Have a year off in 2016
 

Hi there,

My first thread regards a proposed trip, over say about a year, starting in or around March 2016.

I shall be retired by then (64) and my wife has given me a year off to get this 'travel bug' out of my system.

I have ridden to India and back twice in the 70's but since then only 2-3 weeks tours in mainland Europe most years. Not into High mileage per day and certainly not into 'fixed time schedule'. If I should miss a ferry I'll catch the next one even if its a week later.

Originally I had planned a trip to Cape Town but am concerned that travelling alone in Africa could be a bit daunting due to political unrest in certain countries. I am aware I may be able to meet up with others en-route, but passed experience has proved it doesn't always work out.

Could return to India where I have loads of contacts having lived / worked there for 28 years but I need an adventure not a holiday.

Thought to ship a bike to USA or Canada but shipping costs are quite high and USA customs are not particularly helpful. Think it would be cheaper to buy something like a KLR 650 in the USA and starting my years trip from there up to Canada / Alaska / USA then down through South America. Will need a couple of weeks to prepare the bike before leaving. Not into hotels but wild camping / hostels etc is fine.

I do however have two touring bikes, ready for the adventure here in UK should I decide to start here and do something mad like into Russia / Mongolia etc. (i) Suzuki DR350 and (ii) Yamaha ttr600....To be honest prefer the DR350 as fully laden it's lighter to pick up for an 'old man'. Having larger Acrebis fuel tanks to both bikes my fuel range is about 250-300 miles which should do OK ( Can always carry a bit spare).

Have some mechanical experience but proposing to do an extensive 'evening class' of mechanics next year over a few terms /months.

What I am looking for is initially a contact who may be able to advise on purchasing a bike in USA / Canada. The Craig List shows some 2005 KLR 650's up for sale for about $3000.00. I do have contacts but like many other Hubb members, not all our contacts are into biking. My main contact is in Pittsburgh and I can buy the bike in advance and store it there till I need it. Would involve my flying to USA and getting it to Pittsburgh.

Best wishes for Christmas 2013 and a good 2014.

Lushy58

A couple of threads might be of interest to start your research:

Some US States are easier/harder than others for a foreigner to buy/register a bike. I have a recollection that PA is a nightmare. I may be wrong: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...nals-can-58648

Ask over on advrider.com (very US/Canada-centric, with lots of helpful inmates) if somebody will help. Also their classified section is another option for sourcing a bike. You have to be logged in, in order to browse that section.

You will be totally safe in Africa... It's a road well travelled and A LOT easier than people think once you're out of Egypt. (if you go East coast)

Ignore the newspapers. Just stay out of any hotspots which you will here about from other travellers or websites.

Hi young lushy.
I'd be interested to know where you've found evening classes for bike maintenance as whenever I've looked for them I've always drawn a blank.
And good luck with the travels.

Lushy,

I have many contacts in the USA who grew up in South America on motorcycles and would be glad to help you! Take your pick of Maine, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Michigan, or California. The Michigan and the Texas chaps just bought used KLRs and rode them down to Peru (where I am) and gave them to me! :D

I live in Huanuco, Peru and run an adventure moto tour company in which I employ some KLRs. Honestly, I prefer my XR650Ls, but then I started in enduro and the KLR is just too 'cushy' (and heavy) for me. Plus the XRL has alot of parts that are interchangeable with the miriad of smaller Hondas troughout CA and SA.

If you are a DR and TTR rider, I suggest you go 'minimalist'. I do it all the time for weeks and weeks on end! :mchappy::mchappy::mchappy:

Forget the camping and cooking gear and all the electronic crap! Maps and the ability to ask questions are all you need if you stay out of big cities. There are cheap hostels all the way to Patagonia and great people and GREAT food! Stay away from the big cities and it is safe and people are honest and VERY hospitable! You'll likely find yourself invited into people's home who just met you! bier

Passport, Moto papers, 3 changes of clothes, 2 spare tubes (and a pump), a few basic tools, a set of tie-downs, and your ATM card is all you need to travel the length of Central and South America!

Forget the 'trunks' on the sides of the moto! :nono: They just get in your way every time you have to take them off to get thru a narrow doorway in a hostel or where ever! :thumbdown:. Then you can ENJOY riding, not just plugging along like a 2-wheeled truck! doh

Note: Spanish will be a much more important tool than mechanics lessons! :thumbup1:

Cheers! Toby

Message for Hustler.

As I am London Based Hackney Community College does evening courses. There are also a number of bike mechanics here in SE London that are happy, for a fee to go over your own bike and explain what / where can go wrong and how to rectify problem on the road.

best wishes

lushy 58

Thanks for this information. I am taking some Spanish lessons but just basic classes at present to see how I go.

best wishes

Graeme

Time in 2016
 

Graeme,
I too will be available in 2016, I sold my company, but agreed to a transition consulting agreement that will have me freed up to take a long trip by then. I will be 59 by that time. My wife also wants me to travel with someone else, if I travel out of my country (USA). I have and like to travel alone, but on a long trip it is more enjoyable with someone else. Motorcycles have been my life passion. I do all my own mechanical work on my bikes, and have some skills. I have motorcycled many places around the world and prefer rough camping, or hostels. Traveling on the cheap is just more adventuresome. I speak some Spanish but would want to travel Asia, Eastern Europe or Africa. I have a pretty relaxed personality, problems on the road add to the adventure most of the time for me. Let's talk if you think this might fit your plans.
Mike