I'm in Mexico (heading to Mexico City tomorrow) with a 1998 Africa Twin. I need a new chain and sprockets and of course AT parts are a bit thin on the ground in the Americas...
The question is, can you tell me which bikes use the same chain-set as the AT (preferably ones that were sold in the Americas), or give me some part numbers that I can use to get them ordered???

Ta
Simon

__________________
Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

It will be difficult or impossible to find the sprockets but you can have them fabricated. Give me a call at 5005-2065 (Friday 2pm to 10pm) or 58103447 (over the weekend) or 0445521456078 (mobile)
If you need a place to stay in Mex City you are welcome to stay with us.

Garry
GarryHostel.com (Free Motorcycle Traveller's Resort)

Thanks Garry

Have got some info on getting sprockets from US, and everything should hold together until I get there...
If I end up staying here a bit longer I 'll give you a shout!

__________________
Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

Getting them sent in from the USA is the smart way to go. Perhaps Gary can let you ship the goods to his residence? Or maybe knows the best way to declare the parts to avoid the 100% to 400% duty your likely to pay ... or they may just decide to "confiscate" your parts! How you label them is important. Also, sometimes sending to a business can be better? Changes country to country.

BTW, ....you clearly screwed the pooch by leaving the USA without sorting this out in a place where Chains/sprockets are cheap and available. I'm sure you realize this now! Why do so many overlanders pull this same trick?

If you put on the right chain & sprockets NOW, they will last the duration of your trip. Best option here:

DID VM-2 X ring chain, stock Honda Sprockets, carry a spare countershaft sprocket, change at 10,000 miles. Should get you past 20K miles.

Getting some crap RK or other mid grade chain is really penny wise, pound foolish, as are sprockets that claim to work miracles. Get stock Honda ones.

Have them send a couple Iridium spark plugs while you're at it and a spare air filter too. (stock or UNI filter) If you're not carrying quality extra tubes, have them sent in too. Good Tubes are GOLD in Mex & Cent.America. Get tires in Guatemala, if needed, or wait until Colombia?

Er, yeah, thanks Mickey, but perhaps it'd be best not to assume that everyone in Mexico is a US citizen heading south. I started in Argentina 20,000 miles and 15 months ago, and I'll be entering the US in a month. Got tubes, plugs etc etc.

Pooch remains unscrewed.

Cheers

__________________
Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

Sorry, somehow I thought you were heading South, since I saw Vancouver as home base, missed the UK/Capetown bit! :confused1: My bad.

So many riders seem to neglect chains/Sprocs. One can read reports of this constantly on blogs and here on HU. Obviously, you're well sorted or you wouldn't have made it this far. Good luck with the rest of your trip.

I just noticed your details. So you shipped over from S.A. to B.A.? How'd that go? Costs? Hassles freeing bike from Argies?

Good luck finding those AT sprockets .... I just realized the AT has never been imported into the US ... no idea of other sprockets with same bolt pattern. I'm sure someone at the AT forums would know.

Not sure if American Honda can order them in the USA or not. Maybe order from Canada as I think they get the AT there, IIRC.
Ride safe!

McD

Well, cost of shipping the bike (from London to BA - Africa trip was a separate thing) was about the same as flying a person. The shipping company said "3 weeks", and it actually took 5 which wasn't a big problem cos BA is AwEsOmE.
I decided to try and do the extricating of the bike from customs myself - had to wait for 5 hours to see someone, but after that it took 5 minutes and no probs at all.

Cheers

__________________
Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

Hi Simon,

Good job getting the bike out of Argie hands pain free. I love the Argentines, spent lots of time there. I took a look at your blog ... very nice pics! Funny stuff too, reminds me of a more sober Dan Walsh, minus Dan's incisive sense of irony.

Watch out for those cranky US X-Pats, lots of 'em hang in Mexico on the lam. Who knows what he's wanted for? Probably an X Blackwater operative on the run!

Sol is the worst Beer in Mexico! For me, most Mex Beer is sub standard. Pacifico isn't bad. You won't see it until you get further north. Ask for a Balena (Whale), big bottle. US has great Beer, but drinking Beer in Mexico is FAR better than drinking it anywhere in the USA. Enjoy!

Great tips on Cancun. I knew about Isla Mujeres. Worked on that island for Lobster fisherman years ago. Cancun must be in a depression to have such low rates. Jesus, my Girlfriend would LOVE that place you stayed! We're going! Thanks for the inspiration!

So I'm guessing about 1000£ to get your AT over? That's about $1600 USD.

Lots of Brits ship to B.A. (a great City, as you say), but I'm not sure why so many do this. Why not go other way round? Of course then your stuck with a hard to sell bike down there. So I guess it works out either way.

If finances are tight, it might save a few bucks if they fly themselves to California, buy a bike (super cheap compared to UK) and ride down from there. You won't find an Africa Twin but lots of good, near new bikes at fire sale prices. KLR's, DR's, DRZ's, XR-L's, XR400's, KTM's, Husky's, V-Stroms, all good value. I left off BMW as a courtesy ... but yea, we have 'em too!

BTW, your AT will be worth a small fortune in the USA. Find a state where you can get it registered, then bring to San Francisco or New York to sell.

Hope your chain makes it there. Looking forward to your blog updates.
Ride safe.

Mc D

PS ... I hope you're planning on staying in Mexico for a while. Just now we're having super bad storms. (worst in a century!!) Some may effect Mexico's West coast. But it's freezing everywhere and we'll get record breaking rain, floods, slides, chaos in California. Hopefully in a month things will be better and California will warm back up and return to the best riding in the country.

Cheers Mickey!

I suspect that bald fella was simply a twat rather than a dangerous lunatic, but who knows...
Bang on re. Sol - watery rubbish. Got to love those massive bottles though. Pacifico has been available in various places since Cancun and it's good stuff. Dos Equis perfectly drinkable as well.

*off-topic sensors start beeping*

__________________
Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick