Howzit folks.
I am having a ball in Chile and Argentina at the moment and heading to Bolivia soon .

Since I am on a road bike I would like to ask if anyone can tell me what roads are paved in Bolivia . And also , if the dirt/gravel roads are GOOD dirt roads or rather are very sandy , muddy etc .

Then I will look for correct tyres to match .
Knobblies on a K100 , any one done it ?

Cheers,
El P.

PS is the Aucklander I met in El Calafate at the YPF gas station on here ?

Hi,
the paved roads in Bolivia are easy to list:
Chile (Laguna Chugara border) to La Paz (good road)
South of Oruru - La Paz (mostly good)
Cochabamba - Santa Cruz (Lowland road)
Potosi - Sucre
La Paz - Desaguadero and La Paz - Copacabana
(both on peruvian border and good)
La Paz - 20 km beyond Paso Cumbre (good)hope I did not forget a paved road:-)
Some sections of mainroads near cities are paved, but as far as I can remember not continuosly.
To see the really good places, you need to get on the unpaved roads (i.e. Yungas, Salar de Uyuni...)
Have fun
Werner

Thanks Werner,
I thought there would be only a few .

Still , I don´t mind dirt roads .

Do you know if they are good dirt roads, you know ,solid and level , or potholed and washboarded , or worse , very sandy or muddy ?

Cheers,
El P.

Most dirtroads are difficult after rain and often potholed. Generally speaking, the southwest (Uyuni) is pretty bad and very difficult with a roadbike (washboard, sand...). The lowland roads (Yungas) have muddy sections year-round and are often impassable in the rainy season. The mainroads between major cities should be possible by roadbike. Although it might get difficult due to landslides, road construction, missing bridges... anytime.
Always ask around before going somewhere. Make sure you ask several people (truckers, police, gas station, bus drivers) since the answers are often just guesses and people think a motorcycle can get through everywhere.
Bolivia is a very fascinating country, enjoy it.
Werner

Thanks Werner ,
thats the kind of stuff I was looking for .

I am certainly looking forward to Bolivia although I know nothing about it ( maybe thats why?) .

Cheers,
El Pl.

Hi El Penguino....

I'm a Kiwi presently in Bolivia on a Black and White F650 Dakar, heading Northwards with the lofty goal of Alaska before it turns Brass Monkey on me. I had to laugh when I saw your Username, as I was seriously considering calling my bike Hoiho due to its black and white livery - probably still will.

Right now Ì'm in Uyuni after having completed a 4 day 4WD tour starting from Tupiza anding here, taking in the most wicked scenery you could imagine. I left the bike in Tupiza after the advice from Chris and Erin Ratay (www.ultimatejourney.com). They have two Swiss biker friends who gave up on that route , and ended up putting the bikes on a train. I'll e-mail you that seperately.

The unpaved roads here are real suspension destroyers, and if you try the likes of Tupiza to Uyuni, from Villazon to Tupiza when it's raining - that's would no doubt be Mission Impossible 4. Luckily it doesn't seem to rain much at this time of year.

I had a pillion on from Tilcara to Tupiza, and those roads had my arms shaking much worse than the Ruta 40 or Carretera Austral ever did...

Yesterday I met a German and Chilean guy here in Uyuni who travelled South here, and the Chileans KLR 650 had blown a fork seal.

I guess it's all worth it, but make sure you are travelling light, and don't make the mistake of travelling too fast, as there are bottom out holes and ditches when just when you think the roads are getting better.

Have fun, and I'll let you know how the roads are from Tupiza to Potosi and Sucre etc

Cheers

Jeremy
ps, on the subject of tires, for these kind of roads I think the TKC 80's are just the berries, especially if it gets muddy.

[This message has been edited by Jeremy Andrews (edited 06 April 2002).]

Thanks Jeremy,
ooerr sounds all a little bit rough on the ole K .

I wasn´t planning to do any adventurous stuff like the Salt Pans but just buzz around and have a wander , as it were .

Still , thanks and yes please, if you come across any routes you think I could handle ,please let me(us) know . As a guide ,I thought the central section of the Carretera Austral ( Chaiten to Maniuhuales) was sweet , when taken slowly naturally .

Good luck with the Cold Kiwi Mission . Must be plenty of names for your bike if its b/w ,how bout Pukeko ? :-)

Cheers,
Chris