QUE PASA AMIGOS!

So I'm Drew, and I'm a 19 year old journalism student from Sydney, Australia. Next year, with a photographer friend from uni by my side, I’ll be riding a motorcycle from the Southern tip of Chile (Punta Arenas), to the northern tip of Alaska (Deadhorse), documenting the whole journey on our website.

From what I can gather, most motorbike adventurers ride big, expensive, western bikes (e.g. Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on their fully kitted out BMW’s). Though again from what I can gather, there seems to be a re-occurring problem caused by such bikes - that when they brake down no one in the non-western-world has any clue how to fix them let alone where to find spare parts. It seems far more logical to ride a common, local motorcycle (though obviously a good one), where spare parts are easy to find and every kid on the side of the street knows hows to fix them. So my first question is:

1) Is there a particular motorcycle that is commonly found throughout most of South America, and if so what is it?


My next few questions are more straight forward and specific:


2) Is the price of fuel more or less consistent throughout South America? And if so, what roughly is it?


3) What is the situation with camping in a tent throughout South America? Is it common, dangerous, etc?


4) Obviously Spanish is the most common language throughout South America, but is that the case throughout the more rural areas? Do villagers still speak their native tongue or will we be ok just with Spanish?


Anyway, I have a lot more questions but I won’t bombard you with them all at once. Our website will be up soon and I'll notify you all of the address when it is.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and get us a step closer to the ride of our lives!

Nos vemos,

Drew

Hey Drew,
I actually have no idea how to answer your question, although I think you are on the right track about finding a local motorcycle....I just wanted to say that it is an AMAZING idea, all the best of luck with that, it's going to be the trip of a lifetime!!
-Janelle

quote:

1) Is there a particular motorcycle that is commonly found throughout most of South America, and if so what is it?

Just get yourself a KLR

I´ve been in ARgentina for just about a year now, and I can tell you what little I´ve learned...

Some native tongue is absolutely spoken in some rural areas, but as far as I know, spanish is spoken as well. With some spanish you are good to go. And if they happen to speak solely their native tongue, there´s always a way to communicate. I would hope that you do run into some communities así, much more exciting.

I don´t know first hand the prices of gas, but I´ve heard that it can vary quite a bit. It runs about 2.5 pesos-liter here in Arg, but I hear it´s absolutely dirt-cheap, practically free in Venezuela.

Best of luck!

Sounds like a great trip. I'm hoping to do it in the opposite direction sometime down the road. I bought a Suzuki V-Strom earlier this year which seems to be gaining popularity for that trip. Cheaper than an BMW and have been pretty bulletproof for most people. They are designed for more of an 80/20 mix of street/dirt. If you plan on being offroad more a KLR or similar would be better. Here are two other websites to help you out.

ADV Rider - adventure motorcycle specific not necessarily all for long haul travel

Horizons Unlimited - similar to BnA, but for motorcycle travelers. Lots of riders from all over the world contributing.

As a rider with loads of super long distance motorcycle touring under my belt I'd recommend you not try to ride "local" bikes over that distance. Nothing beats a purpose built bike for long distance riding and worries about not being able to fix it are largely groundless - that would only happen in remote areas and that situation it doesn't matter what you're riding, you'd still be screwed.

Have fun, and start researching the Darien Gap...

Cheers,
Terry

Umm... the last research I read on the Darien Gap is that its downright dangerous to cross, even if you have the vehicle for it. Drug farms and narcotrafficers have made the journey perilous at best.

Or this, at least, is the opinion of all the Booties that have either done it, tried to do it, or have been convinced not to do it.

Which is exactly why I said to start researching it!

Shipping a motorbike from Colombia to Panama is (of course) a hassle, but not an uncommon task. Many long haul riders have done it. Like anything else in Central/South America that involves import/export/shipping paperwork, being prepared will save you a lot of headaches and help the bike arrive safely and on time.

Cheers,
Terry

PS And crossing the Darien Gap by land and boat (not venturing into the interior) is no longer the issue it was in the past. With a little preparation and research it's perfectly doable by any smart traveler. That could (of course) change again in the future, but at this time it's no big deal.

I know this is an older thread, but I am doing a quickie moto trip down in Argentina, and here is what friends who have been and people on the ground tell me:

Honda Transalp - Twin 650. Super common all over SA, and this is what I will be riding in Argentina shortly. Virtually non-existant in North America. Great middle range bike, similar, but not exactly the same as the Suzuki Vstrom.

Kawi KLR - Common in North America, are generally the midrange dual sport of choice, but I am not sure about SA. I'm a shortie so I've never really bothered to dig for more info.

Suzuki V Strom - Twin 650. I've only test ridden this. Loved it. Not totally common in the States but common enough. I could see this being a sweet bike to do that trip on.

BMW 650GS - The single 650, not the fancy new twin. These are common in the States and sound very common in SA. If I didn't already own one here in NYC, I'd have made it my rental of choice bc of the height and weight. I imagine parts are easy to get.

If I was doing a trip of about a month, I'd put forth the effort to import something into Argentina or Chile. Something smaller like a Kawi Super Sherpa or Serow XT, bc I'm small and it would let my trip be more flexible.

PC