Where to buy a bike that can cross borders?
 

Dear All,

I am intending to arrive in South America early January 2015. The plan at the moment is to fly into Buenos Aires or Santiago, pick up a bike and go North from there. The start destination will however depend on ease of picking up a bike that can cross borders fairly easily.

I have heard that bikes bought in Argentina can not leave the country but that it may be possible with bikes bought in Santiago, Chile. Is this the case?

If anyone has any advice on best bet for buying a bike that can traverse the continent I would hugely appreciate it...

As a final point - I would be intending to sell the bike in a country further north - perhaps even Mexico if time allows... thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

Josh

Hi Josh,

You are correct about the issue with buying a bike in Argentina, contact Sandra at Dakar Motos in BA for details and confirmation.

Yes, bikes bought in Chile can cross the borders easily. *BUT* make sure you follow the process to get it in your name as you cannot enter Peru unless the named owner of the bike is with you.

The process is well documented here.

Guide to Buying a new motorcycle (or a car) in Chile for foreigners | Ondrej Jurik

Our own tale(s) (and where we went wrong) are here
Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Stories - Two Pegs to Patagonia in South America Revisited (Pegless to Peru)

So, a lot depends on how much time you have.

I can put you in touch with a mechanic in Santiago who will help you buy one, he is very trustworthy.

If you get the RUT and start the ownership process immediately, you can arrange to collect the bike paper work in Northern Chile at the offices in Arica (or have them posted to a Hostel, Sunny Days would probably do it).

That gives you approx 2 months to piss around in Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. *BUT* make sure you visit a Notary with the previous owner and get an authorised letter saying you can cross to Argentina and Bolivia with the bike.

Or, if time is an issue, weigh up the cost of taking your own bike over. When we looked into it in 2012 it would have cost about £3800 to fly a bike (return) to the UK. So spending £3500 on a bike in Chile made sense.

HTH

Thanks masses for the above advice and information - brilliant - looking forward to reading your story and getting stuck into understanding the process. THanks again

I've bought a new bike in Ecuador.

Registration took only 3 days and was painless, because everything was done by the bike shop. However I heard that with used bikes is even easier, because you dont have to change the plates.

Ask about registration process in other countries, it's not always that fast.

So far I have driven: Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brasil, Suriname, Guyana & French Guyana, Venezuela. No problems with border crossings at all.

I think it helps if you have the bike registered to your name

mechanic in Santiago
 

I am arriving in Santiago next week and looking for a bike for 5 month trip around South America. I would be keen to contact your mechanic friend. I'm interested in used KLR 650 or even a new one, as I see on yapo.cl the used price is not much less than the new price.
Still there could be a few modifications to do (bash plate, panniers) so a friendly mechanic might be useful to know.
Please PM me if private info, or if you feel this is a different thread.
Thanks,
Craig

best mecanic in santiago....
 

Hi there,

if you need a good mecanic, go to ruben from johnny motos! I'd say hes one of the best mecanics in SA . very trustfull person, I'm sure he can help you to find a bike. But don't buy a klr....worst bike ever... ;)

find him on FB: https://www.facebook.com/johnny.motos.7?fref=ts

greetings,

Daniel

I am a US citizen who is also interested in purchasing or selling a US registered bike in Chile or southern South America in the near future.

Colorado title transfers occur by a simple signature on the back of the title; this process varies by state.

After the bike is transferred however, the old license plates/ registration are for the old owner. Does anyone know
1) How one can leave Chile on their newly acquired bike and traverse back to North America without new registration (or how to get new US registration while abroad)?
2) How to get out with old TVIP (or how to get new)?
3)How to get insurance if you can't get new US registration abroad?
4)Basically, How can you ride a bike one way, to or from South America, without shipping the bike?

If anyone can shed light on these questions or has link to thread/ website that can I would be very grateful. I am planning a trip from Colorado to South America (or the reverse) this spring/summer (2014). If anyone is interested in participating or working together, lets talk.

Chile, Brazil or Argentina to buy a Honda Falcon 400
 

I´m planning to travel in Latin America for a few months and was considering to buy a used Honda Falcon 400 that is produced in Brazil. The reason why I´m interested in this bike is that as a girl I´m looking for a dual purpose light and lower bike.

I was just wondering that in terms of price and specially the paperwork which country would be the best and easiest to buy this bike.

Cheers,