Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > South America
South America Topics specific to South America only.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 135
Big Bike or Small Bike?

Looking for a little input on which bike to take on a journey through Mexico, Central, and South America. I have 2 bikes that are built up and would be capable of making such a trip. I have 2 years to kill so I will not be in any type of hurry to make mileage. I'm not trying to set any speed records and I dont even have a destination. I am simply going to ride in the general direction of south, and see where it takes me. If i can make it to Ushuaia, fine, if not, thats fine too. For me its not about a destination, its simply about the travel.

I like to stay off pavement as much as possible, do interesting side trips and see where they go. I have quite a few Mexico trips under my belt but I have never attempted anything of this scale.

I'm not in the position to buy a new bike and do a complete build up of it so its going to be one or the other of these bikes. I know many folks take a 650 something or other and that seems to be the preferred bike for many people, but, this is what I have. I know these bikes well, I can ride them, I can wrench on them. FWIW the 990 IMO is far more dirt capable than a KLR or F650 GS, both of which I consider big bikes.

I havent posted here yet as I usually hang out over on adv but there is a weath of information here that I dont want to leave untapped, so any thoughts you have are appreciated.

The big bike......................



KTM 990 Adventure. About 10K on the clock, mostly dirt road or off road miles. A complex bike and can be tough to handle in the rough stuff but very comfortable on the road.

Advantages:
plenty of power
comfort

Disadvantages:
a complex bike ECU and EFI systems
An electrical puzzle
harder to find tires
harder to handle in mud and off road
lots more things can shut you down completely if they break


The small bike..........




A Suzuki DRZ 400. I dont know how many miles are on it but I put around 5,000 to 6,000 Baja off road miles on it and if it goes on this trip will get a new top end and a 7.4 gallon tank, some taller gearing and a Rekluse clutch.

At this point I'm leaning toward the DRZ for the following reasons.

Easy to field patch anything short of a gearbox or engine failure
Carburetor
No complex electronics
Easy to get parts
Easy to find tires
Bulletproof platform
Easy to ride in the dirt
Draws less attention than a big expensive bike (but that may not matter anyway)
I can set it on fire and walk away from it without a care in the world

Disadvantages:
Not much comfort
cant load it up with tons of crap (well that may be an advantage)

Any thoughts that you Latin American veterans have would be appreciated. I realize that there will be days I wish I had a small bulletproof bike, and days I wish I had a big powerful comfortable bike. I want to be happy with my bike choice more days than not.

thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Staffordshire. uk
Posts: 766
I'd take the DRZ in a heartbeat, it's a no brainer. Simple to work on, cheap available tyres, better fuel economy. It's easier to pick up off the ground and if it does break down it light enough for two guys to put in the back of a pick up.

The expensive KTM will stick out like a sore thumb in those poor countries but small dirt bikes are everywhere.

It's a nice dilemma to have though, either one will do the job.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11 Jun 2009
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,982
Sounds to me like you've already decided. But the question I'd have is: which one will likely survive the two year trip? If you're thinking the DRZ will go belly up within what'll maybe be 20-40,000 miles of bashing and thrashing, that means you'll be buying another bike enroute. Or am I wrong about that?

If you're prepared to buy another bike enroute, maybe you'll be better served by making that purchase now, rather than waiting. Whatever prep and expense are necessary, it's going to be worse in all respects if you find yourself doing it somewhere in southern Chile. Or am I wrong about that, too?

Just a thought.

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 135
Well I havent really decided, just tossing some thoughts around.

About the DRZ motor, some have been known to let go with under 50K miles. There are plenty of Z's around with 50K+ on the clock and still ticking, its a pretty bulletproof motor and gearbox, akin to the DR 650 or KLR 650 motor. I just figured why not start with a fresh top end. Mine probably has less than 8K on it.

But yes, the LC8 on the KTM is a proven long distance motor. Their ECU and EFI however is not and tends to produce some headaches that can result in some very expensive repair bills.

I understand what you are saying about having a bike go tits up and having to split the cases, do full engine rebuild or secure a new bike, it makes sense, but thats the risk with any bike.

I'm thinking more along the lines of smaller bike v. bigger bike and the advantages or disadvantages of each on such a trip.

And the advantage of taking a bike that I can field repair most any problem quite easily without having to find a dealer or a computer to plug into it.

I agree that Southern Chile or Argentina would be a really bad place for bad things to happen to a bike.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Posts: 1,049
Based on the models alone and personal experience of how a very heavy and a very light bike feel off road, I would have said take the 400.

Then the pictures.
One look at the saddle and screen of the Katoom, and then one look at the razor blade and plastic fore-flap of the 400 and I have to say take the 990!

Some might shake the heads, tut-tut, and roll their eyes, but, even if you want to stick to the dirt roads, you will still do plenty of tarmac miles. You will be sitting on the bike for hours at a time, you will be buffeted by the wind for days at a time.

