Hello (Hola Amigos),

Two friendly Canadians from Vancouver are riding their R1200GS's through South America beginning in Equador in early Nov/08 and out of BsAs Feb/09...Any thoughts, suggestions or meetups would be great! We're up for anything!! And would be happy to hear from you! If you'd like to keep us abreast of your travels email me at smileandwave88@hotmail.com

Journey Safely!
Bantu and Wade

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Live and Let Ride

Good luck on your trip guys. I am sure you will have a great time.

Here is a list of good repair shops that I visited on my trip:

Ecuador:
Cuenca-
Esteban Delgado- Motores y fresnos
Gonzalez Suarez 1 - 43 y Huayna-Capac
Tel: 286 15 99 - 099773779
Email: degadoe@cue.satnet.net
Cuenca - Ecuador

It´s near the airport but at walking distance from the town centre.
Nice place, they speak good english, very helpful.

It is mainly a Harley Davidson dealer but they are as likely to work on big BMWs (We saw a 1200GS there when we went to buy oil for our bikes.)


Highly recommended!

I spent a month learning Spanish in Cuenca and know all the motorcycle shops there. The shop that stocks the most parts and tires is Austro Motors address: Presidente Cordova I-71. They are kind of close to Esteban Motors and Richard will be able to give you directions if needed.
Highly recommended!


Bolivia:
Cochabamba-
Charlie,
Tusmula 406 -Esquina Mayor Roche
Tel: 428 46 81
Cel: 77495564
email: motocharlie [A*T] supernet [D*O*T] com [D*O*T] bo

Very good guy, speaks excellent english and was very helpful and friendly.

He got our BMWs fixed (head race bearing problem etc...)

He found us good dual tyres (albeit we had to wait some time) and did various bits on the bikes. Very competent and works on big bikes all the time.
We saw DR650s, Africa Twins... in the workshop.

Highly recommended!


Argentina:
La Rioja-

Ontivero Flavio Javier
Publica 62 B Maria Augusto
La Rioja, Argentina
Tel: 03822 15202428
Cel: 03822 15449342

This guy is a knowledgeable mechanic who does not speak any English but has a best friend a couple houses down who is an English teacher. They both really helped me out after I was robbed of my tools while fixing a broken chain on the shoulder of the highway. Beware of the kids in this area, there is a lot of poverty. Do not expect to find parts here but he does have a lot of tools and can come up with a temporary fix for you.

The mechanic also has a friend who is a judge and made a good offer to buy my bike right there.

Highly recommended!

El Calafate-

This is a good welding shop/ gomeria. It is on the other side of the grocery store and a drive up the hill for a little ways.
El Garage
Valentin Feilberg 364
Phone 02902-491982
Email: sebas25200@hotmail.com

Highly Recommended- these guys do great work and are very friendly. Their rates are a little higher but so is their cost of living.

Buenos Aires-

1. Cordasco Motorhouse
Av. Costanero y Av. Salguero

I stumbled on this shop which is located within B.A. city limits where you still have access to the subways and bus routes. This shop is packed full with bikes. While I was waiting I met an American who was having his bike fixed. I wanted them to replace my clutch cable, but because of how busy there were they gave me directions on how to replace it and just sold me the cable for $3 US. The shop owners were nice guys.

Highly Recommended, just make sure you can drop your bike off to them for at least a week.

2. Best parts shop in Buenos Aires
Avant Motos
Avenue Pueyrredon 981 Capital Federal
Argentina CP 1032
info@avantmotos.com.ar
Avant Motos

This shop is located in the heart of downtown Argentina and they stock a variety of motorcycle parts at great prices. I was able to find a chain and brake pads for my 2001 bmw f650. The guys at the shop even let me do a return after a month which is a rare thing to come across in Latin America.

Here is their service shop who I did not try but heard great things about.
Boulogne Sur Mer 930
Tel/Fax 011 4961 3844


3. Javier
Phone/Fax: 54-11-4730-0586 : - e-mail: dakarmotos@hotmail.com
Carlos Tejedor 1379- Florida Vicente López

I stopped there for a day to inquire about service and see friends staying inside their hostel which is literally a few bunk beds next to where they work on the motorcycles. Javier does not stock many parts (he did not have brake pads for my bmw F650) and the location is outside of mainstream Buenos Aires. However, this shop is known for going out of their way to help motorcycle travelers and if you are staying in Buenos Aires for longer than 2 weeks you should drop your bike off there in the beginning so the parts can be ordered and then return from Downtown B.A. to pick your bike up.

Recommended




Chile:
Tumuco-
Estimatedlocation of MotoMaster
S38 43 44.5 W72 34 33.5
RUTA5-380 Caupolican Temuco

Unfortunately I arrived on a Saturday and they were closed. I heard from a couple people that they are good and can work on most bikes. The address is about two blocks north of the high-rise that has a COCA-COLA sign on it. It’s on east side of road. Opens at 10 am. Owner-Carlos. Spanish only.

Never tried them, but they are highly recommended by other riders.


Santiago-
Happily i was put on to a local mechanic Miguel Angel Narvaez, cell no. 09 2214889
Miguel used to operate from opposite the american embassy and is used to forgien bikers he will now come and pick up your bike with his truck as he's further out from the center. He was great, efficent friendly and helpful, so highly recomended.
I'm also told BMW are in Mendoza and Cordoba. HOpe this of assistance to someone

Highly Recommended- I did not end up using this guy, but I met his son in Mendoza who was returning from Brazil on an f650 with his friend. They were very nice guys.

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http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)

Awesome info. Thanks for sharing.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Don,t be afraid to visit Colombia.I,ve had five visitors on bikes in the last 2 weeks.
I doubt if there,s a place in South America with more Bike shops than Medellin!!!
Al theturtleshead.
Oh yeah.Check out the " in Ecuador" thread to see my other activities

Hello Bantu & Wade.
I'm a Colombian living in Calgary. I'm now in Caraz, Peru. I'll leaving South tomorrow or Sunday, heading to Huaraz and Chavin de Huantar area. Traveling alone in Suzuki DR 650. Where are you?
My e-mail: santiago.lema@gmail.com
Regards, ride safe.

Well except Cali of cause Albert ;-)

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Keep On Ridin' In The Free World

- Mike