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tires in Africa, south america?? tires in Africa, south america??
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 4 Nov 2006
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tires in Africa, south america??
We ride two-up on a Suzuki Burgman 650. Most of the planning is done except for finding tires outside of Europe and the U.S. Need to locate sources to keep from having tires shipped from the U.S.

The tire sizes are: front 120/70-R15. Rear 160/60-R14. If we can't find a source does anyone know the name of a shop that we contact have them order tires for us so when we arrive they will be waiting. We figure on going through 8 sets on the RTW. The only shop so far in Africa is in Johanesburg. It will be about 8000 miles from Spain to there which means I am already out of tire. I could carry a set of spares, but the weight is a bit more than I want to carry.

Thanks for the help

Joe
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  #2  
Old 4 Nov 2006
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Try Googling for Suzuki + the name of a reasonably big town. For example, this is the result for Suzuki + Casablanca...
http://www.globalsuzuki.com/gcm/wheres/005.html

Tim
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  #3  
Old 4 Nov 2006
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Joe,

If you have a fairly solid route planned, you might want to consider sending tires well ahead of time. Kind of a pre-planned pitstop thing.
Maybe I'm wrong, but those tire sizes might be very difficult to find - not just in a country, but on a continent.
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Old 5 Nov 2006
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Smile hello joe
as I spend two years in South America and a year in Africa, here is my two cents worth ...

in Africa if you are lucky you will find them in Cape Town or Joburg, maybe maybe in Windhoek. Nowhere else, I would say. Send the tyres ahead of you to a buisness address, but contact the owner of that buisness before and ask him for permision. If you are going down the west coast, I would suggest that you send them to Toni Togo in Lome, he is a KTM dealer, maybe he can even order some for you if you pay him by credit card in advance.

in South America, I would say if you are lucky in BsAs, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Bogota, maybe in French Guyana.

Sending by DHL is expensive but in Africa you will have the chance that they get there. Depending on your budget, but to carry them is also an option, you could strap them to the front of your scooter.

Enjoy

Mika
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  #5  
Old 5 Nov 2006
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Tyres ..
Be carefull of import duties .. if you send them ahead then you maybe slugged with import duty .. possiblyt 100% of the price of the tyre...!@!!

In Africa .. tyre prices look to be about the same as here in Oz in South Africa .. I've not sought the information eleswhere. But there are other places too ..

www.bikershome.com ? in Morocco
Umm some place in Yaounde Cameroon .. bike club ?
You'll find both the above if you search for them .. I'm going to have to search and contact the Cameroon one .. that is about the half way oint along my eastern route for Africa..
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  #6  
Old 6 Nov 2006
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Sitting some place for 2-3 weeks might cost a little bit more than the tires.

Having shops order them would be one way to go, but I'd make damn sure they had their hands on them a month before they were needed. Making the tires looked used might lower the duties charged.
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  #7  
Old 6 Nov 2006
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I can find out from my supplier, if the tires are readily available in Cape Town (which would mean you can get them in Jo.burg too)
Send me an e - mail and I will get you prices as well.

Can't help you with South America.
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  #8  
Old 6 Nov 2006
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Tires
Hi Joe, I'm in Uganda at the moment and might be able to help you out with regards to central Africa. I'm staying at the Speke hotel here in Kampala. There is a restaurant in the hotel owned by a great Italian fellow named Pietro (restaurant is Mama Mia). I just changed my oil and rear tire at his home here in Kampala. He is a member of a group of some 20 riders (I am invited to dinner with them tomorrow) and happens to own 2 Suzuki DRs. I'll mention you to him tonight and get you his email if you like. He is definitely in the know and very helpful. I picked up a Bridgestone Trail Wing rear tire in Windhoek, Namibia. It just so happens Pietro is running the same tire on his DR. I'll ask him if these tires are readily available in a Kampala shop. Good luck, Dave.
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Old 7 Nov 2006
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Wow! Thanks to Dave, Frank, and the rest of you who have been so generous with your help. I haven't been able to e-mail all of you to thank you individually, but I guess this will have to do. It looks like my worries were pretty much unfounded. A note to Dave in particular. Yes, I would like you to emial me the address of the shop you mentioned. Thanks Frank for the google address. It's great to know there are expereinced riders who don't hesitate to offer help.

Much grass--Joe
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