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How many of you solo on BMW 1200GSA in CA & SA How many of you solo on BMW 1200GSA in CA & SA
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Central America and Mexico Topics specific to Central America and Mexico only.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #16  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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Originally Posted by Lonesome George View Post
And should you have a problem there are good BMW bike shops in Mexico City and Costa Rica - I know! I gave them both a visit and left them lots of Money!!
Lonesome .... as an ex-Beemer rider I had laugh over your last para!
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  #17  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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KalahariGeorge... you can read more about my travels on my BMW at
Gone Riding eBook: Dom Giles: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store
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  #18  
Old 15 Dec 2013
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Location: Mexico
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Originally Posted by Lonesome George View Post
...was being in California and being told - by people in the BMW motorcycle shop in LA - that My bike would suffer with the " shit gas they'll sell you down there" It seemed like no one there had been to Mexico probably due to the anti-Mexican hysteria broadcast constantly on TV.
Exactly! These people never stop to think that BMW bikes are sold to and ridden here by people on a daily basis. Do they ever think about what fuel we run? Or better yet that we actually ride all over the place here in spite of the US government issuing travel warnings about where we live?

The US government doesn't know jacksht about motorcycle touring, nor do any of the US media outlets. Not everyone gives a damn what they have to say.
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  #19  
Old 16 Dec 2013
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My daily ride is a GSA, it's a great bike and I love it. However I've chosen something smaller and more basic for my forth coming tour of the America's. Something even I can fix!
Single cylinder, carburated DR650.
I have 20,000 trouble free kilometers touring in Australia on it. The DR reminds me of a donkey....DRonky. In 18mths or so when I'm back home I'll let you know what I think.
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  #20  
Old 27 Jan 2014
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And BMW of all motorcycles,will throw you out of warranty if you use BP gas due to the high ethanol content...at least here in Chicago....and the USA has some of the worst gasoline on the planet, when it comes to motorcycles.

Just always use Super in CA.

There are plenty of BMW's in Costa Rica. 800 & 1200, the other big bike now for locals is the KTM.

There is so much to see and do in CA,you can easily spend 2 weeks alone in Guatemala,Nicaragua, Costa Rica for each, and not see everything. The mountain riding in the highlands of Guatemala, northern Nicaragua,and all over Costa Rica, is fantastic.



For sure get the shaft drive checked, that would be an issue in many of the countries to repair.

AS for taking a 125, that seems very small to me, especially with gear, not that you need much in the tropics, but its mainly mountains in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. I would want a more comfortable bike, and a larger CC for power, at least a 250, but I prefer adventure bikes, and ride a Triumph Tiger 800, as I can still go off surface with it when I want, as most the coastal roads are gravel...
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  #21  
Old 27 Jan 2014
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I was programming a new 1200GS the other day.

I noticed in the programming options that I can set the bike to run on 91 gasoline.. It's an actual option but not something you can do yourself. You'd have to get it done at a dealer. I guess it retards the timing to prevent knocking.

BMW recommend 95 MINIMUM..
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  #22  
Old 27 Jan 2014
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Interesting.

In Illinois, there are actually special blends of both Diesel and Gas, we had a 1200RT in on a trade and it kept stalling on me, was not good downtown in rush hour, so I called over the Bimmer and the SA said clean out tank, put in Mobile, and some Fuel Injector cleaner for 2 tanks, it worked, I had put in BP after the trade on a ride, dealer said it void the fuel injection warranty...what BS..

Diesel here is also a major problem, Mercedes Blue Tech's are hardly sold anymore in Chicago, and the BMW Diesels are having fits too, stalling etc...not so much for domestic or trucks though....odd.

I love a good manual diesel....

Nevermind all the tank expansion issues and recalls the last 5 years, thanks to Ethanol...major problem for motorcycles makers...
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