Where and what bike to buy???
 

G'day all,

so this is my first visit on the HUBB since a few years. I rode my Honda Africa twin, solo, from Berlin to India and back again in 2007/8.
Well since then I went and got myself a girlfriend, doh ,who wants to travel with me,:helpsmilie: and since she's new to riding and travelling in that fashion we have to fly to Latin America and buy the bikes there (otherwise I'd take my trusty steed, the bike that is, with me!).

The plan is to spend about a year (or more) travelling all throughout Latin America and who knows, maybe if all's well maybe ride it back to Europe through North America then on a boat to Siberia.

So I asked my brother who lives in Bolivia and he said bikes are cheaper in Brasil. But after some studying here it seems that perhaps it is not the case. On top of that getting the bike out of Brasil and getting insurance and and and...

I like the idea of the cheap chinese bikes (bit of a step down for me, but good for the missus) however I will be taking a couple of parachutes with me, along with the usual travel/camping gear, so I'm thinkin the bigger bike would be better.

Any tips?

Tracey

Keep the rubber side down!!

Hi Camtracey,

No need for an emergency parachute to slow down a China bike. Just kidding.

I looked into buying a cheap bike in South America and found Chile to be a good country. All countries are expensive, but foreigners can get an RUT and buy a bike and it looks to be quicker to get the bike registered and on the road in Chile than say Paraguay or Bolivia.

Proven reliable bikes to start with are Honda CGL125, Suzuki GN125 and Euromot200. There is plenty of information here as this question has been covered elsewhere on HU better than I can.

Have fun.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

Thanks John,

Any ideas how I can find those threads on the HUBB, I tried using the search box but it aint working. Dunno if it's me or the computer!!

All the above are made in China which are too slow in North America
CGL = Wuyang-Honda WMI: LWB
GN = Haojue WMI: LC6
Euromot = Qingqi WMI: LAE

"North America then on a boat to Siberia"
Might be worth doing some research on this bit ... I have been looking lately and it seems to be a lot harder than you'd think.

Too slow?
I think you'll find plenty of people have been to North America on a 125cc bike. Not everyone can afford a brand new 1200GS.

And some people could but still dont do it :D

Sukida
 

Sukida is a brand that is comin into SA. I bought the 250 and it has been pretty good. I've never had anything except Hondas before and 650s too, but I'm kinda having fun with the Sukida. It is a copy of the Honda XR250 Tornado made in Brazil. Engine is solid and plastic is quite good. I paid $1800 new...

http://e.kotear.pe/images/72151/todo...1303164850.jpg

Thanks humanbeing.
I am somewhat perturbed at the fact that I may have to down-size after having enjoyed riding big bikes for the last 15years. I have one question though what does..........
CGL = Wuyang-Honda WMI: LWB
GN = Haojue WMI: LC6
Euromot = Qingqi WMI: LAE........... mean? And how big? I did a google and they all look like 125 or 200cc. And what does WMI mean? Sorry, guess I'm outta touch :confused1:

Whynot, I know what you mean, I have been trying to find out about connections between Vladivostock and Alaska for years, to no avail. But I have found out that there is a boat between Japan and Vladivostok more than regularly, so all I have to do is get to Japan!! How hard could that be.... it's only an island!!! Anyway, que sera, sera, or however you spell it.... Where there's a will there's a way. 2007 I was on my way to Vladivostok, when 6months later I ended up in India with no Carnet. Half the planning I'd done the year before was useless! Plans change and challenges arise and are overcome. That's why we travel!

I agree with you both about Ewan and Charlie printing their own money with the BMW, I would never buy another one after my first trip in Eastern Europe with such, however I loved my africa twin!! There's somethin about sitting back on my big lounge chair and chugging around the world!!!

Thanks for the tip Toby I think that will be the perfect bike for my girlfriend ;), I am still concerned about downsizing but more so the amount of baggage I will be carrying on such small bike!!

WMI = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle...rer_Identifier

Those "chinese" made are euro 2 model :oops2: ie. Headaches to re-registry in "civilized" country.
Sukida SK250GY-4 is powered by a "modern" Honda MD33 (65.5 mm X 66 mm) clone.