South America To Canada or other way?
 

Hi Guys,

Looking to spend about 6 months to a year going from either Tip of Alaska to South America or the other way around.

Very early in the planning stages and just curious on two main points.

1. What direction would people recommend? (most people seem to be saying that starting in alaska and working your way down is what most people do.
2. Is it better to buy a Bike in Alaska for example as opposed to buying one in Australia and Shipping it over? ( will this affect things like Carnet de passage for example?
3. Looking at purchasing a GS650 or DS650, general thoughts or comments would be appreciated!

Cheers,
Al.

( I am in sydney australia if that helps!)

We're choosing to buy in Chile, next month, opposed to shipping our bikes from Sydney/Melbourne. We decided this due to cost, and complications. Quotes were around $3000, and then there's getting the bike home.

Could probably do it either way, but I would let the weather dictate which is better. Leaving Alaska at the moment wouldn't be too much fun!

Anyway, we leave at the end of Dec, and time will tell if our decision was wise!

It doesn't make too much of a difference but from the aspect of adjusting to different cultures, starting in North America allows for an adjustment to travel by starting in an English speaking environment. You can practice a bit on your spanish ahead of time and the more you pickup prior to full immersion, the easier that transition will be.

The other thing to keep in mind is that access to bikes and gear is very good in the US, has to be one of the cheapest places in the world to buy a bike and gear. Once you get into South America, the market is a lot smaller and there are significant duties in most countries so you will get a lot more bike for your dollar in the US. The only exception to this general rule is if you can find a traveller bike to buy off a fellow traveller in South America.

And due to the cost advantages mentioned above, buying a bike in mainland USA will save you a fair bit on shipping. So if you have a bike in Oz that you know and are comfortable with and it is available on this side of the pond, I'd look at lining one up ahead of time and then landing and heading off. As you ride, you will tweak your gear and it's dead easy to order things online here for cheap and have them shipped and waiting for you at a town down the road. As you move south, acessibility and cost become issues to doing this.

Happy planning.

Alaska and Yukon: great to explore their magesty in summer
 

I lived in British Colombia in the 1980s to ride motorcycle. I really enjoyed riding in Yukon and Alaska in the summer. The day light is so long, the temperature is just perfect up there that I felt there was no better place on earth to ride and explore the magesty of the wilderness.

Cheaper to buy in the USA than anywhere else.

Direction depends largely on the season. In June or July, start with Alaska; in December or January, Argentina. In between, do the obvious.

No carnet necessary anywhere in the Americas.

Mark

Thanks for the help with all of this guys, for some reasons im not getting notifications when someone replies on my threads, but this is useful information!

I would also agree that used bike prices in US/Canada are probably cheaper than anywhere else. When I live you can buy a used KLR650 in good shape for maybe $4000 US to $5000 US, depending on mileage, etc. At the end of your trip, you can sell it in South America and get some of your money back.

I don't know what prices are like in Alaska, but you could look online at Craigslist for Fairbanks or Juneau and get some idea. Maybe fly up there in June, get a used bike on the road, and then head south.

trip
 

The bike are fairly cheap in the US and the accessories are priced very well but very careful of where you are buying it due to the fact that they may give you some problem for the registration of it to your name ( in my Florida state is not easy to get a license if you are not a local (driver license issue in Florida).The most expensive part of the trip will be US and Alaska and the problem in Alaska is the riding period is very short .

I would look to either buy in USA or otherwise buy an Aussie or USA traveller's bike in Santiago or BA when they have finished and want to fly home. (there is a bieks for sale section on the HUBB)

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...r-sale-wanted/

Prices of imported bikes in South America - especially high-end models (ie more than 250cc) - are expensive. The price of accessories is even higher, so racks, panniers, large fuel tanks are both expensive and difficult to find.

Obviously the challenge of landing and not knowing any Spanish would make the task a bit trickier, but no doubt you could find some good ADV contacts there who would help you out if you went down that route. I bought a bike in Guatemala, but that was a small 125cc, by then my Spanish was okay, and I had friends there to help.

And, as someone else has pointed out, starting in USA gives you a nice easy start and a gradual way into travelling, same language......and petrol is everywhere and generally speaking easy roads to get you used to a new bike and luggage.

Let me add that if you like your bike in NZ or AU, prep it how you would like to ride in SA, then remove all the goodies, PACK them in your suitcase, fly to the USA, buy the same bike, put your goodies on it and start riding south!

Paying a little suitcase overweight is WAY better than shipping a bike!

Cheers! bier Toby

PS: Come visit us in Huanuco, Peru WHEN you come thru!

alaska to chile
 

looking at the same ride that and people to ride with......

I'm planning a long term trip starting Nov / Dec / Jan and from what I've researched it's WAY cheaper to buy and build a dr650 in USA than in Sydney + Shipping. At the moment it looks like saving $2.5k shipping, $500-$1k on bike purchase and approx $1k saving on equipment. All up not a bad saving.

I guess the only downside would be needing a place to stay while you build the bike. But I can't imagine it's too hard to find a place SOMEWHERE with a garage / near a workshop to rent for a month or two cheaply.



I'd be looking at starting in California mind you. As for which direction looking at the weather it seems to work out well heading south starting in January. You miss out on some big festivals. Maybe someone can correct me about the weather, I'm only going off climate charts.

I am riding RTW and want to sell my r1200 GS in Boston MA. It has been trouble free and BMW service too. I bought it in San Francisco and I am riding it East. It's done 45k and is only 2 years old. This will suit you perfectly.


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