Well I'll keep this as short as possible, there is 2 of us, one 19 year old Canadian, Eira-Shay and one 23 year old Australian, Will , we both love travel and adventure, hence why we are here. But first a bit of our story:



After meeting in Canada, Eira decided to fly to Aus to travel, create art (She is an amazing artist as you'll soon see) and fulfill a dream of visiting the desert. Silly old me not knowing what I was getting myself into, cheerfully accepted and with about 24 hours of preparation and "research" (wikipedia counts right?). We hit the road in my 2003 Mercedes "Hotel El Vito" 2 wheel drive city van for a 6500km journey from Brisbane - Birdsville - Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney then back to Brisbane. All which involved some crazy territory including the Simpson Desert and the Notorious 600km stretch of no man's land road known as the Birdsville Track. None the wiser, with smiles on our faces we took off into the sunset, unbeknownst to us the trials and tribulations that this journey would hold for us. I won't go into detail here, but I'm sure these photos will tell a million stories.















So now, while working hard and saving every penny, We are tree planters hence the dirty attire pictured above, With some scenery of our work area below:





We plan our next trip: Rural.


We leave Aus for Canada in April, tree plant and save for 4 months then hopefully embark on our journey mid August-start of September, 2016. Hopefully with a little ( a lot) more research. Which is kind of the reason I am posting here. I have been trawling this amazing website for the last 3 months gathering a general understanding of the task we are facing ahead but id love to get even further insight from you wealths of knowledge.

The plan:

Buy 2 bikes somewhere between Vancouver - Portland - Northern California (Where ever we can find some cheap bikes, If anyone may have any available around this time. We are willing to do some farm/house work to negotiate a price) Hopefully around $2000-$2500 Canadian.

Ride said bikes down the west coast of U.S, then into Central America visiting as much as we can along the way and following routes from fellow travellers and locals alike.

One big specific im not sure about is what to do with the bikes once we reach Panama, which is where we hope to rid ourselves of the bikes and head into South America where we will continue our travels. (any info on this would be greatly appreciated)

We hope to reach Panama/Columbia by the end of December, although we have no real time frame, just depends how our shoestring budget holds up.


So the essence of this journey is to get as far as we can, as cheaply as we can and see and experience as much as we can along the way. And hopefully document the trip, so that those at home (and on the road) can follow along with us, as we have done with so many of the other ride reports here!

A few questions that would be awesome to have some help with:

1. Would it be possible to take a road based bike with some dirt/ish tires. Reason is there seems to be a lot more road bikes for cheaper as i haven't seen too many dual sports in the sub $2500 mark.

2. Any suggested routes or must see spots, or absolute no go areas (Particularly for CA)

3. Any information/suggestions for our dilemma once we reach Panama

4. Any tips/info/comments! we're all ears open as we're not really sure what we are doing, but that's the fun right?

We hope you follow along and can enjoy this journey as much as us!

Road bikes are fine all the way to Panama, no real hardship unless you go looking for some. Enjoy your trip, look forward to reading about it,

Gino

1. If staying on paved roads, not exploring rural routes or crossing over to Caribbean side in CA, then road bikes are OK but not ideal (for many reasons suited for another thread). Tires alone don't make a bike suited for off road or even rough, muddy dirt roads. Yes, it has and can be done, but just depends which bike you choose.

True, plenty of beat on street bikes cheap (you get what you pay for).
Dual sports can be more expensive, but deals can be found with patience and luck. Buying a worn out bike can be risky unless you have exemplary mechanical abilities and a parts budget.

I assume, after selling off bikes in Panama you plan to travel by Bus once in S. America? I would much rather have the bike in S. America than Central. More to explore, greater distances, more diversity of terrain, culture et al. The good stuff!

So rather than sell off bike in Panama (hard to do) maybe consider either shipping bikes to Colombia (about $2000 each for bike and you).

OR ... use public transport though out USA, Mexico and CA, then buy a bike in Colombia. Many posted for sale everyday here on HUBB. Also consider the many Chinese 250cc bikes for sale all through S. America. Cheap and getting better. Or start in Colombia and do CA/Mex/USA on way North?

Question: have either of you ever ridden motorcycles? Training?

2. By the finish of Mexico portion your research and personal contacts will give you tips for sights and must see spots in CA. Reading ADV Rider Ride reports will also help flush out your plans. Any good guide book would be a start ... even an older one.

3. and 4. See above.

Thanks for the replies!

Will keep in mind about riding through SA instead. I'll do some research and check distances etc.

Looks like we will probably do it 2 up and put our funds together to get something a bit nice. would a klr 650 do the trick for a 2 up trip?