One constantly repeated mistake made on here, IMHO, is that bike choice advice is almost always given based on how it might perform in a bog, sand dune or deepest forest. Truth is, although there are some on here who do, the vast majority of travellers I have met or read about do not ride non-stop over the most demanding terrain. Truth is, once I got used to it, a ripio (gravel) road two up on a fatty GS was perfect manageable despite no off-road experience.

You, on the other hand, appear to have experience off-road and you will be alone on a far more off-road orientated bike than the GS which ever you choose.

If you are confident in the KTM's reliaibility and don't mind planning ahead for tyres and spares when needed, I think that it will be more comfortable and practical for the majority of the trip even if, at times, it's more of a handful than the nimble DZR.
__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 135
Thanks Warthog, thats good stuff amigo. I want to be stoked about the bike choice I make more days than not. Truth is, Over the last year I have been getting fairly skilled off road on the big orange beast, sand washes, rock gardens with loose basket ball sized rocks etc. Its hard work though, but managable as long as you stay on the pegs and not get too cocky. It still surprises me what its capable of handling, and how capable it is of inflicting major pain when I disrespect its size and power. I guess after all, it is based on a Dakar race bike platform.

I go back and forth so often its driving me nuts. My biggest fear of the Katoom is all the stuff that can go wrong and literally shut you down. Solo, in a remote jungle track or desert sand wash is not the place for that to happen. I've got that T-shirt and its not fun at all.

I may actually talk myself into getting a carb'd 950 super enduro and doing a complete build up of it.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Posts: 1,049
What ever you buy/use will be a compromise in one way or another. As for things that go wrong, you could split a carb diagragm on the DRZ and be just as screwed than another fault on the KTM.

You say you've been there yet now you're here not a dried stain next to a bike in the middle of nowhere, so obviously a solution presented itself!! Something always turns when you least expect it, when you have a problem.

If you do have a problem, other than Murphy's Law, there is nothing to suggest that it will be in the sticks any more than it might be in a city, in front of a KTM main dealer...

If you have fact-based concerns about the KTM, fair enough, but if they are just fears about the unknowns of the road ahead, then you may choose your bike based on things that may never and probably will never happen. Thereby, you will also compromise large swathes of the rest of the trip as a result of that bias.

I'm no techie but there are those who can reassure you about F.I. reliability forexample and if that were to go,, there is always the limp home failsafe mode on fuel injection systems. If a carb fails, then it fails, unless you have the various bits to repair it....

Whichever one you choose, I'm sure you'll have a blast!
__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11 Jun 2009
El Aleman - Jens's Avatar
HU Germany Meeting Organiser
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Worms, Germany
Posts: 487
better the small bike!

Hi,

if you have time, take the small bike...it more fun!

I just did a trip in the Andes on a 125ccm Suzuki, great fun!

Check it out on Amazon:

Jens Ruprecht, Maximo 80

sorry - only in German...

Good luck - Jens
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12 Jun 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 54
heh, managed to chime in on the way to Alaska from my phone.

Don't forget, in those two years you're not unlikely to acquire a gf for long stretches. Take the 990 and bring an extra helmet

(the sheer ability of the katoom to get you laid must not be disregarded!)

Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 135
Hey Jeff! Yeah, I need all the help I can get in that department anyway. After a lot of deliberation and ass scratching, The 990 is now getting torn down for the prepwork. I'll probably change my mind next week.

Have a great trip man!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12 Jun 2009
maria41's Avatar
The franglais-riders
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,185
My main concern with the KTM would be for repairs (complicated bike to work on?) and spares.
Suzuki is everywhere and the DRZ is an easy bike to maintain and work on it.
When I had my crash in Chile (riding my F650GS) it was a nightmare to find a company that would be interested in helping me importing parts from germany. And no, BMW Santiago was NOT interested.
When I broke down (pretty much everywhere, all the time) we were most of the time lucky we could fix it ourselves, but when problems are electric or eletronic, it turns into a nightmare and you do end up cursing Bavarian technology.
Also, I don't know the big KTM, but the BMWs need to be plugged into a computer fro diagnostic! Not easy to find in South America.

Personally for my next big trip I will go with a Jap bike, simple and tough. I can't chose the DRZ as it is way too tall for me. Otherwise it would be my choice.

Carrying stuff: travel light. Most of what you may need can be bought on the way and sent to you by friends or family at some point.
The more you carry, the more you worry about it and the more it weighs you down when the road get very tough. But then , I have never been that good on the dirt, so it is only my personal opinion.

Enjoy your trip in any case!
__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Small bike for my wife jc Australia / New Zealand 26 19 Aug 2009 03:47
Small New Bike vs Big Old Bike Alexlebrit Which Bike? 13 27 Sep 2008 07:19
Rental small bike in brisbane..sugestions? Polly Australia / New Zealand 0 18 Oct 2007 12:32
Need small fuse box for my bike The Cameraman Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 11 8 Jul 2007 08:59
Air freight - tips on crating the bike as small as possible maria41 Trip Transport 9 15 Jan 2007 19:07

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:08.