Can anyone comment on the relative price of new/used bikes in South Africa... as say, compared to US prices? For example, in the US you can get a new KLR650 or XR650 or DR650 for around $5000 USD. And you can pick up a decent used one for $2500-$3000.

Which are the most common "thumpers" over there and/or most recommendable for a trip from SA up to Kenya... in terms of parts availability, etc. Any other advice on an Africa travel bike, not necessarily a thumper, is welcome.

thanks

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Steven
www.twowheeledtraveller.com
Americas, '05-'06
RTW, poco a poco

If you go to the site below and register, then click on forum, then click on guttertalk...then post your questions about bike prices to the guys and girls there they will probably be more than willing to help you.
Say Jaqhama sent you.
Note: If you're having trouble finding info about biking SA on the Net it's because they normally write it as ZA, that's Zuid Africa.
If you find the thread in gutter talk called So what's biking like in Sa? you can find the answers to many of the questions that I have already asked them.

Be aware that some of the stuff you will read about ZA is NOT what you will get from your local travel agent.
Like the Carjackings, the muggings, the shootouts, the Carguard extortion rort, the kidnappings etc etc.
Think of ZA as the Wild West, I learned heaps of stuff from Jakes, Madhatter and Nicky that I had no idea of before.
The guy who runs the site is Big Dog, nice bloke, he and Jakes are very helpful.
Despite all the errr, obvious problems they are having in ZA (like power blackouts in the Cape) I am still considering going over there for a few weeks later this year or early the next.
I want to do ZA thru to Namibia, they all agree that Namibia is THE off road destination.
Good luck mate, let me know how you go.

http://www.bikerza.co.za/forum/index.php

Cheers: Jaq.

PS: Type Bikers ZA into google for more results.

expensive! REALLY expensive. XR650R was more than 9000USD new a couple of years ago. I doubt you'll find the KLR and don't count on finding spares or aftermarket stuff in stock especially outside Johannesbourg. if you're going to ride up through Africa, either buy a secondhand that's just come down or bring your own. airfreight is cheap. seafreight seems cheaper, but then there's all the customs clearances ...

The website I most often use is autotrader.co.za,click on the bike icon and then do a search on whatever bike you are looking for.
The thumpers you find down here are Bmw (a lot of but are expensive,$10000 new and $7500 secondhand depending on what you are looking for, KTM (also very epensive,about the same as the BMW),Honda XR600 and XR650r (beter priced but also sometimes difficult to find), KLR650 (Round about $5500 for 2003 model, 3 available now on website) and yamaha xt and teneres from time to time.
In general bikes is a bit more expensive than US and UK but have a look for you're self. Maybe you will find something.
Cheers

Umm My initial equires have the bike around 120% of my personal air ticket. Cheap?

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

what do you weigh, man? (I don't really want to know, but to explain why I think its a bargain)

an XR650R plus crate is going to be 150-200kg depending on style of crate. most people pay by volume rather than by weight so that 200kg crate may be charged at 300kg for volume. I paid less than 180kg from Perth to Cape Town, but I'd packed the bike super small, took the front wheel in my luggage and left the tyres behind!

for your airfare, you get a silly little seat, a meal and 20kg of luggage. 120% for taking your bike? bargain! I paid 450 quid for my airfare and 550 including all crating, handling etc - London to Jo'burg in 2003. seafreight to Cape Town/Durban would have been 400-600 depending on the hidden charges!

or fork out 10,000 for a bike there ... now, compared to 5-6,000 in the USA, that sounds expensive

Hi

you can also check my side www.600.xt.ms for second hand bikes

I also buy the bike back after your journey.

a new 2005 KLR 650 A (optical a 1987 model) you get at the moment for 39995 Rand by some Kawaski Dealers. The exchange rate at the moment is arount 1 USD = 6 Rand. So that will be around 6667 USD for a bike. That is the cheapest Adventure Bike in RSA.

Or buy a bike at home ship & sell it to me, I will do customs and import the bike for you, make your south african registration and sell it back to you. After your journey you can sell your bike here.

No trouble with a carnet

regards

Thomas