My comments:
I note that a lot of folks recommend BMW, but I've noticed when reading trip reports that in Central/South America that it is very difficult to get parts and service.

People also tend to get heavy bikes and load them down with too much gear.

I would recommend sticking to something no bigger than a 650 single. Get some nice lockable hard bags fitted and pack as light as possible - even on month-long road trips I've been able to fit everything I need into
a pair of large saddlebags - including tent and sleeping bag.

From what I've seen in Central America and read of South Am, most motorcycle dealerships are Japanese, with Yamaha being most popular and Honda a close second.

Any bike you take on such a long trip is likely to need some sort of service at one point or another. I would suggest getting a fairly popular bike (like a Yamaha XT350 or 600), making sure everything on it is in good condition, and then making sure you have a good contact set up in the USA. Find a friend or family member in the US who you can trust with your credit card number. If you need parts you can contact the friend and have them visit the dealership to Fed-Ex parts when you need them.

That said, you can ride around the world on pretty much anything. I've read of guys doing major tours on Vespas, XL250s, and Indian Enfields so any bike can do it.

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Bruce Clarke
brclarke@islandnet.com
http://www.islandnet.com/~brclarke

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250