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Buying DR200 in Abidjan Buying DR200 in Abidjan
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
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  #1  
Old 20 Feb 2018
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Buying DR200 in Abidjan
Does anyone happen to know if its possible to buy a (or 4) suzuki DR200's in Cote d'Ivoire or one of the neighbouring countries?

I had originally planned on buying a few chinese copies of a CG125. However I read somewhere that suzuki are exporting DR200's for the african market. I've always wanted one, especially if it involves riding it back to the UK!

Also has anyone had any experience registering a motorcycle in Ivory coast and then riding it out the country? Does it take long to sort the paperwork?
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  #2  
Old 21 Feb 2018
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Maybe it is worth it to take a look at buying a DR650 in Nigeria if you want to bring the bike back to London and use it.

Patrick
Last edited by PatOnTrip; 21 Feb 2018 at 05:15.
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  #3  
Old 21 Feb 2018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmyha View Post
Does anyone happen to know if its possible to buy a (or 4) suzuki DR200's in Cote d'Ivoire or one of the neighbouring countries?

I had originally planned on buying a few chinese copies of a CG125. However I read somewhere that suzuki are exporting DR200's for the african market. I've always wanted one, especially if it involves riding it back to the UK!

Also has anyone had any experience registering a motorcycle in Ivory coast and then riding it out the country? Does it take long to sort the paperwork?
I can ask around in Abidjan, I live in CI part-time (5months a year at the moment)

Registering it won't take long if you use the right people, easy to ride out of the country within ECOWAS but not sure about getting it into EU/UK!

Let me know if you need help
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Old 21 Feb 2018
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Folks have purchased motorbikes new or used in Ghana and Togo from time to time, riding either north or south. Every so often I see trip reports from people who've made it to Europe. All the usual cautions apply here--used bikes are often stolen, therefore without genuine papers; maintenance is generally sketchy or disastrously inept, and EU countries can be persnickety about what they'll allow you to register once you make it home.

I rode a (rented) DR200 for a couple of weeks once in West Africa. It was great for local roads and tracks, but would have been under-sized for the wide-open expanses of Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco and onward.

I know someone in Accra who imports from Japan if you'd like to look into that possibility, and there is a KTM dealer in Lomé who always gets good reports. Descriptions from people who've actually succeeded are few and far between, but can be found with a search on horizonsunlimited.com.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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Old 24 Feb 2018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CREER View Post
I can ask around in Abidjan, I live in CI part-time (5months a year at the moment)

Registering it won't take long if you use the right people, easy to ride out of the country within ECOWAS but not sure about getting it into EU/UK!

Let me know if you need help
Chloe that would be amazing, thank you! If you hear of anything that would be really kind.
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Old 24 Feb 2018
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Can you inbox please JimmyHa, need to know what price they should be and will ask around for you with an idea of the price you should/want to pay
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Old 24 Feb 2018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Folks have purchased motorbikes new or used in Ghana and Togo from time to time, riding either north or south. Every so often I see trip reports from people who've made it to Europe. All the usual cautions apply here--used bikes are often stolen, therefore without genuine papers; maintenance is generally sketchy or disastrously inept, and EU countries can be persnickety about what they'll allow you to register once you make it home.

I rode a (rented) DR200 for a couple of weeks once in West Africa. It was great for local roads and tracks, but would have been under-sized for the wide-open expanses of Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco and onward.

I know someone in Accra who imports from Japan if you'd like to look into that possibility, and there is a KTM dealer in Lomé who always gets good reports. Descriptions from people who've actually succeeded are few and far between, but can be found with a search on horizonsunlimited.com.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
Thanks Mark, I think Ghana will be bit too far to make it back time for work (can only get 2.5 weeks off at a time, planning on flying back from Gambia to break up the trip into two sections).

I did the whole west coast route in 2015, you're completely right about the bikes being a bit underpowered for everything north of Senegal. However I'm going with a couple of friends who aren't keen on big bikes so they want to keep it to around 125cc machines. Also should keep the cost down!

Out of interest where did you rent the DR200?
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Old 25 Feb 2018
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Well, you won't have to worry about Moroccan radar traps!

Accra (or Lomé) is just a day further than Abidjan. Worth considering, I'd say.

I rented that particular bike in Accra, but the guy who used to rent it has been out of business for many years now.
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Old 25 Feb 2018
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Jimmy

I've found DR 200 SE's for sale, being totally ignorant on all things with 2 wheels I'm not sure what the SE stands for & if this might fit.

Please check your e-mail too!!!
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