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Two up is good if you travel light enough. The KLR would be an excellent choice. as it has room for two. Good aftermarket seat a must.

Lots of KLR's for sale throughout S. America, pretty good prices as well. They come and go everyday here on HUBB, lots for sale in California as well. Your choice.

Only downside to KLR, just a bit tall and wide. But if you're over 5'8" or so and fit, it should be fine. (I'm just 5'6" and get along OK on my DR650 and KLR's)

KLR's go from $2000 to $5000 range. Get a good one that is already set up for travel. A few key mods should be done. Research them when you can. Lots on ADV Rider (Thumpers section) or on KLR.net.

There s nothing a street bike cant do that a vito can in terms of terrain.
Think hard about the two up. And if its gonna be two on one Bike. Whetter it really has to be a bike. Two up, off road qualities of the bike matter even less. It s gonna be too heavy for off road anyway.

After your australia experience i would not recommend traveling relying on public transport. There s a thread on that as well here somewhere (something like "going back to backpacking after riding)

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Thanks again.

We'll I'm 6ft1 and tree plant for a living so relatively tall and fit. Good to know about the klr.

Also very good point too Robbert. I'm not planning on offroading in general mainly just to. Get to must see places such as certain ruins etc.

So I guess my question would be given that we don't want to stick to the Pan Am most of the time. And would love to get off the beaten track so go to certain ruins and things. How much offroad could we expect? I'd be willing to sacrifice a lot of speed while riding off road if I saved a bunch on the purchase of a road bike.

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That sounds like you want two small capacity bikes. I would not bother about offroad looks, but look at weight. Also keep the weight of your luggage down. 50cc can work, but upwards of 90cc and below 130 kg is where id start looking. E.g Honda cb 125 or a chinese clone. Probably different bikes north and south of panama. There are plenty alternatives. Yamaha xt 125/250... .

Smaller tends to be more fun. You do sacrifice more on acceleration than on speed. If its really though you'll be faster too (not faster than an experienced rider on a off road machine, but faster than your self on a heavy machine with luggage for two and a pillion.)

Think smaller=more fun and it will get you there. Also when you have to pick it up 16 times in a row.

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I don't agree. A dual sport has more ground clearance, a street bike will bottom out, crushing the engine case. Ride over. Also, a 21" front wheel vs. a 17" wheel means huge advantage for the 21" in any sort of rough, rocky terrain, deep sand or mud.

Suspension travel! Dual sports will have about double of a street bike.

I agree. Having your girl riding her own bike would be my advice. More fun, easier going on off road sections. Many get same model bike to save on parts storage/tools.

Depends on the bike and the rider ... and of course the terrain encountered. A good rider/pillion combo can do very well off road if they know how ... even on a big GS or 1200cc KTM. Been there, done it, seen it too. In some nasty sections your pillion might have to walk a bit. No big deal, does not happen all that often and as you get better at riding off road may never be an issue.

Good point! ... and why I brought it up in my earlier post. After a while Busses SUCK! (I rode them 2 years in S. America many Moons ago )

Most major ruins are connected to good roads. They may be dirt but will be "All Weather" type roads that buses go on daily ...even in heavy rain.

There are more remote sites ... most reached on foot but a road will almost always get you close enough to hike the rest. Research and local knowledge is always best in these situations. Guides are cheap and worthwhile.

But riding, rain and mud can be your biggest challenge. Lots of great minor roads off the Pan Am, many dirt, some paved. But main roads will mostly be All Weather and passable most times ... even on a decent street bike and easier on a Dual Sport with good tires with lowered pressures.

I generally agree, smaller is MORE FUN! ... but, IMO, 50cc or 90cc bike is not ideal, especially riding at 14,000 ft. in the Andes. Even a 250cc bike struggles badly over 10K ft. Trust me, I've done it. Can't imagine a 50 or 90 at high altitude.
I rented 125's and 100's in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Fantastic, but never much over sea level.

Also, you'll have many LONG (thousands of miles) paved road sections through Peru' and N. Argentina. You need to be able to ride at least 50 MPH all day, day after day or you'll have some very very long, exhausting riding days.
Tiny engines may not make it, may expire if super hot. (check Summer temps in N. Argentina)

I would not buy anything smaller than a 250cc bike. Japanese bikes, even used, are really really OVER PRICED all though out S. America. Now, why is that? (answer: Quality!)

Better go Chinese bike ... or buy a nice Japanese 250cc in USA and ride down.
The Honda CRF250L is the best you can get. Perfect world traveler.

