I will also post this info in Biker friendly hostels and bike shops around the world.

Antonio Cabazas' bike shop. Is located in the financial district in Panama City. I have met a ton of mechanics on this trip of mine through South America. This guy is a superstar for sure. He is soft spoken, speaks English and could turn your bike into a dodge viper if you asked him to. He has a 20 year old son Antonio Jr who is studying to be a mechanical engineer. He also speaks English and can help you find parts throughout the city. Great kid. Both of these guys can talk about cars and bikes for days. Sr. is bordering on genius in my opinion.

Antonio was also the president of the APM (Association of Panamanian Motorcyclists) he took a step down because his lovely wife has breast cancer. If you get a chance to go to a meeting with him you will meet all kinds of amazing people. With these contacts you can find and or do anything in PC. All that I ask is that you be extremely respectful of these people. They were very kind to me.

Contact Info:
N8 59.557 W79 31.292
email for Antonio Cabatony@cableonda.net
I have a track from my GPS but I'm not sure how to upload.
I have Antonio Jr's phone number as well. PM me if you need it.

Casa De Carmen is a great hostel five doors down from Antiono's shop. This hostel has all the amenities for overlanders. In PC there is also Mama Llena Hostel and Voyager Hostel. Both are dumps to be avoided, however, both have comprehensive bulletin boards regarding boat travel to and from Panama and Colombia. It's a long walk or a short cab ride from Casa De Carmen to either of the above hostels, don't bother staying in either one just for boat info. In my opinion the only boat worth taking is here. www.stahlratte.org: Contact This website no longer has Ludwig's (Captain) cell phone number in Panama or Colombia, sorry guys, I don't have it. Berlin is not helpful but they can tell you what country the boat is in at least. For the boats, timing and luck are everything.

Contact Info:
Casa De Carmen
N8 59.603 W79 31.258
Telephone: +507 263 4366

BMW Dealer in Panama. Luis the Chief mechanic is an awesome guy. The three times I was there he never charged me for labor. Don't count on it but he might do the same for you. After reading the moto guest book it looks like that is his MO. Plan on paying to be safe though. Please do not expect not to pay for labor and cause a scene or mention my name. Antonio is a far more accomplished mechanic. Unless you have a warranty I would take your bike to Antonio, he charges very little.

If you need help with English at the BMW dealer ask for Armando in car sales. All these guys love travelers and will be happy to help.

Contact Info:
BMW Panama City - Bavarian Motors
Address: Edificio BMW Calle 50 y 65
N8 59.385 W79 30.715
Luis' work phone +507 301 5400
I have Luis' Cell PM me if you need it.

If you get into a bind while anywhere in Panama get in touch with me. I have numbers and names that might get you out of a bad situation. I am happy to help.

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Brennan Dates

www.brennandates.com

Thanks for the info.

thanks man! good info to have!

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http://www.celticadventurer.com

I vote Brennan's post for Sticky status! (For Panama)
Great, current info. Very hard to beat!

Not often we get such a detailed report including:

1. Awesome independent mechanic
2. BMW dealer that is traveler friendly
3. current hostel info.

Thanks Brennan. Have safe rest of your trip!

Where are you now?

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

I am curently in Palenque, Mexico. Ruins tomorrow AM, early then I am off to Mexico City. I opted out on Chichen-Itza because of Felix. Some other time.

I was in Bacalar for three days with Sokarof from here, the HUBB. They got hit pretty hard by Dean, category 5, two weeks ago. They weren`t looking too bad but I hope it will be someone elses turn to take a Cat 5 on th bow.

I am not hanging around for Felix. I will be hunkered down in Mexico City.

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Brennan Dates

www.brennandates.com

Thanks for the compliment Patrick. There will be more of these to come for different cities and countries when my life settles down a bit after the trip and fundraiser. My head is going in all different directions these days as my trip finishes.

I am in Mexico now. I am very close to being home.

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Brennan Dates

www.brennandates.com

I tracked the Antonio´s down, and so for non GPSers directions are:
1 street north of Via Espana, in between Via Brazil and av Belisario Porras

Or officially: Ave 1ra El Carmen No.20
if you can understand a Panamanian address.

I only visited them to get some bike related info, but can agree with Brennan´s recomendation. Antonio Jr said his father is also the only Authorised Harley Mechanic mechanic in Panama, and his workshop always has a lot of HDs, if you are that way inclined.

Hey man!!!!! Please tell those guys that I said hello from the Cayman Islands.

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Brennan Dates

www.brennandates.com

Great resource. Three more waypoints for MapSource. This has helped with my tip planning. Thank you.

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» “What do you expect to find there? Well, if I knew, I wouldn’t go there!” — Jacques Cousteau

Great ,

Thanks for the info . I am arriving Panama tomorroew and will contact these people as I need some work done on the old beemer. Hade a great ride through Columbia and now lookig forward to Panama.

I will contact you as soon as get to Panama,

Neal
AK
Yukonneely

Thanks for the great info.

A hundred thank-yous Brennan for the original post. We visited Antonio today and I am very comfortable with Antonio's work.

Antonio Cabassa can be reached at
cabatony@cableonda.net
Phone: 507 223 6656

Antonio and his son are great people and received visitors from at least a half dozen people who were just dropping in to chat while he worked on my bike this morning. He is a popular guy.

He has a very clean shop! So clean in fact that everyone that dropped by made comments about my dirty bike being in his clean shop! He works on everything from Harley's to Japanese to European bikes.

I would not hesitate to have work done by Antonio again.

By the way, his wife's health is better now however his sister is now suffering from Cancer. Antonio wears a yellow Livestrong bracelet.

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» “What do you expect to find there? Well, if I knew, I wouldn’t go there!” — Jacques Cousteau