I've gone 2-up on a 200cc before, it wasn't so bad actually.

This is what the bike looked like with our gear:



The only problem was that the rear suspension didn't hold up very well, it sagged really badly by the end of the two weeks that my friend was traveling with me.

Also we went very very off-road sometimes and it wasn't a problem, could easily put my foot down with the low ride height of this bike.

Just one thing, if you're new to motorcycles then I don't think Peru is the place to learn, in my opinion you should definitely get many kms of riding experience back home in NZ beforehand. I've never seen more risks being taken than those of the drivers in southern Peru.

i couldn't agree more with this:

you're a long way from any kind of medical expertise.
cheers,
andrew.

oh, and you're not thinking of riding with one of you wearing a rucksack, are you? hope not - too much weight up high, you're already talking two-up without experience. phew.

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www.outforaspin.blogspot.com

HI Chad
hoping to put a few positive words your way...
as far as travelling two up without bike experience I did it on a bike that was way too big and heavy for me and with just two months experience on a journey that took in Asia, Australia AND Africa, so it can be done and we had a lot of fun.

I travel pretty cheaply and for me the biggest expense is petrol unless in Venezuela where it was 5 cents a litre. so two up makes sense for a cheaper ride.
It can be cheaper than public transport depending on bus prices etc, after years of doing backpack and bike travel, I can't see myself going back to buses. What can make it cheaper is carrying a tent as camping options are easier to find on a bike.
Look for posts by Nathan who travelled for a couple of months two-up on a 350cc bike through the Stans to Mongolia last year - proving it's possible.

You do not need to do much off-roading in South America if you don't want to, I travelled around for 10 months and could have done almost all of it on tarmac..if I had wanted to

as for buying a bike out there - I have to confess that's an area I have little experience of as my bike has lasted for 13 years (and counting) of great travelling.
keep an eye on the For Sale notices here on the HUBB, quite a few are in Buenos Aires, so if you have a choice of destinations maybe go there- I'm lucky in that I only ever had one doomsayer before I started bike travel, it seems like you have a few more.

You will have a fantastic experience, be sure to share the tales of your travels with us.

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Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo