Heya Vince

Yeah got away with the bendy bit for sure, too close for comfort and my undies too

Yes we sound our horn too but I don't think it makes much difference at all for the speed these guys go blindingly around the corners.

DR is a good horse, we just got two baddies, my one at home is solid after much torture but there are still plenty or other options too.

Me on mine in NZ on a track, motard setup



All bikes mentions above are great bikes, your 800XC or F800 were our choices behind the SE, I love the F800 but for that money I would want adjustable suspenders etc, F800 very fuel efficient.

Guzzi Norge is a nice machine, too pretty for clobbering around back roads tho, great touring bike.

Will try and keep the rubber side down, too late to say shiny side up

Cheers Andi

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Great posts as usual guys. Glad all was ok with the 'off'.
I just crated my bike for LA flight tomorrow and me on Thursday. The adventure begins!! Heading into Mexico from Texas and visiting Copper Canyon. Do you have a list of must-sees in Mexico?

Cheers
PN

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Heya Paul, here is our spot to see where we went.

It died after Oaxaca, from there we went out to Palenque, and around the peninsula etc and into Belize.

https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php...151ccbf3ef07fb

Will have a flash back through our pics but the mountains were great, Mexico in general is very cool and very enjoyable and still remains some of the best food we have had too.

Copper Canyon etc is great, there really is so much to do there.

Don't listen to anyone about danger, the place is safe as (being your own careful self with your stuff like usual) and the people are very friendly

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Woooow well done, fabulous. You like to ride your bikes super .

Regarding the norge, she is pretty but will lift her skirts & get her little booties muddy if pushed & that does happen She has been to the north kap the long way & also down to m'hamid (Morocco) by the sahara via the riff & Atlas mountains. Oke I will admit I had to stay off the back roads but it was fun

I agree bout the f800, a lot of money & I think a lot of it is just for the badge. Anyways am scouring the hubb, reading reports so will make a choice. The DR I liked cos it was simple, no electronics & a good old work horse.

You sometimes use two walking sticks, are they the foldy or telescopic type, if so do they support you on downhill climbs oke. I use a walking stick sometimes in certain conditions

Andy Ellen thanks for the reports & wiliness to share info, stay safe have fun & keep the rubber side down ...... mmmnnnn keeping the shiny side up could of course refer to ones haircut ....... Thanks Vince

That was the reason we chose the DR650 was simplicity and out in the stick that is gold.

So you have pretty well been around the block too and no doubt see amazing stuff, stick with the idea of simplicity as it is better long run in my opinion.

My sticks are telescoping type chinese shitters but they are ok, downhill is it for me with one badly damaged knee and one partly damaged knee, had surgery on the bad one but it is still second-hand at best and downhill walking just kills it so yeap they are a must for me.

Wonna get some much longer ones that can double as Tarp poles ... gotta figure that one out

Definitely shiny side up and getting shinier here after the Peruvian Drivers

Cheers Andi

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

That's a bummer with the knees, they are the one thing that are hard to fix, but technology on the knee is progressing slowly but surely. I'm more lucky, just got gammy lower left leg, badly broken by a 4x4 in India who wanted my & yeti the yak, my trusty enfield's, bit of road end 2007 . Cold & wet makes it play up. Have you tried nordic walking sticks, not sure if they fold down small enough. Many years ago I had a cotton tent. The poles were different thickness, they disconnected & by reversing 'em around they slid into each other making an extremely small packet. When erected they were really stable. Have a look in camping shops to see if you can find summit like that, you could fit a lanyard on to 'em to make them more easy to use. I kept the poles after dumping the tent, so may give it a go. Or a bamboo pole cut into smaller lengths, fitted with metal screw & threaded sockets on each end. Not sure if you can get big enough screw & socket joining pieces, would have to look up hardware stores en route. But good idea doing that you get two birds with the one stone

DR 650 doesn't seem to be imported to Holland, Belgium or Germany. I want to buy locally, take my time set her up nicely etc etc & ship to anchorage. Reading reports of people & looking at what they say about their bikes, helps with the choice KTM get good reviews though. How is the seat, comfortable on long stints, also what does Ellen say about the buddy??? I will be riding mostly solo but will be taking a passenger on certain stints

Mmmmnnnnn so the Peruvian drivers are keeping your barber costs down ... jeeeeezzzz Andy Ellen have fun stay safe & keep the rubber side down

Heya Vince, hopefully by the time it IS time to really fixem then technology will take the lead.

Sorry to here of yours too, never fun when trying to climb down a hill, looking at some longer sticks here in Cusco cos mine are a little short to use as tarp poles.

All bikes have shortfalls and good bits, all are a compromise, to be fair our KTM has out-reliabled our DRs but we got two bad DRs, all new DRs come out with a countershaft retainer clip.

Our seat is good, I have chopped and shaped it to my bum, comfy seat is more about shape than thickness, we also modded her back part of the seat which help too.

Don't be afraid to cut open a seat and shape it to your bum cos it will make a huge difference.

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

And a nice city it was, we ended up staying 5 days, relaxing and taking the place in.

We are not normally city dwellers but Arequipa had a very welcoming feel including having some nice things like a propa coffee shop, it also has starbucks. :rofl

An alleyway in town



Anna Maria invited us for a Sunday breakfast setting us up for a city tour walking and looking around, very nice indeed.

While in town we were lucky enough to watch a festival parade



This girl was very into it, nice to see the youngs ones involved



While in Arequipa we had the pleasure of meeting Ben (Breechi) who rocked into town for a day while we were there, coffees all round, awesome.

The plaza at night



Some industrious thinking here



Road 34 C was in the middle, see next report so the next day was a relaxing one again.

Time to leave, Colca Canyon calling with Condors to see.

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Great report. Thanks for the great read. I know riding 2 up in off road conditions is a challenge but I was concerned that Ellen was going to get seriously injured. How has she adapted to riding double? I have a klr and after reading your report I have been looking at ktm's. If you get back to LA and need a place to stay pm me.