Hi Jef, Hi Erik,

Thanks a lot for posting your questions in this thread!

I share Erik's opinion that buying a motorcycle for trips shorter than 2-3 months is not recommendable. The most important reason is that getting your RUT and registering a used bike in your name typically takes 3 days, time that you would much rather spend riding.

About leaving Chile:
A) It is preferable to wait for your final ownership document "padrón" to be issued before attempting a border crossing. This usually takes 3-4 weeks for a new bike and 6-8 weeks for a used one. In the case of a used motorcycle, you can alternatively present an authorization "poder" from the former owner. Unfortunately, this document is not accepted at all borders or by every customs official, which is why it is not recommended to rely on it and construct an itinerary around it.
B) The sworn declaration that needs to be presented at the border states that you'll bring back the bike of your property within the given time frame, which is typically 180 days and can be extended to 360 upon request. Obtaining this document is quite easy and convenient since it only takes a quick visit to a notary.

@Jef: I understand that you need the bikes to scout a tour that you will repeat later on with clients. Maybe it would be feasible to buy something, store it after your trip, and come back for it later. With enough anticipation, remote purchases are possible as well. It might be out of your budget, but I will have two XRE 300s coming back from Patagonia at the end of April. Unfortunately, I can't offer rentals at the moment.

I tried to answer as compactly as possible. If you guys have more questions, don't hesitate to ask through PM, check out my website, or publish another posting.

Ride safe!
Martin

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