I'm in the planning stages and would appreciate info from those that have been there.
The bike, a late model KLR 650.
The route, crossing into Mexico near Brownsville, traveling rather quickly through Mexico (as in 3 or 4 days). Then slowing down through Central America, particularly Costa Rica. Fly from Panama City to Bogota, then meander through SA to Ushuaia. Perhaps ride north to Buenos Aires for a bit.

There is a time frame. Approx 3 - 4 months. Then back to work.

Do most people ship their bike back, abandon it, or go to some country where they can get "some" money out of it? Riding it back really isn't an option for me given the time constraints.
From the research I've completed, shipping a bike from BA to say Chicago will run $1500 - $2000 by the time everything is said/done.

What do most people do?

Shop for cheaper ship rates. Take the bike a part (wheels and fortks en handlebars) and you will be able to fit in a 1m3 crate. The shipping shouldn't cost more than $700-900 Buenes Aires and Santiago (valparaiso) are the best ports.
The second option is sell the bike to someone from your home country? Make adds now?
Thrid option is make a deal with a biker who has time but no money who will drive the bike back for you.
Good luck

Looks like there are many options...


Locate someone who would like to fly down and ride it back. Secure a new title for him/her ahead of time, making the switch between borders...maybe Arg/Ura.

Sell the bike locally for whatever you can get, realizing potential future problems should you wish to visit again.

Sell legally in some country. Maybe Paraguay...?

Give it away.

Buy insurance and park it under a dump truck.

I believe you have 8 months for a bike in Argentina....

Hoopjohn,
I just returned from the same trip you plan to do. Touched down in my hometown at noon Christmas eve. E-mail me: hbrookz@msn.com, I may be able to give you a contact in South America.

Harold

when are you planning to go,
what equipment on bike ?
I am trying to sort out the same questions.
Maby ill either try to sell mine down there or buy a travellers bike down there.

[quote=Hoopjohn]I'm in the planning stages and would appreciate info from those that have been there.
The bike, a late model KLR 650.

Sorry, my English is not very good.
I am from Junin , 250 Km west of Buenos Aires. I am a biker too (I went to Ushuaia on january 2006). If you put on sale your bike for someone ride it in South America I can keep it in my garage with low cost for you.
Write me if consider this option to raumadrid@speedy.com.ar
Best wishes
Raul Madrid[

same problem here, Im out in Argentina and I dont know what im going to do with the bike. Sell it ship it back or ride it back, it all seems like it would cost the same. I really dont want to go back through central america. Maybe I just hit up a port and swab the decks while we cruise back to the states!!

We are in Chile with a f650 and suzuki dr650. Two weeks ago LanCargo quoted just $1380 for both bikes to Los Angeles.

I don´t want to hijack the thread but does anyone know the cost of daily storage at LAX until I get there to pick them up?

My cycle is in Ushuaia, I am going down in 2-07 to 3-8-2007, klr650, why don,t you fly down and ride mine back. I could meet you in BA and give you a deal/? how about that, problem solved. pcm678 at hotmail dot com

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paul

Hey Hoopjon:

My wife and I are planning on flying our BMW 1150 GSA to Lima and riding south to Ushuaia in Oct. We are planning on starting in Lima on Oct 23 and ending up in Ushuaia a little before Christmas. I could change my plans and start in Ushuaia and end in Lima if your bike would do the trick. Do you think the KLM 650 would hold up to two-up ridding for that long? I may consider flying down and buying your bike and ridding it back to Lima. Or, I could pick up your bike in Ushuaia and ride to Lima and then ship it back to you. Either way, we would need to deal with the registration issue becasue we will be crossing the boarder several times. Give me an email if you want to discuss. Again, we are planning to be down there around the end of Oct. 2007. What kind of luggage will you have on the bike?

Mike
mtbh2o@aol.com

I shipped my KLR650 back to Miami from Rio de Janeiro April 2003 for $800. Two other gringos with KLR's, at the same time, were paying the same agent $1,600.

I strongly recommend you and anyone else planning to rent, sell or store a bike in South America read info from a Website (see URL below) created specifically for the benefit of other riders in hopes they would not be victimized as was the creator, when he sold his Honda XR650L in Paraguay.

Be aware that sales of foreign bikes in Latin America are generally in violation of customs laws and avoid paying the high tarrif to legally transfer and register the bike. Most Latin American countries limit a tourist vehicle's temporary import permit to 90 days and some might allow extensions for a total of 180 days.

ngweb.com | Web | Directory | Web Directory | Search Engine

Good luck with your adventure. It's a great ride. Later, amigo. Punky's chauffeur, Lew

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Punky & Lew

I have the same question as you for my trip at thy end of this year. Finally what did you do? I have a European bike. Can I sell it in Argentina?

You can´t sell it legaly because it is attached to your temporary importation.TAX FREE.
Now if you still think it isn´t the ship worth....then think of selling it very cheap as spare part lot.It is not posible for locals to register it!
If you find a third traveller who is willing to buy---cross to uruguay together,put the new temporary importation on his name on the reentering way.Then he could cross the border easily.
Wich bike is it?
KH

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America is a nice continent,not a country.All people who lives in this continent are americans.Discover it in peace!

It ´s a BMW 1150GS from 2001

What to do with your bike after touring South America? Here is an idea you might consider.

Goetz and Karin, a couple from Berlin, Germany have a snow removal contract with the city of Berlin. They work in Berlin 6 to 8 months a year and tour South America 4 to 6 months every year.

Elisa and I purchased "cocheras" (parking spaces) in the very up scale safe and secure multilevel parking garage next to our flat in Recoleta (an upscale barrio of Buenos Aires). We store our bikes there and we store Goetz and Karin's BMWs 6 - 8 months a year while they are working in Berlin. They manage to get 8 month temporary motor vehicle import permits each year by returning to Buenos Aires, crossing into a neighboring country, touring and then crossing back into Argentina.

Our parking facility is very up scale, guarded 24/7, has video cameras on each level, and we live in the adjacent apartment building. They have been no instances of theft or vandalism, period. We also store Goetz and Karin's gear, panniers etc.

We charge $60.00 US/month per bike with discounts for two bikes or more. We have constructed "trolleys" so that the bikes in the front of the parking spaces can be rolled out and all bikes, even those parked deep into the parking space are available to the owner 24/7. You lock up your bike with your own locks, cables, chains etc. and take the keys with you. A cover for your bike is recommended, but not mandatory. We welcome monthly payments, and offer a discount for payments in advance.

We are expats, Elisa, Dr. Elisa Rosales, from Spain and I, Ed George, am a US citizen and returned US Peace Corps volunteer. We both are fluent in Spanish and English. I am a legal foreign resident of Argentina and Elisa is in the process of become a foreign resident of Argentina. We also own a ranch in Arizona. Please see my thread Buy/Tour/Sell in Argentina.

We purchase more parking spaces as needed. If you intend on returning to Buenos Aires and continuing your tour within the next eight months, you might consider storing your bike and gear with us. In extreme cases, I can renew your temporary import permit beyond the 8 month limit if you request me to do so before the permit expires. xfiltrate

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Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com