:-)

Some more thoughts:

- don't underestimate to cost of riding gear for two (it might weigh in on the decisions on 2x2wheels, 2wheels or 4 wheels). cost will be the same for one or two bikes, small or big... . You can sacrifice some on comfort, but when you're wet and cold, tired and hungry, or hot and thirsty, comfort and safety start to correlate.
- you'll have to factor in the cost of lugage as well. Again, more scope for cheap "will do" solutions when you can distribute the luggage over two bikes... .
- if you decide on a single bike, spend some time in the mind of the pillion. Sitting on the back, you're view obscured by the back of a tree planter, wind noise and turbulence shaking your head long days in a row...). then evaluate again... .
-when evaluating dual sports versus road bike, evaluate what the price difference (purchase, fuel, ...) can buy you on the road. Your small road bike might struggle in some circumstances, but the 1000$ you saved can buy you local transport to get to that 2% of things you'd need the other bike for, a month or more longer on the road, ... . When riding a bike for a few months, taking a bus is a nice change after all (as long as it isn't bus after bus).
-I'm sure you figured already there are people that need land cruisers with winches and lots of spotlights to do what you did with your vito.... . This can be extended to motorbikes, bicycles, shoes and horses. what suits you best depends very much on who you are.
- Trust yourself more than what people on the internet tell you... .

I do feel compelled to counter Molly Dogs argument for a dual sport bike. He is a dirt bike rider who has traveled and recommends bikes by how they will perform on roads you will only occasionally encounter. You want more than one cylinder because you may be riding for hours at 120kph

I am a street bike rider who travels. Right now I'm in Chile, having ridden a totally inappropriate 1500cc cruiser here and deliberately and accidentally taking some roads that dual sports would have a tough time on all with a 16" front tire

Still, the best bikes for this trip are the compromise bikes, street bikes with some more ground clearance and suspension travel, V-Strom, Versys, F series BMW. These bikes though, lack an important component, they are not cheap.

What is cheap are road bikes of between 500 and 950cc. They can do any road, including the worst ones in Peru with a more aggressive front tire, such tires are available throughout Latin America.

Standards like Ninja 650, Bandit SV650 etc and cruisers like Honda Shadow and Kawasaki Vulcan are dirt cheap and bulletproof. Nothing like having a bike that you can afford to lose.

Shipping a bike from CA to SA costs about $325 and might be worth it to you.

Thanks so much for all the replies. Internet is scarce where we are currently working at the moment. But will be much more onto it in a couple of weeks.

I really am starting to lean towards the road bike option as eira has not done a bunch of offroad riding so will most likely be sticking to the fairly decent roads. And like Robbert said take public transport if we can't make it on the bike/s.

Now I think the biggest question is finding appropriate bikes. Hopefully two cheap bikes pop up over the next few months.

Any ideas on going about this. Besides the obvious craigslist? Possibly trading some manual labour for cheaper prices on some bikes would be the ultimate.

But that sounds very unlikely, even to me

And thanks VicMitch. I think a person's will power and understanding of their abilities is the best tool you can use to help yourself!

I know we can do it. I just want to make sure it's as cheaply as safely possible to maximize the travel time

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"occasionally"? Are you sure? Have you ridden mountainous back roads in Colombia and Ecuador? Explored the thousands of miles of dirt roads in Peru's Northern interior? (Some of the best exploring in S. America.)
Lots more I could list.

I'm not just a dirt rider. I've logged around 500,000 street miles as well on over 50 bikes plus dozens of test bikes ... including Victories and H.D's.

Hey, you said it, not me! The above sort of tells it all!

Those bikes are fine but how do you know they're the "BEST". Have you owned and ridden any in Mex, C.A. or S. America? I have. They are not the best. The other component they lack is toughness and crash survival.

Cheap? Have you priced NEW or USED Dual Sport Bikes lately? The Honda XR650L, KLR650 and DR650 all go for around $5500 to $6000 new.

Used? MUCH cheaper. I paid $3500 for my virtually NEW DR650 Suzuki. By the way, I've OWNED and traveled extensively on ALL the above dual sports. All good but I prefer the DR650. Hundreds of used dual sport for sale everyday, usually in $2500 to $5000 range.

IMO, none of the bikes listed are ideal once off road, poor choice. And to me, sounds like the OP has intention to explore off road.

Really? Can you provide documentation on this claim? (I'd like to invest in this company providing this service ... and get in on the ground floor. )

Sure, for an ALL PAVEMENT ride some of the bikes you mention could work. But that does not appear to be reality here. As I mentioned in an earlier post here, travelers can take any bike: from a 100cc Postie to a 1500cc Victory.
Smart choices? Only experience can answer that one. But if you've got no experience ... then best stick to what you know.