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Can a cheap road bike make it to costa? Can a cheap road bike make it to costa?
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  #1  
Old 17 Oct 2008
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Can a cheap road bike make it to costa?
I'm leaving San Diego around 10th December, really don't have the most impressive budget especially since the Australian dollar has been demolished against the US.I was thinking of buying a possibly cosmetically poor but healthy older bike to ride to Panama (rather than the orginal dual purpose plan). If I stick to the main roads i figure it should be ok!! PLease someone tell me if this is crazy talk. Thanks..
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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The Oz dollar will probably improve after the US election, but your plan sounds great.
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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Not a problem, if you have a bike that runs and is reliable enough to run around on you can get to Costa Rica, and Panama .Roads are good all the way down
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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Cheap bike for trip
My favorite would be a rusted faded dented japanese bike with a shaft drive. No worn out chain and sprokets to worry about.
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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Not crazy at all . But if you don't have good mechanical knowledge ,it might be unwise .
If you know your bikes you will be fine .
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Old 17 Oct 2008
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Get an old Klr650 and you,ll be able to keep going!!!
Al theturtleshead
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Old 20 Oct 2008
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If you stick to the Pan-American Hwy, it is all paved. Also, the mechanics I encountered in even the small towns of C.A. and S.A. are not one brand specific. They seem to be able to work on anything and many of them are capable of creating parts that are not available. By all means, GO and have a great time.
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Old 21 Oct 2008
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Hi joshsnave,

congratulations, nice idea, this is the real adventure and you will blend in better then any fancy dual sport bike.

For less trouble on the trip and to enjoy the ride, just have the bike checked with a good mechanic and take a few important parts with you.
Keep us posted what bike you bought and updates of your trip if possible.

Saludos Jogi
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Old 22 Oct 2008
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Josh, in '84 I bought a 6 year old "fully dressed" CX500 in LA and rode it two-up down to Tierra del Fuego.

Eminently doable, and a very easy ride compared to some of the offroading I have done else where in the world.

Garry from Oz.
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Old 23 Oct 2008
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bikes are cheap
grab a big trailie for $1500 USD no problems in california or oregon ,they are way cheaper than in oz ,my klr was $1700 in alaska and it got me to colombia so far and its still running sweet ,it was only 6 years old, check out fleabay and craigs list also the classified on here and ADVrider ,you can put out a call for what you want
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Old 23 Oct 2008
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Check out jaxed. It's a neat site that checks out all the US and Canada craigslists and eBay. Craigslist is pretty big in a lot of US areas. The overseas CL isn't always great.

for sale : : combined classified and auction listings
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Old 23 Oct 2008
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I havent actually ridden through CA but I imagine its similar, perhaps better than SA conditions. Not bad at all down there.
If you stick to the main roads you can go as far as your hearts desire.

I think anything is capable of such a trip but as mentioned above give the bike a check-up servce before you leave.

Just go and do it.
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Old 23 Oct 2008
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You can do it on any bike (hell, plenty of people do it on push-bikes).

Unless you really love long stretches of straight highway, you'll have more fun if you take a dualsport. It will open up many alternate routes, especially through Mexico. The cuotas are immaculately paved but boring boring boring.

An old KLR would be perfect. A DR650 would do just as well. Depending on how much stuff you want to bring and what route you take, a 250cc dualsport like a KLX or one of those Honda Bros might even be more fun and would certainly be the cheapest way given the current price of gas...

Jeff
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Old 24 Oct 2008
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Honda CX500/650,Kwak GT750,earlyish BM...among others these should be cheap as chips and able to get you there ok.I would!
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Old 1 Nov 2008
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Just do it!!!
Go for it,
I bought a beat up 14 year old KLR last year in Argentina and rode it all the way to Columbia. It was burning oil when i bought it and it was still burning it when i got to Columbia.(Sorry greenies)
I am not telling a word of a lie when i say i didn't have to do a single thing to it apart from routine maintenance. I did my best to bust the beast, (that includes wiping out at 100kms/h) and it just kept going and going!!
Absolutely amazing machine and because they haven't changed it in 20 years you'll have no problems finding parts.
Before this i had no respect for the KLR as a machine, now i just can't say enough good things about them.
KLRs ROCK,

Good luck with your trip and if you do take a kwacker, give it some taste of dirt. They love it,
Arthur
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