Hi Maria,

I am glad you found Pablo. I think you can fix this up in Coyhaeque with his help and avoid costly transportation of the bike. The first step is to get the parts shipped out asap to Santiago. I went to collect the package in Santiago (30kg!) to avoid customs trouble. This saved a good few days of grief as I was able to put some pressure on and get the package cleared very quickly. The trick is to send the parts as "used motor cycle parts" if new the customs guys are going to want more money. Maybe lots more.

I'm sure someone can help regarding second hand parts - could save you a good amount.

Interesting to hear about BMW dealers. Makes me wonder why anyone actually buys one. Similar story with the Honda dealers though when I needed help but the africa twin is less common....

Good luck with the insurance issue. I wouldn't count on it though. Did you have to hand over your license to the police there? I did and they still have it despite the assurance that this would be dealt with quickly. I spent some time looking into the legal aspects of my crash and simply decided the best idea was to forget it.

British embassy was completely useless too - not at all interested in helping.

Good luck and saludos to Pablo. I wish you well during what is a most trying experience. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Matt

Hi Matt, I passed your saludos to Pablo who was very happy! HE remembers you very well! He will help us rebuild the bike. He is of good advice. HE will fix my mirror and he can get the fork bridge fabricated locally , to cut costs.
Thank we have the dakar (my husband´s bike)to use as sample as my fork bridge is splattered around carretera austral!

All parts have been ordered with BMM and it is just a matter of waiting for them. Lucky we have the Dakar, so we may take few days off to ride 2-up to Futelefu for a week and come back - if we can find a place to store the excess luggage!

MAybe we will be lucky and KTM boy will do the right thing and pay us fro the costs? WEll I´ve seen stranger things happen. I have his parents address in Canada, I checked in Google so can phone them etc... heheheh!!!!!

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Hi Maria,

Just read your report and seen the pictures. Pablo is certainly the man to fix this - he worked a miracle on my AT and one day I will go back and thank him personally. It is great that he remembers me but I guess there are not too many of us who come calling.

As the KTM boy is a Canadian I reckon you might just get some money from him - particularly as he admitted responsibility. Whether a police report would help I can't believe it would. I met a New Zealander who frequents the HUBB from time to time elsewhere in South America who had a big bike vs bike crash. Once the police got involved it was a complete nightmare although the other motorcyclist was badly injured.

I wish you both the best of luck down there. It seems a great place to spend a couple of days but a complete hell after 3 weeks.

Suerte

Matt

Hi Maria,

Good to hear you are ok. I was sorry to hear of your crash. Ir only just occurred to me that I have a contact in Mendoza, chairman of the Harley club there but access to a couple of good BMW mechanics. However that is another border away and it appears you have some good people helping you. Still, if you need someone to do a favour or check some parts or want some authorised/expert service to be done in Mendoza, he could assist/book it in. josh dot forde at yahoo dot com if you want phone details and an intro.

your adventure gets more interesting and intrepid all the time. Maybe you and Ted could go on a speech tour when you get back with tales from the road!

Josh

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The Road To Rio - Locokiwi

If Jose Meyer is in your help you are in good hands, he is a very good person. When you contact him call him Josie, as their friends knows him! Also is the best BMW mechanic here in Santiago.

And better, probably Josie can import the new parts directly from Germany, cheaper than Williamson Balfour, that is one of the most expensive BMW in the world.

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Santiago, Chile

Josh thanks for the offer. We may stop in Mendoza if we have time!
For now, Jose Meyer and Rafael have ordered the parts for us and they will rebuild my wheel. My bike should be hopefully ready by end of next week latest.
DiasdePlaya, as you said, Jose and Rafael have been really nice people to deal with and very helpful. BMW was not interested when they found out we were in Coyhaique. Maybe due to payment issues? I am still waiting for them to reply to my emails and phone call!

Cheers,

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Maria,

BMW is the worst bike seller here in Chile. You don't know how many BMW fanatics are selling their bikes because the bad service and the inflated prices. In other hand parallel importers like Riky Godoy and independent services like Josie Meyer are doing good business selling bikes and parts imported directly from Germany.

Good to read that your problems are close to be solved.

If you and Alistar come to Santiago write me. Many bikers here have interest to meet foreings bikers, and every Wensday in different bars we meet to talk about bikes and chat. You can select what kind of bikers do you prefer to meet, but all are nice people. Or if you prefer something more quiet you can come to my house, my wife and I will appreciate your visit and my children would practice their English

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Santiago, Chile