Andy Young
Calle 27, Avenida 13
Zona 5, Guatemala City

(Head north on Avenida Reforma and turn right onto Calle 27 when you see the big bridge that spans the Avenida with a single arch. The shop is one and a half blocks from the first set of traffic lights. If coming from Antigua, follow the main road to the Obelisco and turn left to get onto Reforma.)

Phone 331-9263

Works 7am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.

Very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly - highly recommended. Will also help find parts. Speaks English and Spanish. Note that the workshop has no sign, but look for the small ´Castrol´ sign on the left and pull in.

James.

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James Courtier

I didn't even attempt to ask the BMW shop if they'd let me change a radiator myself. They estimated 4 hopurs for the job. Well, it took me less than 3 and I'm no mechanic.
I did the work myself at a great place:

Motopunto
4 Avenida A 13-24 Zona 9
Tel. 360-9522

I met the owner on a Yamaha on my way to Gatemala city and he offered his shop for me to do the work. He is a very helpful person.

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Nelson Oliveira
RTW 2003-6
Around a Mote of Dust

We agree re: BMW Bavaria Guatemala City, they are awful (and potentially dangerous). We had been recommended them based on the german owner Arne Sapper. After the service the bike came back with:

1) The front brake not operating properly (you could pull the brake lever in and still push the bike forward while standing next to it) - unbelievable lack of regard for safety!
2) The motorcycle would not accelerate in 1st or 2nd gear without massive power loss and juddering.
3) The 'bash plate and attached tool kit' were missing

They did sort the brakes out.....but not the power loss (blaming it on the exhaust?)....I had to spend 5 hrs the next day effectively doing the service I had just paid for to fix it....you have been warned!!

PS

We complained to Mr Sapper but got no reply!!

Thanks for the good advice! I had a similar experience in Cancun. I wonder why BMW allow their products to be destroyed by poor dealers.
I wrote to BMW in Germany and got no response either.

Any update if this shop still exists? I'm about to head to Guatemala city to have my chain/sprocket set changed.

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http://davegtravels.com - RTW on a DRZ
All the way south - Texas to Tierra del Fuego in '08-'09

Friends, if you are on a KTM, do NOT rely on the dealer in Guatemala City. While looking for a sound in the Clutch, they said that they could exchange the basket to an improved version. But they broke the basket, then welded it!!!! put it back in the bike, quickly filled it with oil so I could not check the repair and did not tell me... I found it out as it broke in the desert of Peru... And I had to get the parts from Germany to fix it.
So check all the work or even better, participate in the workshop...
Or do it yourself.
Cheers
Ras

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Rasmus
www.panamericana.info

Hi guys, I want to recommend you all to avoid using Bavaria Motors in Guatemala, at least for airheads.

And I frankly think you should not give them any other bike either.

Bavaria Motors Guatemala is in a long protracted attrition war with BMW. They already lost the car dealership and will eventually loose the motorcycle dealershop also, if it was not because of some obscure commercial laws that protect them.

But, in a nutshell. Bavaria Motors Guatemala KNOWS that they will loose the dealership today if BMW can take it away from them, so they DO NOT CARE about ruining the brand's image or doing responsible work. What for? They lost the business already even if they still hold ot, so their idea is to destroy the brand.

Now with my experience with them

Sent my airhead in with an oil leak. Was told three seals were changed, two on the gearbox front and back, one in the engine where the clutch is.

The bike was delivered with a whole bunch of problems. It did not start! Then it leaked oil almost immediately, in the old places and new ones.

So Bavaria Motors actually left my bike in worse condition than when I booked it in.

And they installed my clutch cable incorrectly and broke it. And cut a harness cable that left me almos stranded. And disassembled my back wheel due to puncturing the tube while testing and assembled it without a rim tape.

And now in Costa Rica BMW we found out that Bavaria Motors Guatemala put some sort of goo in the leaking seal to mask the leak so I left the country and got stuck elsewhere.

I have sent a letter to them had discussions, to no avail.

These people are thieves and crooks and I will personally call them when they finally loose the dealership to remind them of the treatment I received.

Sadly, there are no BMW fixers in GT. I have found the people at Costa Rica to be very very good, but you also have to keep an eye on them.

Safe travels with a sound bike

I agree with all that is being said about Andy. He is my car mechanic and my friend. The only thing is...he won't work on bikes! Gives me a lot of advice on how to take care of mine and as a former moto racer, he knows lots about them, but his shop is a car shop.

Hi to anybody in this thread. I am in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, and cannot start my GS1200. Had the issue after putting some fuel in yesterday but eventually managed to get it going to complete the journey here. However same problem today. I need to get the bike to somebody who can diagnose the problem. Guatemala City seemed like a good bet until I read these posts. Can any of you recommend another place? I would prefer not to have to go to San Pedro because it is supposed to be extremely dangerous and it is not on our way.

Help please!

Had a recommendation from a local, Julio, April 2023:

In Guate city try the Honda dealer, good mechanics and traveller friendly.

In Antigua try Tony at Motorpsycho, good mechanic @motorpsyco_gt on Instagram

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com