells great pizza and great breakfasts, can't remember the name of the place, on the south side of town. Good luck. Please post your success story so we know how you worked it out. |
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We are flying in a new shock from UK to La Paz and will try and find a truck to take the bike across the ripio stretch and then ride it from there. Not sure how long a shock lasts when drained of oil, any suggestions¿ |
I've been riding on a leaking shock until the oil was completely gone, and even further. Happened twice to me on this trip so far (because I had gone for the "el cheapo" solution from Hagon... never again!)
Bit of a 'Kangaroo' feeling but not too bad. Just take it easy & you should be alright. |
I blew out my KLR shock in Suriname (at 80k miles/135k km). The bike was unrideable in any realistic sense--no hint of "just take it easy and you should be alright."
I rode briefly with two other riders who blew out shocks: one big GS, one DR 800. Both managed to ride two-up for quite some distance--at least a thousand km. I don't know what the difference is, but I was thankful I survived riding 30 miles at drastically reduced speed to get to my lodging. Survival, in this case, was far from a foregone conclusion. Mark |
If you can find a way to compress the suspension about halfway when the bike is at rest, it may be rideable. I helped cobble up something where we used two tie down straps looped over the seat and attached to the swingarm. I didn't ride the bike personally, but the rider said it was the difference between unrideable and barely rideable. We also used bungees to make sure the straps wouldn't get caught in the wheel on big bumps.
It's Minuteman Pizza in Uyuni, by the way. |
Interesting. Maybe I should've tried that....since what I ended up with was a smaller Honda shock adapted awkwardly to fit....and a couple of inches of excess sag in the rear. I rode that way for 5000 miles until I found a replacement: no time to hang out waiting for special orders to arrive.
Local people would look at my bike and see nothing particularly unusual or problematic. North Americans and Europeans would take one glance and their eyeballs would bulge and they'd develop all sorts of strange tics and palsied motions. Apparently it didn't look safe. Think I'll now leave this thread for Martin to make use of. Mark |
Thanks for all your help.
We ended up shipping a new shock in from UK very expensive and best part of a day at the airport clearing customs also very expensive. However we got from Uyuni to La Paz plus an extra 140 mile circuit of Death Road on the pogo shock with a 120kg rider and 130kg of luggage without incident. About 30% of that was off road so I do wonder how far you can go on a dead shock. The new shock is now installed and we head off into Peru tomorrow next stop Cusco Regards Martin |
Good to hear you got the shock on the bike!!!!
And have a good time in Cusco. Are you really carring 130kg of luggage??? O.k good travels. Saludos |
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I am now carrying 7.5kg extra in the old blown shock, not sure why but am just making sure the new shock is Ok.
We hope to get new tyres in Quito which will see us through this trip. When we do we will jettison our spare set of mostly worn TKC's, up for grabs if anyone wants them. Any tips on where to get tyres in Quito, emailed VS Motos but address has bounced back. In Cuenca tonight, fog and rain is quite wearing and forecast says it will continue. Follow me on Back2theBike Americas Adventure |
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