Javier,

Being asked to leave without a previous day warning at the heart of high touristic season was the final point of a series of disconforts but this is totally off topic and has no interest for the request of the poster who started this thread. For any personal remark, using private messages would undeniably be more appropriate.

Staying at DM is one option amongst many others while visiting BA. It can bring comfort for some, disconfort for others. The title of this forum is "The Website Motorcycle Travellers trust". For a source of information to be reliable, you need to understand both advantages and drawbacks of a recurrently advertised service. This is what is offered in that post.

Anybody knowing other bike friendly accomodation in Buenos Aires at reasonable prices is of course encouraged to post it here for the benefit of Paul and other visitors to this generally naturally hospitable country.

Sincerely

Philippe

Hi Phillipe , solo la verdad hombre
 

I know DM for 2 years now.As a local let me tell you about the bikes you find in Argentina.Lots of small cc(motoqueros=courierbikers) and a few expensive big cc bikes.Not all travellers end up at DM.BA is huge and you find other mechanics.Also hotels,hostals etc.But none like DM.

Phillipe twice as cheap? let me say to you that is a blame.And i remember very well why you being asked to leave the place.You have a very negative(to put it polite) way of dealing with US. travellers.Javier does not like intolerance.
Many posters here knows me and had have times of talking and drinking mate at DM.Javier works on my bike because i know for sure he is doing it itself.Not a guy that is underpaid and is learning(with my bike in the process).This shops could be twice as cheap.But spareparts here are U$S related.So only cheaper working labor.
Just go to the BMW,Honda and Yamaha shop and ask for spares and service price,hahaha.
Your bike was leaking as you entered DM and making funny noices.....so keep to the real thing.
To Spartakus(the name of a infamous porn disco here in BA) to have your comments as a true post put your name on it.(otherways SPAM)
Sandra and Javier keep the way you both are!
KH(Carlos) Pfarr

I spent a week at Dakar Motos about 2 months ago, and I would highly recommend it, but you have to understand the place is a motorcycle repair shop first, and a hostel second. If you don't like this business model, you should stay somewhere else, no hard feelings.

Nice spin... what are you guys hiding?
 

I'm happy to learn that you still hang out at Dakar Motors when you are not repairing elevators.

If the guy's bike was leaking and making funny noises, and he took it to a shop and expected it to be fixed and it wasn't, what level of mechanical competency is that?

For the most part, parts prices are not tied to the US dollar in Argentina anymore, unless you are getting ripped off, and haven't been for a number of years. So stick to the truth. Parts and labor quotes from Dakar are generally at least 50% higher than they are at other shops in BsAs. But they market to a clientèle that is willing to pay that and pay hotel prices to sleep in a garage or pitch a tent in the yard because of the reputation and atmosphere of the place. That is fine, but to trash someone for telling the truth about alternatives in BsAs is unprofessional at best. It almost makes one think that you are hiding something, or don't want people to find out how much they are overpaying...

Anybody who expects a Frenchman to be nice to Americans is delusional. They are not and never have been.

So, BCK_973 (Name of a nasty bug that infects your privates here in BsAs), I'm going to go get me some ribs and an ice cold Isenbeck, why don't you go learn the definition of SPAM.

working your passage?
 

Paul,

How is it? How's life at sea? You on a Grimaldi freighter? Impressions?

Snide hijackings aside, there are a couple of reasons you'll struggle to get a clear answer to your question...

The first is that Buenos Aires is a glorious, honking sprawl of a capital city with as many distinct areas as London or Paris. There's no obvious place to aim for - it all depends on what you want from the city. I'd recommend starting in Monseratt slash micro-centro (The Hotel Ritz on Julio and Mayo is marvellous faded old colonial queen and only $20 a night) and then exploring - check out San Telmo, Palermo, the 'burbs and see where you're most at home.

The second reason is that, especially downtown, most hotels don't have parking. But this isn't a problem - because as a community, we're lucky to know Javier and Sandra at DakarMotos who will store you bike while you're flashing about BA.

Suerte, Dan Walsh

On another hand, a parking is not always necessary. I left my bike in front of my first hostel for 10 days in a well lit area and nothing happened, even the net on the carrier stayed untouched...it all depends how visible and flashy the bike can be. I did notice some interest tho since i have been asked on several occasions by locals if i was willing to sell it.

So you feel that the bike was secure and recommend that to other riders?

It all depends on your risk aversion, Lone, if caution is certainly necessary in B.A, paranoid reflexes arent. You still can see bikes parked in the streets just like in any other metropolitan area in the world. In the areas where there is permanent night life and police presence like Palermo or San Telmo, i would rank the risk minimal if locked properly. In the Province, i can only testify in Vicente Lopez where i stayed 5 weeks (in a house full of Americans can you believe it! =)). I regarded the risk very low too given the local guards and well lit streets.

I went to La Matanza to distribute gifts for the kids in the Comedores, and even there (one of the poorest areas in BA), i didnt feel anxious...Buenos Aires is not Rio de Janeiro and is certainly safer than most european and north american capital towns. The thefts here a more oportunistic than highly organised (except for corruption of course).

Lovely Rita
 

re - on street parking

I wouldn't recommend it, mainly because very few of us can relax when our ridin joy's exposed and vulnerable on a pavement. Better to do as the Portenos do and use one of the secure multi-storey carparks that seem to be on every block. Or arrange to have it stored at DakarMotos....

Suerte, Dan Walsh