How many of you solo on BMW 1200GSA in CA & SA
 

Whenever somebody asks what's better for a trip to the Americas, a small bike or a big bike, most of the guys says the small one for the reasons that we all know already. I have a 1200GSA and I was wondering how many of you guys are actually riding a GSA, solo, in Central America and South America and if you would choose the same bike again I you had the chance.
I really wouldn't like to buy another bike and I do 95% of my riding solo.

I normally ride a 1200gs, it now has 270,000mls on it about 98% solo. A lot of that distance was done in the Americas and mostly it was fun, the odd day I would have given it away. I am not a good rider and some of the dirt roads in the Andes, the stretch from Uyuni to Chile being a classic example were really beyond me, fools rushing in etc. but you don't need to do it. At the moment I am riding around S.E.Asia on a tiddler with 1/10th of the engine size of my beemer and it made the hilly north with its garbage roads almost fun, no effort at all. My next bike if I live that long will probably be around 5-600cc and lighter, much lighter than the beemer. Ride safe.

Besides the ever present and near sublime KLR650 (likely the single most used bike for CA and SA), the GS12 is the other bike I see riders on here the most.
Many riders come through here, solo, and I will lead them on some interesting routes in whatever direction they are headed. Besides the GS1150, the big GS bikes handle most conditions without missing a beat.
But...
The old Honda Africa twin, in my opinion is a near perfect bike for what you will find. The only drawback is the carbs for higher altitude performance. The injection of the big GS compensates and, though you do have a drop in performance, you have no worries about fueling. Though I have seen KLR's performing at over 14,000ft elevation without really struggling much.

Sort out your GS1200A for the trip, and make sure you can pick it up yourself if you drop it. Easier said than done even if you do remove your gear.

Thanks for the info guys. I guess I'll prepare my GS and ride the best i can with it.

Please, I do not want at all to sound offensive, but after the few answers you got and not clearly stating "go with the GSA"... I guess your decision was crystal clear for you much before. It had to be the GSA.

Being that the case, think with your heart and go ahead with it (not that I share your feelings/opinion, but) it's your trip so enjoy it with the bike you like.

Hi

Riding Centro America on Suzuki 125 . Usually ride a V strom 650 or 1000. some of the roads I have been on I am glad I had a light bike and one easily repairable locally.

Also seen a few riders on the big bikes but no one off the really beaten and you seem to be a target for border helpers and police.

but it is so great here and a bike is definitely the way to travel.

Peter

Estebangc, next time you have to use the phrase " I do not want at all to sound offensive", it's better if you just don't post it. Not on this topic or any other topic.
Somebody once told me, "If you have nothing good to say, don't say it, and I think that was a wise advise.

But thanks for the positive advises guys...

Bully!
 

Why is it 'better if you just don't post it'? The man has his opinion and he's entitled to voice it. This site is a democracy. Estebangc's been on this site a long time, and his advice/suggestions are just as relevant than yours.

Any chance of taking the same advice that "somebody once told" you? Thanks for your understanding.:scooter:

Decision was made, who cares when.
To quote a word famous cuckold, "At this point does it really matter".

Have a safe ride GreenD, prep the bike and dont be afraid to hang out and stay longer if you find a nice beach or a place you really enjoy. Less timeframe and more good times.

Green Devil, please try to read my post avoiding any susceptibility. I just wish you a great trip with the bike you love, following your heart (since your heart had already said GSA). Thanks for your advice anyway. I was actually trying to avoid susceptibility and probably it triggered it. Believe me, I did not mean to be harsh. Happy travels.

Thanks, Kalahari, I guess you got my point and the absence of any underlying thoughts.

My appologies to everybody,

Peace...

Go with the bike you enjoy...

By all means take the GSA... If I may suggest a couple of things it would be this..

Pack LIGHT.. The bike is heavy enough.

Have the shaft and rear wheel drive checked before you go. Not a 'tyre kick', but REMOVED and checked.

If you have more than 30,000 miles on the bike, change the clutch before your trip.

Learn the weaknesses of your bike and how you spot them before they get fatal. BMW's have more than their fair share but they ARE avoidable with a deep wallet.

Enjoy your trip :thumbup1:

If you like riding your GSA then take your GSA. Simple as that. I rode my 1200GS through Central America in 2010 and what surprised me 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.

If I listened to all the " advice" dished out by people who'd never been anywhere I wouldn't have set off on my trip in the first place. The internet has been wonderful for helping people but it also gives pice to all the negative comments as well.

People have travelled throughout the Americas on every type of vehicle. Take what you love and you'll love it.

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! :D

KalahariGeorge... you can read more about my travels on my BMW at
Gone Riding eBook: Dom Giles: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

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.

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.

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.

:funmeteryes:

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...

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..

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....:thumbup1:

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